Napoleonic Military Technology and Firearms Manufacturing in Cotty’s "Mémoire sur la Fabrication des Armes Portatives de Guerre", 1806

American Revolution Firearm Technology

First Edition

Cotty, Gaspard Hermann. Mémoire sur la Fabrication des Armes Portatives de Guerre, 1806, provides a detailed technical account of small arms production and military equipment at the height of the Napoleonic Wars, drawing on developments that emerged from both the French Revolutionary and American Revolutionary periods. The work addresses the manufacture, maintenance, and use of infantry and cavalry weapons, including muskets, rifles, pistols, sabers, and bayonets, with attention to material composition, mechanical reliability, and battlefield function. Cotty outlines procedures for producing effective weapons, including specifications for barrel construction, ammunition size and weight, and metallurgical composition for blades, distinguishing between infantry and cavalry requirements. The text also includes instruction on disassembly and maintenance of firearms, emphasizing the relationship between upkeep, accuracy, and operational success, situating the book within the broader military standardization efforts of the early nineteenth century.
Cotty, Gaspard Hermann. Mémoire sur la Fabrication des Armes Portatives de Guerre. Paris: Magimel, 1806. First edition. Octavo. 229 pages. French language. The volume includes detailed discussions of muzzle loading firearms, flintlock pistols used by officers, and the construction and use of bayonets as integral infantry weapons. Tables present measurements and proportions for optimal production of arms, and two folding tables are included, providing technical data related to calibers, dimensions, and materials. The work reflects the increasing professionalization of military engineering and the codification of weapons manufacturing during the Napoleonic period.

Issued during a period of sustained European warfare, the treatise contributes to the technical literature that supported the expansion and modernization of national armies. Its focus on precision, standardization, and material science aligns with broader developments in military logistics and industrial production that characterized Napoleonic campaigns. By integrating practical instruction with technical specification, the work offers insight into how early nineteenth century states sought to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their armed forces. Original calf boards with red morocco spine label and gilt title. Boards rubbed with minor wear, small tear to title page, and contemporary ownership inscription in ink on title page; textblock remains clean and stable. Overall very good.

Item #18333

Price: $750.00