The Merchants of Death - Ludwig von Mises Institute

FOREWORD
BY HARRY ELMER BARNES
IT is an unmitigated pleasure for me to commend this study
of the international armament industry to the civilized reading
public. In several important ways this book is an outstanding
contribution to the literature of history and the
social sciences.
In the first place, it points out a great gap in our knowledge
of a branch of technology and industry and makes a
valiant beginning at filling it. The evolution of firearms has
played a very important part in the destiny of modern nations.
Yet, for no generation or country is there a thoroughly
satisfactory monographic treatment of the evolution of the
firearms industry therein. There has been no end of writing
on the wars which have been fought, but little or nothing
is told us about the reason why soldiers in the Spanish-
American War were more effectively armed than those of
General George Washington, and even less is told about the
source of armament supplies in the various wars. Histories
tell us that the Prussians were armed with the "needle gun"
in the War of 1866, but not one history professor in a dozen
could explain what the "needle gun" actually was or indicate
the transition from the muzzle loading to the breech
loading muskets.
In the second place, this study reveals illuminating information
with respect to the organization and sales methods
of a very considerable industry. The propaganda and high
pressure salesmanship which has characterized contempo-