The First World War was a watershed in global history. Both terrible and terrifying, it shredded the social order and ushered in a bleak new world. Inevitably, the war led to major advances in military strategy and tactics that were reflected in the weapons used on the battlefield. This book offers an extended introduction to the arms and armour of the Great War, with particular focus on iconic weapons such as the Maxim machine gun. It is a unique insight into the material culture that not only enabled the horrors of the Somme, Passchendaele and Gallipoli but also provided the means to bring peace in 1918. Jonathan Ferguson is Keeper of Firearms & Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum, and has curated numerous displays including the RA exhibition ‘Firefight: Second World War’. He is also a Technical Specialist for Armament Research Services and Associate Editor for Armax journal. Jonathan’s research interests include the use and effect of firearms and their depiction in popular culture. His publications include the book Mauser “Broomhandle” Pistol (2017), a contribution to The Right to Bear Arms: Historical Perspectives and the Debate on the Second Amendment (2018), and Thorneycroft to SA80: British Bullpup Firearms 1901 – 2020 (2020). He is host of the regular Royal Armouries YouTube series What Is This Weapon?.