E. D. Howe critiques the Book of Mormon for its reference to weapons such as javelins, spears, and slings.
E. D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (Painesville: E. D. Howe, 1834), 71
Their implements of war consisted of swords, spears, scimitars, javelins, bows and arrows, slings, &c. We can see no propriety in the omission by the author of the use of guns and amunition. We think it would have been as credible as most of the events of the narrative, and would have been better for Mormon credulity and admiration.