5 comments about Bowies, Big Knives, And The Best Of Battle Blades.

1. A classic by a master blade smith and acknowledged king of Bowie knife makers. For anyone interested in the Bowie and large fighting knives in general, it is a valuable read.



2. It is an interesting book. Bagwell's repeated condemnation of knives less than 9 inches long wears pretty thin though. And on this point he doesn't know what he's talking about - there are situations (fighting a large animal,eg,) where a blade longer than 7 inches will rapidly become a liability.
   
   Also his pronouncements on the absence of effective short blade fighting tradition in Japan is just wrong.
   
   And would anyone really choose that U-shaped Chilean military knife over a Kbar in combat???



3. Bill Bagwell was the author of the `Battle Blades" column in `Soldier of Fortune' magazine from 1983 to 1987. During that time he wrote many articles about a wide variety of knife related topics. In his book "Bowies, Big Knives and The Best of Battle Blades" Mr. Bagwell reprints many of these articles.
   
   Mr. Bagwell begins his book with a closer look at the Bowie knife, which he advocates as the deadliest knife on earth. He advocates carrying a knife of at least 9.25 inches, and in Bowies, Big Knives and The Best of Battle Blades he explains how to effectively carry a large knife in modern society without drawing unwanted attention. (I can personally attest to the effectiveness of Mr. Bagwell's instructions on the use and carry of the Bowie knife, as I have done so for years using the method he suggests.)
   
   Because much of the book is reprints of `Battle Blades' articles we also are treated to Mr. Bagwell's opinion on a number of other knives, such as the K-Bar, saw-toothed blades, daggers, the Kukri, the Japanese tanto knife, throwing stars (shuriken), and the AK bayonet. Mr. Bagwell's opinions on these knives can be controversial, but his opinions are well reasoned in each case ~ whether one agrees with him or not.
   
   While "Bowies, Big Knives and The Best of Battle Blades" gives much insight into the idea and concept of knife fighting, it isn't a manual intended to teach knife fighting techniques. For that Mr. Bagwell recommends the training material produced by James Keating at Comtech, here in Washington State (again a recommendation I can personally attest to having much merit).
   
   If there is any criticism about "Bowies, Big Knives and The Best of Battle Blades" it's that because many of the book's chapters are reprints of the `Battle Blade' articles they are limited in length imposed by a magazine (Soldier of Fortune). Still this is only a very a minor criticism, as the quality of the book as a whole is excellent.
   
   For anyone interested in carrying large knives (especially Bowie knives), "Bowies, Big Knives and The Best of Battle Blades" is worth adding to your personal library.



4. The author dwells too much on knife fighting rather than the knives. I found the book to be a disappointment.



5. The other positive reviews pretty well sum up my thoughts on this text. A must for people who carry a knife with the idea that they may have to use it someday to save their skin. I also recommend Cold Steel by Steyers and Everybody's Knife Bible by Paul. Put together, you will not need any other texts on blade usage.

3 comments about Gun Digest Blackpowder Loading Manual.

1. I got this book for my brother who is totally
   into collecting guns (no, he's not a scary guy!).
   He was thrilled when he got it.



2. The author (S. Fadala) is a recognized expert in the area of black powder shooting sports. The manual is well planned, referenced and provides a progressive experience in the use and feeding of black powder firearms. All areas of loading and shooting are represented in the manual. However, as might be expected, emphasis is placed on the rifle and pistol loads. Unfortunately, this does not carry over to the muzzle loading shotgun(s). This is an area that requires further work and shooters in this discipline might feel slighted.



3. Fadela has done it again. This seminal work, now in its third edition is updated and better than ever. Anyone, who uses a blackpowder rifle , pistol or shotgun should be equipped with this due to its sheer range of information.

   The book usefully covers the history of blackpowder rifles, what is avalible and basic care. Safety is emphasised, complete with enough horror stories to ensure one is always careful.

   Basic loading techniques are covered- flintlock, and cap lock for all types of firearm. The illustrations are clear, and the text nicely liad out and readily understandable by even the most novice shooter. Even the expert would learn a lot from Fadala in some of his tips- I certainly did. The rest of the book covers loads for practically all (I certainly am unaware of any brand that has been missed) blackpowder and pyrodex muzzle loaders in the market today. Loads are suggested together with ballistics. I have checked the figures with my own rifle and they are spot on. Everything is covered from .75 Cal Smoothbore "Brown Bess" Flintlocks to .32 cal cap lock squirrel guns. There is no critism that can be made of this book but for binding which is a soft cardboard- yours will soon fall to bits as it is taken to ranges and on shoots. Other than that- highly recomended.

   Grade: A+

No comments about The American Sword 1775-1945.

No comments about Custom Knifemaking.

1 comments about Home Workshop Silencers.

1. This book has only one piece of new information than his prior book
   the book states the safety in construction and tollerences important dims are given also but no new info. could have put this in prior book with less than 10 pages

2 comments about Switchblades Of Italy.

1. This is great book, full scale color pictures. great historical information of vintage switchblades knives from italy.
   highly recommended.



2. The serious collector as well as the curious automatic knife buyer will find this author's work to be extensive on the subject of Italian Automatic Knives. With 128 pages, including high resolution photography of "tang stamps," this title covers topics ranging from the evolution of the automatic knife in Italian production to the ignoble standing this type of cutlery has been labeled with by the media over the years. Detailed information on specific manufacturers and the history of these companies give the reader specific information that is not easily found elsewhere, proving this book to be an invaluable source of information for the collector seeking to authenticate rare Italian Stilettos. A must for the knife collector or dealer.

5 comments about The Best Defense: True Stories of Intended Victims Who Defended Themselves With a Firearm.

1. I was one of those hard-core "we must have gun control" types for a long time. In my late 30s, I mellowed out a bit and grew into more of a "live and let live" mentality. And then when I was in my early 40s, it DAWNED on me, America's gun control laws were all about controlling the rights of private, law-abiding citizens. The bad guys are NOT being constrained or restrained by gun control laws - that's why they're the bad guys.
   
   And then there were the Virginia Tech shootings. Amidst the tragedy and the horror, I noticed that the media was quoting "experts" who were demanding more stringent gun-control laws. Commenting on this whilst talking to my beloved hubby, he replied, "you know about the Appalachian School of Law, right?"
   
   Never heard of it, I told him. Nor has anyone else I've since encountered. The short version is this: An armed student (42-year-old Nigerian student) went to the campus of this small law school in Grundy, Virginia and opened fire, killing three and wounding three. Upon hearing the distinctive sound of shots being fired, two students ran to their car and got their weapons. Now armed, they returned to the classroom where the shooter was and demanded that he drop his gun. He did. The end.
   
   According to John Lott (author of "The Bias Against Guns"), only four of the 208 news reports mentioned that the students WERE ARMED. That was shocking and upsetting.
   
   Then there was a woman friend of mine. When I visited her in the hills of West Virginia, she and I would go out "house hunting" (no shooting involved) and we'd often wander into not-so-great areas of town. (We're both architectural historians and do research on old houses.) One afternoon, I asked, "What if someone comes up to us and tries to take our wallets?" She responded, "I'll reach into my purse and show them my gun up close and personal and tell them, 'no sir, but how about you give me *YOUR* wallet.'"
   
   She was not serious, but it got me to thinking: A woman owning a gun LEVELS the playing field and equalizes power. I felt less afraid when I was with my friend, knowing she had a gun. And when we were walking through a dark parking lot late one night, she walked behind me and when I turned around to make sure she was okay, I saw her walking with her hand buried in her purse, clutching the small gun and paying very close attention to a man who was sitting at the fringes of the lot.
   
   This and many other events lead me to "The Best Defense." The book is full of powerful stories, but I warn other readers, some of the descriptions are quite graphic and very disturbing. It's written simply and it's a fast-read and there are no annotations (which is a little disappointing) but it packs a powerful punch. I had trouble putting it down and read it all within about four hours.
   
   It also makes a very persuasive argument that we are on the WRONG TRACK with gun control. Communities where guns are in most homes have the lowest incidence of home invasions and burgularies. That's another fact that the media won't go near.
   
   Rose Thornton
   author, The Houses That Sears Built



2. As the last reviewer stated, there is not much else that can be said about this book. It is excellent and very good information to know. As a woman, I was especially impressed with some of these stories, especially the 74 year old woman who protects her disabled husband from an attacker / burglar AFTER being maced in the face...... GOOD FOR HER and GOOD FOR EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS BOOK THAT FOUGHT BACK AND WON. I'm sick and tired SICK AND TIRED of hearing all the arguments for "gun control". Gimme a break. Read this, read Roger A. Waters other book, read a few others w/the same concept.....the police are great and I admire and respect them - I have four relatives in various forms of law enforcement, including a SWAT sharp shooter and a patrol cop that works in a gang infested area of L.A. - so like I said, I admire and respect the police, HOWEVER, they can not protect you very often, most often they are there AFTER the crime to get the report. Responsible gun ownership is a right for every eligible citizen that I believe in strongly, especially after reading these books.



3. With 25 reviews prior to this one, this book doesn't need more promotion, but I can't resist giving it another 5-star vote.
   
   Most things about this book have been stated by previous reviewers. I can add one comment: If you think that citizens should not be allowed to own guns, read the first chapter of this book and tell me what besides a personal gun might have saved Doug and Judy Stanton and their four children.
   
   Jerry Hessler, the murderer who came after them, wrote these words:
   "Brian dead, Tracey dead, Amanda dead, Thane dead.
   Reid orphaned, Sue widowed, Mark crippled, Ruth unstable.
   Countless friends and family stricken with grief.
   Not a bad day's work.
   
   The score is 4 to 0.
   Even if they execute me it will still be 4-1."
   
   How does a citizen deal with someone who thinks like Jerry Hessler? With a gun.
   
   This books shows how and why.



4. I finished reading this book very quickly. Every story was intense and captivating. The book was enjoyable for entertainment value alone, but it also contains critical information about personal defense.

   Ever wondered what it was really like to be attacked by someone trying to kill you? These are stories of people who lived to tell the tail. Many potential murder victims only survived because they had a loaded gun handy.

   On a personal note, my brother wasn't as fortunate as many of the people in this book. He was returning a tape at a well lit video store on a Sunday night when he was kidnapped by four thugs. They had his car, his cash, and all his possessions, but they murdered him anyway. Apparently just robbing people had become boring to them. They are now in jail, but I often wonder if my brother would be alive today if he had a gun with him.




5. I feel this is the final word in the gun control debate. This is what we the legitimate gun owners have needed. Some proof that packing heat is the best way to deter crime and to keep yourself and your loved ones alive.

2 comments about Knives 2007 (Knives).

1. It's a gorgeous book. The pictures are superb. You may stare at them over and over. For those who like knives, it's a must have.



2. Like all of the Krause/DBI books, Knives 2007 is still going down hill. The custom maker index is useful but the articles are very amateur. Noting like the pre-2000 days when Ken Warner was the editor.

3 comments about Guns of the Old West: An Illustrated Guide.

1. Since this is a reprint of a 46 (1961) year old publication my main criticism is that it was just copied and all of the original omissions and mistakes are presented again, just as they were in 1961. As a collector of 19th century Smith & Wesson's and it's predecessors, this book misses the factual marks of that manufacturer repeatedly. It lists the products of the first Smith & Wesson company (1852-1854) as being produced by another company (Volcanic Arms) and it plays down the significance of the development of self-contained cartridge firing handguns by Smith & Wesson throughout it's presentation. It truly glorifies the development of the cartridge firing revolvers by Colt's and almost ignores those by Smith & Wesson even though the number of Smith & Wesson revolvers produced prior to the turn of the 19th century was far greater than the number produced by Colt's. No wonder most uninformed people believe that the Single Action Army revolver was the only gun popular in the Old West when there were far more Smith & Wesson's produced and sold during that time period.
   
   The sections on pre-Civil War arms was well done except I did notice the very limited mention of the U.S. Model 1841 so-called Mississippi Rifle which was very important during both the War with Mexico and the Civil War.
   
   If you are looking for a definitive reference on the Guns of the Old West, this really isn't it, however some of the background information and stories are wonderful.



2. Overall a good book with lots of information on the subject. A few of the pictures in the book were labelled with the wrong descriptions. Otherwise, worth the money.



3. Firearms played an important role in the West, guarding against animals and outlaws alike. Guns Of The Old West is an informative survey which will interest a wide range of readers; from those interested in early firearms, to others who want an accurate narrative of those who used them. Descriptions accompany black and white drawings of rifles, revolvers and other weapons. The history is lively and well done and will interest a large audience.

4 comments about Shotguns & Shotgunning (Firearms).

1. Some inexperienced gunners may have a hard time sunderstanding all of the teminology and info the author goes over, but I found the book very interesting and helpful.



2. Very well researched and written. The author obviously knows the sport. Detailed attention is given to all types of shotguns with plenty of advice on selecting a piece suitable for the readers intended use.



3. After almost 40 years, I am just returning to the world of shotgun bird hunting. As a kid, my uncle taught me everything he wanted me to know - and nothing else. This is exactly the comprehensive guide I needed to find!
   
   This book is about shotguns and how to use them for hunting (primarily, birds). Mr. Simpson provides a complete survey course on shotgun types and their makers, including which is good for what and how to choose. He provides the same range of information for ammunition and chokes, correlated to the shotgun type and use. He describes shotgun activities, covering all types of hunting (wild and preserve) and the various target sports. He provides not only safe practices, but how to conduct yourself politely in the field and at the range. He even dicusses clothing and accessories (e.g., glasses and ear protection).
   
   Mr. Simpson's writing style is very enjoyable and easy to understand. Even better, he freely shares wonderful stories of a long life with shotgunning. Oh, and by the way, its a beautiful book just chockful of stunning photographs.
   
   This is a great book, and the best of the dozen or so shotgunning books I've recently read!



4. Covers too many subjects. I was hoping for a book more about shotguns and less about shotguns and hunting.