5 comments about Warman's World War II Collectibles: Identification and Price Guide.

1. I am a collector of WW11 items and this has come in very handy for Identifing items, when the tags have been removed from items, A lot of history of the item and would recommend this book to others. There are better books out there but this one is very usful for the novice.



2. Warman's World War II Collectibles book is very informative but it leaves out some gear that could be studied, like tents and the gear that goes along with with tents. I realize that covering so much more material in a single volume could be prohibitive.



3. Excellent reference for the military collectible "buff". Doesn't have EVERYTHING, but there's lots of good information for you to value items you have, or want to procure...Worth the money...



4. Being a intermediate collector, I thought this book was great for identifying and giving a good price guide for a great deal of WWII collectibles. Advanced collectors probably would not appreciate the overview of many subjects, but this book plainly states it is not specific in all areas. I would definetly take this to shows for ID help for sure! Great buy!



5. I did not intend to write this review today because I just obtained the book today. I found it by chance at a book store and since I am a specialist in World War II numismatics (coins and especially paper money and more), I bought it. When I got home, I found that there were no reader reviews here so I thought that I shold put in at least and short/temporary one.
   There is nothing on numismatics in the book which you might think would turn me off, but I did not really expect to find much if anything on numismatics. This or any book can only be an introduction to WWII items. Heck, our own book on just the numismatics of the war is over 800 pages. So far I have found the text satisfying if brief. Graf lists many hundreds of items in several chapters. The illustrations are excellent. I learned a lot and expect to learn much more. I will try to write a more detailed review later.

3 comments about Official NRA Guide to Firearms Assembly: Rifles and Shotguns.

1. The good part is this book has a lot of firearms in it. The bad part is each gun is limited to two pages. One page is a picture breakdown and one page is instructions. So the actual assembly disassembly instructions are very limited.



2. Now in a newly revised and expanded addition, "The Official NRA Guide To Firearms Assembly: Rifles And Shotguns" examines the history and mechanical details of hundreds of historic and popular rifles and shotguns. Collaboratively compiled and deftly edited by firearm experts Joseph B. Roberts & Harris J. Andrews, "Joseph B. Roberts & Harris J. Andrews" features detailed instructions and accurate 'exploded-view' diagrams proving the precise information needed by the reader to successfully dismantle and then re-assemble their rifle or shotgun. The thoroughly 'user friendly', profusely illustrated, step-by-step instructions show precisely how the various parts of the firearm interact and will prove to be an invaluable instructional guide and reference for collectors, dealers, hunters, and shooting enthusiasts. Also very highly recommended from Stoeger Publishing is Joseph B. Roberts and Harris J. Andrews companion volume, "The Official NRA Firearms Assembly: Pistols And Revolvers" (9780883173350, $24.95).



3. Firearms Assembly : The NRA Guide to Rifles and Shotguns (Revised and Expanded) (Item #01600) (Revised and Expanded)
   This is a good basic guide to assembly and disassembly of Rifles and Shotguns. With illustrations and basic instructions on a wide variety of rifles and shotguns.
   It has a Firearm Equivalent Appendix in case your specific firearm is not covered. Which is helpful.
   The step-by-step instruction is adequate to disassemble most firearms for cleaning and part replacement. Also informs you when to have a gunsmith take over.
   A good quick reference. Detailed exploded view of 184 firearms.

5 comments about Percussion Pistols And Revolvers: History, Performance and Practical Use.

1. Well-written, lots of information about caplocks during their brief but important period of use. I was not disappointed in the reason for purchase which was the honest reviews of modern replicas. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars are the pictures and awful Old English font used. A 19th century one would have been better. Maybe in the 2nd edition they will make some changes.



2. This is a fun little book, obviously a labor of love by the authors. The coverage of performance is not all-inclusive, but the historical information is interesting and you can infer the authors' preferences for certain brands of reproductions. They missed the Rogers & Spencer revolver, though there aren't many of them around. I like the R&S grip and it's a solid design, so too bad they didn't cover it. The book does cover the Colts and the Remington New Army pretty thoroughly, along with a few others that were of less interest to me. It steered me away from the Walker and Dragoon Colts and convinced me I had to have an 1851 Navy Colt, though I bought a .44-cal version that's compatible with my other cap-and-ball revolvers. The authors didn't test the .44-cal, only the more-common .36-cal.
   
   What this book needs more than anything else is copy editing. There are many consistent misspellings, which detract from the pleasure of reading it. That's why I gave it only 4 stars. Perhaps the authors can find a friendly local English teacher to clean up the manuscript before the next edition.



3. Nice little book, full of information about various types of handguns. I liked the opinion bits about various gun makers, the load charts for each gun, nice amount of information (including history)- even for a novice to the sport. I like the range test details and comparisons to modern weapons too.
   At least one reviewer mentioned the poor photographs, I don't remember the technical term but they're printed newspaper style (too hard to look at) and would be helped if they were larger. The old English script(why use that?)on these pictures is very hard to read at this scale, in one instance it's impossible. Fortunately the real information is in each chapter instead of the pictures.
   My biggest complaint is that while various gunmakers/ dealers/ parts suppliers are mentioned you don't get an address or website for any of them. Many of the readers of this book will already have these bits but they should be provided for the novice as well.



4. I had purchased this book to help provide information about shooting cap and ball revolvers but had the additional pleasure of finding excellent information on care, cleaning, tuning and background as well. While it does not cover all available reproduced models it is very informative, helpful and humorous about the models it does cover. The only negative I have is that the captioned photos are in very small print and difficult to read. I intend to buy a second copy for my reference library and use my 1st copy as a range and bench reference. I hope that Bates and Cumpston continue with another book covering other cap and ball pistols not covered in this work. A very useful book for Remington and Colt cap and ball shooters.



5. This is a great book, from a historical reading standpoint. It puts the technological progression of the percussion handgun in historical context.
   
   I thoroughly enjoyed the practical information on how to use the various antique versions and modern replicas of these old guns. I also appreciated the candid assesment of build quality, parts availability and customer service from the various importers and manufacturers of replica black powder percussion guns.
   
   My only suggestion is that the book be larger, with more pages, with lots of color and black & white photos, with more history, more gunsmithing how-to's, more custom black powder revolver modifications, more gun leather, and more field testing and hunting tales. The only regret I had on finishing this book was that there is not yet a sequel.
   
   Buy this book, but be warned -
   
   . . . upon reading this book you will find yourself awaiting shipment of an 1851 Colt Navy black powder revolver, along with a small box of shooting supplies. (make sure you try real black powder!)

5 comments about The ABC's Of Reloading (ABC's of Reloading).

1. This is a great book to jump start your reloading knowledge. The author assumes little to no knowledge on the subject. He covers the basics in readily understandable terms.



2. Who is using equipment from Lee, or part of them, those should buy this book. Inside this book beginner can find basic instruction ***How to reloading *** with Lee stuff.
   I bought it and after first reading I put it just into shelf and when I am looking some ideas how to improve my reloading usually I grab Speer or Nosler manuals or searching on chatting groups on Internet.
   Also who is just starting reloader - can find here help.



3. This was the first reloading book I purchsed when I became interested in reloading. The style of the book was well written and easy to pick up for novices such as myself. It is nice to know that this book was written by an expert for everybody.
   
   I enjoyed reading about the various forms of reloading. Though I was interested in only handgun reloading, the book fully explains other forms of reloading as well as bullet casting. The pictures were a big help and did not get in the way. I also liked some of the side stories. They helped to elaborate, not detract from a point the author was making.
   
   Obviously, I would not recommend this book as a general read for people. It is clear that this book was meant soley for the reloader and those interested in the subject. But if you want to temp somebody to consider reloading for accuracy or economy, buy them this book.



4. I would strongly recommend this book for anyone who is going to begin to reload ammo. I am an avid gunsmith and reloaded and I find this book grate for reference. I think everyone reloading should have this book.



5. This book is one of the must-haves for reloaders - especially those new to it. Other books of this type (Metallic Cartridge Reloading, Lyman's book, etc) often include load tables. While those are of course critical, they take up a lot of pages and are available elsewhere. ABC's is totally information from cover to cover. Absolutely indispensible for novices and usable for experts. I find each one of these kinds of books offers something different and ABC's is one of the best. They're all good with one exception - I did not like the one by Richard Lee. It is totally biased towards Lee reloading equipment. I can accept a healthy pride but it goes WAY overboard! (PS I also HIGHLY recommend Metallic Cartridge Reloading, IMO it's even better)

5 comments about Gun Digest Book of the .44.

1. Excellent source for history and loading data for caliber 44. A little more loading data for those who want to shoot smokeless powder in reproductions would be helpful. I believe that there are no 'replicas' as such, since modern metallurgy is now used in producing the older designs...'replica' denotes produced exactly the same as the 'original'. Text could stand a good editing for sentence structure in order to increase readability. Overall, though, an excellent read.



2. If you like .44 hanguns then get this book. I gave it a 5-star rating even though I was a bit disappointed with it. Taffin has now written 4 excellent books on revolvers. So why am I a little disappointed? Much of what is in the new book as been published line-for-line in his other books. Nonetheless, I am a big fan of Taffin and will continue to read everything he writes...even when it starts to sound familar.



3. John Taffin knows the .44. He has been shooting .44s, of all flavors, for almost 50 years. This book is a historical tour of .44 caliber firearms, both long-guns and handguns, as well as a compilation of his personal experiences with them. Taffin starts with the Colt cap-n-ball revolvers of the 1830s (the Patterson) and weaves the story of how that led to the first of the .44s -- The Colt Model of 1847, better known as "The Walker". From here the story moves on to guns like the Model 1860 Henry in .44 Henry Rimfire, the exquisite Smith & Wesson Model #3 in .44 American (and later .44 Russian), and the legendary Winchester 1873 in .44 Winchester Center fire (WCF, later re-labelled the .44-40 by Marlin so they wouldn't have to stamp "Winchester" on their guns).
   
   Classic sixguns are near and dear to Taffin's heart, and next he shares some of that affection with stories of the Colt Frontier Sixshooter in .44 WCF, and the first .44 Special, the Smith & Wesson Triple Lock. For any reader who might be unfamiliar with John's writings, the .44 Special occupies a very special place in John's heart, so it's no surprise that there is extensive coverage of the guns chambered in .44 Special -- from the pre-War Hand Ejectors, to the Colt Single Actions and New Service, to the Charter Arms Bulldog and the exquisite Freedom Arms Model 97 (as well as many others).
   
   All of this sets the stage for how the .44 Special ultimately gave rise to one of the finest handgun hunting cartridges ever, the .44 Magnum. Once again, there is extensive coverage of guns chambered for the .44 Magnum; both single-action and double action, factory production and custom; from the original Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum and Ruger Blackhawk Flat-Top, to the Texas Longhorn Arms and Seville single-actions, to the Ruger Super Redhawk and Colt Anaconda double actions. Taffin tells the reader about the modernization of the single action sixgun, eventually leading to the "perfect sixgun", the Freedom Arms Model 83.
   
   The long guns are not ignored -- the original Winchesters and Colts (e.g. the Yellow Boy and Lightning), the replicas (made by Cimarron, EMF, Navy Arms, Uberti, etc.) and the modern long guns (made by Marlin, Winchester, Ruger, etc.) are also well-covered, including the biggest of the .44s, the .444 Marlin.
   
   The book ends with several sections on loading the .44s -- suitable bullets (both cast and jacketed), appropriate powders, and loads that are well-suited for older guns, as well as heavier loads for stronger, more modern guns. It's all here folks, and this isn't just "book-learnin'", Taffin knows this history, these guns, these cartridges, and loads from extensive first-hand experience. The material is clearly presented in Taffin's frank, entertaining style. John is an excellent teacher, and the "Book of the .44" is an outstanding textbook for the student of the gun. Good teachers are a blessing indeed.



4. Once again, John Taffin has nailed it. Like his other fine books, the "Book of the .44" is interesting, informative, and entertaining. It is filled with excellent black and white photos which clearly detail the author's descriptions. Mr. Taffin is obviously an expert on handguns and lever action rifles, and this book contains lots of information on both, as they relate to the development and evolution of the .44 caliber cartridge and it's use in both. The book even describes with words and pictures the .44 caliber weapons that pre-dated the cartridge guns, with percussion revolvers pictured and described in detail. You can almost smell the smoke from the black powder as you read the text and look at the photos! The book is a history and resource text on the .44 caliber, as well as a handbook for anyone who owns and enjoys handguns and rifles. I highly recommend the "Book of the .44" to any shooter, or lover of guns and their development. For the price of a good pizza, you can buy hours of reading enjoyment and years of good reference material, and it will never give you heartburn. Gitchee one!
   
   Jeff Quinn
   Gunblast.com



5. John Taffin is a sixgunner's sixgunner. He's not only renowned as a gentleman and a shootist, he's also one of the best gunwriters out there . . . and his favorite of all bores is the forty-four.
   
   You know what it's like when you pick up a book by someone who's REALLY into a given topic or field? You know how the author's enthusiasm bubbles up through the type and grabs the reader, pulling him along into the author's excitement over the subject matter? Well, that's what master gunwriter John Taffin does for the reader in the GUN DIGEST BOOK OF THE 44. It doesn't matter if you're not the world's biggest fan of the .44s (I'm not myself - I like them just fine, but I'm not a .44 "nut" or anything . . . I don't even own one at present), Taffin's enthusiasm is so contagious that you'll find yourself reading this book long into the night. I had been concerned that I would grow bored with a one-caliber-subject book, but this has not at all been the case: Taffin's adept movement from subject to subject and story to story keeps the reader's fascination throughout what, in the hands of a lesser author, could quickly have become dry and obsessive. Instead, the GUN DIGEST BOOK OF THE 44 is riveting.
   
   Starting with the earliest percussion pistols, moving along through historical oddity revolvers and into rich detail about modern classics, and finishing with specialty, custom and long guns, Mr. Taffin gives his reader a collegiate education in the 44s. EVERY single .44 topic of interest is covered in this masterful work. Mr. Taffin refers back to and builds upon the work of earlier masters of the subject, such as the great Elmer Keith. The text is clearly illuminated by plentiful top-quality photographs, in precisely the right proportions. Handloading and chronograph information are included. Chapters are of reasonable length on discrete subjects; it is easy to pick up the GUN DIGEST BOOK OF THE 44 to just kill a few minutes (as I said in my review of Ayoob's GUN DIGEST BOOK OF SIG-SAUER, I foresee a lot of copies of this book camped out in the bathrooms of their new owners), or to spend hours and hours enthralled on a winter's night.
   
   I write this review days before Thanksgiving - if you're looking for a holiday gift for a "gun guy," this is a sure thing. Based on my familiarity with Mr. Taffin's terrific writing in his earlier books and in gun magazines, I had Amazon send me two copies - one for myself and one as a gift for my shooting partner's upcoming 40th birthday. As soon as I opened the package and flipped through my copy, I thought of two more friends who need this book . . . and at Amazon's deeply discounted price for the GUN DIGEST BOOK OF THE 44, I'll probably order them their own copies soon.
   
   288 captivating pages by a master writer for under $19 - if you like guns or are shopping for someone who does, BUY THIS BOOK!

2 comments about Gunsmithing: Rifles.

1. This book is perhaps a good introductory text for those who do not have or do not wish to invest in gunsmithing equipment. Topics covered are largely mundane and include: scope mounting, bedding, boresighting, etc. Much of this information could be had from the instructions that come with the materials listed. There are a few genuine jewels of information that probably make it worth its' modest price. It is a superb book for the neophyte, or someone who simply wishes to be an informed consumer of Gunsmithing services.



2. "Gunsmithing: Rifles offers an abundance of quality, useful information in the form of specific instruction for home shop projects. I'm not suggesting the book's contents are simplistic, but rather the range of information spans from detail to conceptual, which provides a good foundation of knowledge before projects are attempted.

   There are virtually no chapters that would not be of value to the average firearms enthusiast, so I didn't feel I purchased the book only for the contents of one or two good chapters. There is a section on refreshing hunting rifles. The coverage includes correcting poor accuracy, refinishing wood and metal parts, drilling and taping scope mounts and metallic sights. But the information continues on into action/bolt lapping, rechambering, changing a bolt handle, installing a new safety....

   I would have purchased the book just for the coverage of trigger work. Finally, a current, inexpensive book that provides detailed coverage of trigger replacement and tuning, by rifle manufacturer, including do's and don'ts for each model. I followed the book to clean up the trigger on a Winchester M70 that's been waiting to get dropped off at the gunsmith for the past 8 months, and had excellent results.

   Great book

3 comments about Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop: Get Started Without Spending a Fortune.

1. If you want to FORGE a knife this is the book for you....If you want to BUILD a knife===>There are others more suited for that



2. Wayne's first version of this book was the first knifemaking book i purchased. Wayne has guided me and been my mentor and friend from the first (approx 4 yrs ). This latest version is one of the best books a beginner could get. All the fotos and diagrams are in color which greatly helps in understanding the lessons. It has new fotos and diagrams all in color. Although this book has approx same number of pages as the original, it seems to contain 50% more info in it. I would reccommend this book to all knifemakers...beginner and experienced. Definitely a 5 star book.



3. I own both editions of this book. Wayne is a personal friend, and my mentor in knifemaking. It can be intimidating to read some publications and see all the high-tech machinery that some makers use. This book shows that people can develope their passion for making knives without spending a fortune. It is clear and concise, and takes alot of the guesswork out of being a beginner. Wayne learned knifemaking by trial and error, before there were books, magazines and videos on the subject. This book is a must have in the library of any knifemaker. I read mine constantly for reference and inspiration.
   
   Craig "MADKAT"

5 comments about Packing Iron: Gun Leather of the Frontier West.

1. I saw this book several years ago in a book catalogue, I put off buying it because there really didn't seem to be enough subject matter to justify such a book. I could not have been more wrong. When I finally had one in hand I realized there really was a rich wealth of interesting material especially historically. This book shows the colorful evolution of holsters in the American West tradition. This is a fascinating collection of color and detail that leaves the reader in awe concerning this little known facet of traditional Western Americana. Well worth the price. Hours will be spent studing the beautiful illustrations and carefully researched text. You don't have to own a Colt sixshooter to apprecicate this beautiful book that faithfully follows and matches the tradition of the R.L. Wilson publications on the art of firearms.



2. This has rapidly become a favorite book of mine and, judging from the constant references to it from holster makers, has become a widely-used reference source. The quality of the book itself is excellent, with lots of crisp, large pictures and good accompanying text. The "frontier" period covered is pretty wide, really the colonial period into the pre-WW2 era. The emphasis, however, is on the 1800s. The first section of the book mostly covers military gunleather and its transition into civilian forms and usage. The bulk of part two is on California and Mexican Loop pattern holsters of the 1800's and early 20th century, although there is good material on a number of other subjects (all gun-related). The holster photo captions in part two tend to be very repetitious as there are numerous style variations presented, but ultimately don't detract from the pictures themselves or the text. This is not a book to buy if you are interested in costume or accoutrements other than gunleather, and you should pass it by if your primary interest is Western film and TV versions of gunleather - the buscadero, or drop-loop style is barely mentioned.



3. If you're into Cowboy Action Shooting or even history of the Old West, this is a must have book. The pictures are fantastic and the way the book was put together gives the reader an extremely great view of what they wore in the old days. Plus, there are some great pictures from the cowboy movie and television era. Great Book!



4. I received the book quickly, in great condition. I would definitely use this vendor again.



5. I'am very happy to add another great western book to my collection. Lots of great pictures and information in this one as well as others I have bought in the past. Great book.

5 comments about Defensive Shooting for Real-Life Encounters: A Critical Look at Current Training Methods.

1. This is one of those books that cuts down everything you see in handgun training, but offers little in the way of improvements. I did not get a lot of constructive information out of this book, but rather a lot of what is wrong, but little on how to fix it. I read the book twice, and gave it away.



2. Thumbs up to Mroz for his essay about the uselessness of a tactical reload. One cannot resist but laugh at its utter stupidity until one realizes it is there to make instructors seem as worth your buck.



3. This book forced me to think about shooting, training, and more in a different way: how can I make it work rather than how can I pass. Let's face it, passing is one thing; surviving is another. There are plenty of techniques that show you how to shoot targets. There are less that can show you how to live. While Mroz does not share the techniques with you, he sure makes you second-guess the ones you currently use. And that is a good thing because that second-guessing of training may save your life.



4. This book is intended for instructors and those who view firearms from a martial arts perspective (not sport shooting). May be confusing for those who are not familiar with some of the common names/training methods: i.e. Farnam, Stanford, Suarez, Ayoob, etc...
   
   Mroz asks questions and offers his opinions. He covers a wide variety of issues that are relevant to anyone who trains with firearms; the problem with range standards, five deadly training traps, limits of practical match training, myths of concealed carry, etc...
   
   This book was not written to provide answers, but to make you think. That said, there are definitely some pearls of wisdom in here. For example, in the last chapter, Bert DuVernay says "There are no misses on the street. There are only unintended targets. Every bullet we launch hits something." Not a novel thought, but I like the way he said it.
   
   A relatively short book (148 pages) that can be read in one or two sittings. He provides some footnotes to his chapters. A comprehensive reference list or recommended reading/viewing list is not included and would have made this book much better.



5. This is an essay on the authors opinion about the current training methods. It is interesting and I agree with many of his points; but if you are looking for training material look elsewhere.

5 comments about Expedient Homemade Firearms: The 9mm Submachine Gun.

1. This is one of the many books I have bought in order to more fully understand the design and function of fully automatic weapons. I read through it, and felt that it did a decent job of explaining how truly easy it is to make a fully automatic gun using the simple blowback method. Once I felt I had extracted all the value and knowledge I could from the book, I actually traded it for some other gun related books at a used book store. After reading through several other books on the different theories of full auto firearms, including Brassey's book on small arms, I felt a need to review the basics that the P.A. book presented.
   
   Although it's illegal for the civilian to make the gun in Luty's book, anyone who desires to understand the simplicity of how some of the full auto's work, or future Class 3 manufacture's who might someday make machine guns for law enforcement or the government, really need to have this book as a reference.



2. As this book clearly states: 'This material is presented for academic study only.' It is clearly illegal to build the gun described in the book. And if you have enough money to pay all the taxes, you don't need to build one, you can go buy a real gun. When I say real, I mean that you'd have more confidence it wouldn't blow up.
   
   Having said that, the academic interest in this gun is just to see how simple it is to build a gun, and in turn, how impossible it is to prevent the manufacture of weapons by simply passing a law.
   
   The particular gun described here is the simplest I've ever seen. It's constructed from commonly available steel tubing. (I didn't realize that so many standard tubing sizes were so close to what was needed for gun building.) Strangely enough, you don't even need a lathe or milling machine for this gun. Everything is made using hand tools such as hacksaw and file. Normally accepted things such as rifling in the barrel and sights are simply eliminated.
   
   One final comment. He uses a series of 'steel collars' in his design. I presume that's a British term. If you look up 'steel collars' on Google you get a bunch of bondage sites. Instead look up 'shaft collars.'



3. A very interesting read, simple step by step instructions.If you can obtain the materials & trust the authors word-in no time at all you would probably have a neat little weapon on your hands.



4. This is a must have for all gun fans. It shows exactly how to build an automatic gun any size from 22 caliber to 12 gauge. Can be built by anyone from simple easily found materials, it looks great too.



5. Great shop drawings for Machining parts.. Historical information about the Metral. In a SHTF scenario this will/would be a useful book to have on the workbench.
   
   I prefer .223 or 7.62x39 for a variety of reasons.. I've built several of each with no machining from kits. Don't think I'll ever built a Mitral unless DOT.GOV decides to try and usurp the constitution and confiscate legally owned firearms from citizens, in that case, more people then myself would "redeclare our independence from tyranny."