5 comments about The Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly, Pt. V: Shotguns (2nd Edition).

1. WAS HOPING FOR MORE MODERN GUNS THAT I WORK ON, NOT GUNS THAT I WILL PROBABLY NEVER COME A CROSS, GOOD BOOK, JUST NOT WHAT I NEEDED.



2. Of the two books on assembly/disassembly I purchased this was the more thorough. It has good pictures on tear down but is a little lacking on reassembly. I was torn between a three and four rating. This book would actually be helpfull if you had not torn down the project firearm before. So I rated it at four. A little more attention to reassembly would be beneficial for us novices and make this a really good book.



3. A good little book with a lot of information at a very good price.



4. This book along with, "The Gun Digest Book of Exploded Gun Drawings" was given as a gift to my son who, with his brother, is a novice hunter, with a beginning interest in gunsmithing. They have acquired a number of shot guns and rifles and found this book matched their needs exactly. They found this book fascinating and were so excited. Clear, helpful, detailed and would appear to be valuable for both the beginner and serious firearm enthusiasts. They have put it to practical use - so easy to use! These books have not been relegated to the library or reference shelf yet and as reluctant as I am to say it, they remain in the bathroom, so are read and reviewed almost daily and I don't see that changing anytime soon. They can't say enough good things about the book -
   THIS IS A KEEPER!



5. Yet another good reading for the beginner, or for someone who specifically onws one of the shotguns in the book. As I have said in another review, I would like to see Gun Digest publish another volume with newer production shotguns in addition to this book. All in all, very good, worth reading.

1 comments about Double-Barreled Rifles: Fascination in Wood and Steel.

1. This book is quite a good read, though I felt it was missing some information in certain areas, it seemed to cover a great deal of important material. Perhaps I am just expecting too much. As books on the subject of double rifles go, this one is right up there... top shelf.
   Cheers.

5 comments about Colt : An American Legend.

1. This book is chuck full of great high quality color and some black and white photographs, showing the detailed craftmanship of old Colt firearms, from the quality engraving and inlaying to metal and wood working. It gives a complete history of every gun Colt created.
   Great for collectors and gun enthusiasts alike! I am not a gun collector but I do appreciate great craftsmanship, and this book is full of examples to demonstrate both Arts and History.



2. The next best thing to buying a colt revolver itself.
   
   Excellent in every respect and well recommended.



3. I bought this book sight unseen based on my interest in the subject matter and from seeing other offerings of RL Wilson and liking them. First off, this book hasn't been updated since it was produced in the late 80s. Lots has changed since that time. First off, I need to claim my biases. When it comes to Colt I am primarily interested in Single Action Armies, 1911s, and the Python/Diamonbacks. That said I couldn't believe how little photography was devoted to the 1911. By far the most numerous of Colts ever made due to WWI and II production. There were very few photos of standard production 1911s and those that were there were of well used and weatherbeaten ones. There were more of the decorative/unique 1911s. I am fortunate enough to live near a collection of Frank Phillip's (Petroleum) Colt's in the museum in Bartlesville, OK. I couldn't believe Wilson would not photograph their Colts. They're pristine, covering every major variant. The Peacemaker was given fair coverage. The Python and Diamondback were given very little coverage. At the time the Diamondback was current production and more blah in his opinion, I am sure. Looking back on it, it was a classic since it was the last affordable, working man's revolver made by Colt. Now, to me, it marks the end of an epoch. Yes, Colt still makes Pythons but they are so expensive, hard to find and production is so limited they are not hardly worth talking about anymore. If you are into the early guns primarily this is probably a great book. Based on my interests this book was a bit of a disappointment.



4. This is the book if you collect Colts.It has all the early serial numbers.



5. Look, you can't get Wilson's seminal, collectible The Book of Colt Firearms because it is out of print, costs $1000 if you can find one, and your wife would kill you.
   
   Get this book. This is as close as you can get and is widely available. I use it all the time to look up the date of manufacture of any Colt's I might want to buy. The illustrations are quite outstanding.
   
   If you don't know, Mr. Wilson is the most famous Colt expert, who must be incredibly rich to have built his collection. Most of the items shown are from Wilson's own collection, worth millions. He doesn't need the money from this book. It is a labor of love.

4 comments about Gun Digest Book of SIG-Sauer: A Complete Look at SIG-Sauer Pistols.

1. Excellent and comprehensive review of Sig Sauer pistols. Unfortunately does not include the new Sig R-DAK models with their unique and butter smooth trigger systems, recently adopted by the Coast Guard and some other more secretive Federal agencies.
   
   Could stand an updated edition, but still well worth the money.



2. I purchased this for my husband, and he's ecstatic. Over the last month he's shown me every picture, and read me something from nearly every page. I can only assume he's pretty happy with it, since I can't pry it out of his hands!!



3. If you want to know about Sig products and how to effectively use them this is a great book. It is well written and covers basics to more advanced items. I really enjoyed it. Recommended.



4. (I'm writing this after a quick first read-through of the book, so please forgive any error I may unintentionally inject.)
   
   I'm a pretty solid "gun nut," with an excellent and diverse gun book library. I always feel ambivalent about these books that purport to give an overview of a gun company and its product line. While I'm interested in learning stuff that I don't already know (bring on the minutiae!), many of these books (those of one particular coffee table author come to mind) turn out to contain little more than a few beautiful photos with a ton of incredibly dull rah-rah copy: recitations of annual production numbers for various models are a highlight. However, Ayoob's GUN DIGEST BOOK OF SIG-SAUER is a good example of what can be done RIGHT with this type of book.
   
   Ayoob, love him or hate him, is a major gunwriter for a reason. He can write (unlike some) and he's smart. One may disagree with some of his theories (I do, personally) and one may question whether he is right or has experience on a given legal or tactical issue, but the man knows how to write interesting articles about guns.
   
   That's what he does here. The GUN DIGEST BOOK OF SIG-SAUER has a chapter for each model of Sig-Sauer's pistols, from the P-220 through the GSR 1911 (nothing on the new 250s, alas). Ayoob covers each model in detail (you'd think this would get boring with the overall similarity of the Sig-Sauer pistols, but it doesn't) offering insights as to each model's pluses and minuses, as well as intelligent commentary on the sociological niche each model fills. There are chapters on the Sig-Sauer in training, in competition, and on the various custom options available. There are chapters on SIG handguns like the P-210 and on the SIG-H?mmerli target series. There's a chapter on tactics featuring a bunch of goofy photos showing folks performing drawstroke techniques taught by Ayoob's LFI. It's an amazingly thorough book (the NH-based Ayoob's physical proximity to SIGARMS might have helped here): well-written and informative.
   
   The book serves up hundreds of well-done photos to illuminate the text. They're not always placed right next to the text they're illminating, but that's okay. (They're not always of Ayoob, and that's great, too.) Ayoob provides photos of interesting points (e.g., comparisons between the stamped steel slide of a 220 and the milled steel slide of a 220 ST, old grip styles, comparisons of the short and long trigger styles) that fulfill the reason to have a book like this one. I know that Gun Digest books are usually full of good photos, but this one is better than most.
   
   Because of the photos and the nicely delineated text, this is a book that one can read for a couple of hours or just pick up for a couple of minutes (I foresee a lot of copies camped out in the bathrooms of their new owners) to read an article or check out some different photos. Ayoob's writing on each topic is insightful and well-reasoned, and I learned a fair amount in my first run-through.
   
   If you're a "gun nut" (or if you're shopping for one), I don't think you'll be disappointed with this book. Given my aforementioned ambivalence about these "overview" books, I thought long an hard before I bought this one. Now that I've read through it, however, I'm planning to buy another copy for a friend! (By the way, Amazon is offering a great price on the GUN DIGEST BOOK OF SIG-SAUER, which runs $28 at the retail outlets where I've seen it.) Ayoob did a great job with this one!

5 comments about The Standard Knife Collector's Guide: Identification & Values (Standard Knife Collector's Guide).

1. Positives: Comprehensive overview of the various manufacturers. Good valuation system that gives direction on which brands are more desirable. Decent discussion of knife care. Good glossy color insert.
   
   Cons: Does not discuss the history of various patterns(Stockman,Trapper, etc.), but this seems beyond the scope of the book (find an old copy of Bernard Levine's Guide to Knives...either the 3rd or 4th edition). A general overview of patterns and their intended use would be nice.
   
   This book will get you headed in the right direction of knife collecting. This combined with the Bernard Levine book mentioned above is all you need unless you specialize in a brand. There are Case, Cattaraugus, etc... specific books. As to some other comments, I guess I knew this didn't cover fixed blade knives, but I guess it should be "The Standard Pocket Knife Collector's Guide."



2. The fifth updated edition of The Standard Knife Collector's Guide remains a 'must' pick for any who would regularly consult a 'bible' of knife values and history. Over seven hundred pages pack in details on major knife companies, issues, collectible ratings, current stampings and more, with small black and white photos and illustrations enhancing the book's reference value for collectors. It's a specialty item to be sure - but knife collecting is one of the most popular collector's items and so this book is sure to see ongoing interest for any collector library patron.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. Excellent in every way. The authors have incorporated years of common sense in their advice. The rating scale is a stroke of genius. Thank you.



4. Other than proposing to be a knife price guide, this book has no information about knives, other than a very cursory overview, for someone who knows absolutely nothing about knives. The book fails miserably in its attempt to be an informative price guide. The concockted mathematical formula for determining a knife's value is devoid of reality. In the case of certain brands, such as "Case" and "Cattaraugus", the values are so far below real world values that the book is almost entertaining as a jest. Someone who wants to learn about knives and gain a feel for their values would best be served by getting a copy of Levine's 4th Edition. I wish I had read my own review before I purchased this book.



5. The strong suit of this book is the section recounting the histories of dozens of knife manufacturers, as well as the six appendixes, which give detailed identification information and price guidance for Buck Creek, Case, Cattaraugus, Robeson, Remington, Taylor, and Winchester.

   But the stuff that is missing is annoying, especially in a book that calls itself a "standard guide," and is in its third edition. There is neither a glossary nor an index. The title itself is misleading: this book deals only with pocket knives, and less than exhaustively at that. I was surprised not to see information on modern innovations like the Tanto blade and the Walker lock. Important makers such as Keen Kutter, Leatherman and SOG are not mentioned. Then again, the authors also fail to mention Damascus steel, switchblades, gravity knives and butterfly knives. There is a windy essay on the desirability of bone as a handle material, but no advice how to tell bone from ivory, Delrin or other imitation materials. A chapter about knife shields (or escutions) promises to tell why they are important, but fails. In one spot the authors go on at length about counterfeit knives, and in another they discuss reproductions, but they fail to make the obvious connection between the two, or explain the difference. Very little information appears about watch fob knives or "gentleman's" knives. The authors rank Marbles pocket knives as a "top priority" collectible, but there is almost no specific information about them.

   More annoying are the little errors and typos throughout the book. When I found Bakelite identified as a type of hard rubber, I almost threw the book across the room. This is such an obvious mistake that it leaves me wondering what more subtle inaccuracies are in the book. Finally, nobody has edited the text for clarity or consistency, leaving the reader to plow through repetitious paragraphs, some of which actually say nothing.

   I would not recommend against buying this book, but it is a disappointment. Unfortunately, it is all too typical of the quality of material that we find in books about collectibles, and not only from this publisher. Collectibles books are expensive, and apparently profitable since there are so many. The buying public deserves better, and should demand it.

5 comments about How To Make A Silencer For A .22.

1. I found that this book and directions were completely mumble Jumble. If any one can make a workable silencer from these directions he must be the smartest person in the world or it was a fluke.



2. I am tired of reading all of those reviews who say silencers are illegal, they are NOT! You can get a permit for one (which is expensive and takes a couple months, and you must be photographed and fingerprinted) But you can do it. However, there are 16 states in which you cannot get a permit. those states are CA, IA, KS, MA, MO, and MI. If you live in one of those states and you want a silencer, MOVE! By the way, this is interesting... It is legal to own an M82A1 in every state EXCEPT california, where it is also illegal to own a silencer as stated in above list. I guess most liberals are against guns. Too bad for California residents who like guns.
   Anyway, the book serves its purpose well, and as long as you live in AL, AR, AK, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME, MD, MS, MT, NE, ND, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, or WY, then GET YOUR PERMIT and make a silencer. Or buy one if you are lazy.



3. speeds. In a .22 rifle, you can use special subsonic ammo. Consider that the author of these 3 "how-to" silencer books wrote them while he was actually serving Federal prison time for making silencers. They were typed on manual typewriters, while looking over his shoulder for snitches and guards. So the somewhat less-polished language and drawings are forgivable.



4. When I saw this book (decades ago) in a friend's collection, I was inspired to make my own silencer.
   
   There are 2 components to sound coming from a gun:
   1) The muzzle blast
   2) The sound of the bullet traveling at super-sonic speeds as it breaks the sound barrier!!!
   
   A 22LR shell exits the muzzle at over 1300 feet per second. Do the math! That translates to 886 Miles Per Hour - well over the sonic barrier (500 to 700 MPH depending on altitude and barometric pressure).
   
   You can suppress the blast, but when you do, you still hear the crack as the bullet breaks the sound barrier.
   
   A few other cartridges that are super-sonic are: 9MM, Super 38, .357, .41Mag and .44 Mag. So how do you totally eliminate any tell-tale sound? Use a lower velocity cartridge.
   
   As a rule of thumb, don't use a revolver; you should use an automatic pistol. The ideal pistol: .380 AUTO.
   
   One other thing to consider. Silencers are illegal. If you are caught you could be shot or embark on an extended vacation at Club Fed.



5. As this book is only supplied for academic purposes you would think that it would actually be written well and include information that would be useful for academic purposes revolving around silencers, unfortunately it supply's nothing of the sort.

   The information contained is inaccurate to the point of being absurd.

   Look elsewhere for academic study material on this topic.

3 comments about Samurai: Arms, Armor, Costume.

1. Well. It's big and red and shiny and has lots of very pretty photographs of live human beings posing in armor and costumes. It has a gushy description on the inside of the dust jacket about how historically authentic everything is inside!!!!!
   
   It also has a preface by its author in which he mentions "the curator of a private museum in Kyoto." He finally rambles around to mentioning the "Japanese costume museum in Kyoto." He never, ever thanks or acknowledges Izutsu-san by name either. Nor does he identify any of the collections or reproduction sources of any of the arms or armaments.
   
   Dr. Kure is a doctor of medicine. He got interested in researching samurai militaria while painting models for gaming. This led him to re-enacting. Great, as a hobbyist myself, I applaud that. It's just that if you're going to embark on "an obsessive quest for accuracy," how about telling us where you found this stuff so we can come along for the ride?
   
   Not a single footnote. (Am I weird for reading footnotes?)
   
   Not a single corroborating image from period artwork.
   
   No bibliography whatsoever.
   
   I am willing to cut some slack on some truly clunky prose descriptions of outfits as Dr. Kure is not writing in his first language. However, there's an awful lot of inconsistent spellings of phonetically rendered Japanese words. Utiki becomes uchigi and uchiki and wanders back again, for example. Clearly, while Dr. Kure was busy copying information off costume diagrams from the KCM, he wasn't actually reading them. Nor was the lady he credits for "correcting my poor English." This is sloppiness, plain and simple, and it's EXACTLY the sort of thing that's going to confuse a novice costumer or armorer and hinder their obsessive quest for accuracy.
   
   Dr. Kure could have concentrated specifically on armor and male dress, but no, he includes several women's outfits - and confusion runs rampant. "This samurai lady is wearing a blue uchiki coat on top of a violet hitoe. In being fastened on her upper chest, the obi belt differs from that of later periods." Click here for a similar outfit from the Kyoto Costume Museum.) WTF does this mean????? Well, yes, she's wearing a kake-obi. Now look at the fold in her outermost robe at about the tops of her thighs. What do you suppose is holding up the hems of her layered hitoe and uchigi so she can walk in them? I'll give you a hint. Two syllables, starts with "O." Why the kake-obi? To keep all that excess overlap lying neatly while she's out and about because her waist obi is under two or more layers keeping her hems out of the mud. Kake-obi make even MORE sense when one is using a kosode as a veil as shown here. I admit that women's pre-Edo period clothing is my area of focus, but if similar things are going on with the armor and militaria, this book is a minefield.
   
   It's not completely useless. The pictures do show a degree of detail that the ones at the Kyoto Costume Museum website do not. But even the translated "explanation" windows at KCM are better than the muddle that is Dr. Kure's text.
   
   Very disappointing.



2. As a self-taught artist, I'm always looking for more visual reference material, and when I went shopping for some good books on armor, this one immediately caught my eye. I wasn't disappointed in the least. Samurai: Arms, Armor, Costume is a great visual reference book for anyone looking to learn about how armor and feudal Japanese costume was worn.
   
   Within this book, you'll find many sections on different sorts of armor (starting with the earliest sets and moving forward) and daily costume for both men and women. While so many books on samurai and samurai armor tend to rely either on period block prints (which are highly stylized and rather unhelpful) or photographs of armor on display racks, this book shows armor and costumes worn by real people, with each outfit posed in several different ways. I was very pleased with this book, and I think it will be immensely helpful. The only think keeping this book from receiving my full 5 stars is that some of the outfits' colors art so dark that it makes it difficult to determine the folds and drape of the fabric, making them dubious resources. However, this is only a minor quibble.



3. This book is decent, if you know what you're getting. It's primarily a picture book, with a wide variety of both military and civilian Japanese dress from various periods (primarily military dress/armor). The pictures are all actual modern color photos of reenactors with blank white background to them, and brief descriptions of the costume and purpose (some of which is actual antique, but most is reproduction).
   On the good side, it's a great book for actually seeing what the stuff really looked like on real people. On the downside, there was apparently no editor with English as a first language, so bad sentence structure, grammar and spelling are rampant; but no big deal as it is brief and still gets the point across. You can also see the guys with the distinct samurai hair cuts are wearing obvious rubber bald-caps, and the same few individuals throughout. Also, the author oversteppes the bounds of his knowledge once or twice when attempting to compare things to Western equivalents.
   
   It's worth the money if you know what you're getting.

5 comments about The Gun Digest Book of the 1911: A Complete Look at the Use, Care & Repair of the 1911 Pistol, Vol. 1.

1. Somehow, if I had spent the time reading the book a little before purchasing, I wouldn't have bought it. He talks extensively about competition rigs, rules, etc. which I had no interest in. I have yet to see a gun rag writer talk honestly about guns. Ever see a bad review in ANY of the gun magazines?



2. Read more than the table of contents! Some people have obviously rated this book without reading it. The Author explains why some guns are included in the test and others are left out (in 2 Places in the book). The author also talks about and praises his personal "Colt" 1911's. So you Rampant Pony fans should not feel left out. This book is obviously not ground breaking as there have been many books about the 1911, but it is very informative (gunsmithing, tactical course, competitions,& reloading). It provides an indepth comparison of the wide variety of the modern makes of the 1911.



3. Buy this to learn more about your 1911 pistol. I really followed some things written here and presto!, My gun worked better. (with the help of my gunsmith)
   Knowing your pistol can save your life and money. And knowing your pistol means that it is safer to handle and carry.



4. Quite honestly I found this book mediocre at best. It's something of a "Jack of all trades, master of none" effort. If you're a big 1911 fan then you might consider this book, but if you're not, spend your money elsewhere. One good point, there are detailed examinations of 23 different kinds of 1911 pistols which is great if you want an STI or an Auto Ordnance, but where are the various Colt models in detail?



5. This is a MUST have for anyone interested in the 1911 pistol.

1 comments about The Official Price Guide to Collector Knives, 15th edition (Official Price Guide to Collector Knives).

1. This is a good book as a resource. Many of my knives are listed by company, but not in the price guide. I am after the prices suggested.

1 comments about Gunfitting: The Quest for Perfection for Shotguns And Rifles.

1. As a certified shotgun instructor, I found this book provided understandable and useful information to help me respond better to my students.