5 comments about Winchester's Finest The Model 21.

1. This was a very well written and illustrated book. Enjoyed it very much.



2. best of the books on the winchester model 21. if you own one, or are thinking of owning one, this is a must read book.



3. Winchester's Model 21 has generated more then its fair share of controversy since it first came out in 1931. There were those who considered it the finest side by ever made. They based this up the superiority of the design and strength of the steel used. Then again, there were those who couldn't stand it. They said it was too heavy and was over priced. Be that as it may, it has made its mark on the shooting public. It was the closing chapter in a long list of great American shotguns; Parkers, L.C. Smiths, Ithacas, etc. The author has compiled a book that traces its history through its development and early years to when it was production line mode and finally to when it was relegated to the custom shop. If it hadn't been for John Olin it would have been dropped altogether in late 1959, instead of being made into a custom gun. Nothing is left to chance. The chapter on the custom made 21s is especially well done, as it goes into great detail regarding the differences between the various grades. I was impressed with the photographs of the engraving. Winchester's engravers were some of the best in the business. I wish there had been a chapter explaining the building of one of these guns from start to finish, with photographs included. It would give the reader a better appreciation. Overall, this is a very well written book that should be in the library of those who appreciate fine shotguns.



4. Winchester's Model 21 has generated more then its fair share of controversy since it first came out in 1931. There were those who considered it the finest side by ever made. They based this up the superiority of the design and strength of the steel used. Then again, there were those who couldn't stand it. They said it was too heavy and was over priced. Be that as it may, it has made its mark on the shooting public. It was the closing chapter in a long list of great American shotguns; Parkers, L.C. Smiths, Ithacas, etc. The author has compiled a book that traces its history through its development and early years to when it was production line mode and finally to when it was relegated to the custom shop. If it hadn't been for John Olin it would have been dropped altogether in late 1959, instead of being made into a custom gun. Nothing is left to chance. The chapter on the custom made 21s is especially well done, as it goes into great detail regarding the differences between the various grades. I was impressed with the photographs of the engraving. Winchester's engravers were some of the best in the business. I wish there had been a chapter explaining the building of one of these guns from start to finish, with photographs included. It would give the reader a better appreciation. Overall, this is a very well written book that should be in the library of those who appreciate fine shotguns.



5. Winchester's Model 21 was the last in a long series of side by double barrel shotguns to be built in this country Parker, L.C. Smith, Ithaca, just to name a few that preceded it. It came out during the midst of the Great Depression and when Winchester was about ready to go bankrupt. A very inauspicious time to bring out what would be the finest and most strongest shotgun ever made. Here was the modern double barrel shotgun that was made with superior steel and design, that could withstand maximum proof loads that would cause any other gun to fail. The Model 21 made its reputation based upon its strength in the duck blind, going after upland game, or even on the trap and skeet line. It lived up to its reputation. Incidentially, it was one of John M. Olin's favorites. He was the one who kept it going on a custome made basis, after it had been discontinued. The authors have gone to great length researching the history and development of the gun. They start off with the earliest models, which sported double triggers and a splinter forearm to the custom model which were made starting in 1960 up until the late 1980s when USRAC stopped making them. Nothing has been left to chance and the photographs of the engraving and stockwork, while very well done, unfortunately, does not come close to the book on the Browning Superposed. Still, this is a book to buy for those who, either, own one or like to entertain hopes of buying a used one. Be forewarned, that while they are available, they are rather expensive. One closing item and that is the gentleman who is making the Fox side by, Tony Galazan, bought up all of the parts for the 21, along with tools. He is prepared to either repair Model 21s and even make them.

No comments about Arts & Crafts Collector's Guide, The.

2 comments about Franciscan Hand-decorated Embossed Dinnerware.

1. Excellent reference book and also very interesting. This book answered all my questions. Highly recommend.



2. I love this book. I have known James for about 10 years. He has been collecting Franciscan dishes and patterns like Desert Rose and Apple and Ivy for over 25 years now. This is the best book for a Franciscan California Pottery or dinnerware collector.There is information on Catalina Ceramics and Art deco. There are unique bits of information that only a seasoned collector would know.

5 comments about Peanuts Collectibles: Identification & Value Guide.

1. Wonderful and warm. Shows the heart and soul of Peanuts collecting. It's not just a price guide, it's a friend.



2. This book was an big disappointment, and not as advertised.It only contains an small amount of information on Peanuts Collectibles. I would not recommend it.



3. If you are looking for a single book that displays a wide variety of Peanuts Memorabilia, this is the one for you. I was surprised to see almost every item I've collected over the years presented in this book. The only downside that I found was the lack of space given for plush items, and toys. Nonetheless, you will not be disappointed.



4. A wonderful 296 page book loaded with 2,700 great photos in full color. Packed with information on the characters, copyright data, selling your collection, Peanuts Collector Club. Covers all areas, including banks, books, cosmetics, display accessories, dolls, figurines, housewares, music boxes, seasonal, stationery, toys, and more. Contains year 2000 values. Plenty of text, in addition to the listings. A real treasure you'll enjoy reading and using often.



5. Ten times better than the first, Andrea has put her true expertise into this perfect handbook for all the crazed fans of our favorite Beagle. So many beautiful pictures of Snoopy-Stuff. GOOD GRIEF I LOVED IT. Two enthusiastic paws up.

1 comments about Peters and King.

1. Excellent read. This is a well researched and fascinating book, I found most interesting the precautions used to prevent explosions. King Powder utilized different materials that minimized sparking by using cars with four-wheels made of brass riding on iron rails pulled by a mule or horse with bronze shoes secured with copper nails. Workers could not wear shoes made with nails and were fired if caught with matches or smoking. Some of the explosions were massive and one caused 3000 windows to break. They had to go recruit workers from outside the area. This book is a tribute to the many people that were pioneers of an industry which makes this country secure today. I also like the pictures of old ads and shells in the back of the book. I highly recommend reading this book.

No comments about Asian Art: Including the Arts of Islam.

1 comments about Miller's: 100 Years of the Decorative Art: Victoriana, Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau & Art Deco (Miller's Antiques Checklist).

1. covers a wide range of different antiques and styles with a focus on the main artists of each style,descriptions,marks,and tips for what to look out for, but does not provide enough examples of the works of each artist or factory featured. good reading,well written,extensive and informative. the book contains a good number of selected designers and manufacturers as well as the different marks of many of them and that is very helpful. the author,Eric Knowles,is one of the leading experts in the field and you notice that as you read. it is a shame he does not put a value estimate by the photos.

2 comments about Collector's Guide to Battery Toys: --Batteries Not Included : Identification & Values (Collector's Guide to Battery Toys).

1. This 110 page softbound book features more than 300 full color, sharp, large photos. A good introduction to the collectible is provided. Major topics include: Early Battery Toys, Later Battery Toys, How They Got Here, Who Made Them, Golden Age, Mortality Rate, Boxes and their value, Rarity Scale, Care and Repair, Trouble Shooting Guide. All items are listed alphabetically for easy reference. There are over 1,600 entries in this book. Values are shown. A great reference book.



2. If you're looking for an identification & price guide for vintage battery-operated toys, look no further. This book contains a comprehensive listing of most of the early battery toys. It is efficiently laid out with many beautiful colorful pictures. For a quick and efficient reference, or a book that's just plain fun to look through, you can't go wrong for the price on this one.

No comments about Miller's: Clocks: Antiques Checklist (Miller's Antiques Checklist).

1 comments about Czechoslovakian Glass & Collectibles: Book II : Identification & Value Guide (Czechoslovakian Glass & Collectibles).

1. Biggest disappointment: Details of those items pictured with black backgrounds are often difficult to see. The majority of those items would have displayed much better with a different color background. It takes a lot of books on Czech items to find what you're looking for. That gets a bit expensive. I've had very good luck finding less expensive books at bookfinder4u.com. Even the supposedly used ones that I've received have been in nearly excellent condition.