5 comments about Blue Book of Gun Values: 29th Edition (Blue Book of Gun Values).

1. Book received fast and as described !! Saved a lot on a brand new book !
   Excellent transaction, don't get any better !!



2. I use this book for reference to find gun values and information on makes and models. This one was not packaged properly and the front cover and first dozen pages were damaged in shipment. Wish you had been more careful in your packaging!!!!!!!



3. Was able to find just about everything I wanted to look up. Loads of info and pictures!



4. For good or for bad "The Blue Book of Gun Values" still is and will continue to be the bible in the used gun business. They do their best to take as much of the subjectivity as they can out of the grading process, but one person's 98% may still be anothers 90%. Small differences in percentage can mean a big difference in values.
   
   That said it is still "THE" book most used in the business. The reader also needs to be cautioned that prices listed are RETAIL prices and not what you can expect to get from a dealer if you are selling a used firearm. Also understand that while this may be a "National" standard, real values can be dramaticly different for the same gun from one part of the country to the next. Sometimes as little as 50 miles can make a significant difference.
   
   Overall it is a great book with tons of useful information. A must for every gun collector and dealer. Just take the prices with a grain of salt.



5. Great reference document but prices are not near up to date. Book contains about everything in Rifles and Pistols..Recommended for the Hunter or Collector.

4 comments about Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel: The Gun That Changed Everything and the Misunderstood Genius Who Invented It.

1. The book should have contained pictures of how the invention actually worked. Diagrams would have been helpful in order to understand why this gun worked and why it worked so efficiently.



2. One of the merits (and there are many) of Julia Keller's Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel is that the book is more than a biography of Richard Jordan Gatling (1818-1903), inventor of the automatic weapon which bears his name. It's also a well-written, well-researched, and insightful reflection on American self-identity and the icons by which we define ourselves.
   
   We think of ourselves as humanitarian, ingenious, curious, mechanically skillful, industrious, problem-solving, determined, and upwardly mobile (the rags-to-riches aspect of the Great American Dream). As Keller points out, Gatling came to symbolize all these qualities. In the last quarter-century of his life, he was frequently pointed to as a man who personified the best of American qualities. His best known invention, the Gatling gun, was enshrined as "a laudable American accomplishment, another example of native ingenuity and craftsmanship and problem-solving acumen: America at its muscular, can-do best."
   
   But as Ms. Keller also points out, there's a certain irony to all this. Gatling invented his gun in the hopes that its incredible killing power would end the Civil War quickly. As Keller says, the gun's "brutal spit-spot efficiency would, [Gatling] hoped, persuade nations of the waste and folly of war."
   
   In fact, however, military conservatism sidelined its use on the battlefield. The only time it was used during the conflict was against civilians in the New York Draft Riots of 1863. It would be much used--some might say over-used--in the succeeding decades in the Indian Wars and by federal troops and state militia against striking workers. Foreign governments bought thousands of the guns to acquire and hold onto colonies, and Teddy Roosevelt, hero of the Spanish-American War, claimed that the Gatling was the decisive factor (along with Teddy himself, of course) in defeating the Spanish. Much like Alfred Nobel and his dynamite, then, Richard Jordan Gatling found his "humanitarian" invention used in quite nonhumanitarian muscular ways.
   
   There's also irony in other aspects of Gatling's life too: after he sold the Gatling patent to Colt, his financial fortunes dipped; and although he continued inventing right up to the end of his life (his patents include a flushable toilet), he would forever be remembered almost exclusively for his killing machine.
   
   America, argues Ms. Keller, has always had an ambivalent attitude to weapons (probably because their use against other humans tends to upset part of our self-identity as humanitarian). In the earliest days of the Republic, statesmen debated about them. That debate was cast in a completely different light by Gatling's invention of his lethal gun, which not only helped change the face of warfare, but also influenced the way in which Americans and the rest of the world thought about the ethics (and aesthetics) of killing in wartime. As Keller notes, killing became more impersonal, less one-on-one. Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel invites readers to reflect deeply on these kinds of issues.
   
   Highly recommended.



3. Brilliant cultural study of the 19th century through the lens of weapons inventions and innovations. Keller places the Gatling Gun smack in the middle of Americas growth and westward expansion. She explores the contradictions of Gatling's life and the contradictions in Americas view of itself. From steam boats to small pox to agricultural inventions to the first "machine" gun we travel with Richard Gatling through the great American experience
   Keller explores the importance of the American patent system and patent office, to America's rise and economic expansion. She really puts her finger on the pulse of this country in the 19th century.
   Packed full of great history, well paced, and a joy to read.



4. I have three problems with this book. 1) Ms Keller takes us off on a survey of 19th century America instead of concentrating on Richard Gatling. What did John Sutter have to do with the Gatling gun? Well, nothing, but she drags him in by the heels nevertheless. The entire first half of the book is given over to these digressions.
   
   2) She doesn't like firearms--a disabling qualification in somebody who sets out to write the biography of the first successful rapid-fire gun. "The fact that arms are necessary to a nation's survival is a grubby and uncomfortable truth." Uncomfortable to Ms Keller, no doubt, but not to those of us who have used firearms for hunting, for target shooting, and during our military service.
   
   3) She is so enthused by Richard Gatling (though not his gun as an enforcer of government policy!) that she shades the facts. To read her book, you'd conclude that the machine-gun problem was solved by Gatling in 1862 instead of by Hiram Maxim twenty years later--that the single-barrel, auto-loading, auto-firing machine guns of World War One were just minor improvements on Gatling's design. Tain't so.

2 comments about Abc's Of Reloading: The Definitive Guide For Novice To Expert (ABC's of Reloading).

1. This is the book I used when I got started reloading about 10 years ago, and this book gave me just what I needed. When I first got the itch to load my own ammunition, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information and terminology involved in this fascinating field/hobby. It was very difficult to take all the individual pieces of information that I had and form it into an understandable process. I was snowed in under a blizzard of data that I was piecing together through chat rooms and web sites. Everyone was very helpful - basically shooters are the most helpful people I know - but still I was just getting fragments without a solid, complete overview. Phrases like "roll crimp", "seating and sizer dies," and "headspace" came at me in a blizzard. I could look up each phrase, understand each one as a piece, but still the whole picture was fuzzy. In essence, that is what this book will do for you: turn it all into a coherent, linear whole. The writing is very solid and clear, the illustrations are well done and helpful, and the information is very complete. After reading this book, the entire process made sense to me, and more importantly, I was fully warned about the does and don'ts of the reloading world. The coverage is very complete. Primers, powders, bullets and cases are explained with regard to nomenclature and history. All necessary tools and accessories are discussed and explained. This is just a great book. It won't make you an expert (only actual reloading for years will do that), but it will put you on the right road if you wish to become one. --Mykal Banta



2. This book came highly recommended by members of a forum on reloading. I was not disappointed. I will recommend it myself. The book covers the bases and is easy to read. You will need to add other books to your library, ( such as load data for specific calibers ) but this is a very good place to start.

5 comments about 2008 Standard Catalog of Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide (Standard Catalog of Firearms).

1. I have the 2000 and 2002 editions of this guide and was very impressed, but the the 2008 is a disappointment. The picture quality is very poor and the newspaper type paper and print are very displeasing.



2. You need this for a good price list that is current with todays market on Firearms. 2007 book has about the same prices but a few dollars difference, both books are very good in pricing your weapons.



3. SCF is a very useful reference book. One thing really going for is the great pix of thousands of different weapons (not all photo's are correct though). However the values are outdated and have not been changed for at least 2 years and I think even more. The industry standard is The Blue Book of Gun Values by S.P. Fjestad; but Blue Book does not have photo's. If you are interested in firearms I recommend that you get Standard Catalog of Firearms once every 5 years and Fjestad's Blue Book every year. The 2 work well together.
   
   Zed Child



4. About every 2 year i get a new one of these books. i am and avid gun collector and this helps to find the value of the fire arms for buying or selling. it is one of the best books out.



5. It is very easy explained of how to determine if you are going to purchase a firearm old and new because it is an investment.

5 comments about Shooter's Bible - 99th Edition.

1. Bible says "There's a time for living, a time for dying and... a time for killing". Three truths Western society has forgotten or almost. Shooter's Bible isn't The Bible, but is good, possibly the most exhaustive book or catalog in his genre.



2. I obtained this gun book for a Christmas present and it was a big hit. My husband used the book to help price guns for himself and before I knew it, several of his friends were calling and asking for information that was in the book for their own use.



3. This edition is useless. It does not contain gun values as previous editions, particularly on used guns. Many guns are not included in this issue.



4. I purchased this for my dad for Christmas. I have gotten one for him every Christmas for the last 8 years. He is an avid gun collector and enjoys reading this book yearly to see how gun values change. He and I both think this is a great book for anyone who likes guns.



5. Stoeger Books is the premier publisher of reference books on rifles and pistols. First published in 1924, and now in it's newly revised and expanded 99th edition, Stoeger Books "Shooter's Bible" continues to be the preferred and comprehensive firearms reference guide covering new products, specifications, and prices on thousands of firearms and related equipment. In addition to informed and informative feature articles, this edition of "Shooter's Bible' covers handguns, rifles, shotguns, black powder, sights and scopes, ammunition, ballistics, and reloading. Superbly organized and profusely illustrated throughout, "Shooter's Bible" continues to be an essential, core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library firearms reference collections. Also very highly recommended from Stoeger Books for firearms reference collections is the new 30th edition of their "Gun Trader's Guide" (9780883173442, $24.95).

5 comments about Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson).

1. If you have any interest in Smith & Wesson firearms, this is a must have. Tons of information on pistols, rifles, shotguns and other items made by S&W.



2. Excellent resource for the S&W collector. Very comprehensive, quality pictures, great read. The type of book you get lost in for a few hours!



3. This is a great book to get familiar with all the different models of S&W revolvers. I needed a book that would help me identify different revolvers and this book is the one. I believe this book will help anyone looking to broaden their knowledge of S&W firearms. What I like about this book is the color photos and detailed descriptions of each model. This book should be in every gun enthusiast's library.



4. As a firearms dealer there is a need for referenca materials that I can use & depend on, both for my business & as a service to my customers. This is the BEST S&W book I have come across.



5. Best, most useful reference text I've seen on the subject. A very valuable reference for the collector. Very well done. Couldn't be more pleased.

5 comments about The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery.

1. I have read nearly all Massad Ayoob's books and many of his articles. When I got into guns recently, in particular handguns, I ran across his writings. They changed my life. Not only is he an authority on self defense with and without handguns, his analyses of guns and manufacturers of guns are superb. Anyone looking to learn about modern handgunnery ought to turn to Mas Ayoob's writings. His style is concise yet exploratory; his coverage is complete; his demonstrations and illustrations and/or photos are informative; and his message is clear: handgunnery is a serious subject, one that can take many hours of anyone's time, and it should be analyzed carefully along the way. And, finally, Gun Digest is an authority as well, so this combination of publisher and author is one with which you cannot go wrong.



2. This book will allow you to look at what is available in the current field of combat handguns. The book covers pistols, revolvers, larger frame.service size handguns, compacts, subcompacts, and little "mouse" guns. Also covered is the most popular self defense calibers and suggestions on the best loads for your favorite caliber. Also covered, as a primer really, how to carry your weapon and some product suggestions. There is also a section introing the reader to drawing your weapon and shooting your weapon. Some shooting sports is also covered.
   
   Mr Ayoob has done a great job of putting together a complete book on the top choices in handgun seceltion, caliber choice, and load offerings from his own persoanl experiance and from other well know professionals in the shooting/defense field. There is $400 to $100 handguns in here, something for everyone's budget. The book is ment to be a primer for the novice, but experiance shooters can learn also.
   
   Alot of the chapters are sometimes a "refresher" from Mr Ayoob's other books on shooting and self defense. I've read all of his books and I haven't found a bad one yet. The beginner is well advised to search out his other books as well.



3. Mr. Ayoob, as always does an excellent job whenever it comes to gun topics. If you have a gun in the house I would urge you to read his books. Even my wife who knows almost nothing about guns found the book interesting.



4. A disappointment...Ayoob is an awesome author, but if you've already purchased the fifth edition this is almost identical. I own all six and have loved this series as my favorite in the subject. I was so dissapointed when I found out Ayoob just added a couple pages and resold the book as a new edition. Editions 1-5 were always relevant and had a lot to say, but 6 was just a reprint of 5 with a couple new pages. not sure why he didn't write a whole new book like the others always were, however his authority on the subject is without question near the top five in the country.



5. I was very disappointed when I received my 6th edition of Combat Handgunnery. I own the 5th edition, also by Ayoob, and loved it. I incorrectly assumed that the 6th edition would be updated, but as far as I can tell, it is simply a reprinting of the 5th edition. The chapters and text appear to be identical. I could not tell this from the descriptions or reviews that I read on Amazon. It is a great book, but don't buy it if you expect it to be different from the 5th edition.

5 comments about Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values.

1. Ever since the first edition, Norm's book has been the standard reference for antique American firearms. No other reference comes close to the breadth of content. Unless someone takes over, this is likely to be the last edition as Norm is getting up there in years.
   
   The index is still difficult to use as it has been since the first edition. It can be frustrating to locate information on a specific, less common, firearm. The prices listed for most items tend to be several years out of date.



2. I have ll the previous books, I have been waiting for this to come out. A must have for anyone who collects antique gun's.



3. As always, Flayderman presents the best in his guides. Well written and explanations are very accurate. A must for gun collectors and dealers.



4. I have bought 5 prior editions of this book. It is the best antique firearms valuation tool out there and full of interesting information.



5. The ninth edition of the best and most complete guide of identification and evaluation of antique American firearms. Flayderman is the authoritative source for this sort of information. This edition is an improvement on the excellent earlier editions, with more information (and new sections, including an objective discussion of American "dueling pistols", and much tighter editing and proofreading.

5 comments about The Official Overstreet Identification and Price Guide to Indian Arrowheads 10th Edition (Official Overstreet Indian Arrowhead Identification and Price Guide).

1. I am not a professional arrowhead collector by any means but I enjoy learning about them and have been fortunate once in awhile to come across one. This book is excellent for the purpose of learning about the different kinds of arrowheads, lance points, knives, hand axes etc. It includes history of points. There is a choronological gallery of color points in the front, the rest of the photos are in black & white and the book is sectioned into regions to make it easier to learn what is most likely to be found in your area. For those inclined, it also includes what to look for as a collector and the estimated value of your point/s etc. I like this book!



2. A new update from the 7th, 8th, and 9th Editions about Native North American Points which I have in my library. By having the most recent edition (the 10th) you can compare how items have increased in value.
   A host of new material, including new points, geographic area renaming, etc.
   A must for the beginning and advanced collector.



3. Year after year these books are published with the same poor quality binding and paper. Even more disappointing is the same pictures and descriptions are reprinted in each volume. It appears that a variant point or two are added to "justify" a new printing. Don't waste your money. It's 98 percent old and 2 percent "new".



4. 10th edition is like the last 9 editions. But it does have an array of every type variant, albeit many, many variants that really are subjective at best. But as many collectors know. the book has ridiculous price estimates. And as a long time collector/dealer my biggest beef about many of the editions, and I can personally 100% say/witnessed that many of the points are not authentic and only make it into the book to increase their "provenance" and individual value. But that said, the book is on type variations for you and not whether the specimens are actually authentic or not. So its really a catch 22. Many people have made it a popular arrowhead book, unfortunately are the same people that think they have a dozen authentic Clovis points(a rare Paleo, high valued arrowhead) they bought at their local flea market.



5. Outstanding book for those (like me) who do not authenticate points but want to learn about the various types. Includes informative articles on the archaeology of certain points. Lots of beautiful color panels of points arranged by age, in addition to the B&W photos in the identification pages.

5 comments about Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide (Standard Catalog of Military Firearms).

1. As a collector of Militaria I have found this volume a great help with the addition of detail on bayonets that were supplied with the rifles.Making it twice as useful over past copies.



2. Can't do with it if you are a collector or dealer, Has the imfo that you need to price your guns, Very well written so you can understand it and get a general idea of what your items our worth in todays market.



3. This is a great reference. One of the most complete and useful volumes I have ever seen. A must for any firearms collector.



4. I am not an expert, but I do have a collection of: German, Russian, Swiss, Turkish and American military firearms and the popular dedicated reference books for each. What I see missing most from Standard Catalogue of Military Firearms is accuate market values. Prices listed for commodity Milsurp firearms are 2x - 3x market value, even if compared to the past two years. Missing also is the value by country of origin or arsenal and not much attention paid to the glut of inexpensive imports sold through various Milsurp outlets. As an example what is refered to generically as a 1903/38 Turkish Mauser, could actually be conversions made from 1890, 1893, 1903, 1905 carbine, G 98 and the Czech 98/22 Mausers in both small, large ring and hybrid action/barrel.
   
   The Model 1895 Nagant revolver is, again, listed at twice to three times the accepted market value and without discerning the price difference amongst Milsurp models based upon production date, arsenal and configuration. These late production refurbished revolvers were not only made at the Soviet arsenal Tula, they were also made at Izhevsk and marked accordingly. The cartridge for the gun is listed as only the 7.62mm, a label that applies to several cartridges; it is the 7.62x38mmR.
   
   The book is a good source for general identification, which is more than a small accomplishment, it just isn't a very good price guide for buying and selling firearms. It's easier to go to an auction site and spot check as an opportunity arises and reference books dedicated to a more narrow category of firearms will provide a lot more informatio.



5. This book is very interesting and helpful especially when buying old military rifles to collect.