3 comments about Swords and Sword Makers of England and Scotland.

1. Very pleased with the vast amount of information contained in this book. It provides a collector with loads of research info which can be applied before purchasing hardware.



2. This book is defenitively a source of very valuable information to those who love and collect swords. The history that builds its context is profound and helps one understands how a sword was a man's gardian angel that his real life depended on. The highly illustrated secton of this book shows pictures that hearted craftsmen personalized the sword for its owner. One who reads this book gets transported back in time and imagines how people earned their living with the prestigeous art of making the sword. I feel that I have gained another jewel to my loving collection of books.



3. Compiled by Richard H. Bezdek, Swords And Sword Makers Of England And Scotland is a superbly organized, specialized, authoritative, 394-page reference that consists primarily of a list of the names, locations, and lifespans of sword makers of England and Scotland in the 1600's through the 1800's. A section of black-and-white photographs of centuries-old swords enhances this unique and outstanding resource. Swords And Sword Makers Of England And Scotland is especially commended to the attention of scholars and historians, as well as dedicated weapon collectors and hobbyists.

3 comments about The Complete Book of Pocketknife Repair: A Cutler's Manual.

1. What do you call the part of the blade that rests on the backspring...that is the kick. Lots of good information on taking knives apart and putting them back together, but you will find yourself asking questions that aren't answered. On the flip side, there isn't anything better out there.



2. A newcomer to pocketknife repair, this books gives me a start, but doesn't take me very far. It's a small and slim book to begin with (130 pages) but take away the appendix-like materials that are peripheral to repair (such as knife maintenance, sharpening, a section on angles for drill bit points (!), several reproduced Starrett reference tables, types of handle and blade patterns, and other peripheral information you can get from other sources) and the book's down to around 100 pages. Take away the section on the tools used for repair (which is definitely helpful, but there's a full page illustration of what a drill press looks like, another full page illustration of what a bandsaw looks like--you see where I'm going with this) and you're down to around 75 pages. Those remaining 75 pages are well-illustrated with big photos, but there isn't a whole lot of text here. What text does exist, is very good and informative! There's a 28-page sequence showing the repair of an old Case congress slipjoint, which is the sort of thing I purchased the book for, but new blades suddenly appear from nowhere in one of the sequence photos, and no explanation is given where they came from, how they were made, or how they were fitted to the knife. So after I've read the book in about 30 minutes, I find myself wishing the author simply spent more time talking to me about this subject and showing me techniques. He's obviously an experienced pro; just a little stingy with information. On the other hand, it's certainly a decent start, and I'm unaware of any other books out there on this subject, so if you're wanting to learn knife repair from a book, this appears to be one of your few options. I would recommend you get the book because the information that's here is good. Just don't expect the COMPLETE book of pocketknife repair!



3. this book should've been called the incomplete book of pocketknife repair. dont buy this book thinking it will walk you through step by step. bad drawings, bad photos, much omitted detail. this guy should've hired a writer to co-author.

2 comments about The Colt Model 1905 Automatic Pistol.

1. I highly recommend this book as the definitive source on the Colt 1905 and 1905/07. Although the type itself saw limited production, its developement history and impact is a necessary adjunct to understanding and appreciating the Colt 1911 Automatic for which it was the precusor and also the bridge from the 1900/1902 .38 models which started it all.
   With only a little over 6,000 produced, the elegant 1905's are hard to find, but after reading this book you are going to start looking for one. I had already found mine, and before the book I was totally ignorant of the details concerning this type...with this book I now know not only the Id of the man who inspected it but also the man who assembled it. And that is just the beginning...even within this low production there are variations that we collectors just love to study. Many thanks to Mr. Potocki for this excellent work and deepening my appreciation for this
   early automatic pistol.



2. When I wrote this book it was intended for the Colt and automatic pistol collector. The main objectives were to provide the collector with the factual information about the variations of the pistol and provide a guide for helping the collector identify all of the pistol's variations.

   There is a limited amount of color and background but there is a maximum amount of detail as to physical changes in the pistol during its' production years. For example, most assume that there were two hammers used in the production models; there were four and they are identified.

   The correct boxed amunition for these pistols is also identified and described.

   If you collect automatic pistols and if you want to insure that the M1905 you are considering is correct, this book is for you. It should be noted that in many cases this information does not jibe with what is currently in print, but it is accurate as per surviving models that were surveyed for the factual information in the book.

   Most previous information about the M1905 has been in error, our intent was to correct the errors with facts.

No comments about Remington Knives Past & Present: Identification & Value Guide.

3 comments about American Indian Axes and Related Stone Artifacts (Indian Axes & Related Stone Artifacts: Identification & Values).

1. If you are wanting to learn more about axes than this book is a great one to start with. Not real expensive, and has lots of info.
   
   Andy



2. A very nice resource for type, style, and era. However, from an instructional or educational perspective it is essentially a picture book. It leaves me with plenty of questions regarding the entire subject area. But all in all it is still handy as a reference and was worth the price.



3. Now in a fully updated, expanded, and profusely illustrated second edition, Lar Hothem's Indian Axes & Related Stone Artifacts: Identification & Values continues to be the premier reference for collectors, dealers, archaeologists, and museum curators, as well as students of Native American culture and artifacts. Beginning with an informative chart (Prehistoric Periods in North America) and introduction, individual chapters are dedicated to: Axe Development in Prehistoric America; Materials Used For Axes; How Axes Were Made; The Full-Grove Axe; The Three-Quarter Groove Axe; The Half-Grove Axe; Fluted Axes; Barbed Axes; Trophy Axes; Salvaged Axes; Celts - Ungrooved Axes; Spatulas and Spuds; What Axes Were Used For; Axe Facts; The Adz; Archaic and Woodland Adzes; Chisels; Gouges; Other Prehistoric Tools; Hematite Artifacts; Copper Artifacts; Trade-Era Artifacts; Axe Value Factors; Fake Axes - The Problem; Axes As Art Objects; Acquisition Guidelines; Finding Axes - How, When, and Where; Axe Collecting - The Future; and Axes In The Past.

2 comments about The Working Folding Knife.

1. I'm not a streetfighter, and I don't need a Marine survival knife that can slit somebody's throat, hammer in a tent peg and has fishing gear secreted in the handle. I just wanted to know why my grandfather carried a Barlow knife and why a pocket knife has so many blades.

   This book not only satisfied my curiousity about the history and purpose of folding knives, but it helped me choose a new knife and sharpen the ones that I already have.

   The author covers both traditional styled knives and the latest high-tech materials & one-hand openers. He also discusses multi-tools (think Leatherman) and survival knives. For what it's worth, he does cover folding defensive knives.

   Most of what is available on the subject today is either aimed at military hobbiests or collectors who like to spend big bucks on exotics. This book is written by somebody who just likes to carry and use pocket knives--working knives for people who aren't afraid to get their blades dirty.

   I found it informative and enjoyable, and recommend it for anyone who is interested in pocket knives. A serious collector would probably want to read this book also, but it isn't intended for people who put their knives in a case and look at them.




2. Steven Dick has prepared an excellent book on all facets folding knife design, development, and use. This book is the most complete reference on this subject thus far. It contains informative chapters on production, custom, and antique knives. The book helps the reader make informed choices regarding cutlery and also the proper methods and tools necessary for its upkeep. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the interesting world of knives.

No comments about The Art of Gun Engraving.

4 comments about Sailors in Forest Green: Usn Personnel Attached to the Usmc (U.S. Navy Uniforms in World War II).

1. As a former Navy Corpsman, I found this book to be OUTSTANDING! Fully half of the book is devoted to the uniforms and equipment of Navy Medical personnel, and I agree with the earlier reviewer who felt that this should be reflected in the title. Other than that small beef, this is a great book, a welcome addition to Navy historical works, and I look forward to the rest of Mr. Warners' series.



2. Let me start by saying OUTSTANDING JOB SIR! This PHENOMENAL BOOK is festuned with a plethera of never before seen images and information!! This new book has everything! Any one who is interested in the US Navy in WWII should have this book on their bookshelf!
   
   The photos are crisp and clear, the descriptions are great and the information is phenomenal!Mr. Warner took may of the photos outdoors, so you have a difficult time relizing that these are not actual war time color slides. his section pertaing to the sub force was amazing to say the least, the simple fact that he had an original black dyed set of the khakis in this book was mindblowing! And the fact that said uniform actually was on a model who was on an actual sub was incredible! Really loved this section. His gear layout are unmatched, as well as his use of wordage to describe the equipment.
   
   Never before have I seen a reference book with so many original picture that havent been seen a 100 times before in other book, buy this book for the original pictures alone!
   
   If anyone out there is hesitant to buy the book due to the rather high cover price, well then, said person might be called an imbecile! a really superb reference book, like this one,are hard to come by, as well as worth their weight in GOLD!!!This book is worth its weight in Platnum! Don't be a penny wise and a pound foolish, spend the money for this book, it's well worth the price! I would have paid twice this amount if asked by my book dealer!
   
   I am looking forward to the other 4 volumes of the US Navy in WWII from Mr. Warner in eager anticipation, especially his chapter on Aircrew and pilot uniforms.
   all my best,
   paul w. miraldi



3. I just received my pre-ordered copy of this new book and I was very impressed with it. This is the first I've seen of any reference books about the U.S. Navy and it's quite good. Osprey does have a comic-book size volume called "The US Navy in WWII" but it's practically worthless.
   
   Of course no book of this type is perfect but in my opinion, this book's faults are minor and are far outweighed by its merits. Here are the pluses and minuses that I discovered although your interpretation might be different.
   
   These are the things I didn't like; the author used live people to model most of the uniforms for the photos. That's okay but it looks like there are only about 5 or 6 guys wearing about 30 different uniforms. It was a little disappointing to see the same few guys wearing so many different uniforms. However, to his credit, the author does apologize for this in the forward.
   
   It looks as though the photo quality is not as crisp and clear as in other books of this type. I know some writers use slide film or new high tech digital imagery these days. The photos in this book just aren't eye-popping quality.
   
   The title is a bit deceptive. About 80% of this book is devoted to Navy Corpsmen and USMC uniforms & field gear. Maybe the title should have included something about Navy Corpsmen.
   
   The price is very high at $79.00 retail.
   
   These are the things I did like; everything is in one volume. This isn't a book about one subject like helmets, knives or patches. Complete uniforms are shown and the subjects are thoroughly covered from A to Z.
   
   This book is very informative, not just pics of WWII stuff. The author has shown step-by-step instructions for assembling packs and other equipment and the complete list of all the medical items carried in the navy corpsman bags is wonderful. Some experimental items and camouflage are shown as well. The official regulations are often quoted in the text for the wearing of insignia and uniforms which adds a lot of credibility to the author's work.
   
   There are a few recent USMC uniform books already in print that feature similar items. Namely, "Grunt Gear" by Alec Tulkoff, "Paramarine" by Chris Mason and "USMC Uniforms, Insignia and Personal Items of WWII" by Harlan Glenn. I have all of these books and I found very little repetition in "Sailors in Forest Green". Notably, the other books devote little or no attention to dress uniforms which is covered very well in this book. Also, none of the other books give little more than a passing honorable mention to corpsmen. The original combat photos of navy corpsmen and the layouts of the gear they used are also covered here in detail. In my opinion, if you have other USMC reference books, this one will compliment them, not rehash the same material.
   
   With all of the overkill of books out there on U.S. paratrooper gear and German SS camouflage, I'm glad that someone has finally taken on the job of writing a series of serious reference books about the U.S. Navy in WWII. After seeing this first book in the series, I'm really looking forward to the rest of them. All things considered, I give it 5 stars.



4. Jeff Warner has written the most monumental, complete and historically accurate books on WWII Navy, Uniforms, Equipment and Gear on the market to date. It is clear that the author knows his subject matter and he knows it very, very well.
   
   This book is rich with full color, high quality photographs, as well as original photographs direct from the National Archives. The subject matter flows easily from one topic to another. The author's descriptions are well written, clear and concise. Complete outfits and gear are shown, head to foot, showing how the gear goes together, how they were assembled and which items were used during what year, then paired with original photographs illustrating and documenting exactly by whom, where and when they were used.
   
   It is obvious that the author embarked on a huge project and put an immense amount of research, hard work and dedication into this book. Since this is the first volume of a series, it is clear that the following volumes promise only more of the same quality, consistency and excellence.
   
   Whether you are a veteran, collector, curator, historian, teacher, artist, scale model-maker, costumer, re-enactor or simply have a keen interest in the Navy during WWII, this book is a definite MUST HAVE.

2 comments about British and Commonwealth Military Knives.

1. Very good review of all military knives of the British empire 1800-today.
   Cover F-S Fighting knives in a good way.
   Plenty of pictures.
   It is something you must buy!



2. This is a highly impressive work. Every individual item discussed is keyed to an individual text and is often accompanied by multi-views and enlargements. In many cases, there is documentation, many of which are letters from manufacturers and government procurement agencies. There is very little referencing to previous works. This is not an omnium-gatherum nor a synthesis of existing works. It is a new beginning.
   The only thing remotely as detailed or as useful is Robert Baeurlein's thorough work "Allied Fighting Knives" which is mainly about fighting knives and gives short schrift to working blades, plus most of it is about U.S. patterns and includes much more textual descriptions plus many first hand accounts.
   This work divides many types of blades and edged tools up by the major Commonwealth nations wherein they were produced, beginning in the 1880s and continuing up till the present decade.
   The major countries and nations covered are Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India. The amount of items covered lessens the further one gets from Britain, but that is understandable. Everything including commercial knives sold to officers and explorers is covered.
   There is no coverage of items produced in other Far Eastern areas for Empire and Commonwealth Forces nor anything produced in Africa, thus omitting those formerly white-ruled countries of the former Rhodesia (now Zimbablwe) and South Africa, though both are known to have local cutlery industries.
   This may have been due to the lack of contacts consequent to the former political situation of sanctions, whixh precluded both commercial and social contact between Britain and those lands. Or perhapa they just did not make anything there for their forces.
   As in any work of this monumentality, it is not perfect. No matter how long one works, there will always be something omitted. It is the nature of the endeavour. The author has added a chapter of last minute discoveries in his attempt to be as encyclopedic as possible. I learned much from this book and I will refer to it again in my own writings.
   But, a few minor quibbles. The author fails to distinguish between the use of the two synonyms--matchet and machete. The latter being the original Spanish term and used in North America also, and the former, the official British term. Both are pronounced identically except for the e on the end--the t being silent. Because of his use of the American spelling throughout, he missed the significance of the derivation of the term for a famoous short bladed fighting instrument of WW II, the smatchet, usually pronounced to rhyme with hatchet, but again the t is silent. Smatchet is a contraction of small + matchet just as Bren is a contraction.
   He also fails to recognize the tool-weapon issued to native troops of northern Burma by its true name of dah and lumps it in with machetes. He has found a few more patterns of dahs than I have. Of course, these crudely finished implements are so badly marked that moat are unreadable. And he may have included some similar tools made in southern China for local use. These are much better finished than British or Indian issued patterns.
   And finally he missed a rather unusual and strange machete made in Australia in WW II. But, with those few exceptions, one with any interest in this material should buy this book. I will just give it an A not an A+. You can throw away that old copy of Stephens now.

3 comments about Classic Colt Peacemakers.

1. A big disappointment. I own nearly all of R.L. Wilson's books, and bought this out of love for such things. Nowhere NEAR the quality of other books in my collection, it was a big, big disappointment. Not only are the photos not up to par, but the text is horrid. Doc O'Meara apparently writes to make a quick buck -- not for the love of the subject like Wilson.



2. If you like to look at pictures of very pretty Colt SAA's that are way too expensive for the average person to acquire, then by all means read this book--or perhaps I should say "look" at this book. There's not much to read. The author only skims the surface of what I would consider a very in-depth subject regarding the history of Colt Firearms and the "Peacemaker". The rest of the book's pages are filled with full-color photographs that really don't make for a captivating experience. The experience of this book was like having a good friend show you pictures of his/her vacation; the first few photos are interesting, but after awhile it becomes more of the same and interest is rapidly lost.
   
   If you're looking for a very good in-depth history of Colt Firearms I would recommend "Colt: An American Legend" by R.L. Wilson. For a good historical reference on the Single Action Army specifically, I would check out C. Kenneth Moore's "Study of the Colt Single Action Army", although it is out of print and very expensive to buy. A well-stocked library should have it.



3. This pictures alone make this book worthwhile. Very nice color plates with excellent detail. O'Meara doesn't stop with the pictures though. He gives the reader a very well researched history of the Colt company and the development of the Single Action Army.
   Since the book deals with classic Peacemakers, O'meara educated himself on the art of gun engraving and discusses it in a way that will hold the reader's interest.

   Highly recommended.