5 comments about The Gun Digest Book of the 1911: A Complete Look at the Use, Care & Repair of the 1911 Pistol, Vol. 2.

1. If you like paying for advertising this is a must have.
   
   Even the table of contents was worthless since it only listed "Chapter 1; Chapter 2" and so on; never mind what the chapter is about. The front half has a few good tidbits but the back is a lot of "I owe it to the gun manufacturer to say good things" advertising reviews.



2. Very detailed view of the modern 1911 handgun. A great read for any new or experienced 1911 owner.



3. IU am doing an upgrade project on a Colt Series 80 1911 .38 Super and this book is a very good reference on what to do to get the best results, along with lots of other useful info on the 1911 and its clones.



4. These reviews are MERGED reviews of two different volumes of a book. I believe people are purchasing Volume 2 and expecting the content of Volume 1. There is minimal overlap between Volume 1 and Volume 2.
   
   Volume 1 (ISBN 0873492811, 334 pages, 2001) has information on the history, calibers, disassembly, cleaning, competion, reloading, and testing. At the end of the book is a series of reviews of various 1911 models.
   
   Volume 2 (ISBN 0896892697, 336 pages, 2006) has information on barrels, mud tests, penetration, longevity, tactical illumination, holsters, defense, and competion. As with Volume 1, a series of 1911 reviews are at the end. These are different from Volume 1.
   
   Volume 2 is not meant to replace Volume 1. In fact, in Volume 2, the author writes, "this book is not designed to replace Volume 1..."
   
   I wrote Amazon.com an email indicating that this reviews are mixed up between Volumes 1 and 2.
   
   Both volumes are the best collection of information about the Model of 1911 in book form out there. However, they are two different volumes. I recommend starting with Volume 1 (search by the ISBN above) and if you crave more 1911 information, purchase Volume 2.



5. This is a very interesting book about the workings of the 1911 and I learned a lot from it. It would have been even better if the pictures were in color, but I guess it would cost a lot more....
   I also think that the book should have more information about the trigger/sear/safety and the adjustment/replacement of those parts...

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

1. 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.'



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. 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."



5. The following is an extract of the decsion of the Parole Board in considering the four year prison sentance given to the author. Read the book, but don't act on it!
   
   "The prisoner was convicted in Leeds Crown Court on 24th.April 1998 of the manufacture of a prohibited weapon...............he was sentenced to a total of four years imprisonment. Mr.Luty admitted a long term interest in guns and gun making (3) ...At the time of interview he expressed strong views about the stringent gun laws in this country and on issues related to the individual and the state. To an extent he appears to have embraced the views promulgated by much of the "Right to keep and bear arms" lobby in the United States. I understand police seized a number of publications making reference to these views ....Whilst there is no evidence to suggest Mr.Luty has established any contact with militia or other extreme groups in the United States , his apparent sympathy for their views is of ongoing concern (4) ...............of special concern , I understand Mr.Luty's brother attempted to send him an article from the internet by an organization called "Jews for the preservation of firearms ownership" (JPFO) (5). This appears to be yet another "Right to keep and bear arms" group. Since his imprisonment, Mr.Luty's mother has died and I understand his father remains chronically ill............The prisoner's attitude to the role of the state and the possession and use of firearms gives rise to serious concern. This ,taken together with...the anti-authority stance exhibited during this sentence, adds to the concern that he could represent a very great danger to members of the public in future. The fact that his mother has died since imprisonment and that he appears to have developed an embittered view of his treatment in prison may reinforce his anti-social and anti- authority attitudes, making the likelihood of grave crimes being committed in the future even more likely. (6)
   
   In all the circumstances, in my opinion, the presumption must be that he is potentially dangerous and the case must be managed accordingly. The prisoner has not shown any progress in understanding the concerns highlighted in his case and, if anything, appears even more intransigent in his views than before conviction. Therefore, in my view, he is not a suitable candidate for early release on parole. His future supervision on licence will have to be undertaken with a view to managing risk to the public as an overriding priority.

5 comments about More Workbench Silencers.

1. Mr. Hollenbeck's first how to book on silencers was terrific, and this one follows suit. The instructions are easy to follow with clear pictures. You can't go wrong with this book.



2. I bought this book out of curiosity. Upon reading this book, I am not impressed. I am not an engineer, nor do I claim to be, But in my opinion,
   there is no information in here that anyone who even knows what a suppressor is does not know already. I am dissapointed with my purchase and wished I bought other literature.



3. The designs in this book are simple, lo-tech, and surprisingly effective. Being a good do-it-yourselfer helps, as does a good assortment of hand tools (which if you don't own, you will end up owning by the time you finish the book). Some of the designs are open to improvement, and adaptation to other circumstances. Additionally, they can be adapted to what supplies you have available. It makes for interesting trips to hardware stores.
   
   Remember safety first. Start with wide tolerances, which reduce effectiveness but increase safety. As your skills become more precise, reduce the tolerances. Oh, and of course, don't do any of it, because it is illegal.



4. You will be better off doing a search on the net. I will say this positive about the book...it proves anything can actually get published. If you spend a couple of hours on the net you could write a better book...



5. The only criticism I have of this little book is that it was way too short; I wanted to see more of these elegant designs.
   
   My favorite was the silencer for the Maverick 88 bullpup shotgun firing 575 grain subsonic slugs. With some aluminum tubing, sturdy PVC pipe and fittings, steel wool, and a clamp, the author puts together a heavy-duty silencer capable of withstanding and suppressing the blast of a 12-gauge shotgun. Although an easily-constructed "disposable" silencer, it has the lines of a professional model that was designed for that particular weapon.
   
   I don't know what the other reviewer's problem is; anyone who knows anything about silencers can attest the soundness of these designs. (Maybe it's George Hayduke trying to disparage his competition!)

5 comments about Paleo-indian Artifacts: Identification & Value Guide.

1. Being a collector of Indian artifacts and coming from a family of the same, I think this book is awesome. It is informative and, with the pictures and values given, makes a great resource for the information I was looking for. I had great fun looking up and matching the pictures to the artifacts that I had found in our area of Wyoming. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in artifacts.



2. I was completely dissapointed in this book. On the pro side: it has a lot of pretty pictures and is hardbound. That is about it. It has no technical merit, nor is there any organization to it. It is simply a mosaic of photographs many of which are subjective as to whether they are truley paleo or not, and they do not represent all paleo tools equally. You will have to work to find examples of redstones here. It may be suitable as a coffee table nicknack, but as a reference or good read....Zzzzzz.



3. Once the reader is able to get by the occasional editorial oversight, any serious student, artifact collector or just someone interested in Paleo-Indian/Native American artifacts will find this book an excellent and most enjoyable resource. It is both easy to read as well as full of pictures of these hard to find artifacts. Beautifully photographed...that in itself makes it worth sitting down and enjoying.



4. As previous critiquer noted there is an error in the book RIGHT OFF THE BAT! Could ANYONE have proofread this and missed it? It made me not trust the rest of the book, valid as it might be.



5. This is a BEAUTIFUL book, and well-worth the relatively low Amazon price. However, there are some flaws in it, which might make its usefulness a tad questionable to serious students of Paleo-Indian artifact values and identities. Several pictures are incorrectly ID'ed (see page 6 and 7...the same picture is used for a fluted point and a clovis point. The same thing happens on page 97. This is probably the result of carelessness on the part of the type/image setter, not the author, but it does make one wonder. The images are spectacular (and I'd give my eye-teeth to find any ONE of them), so ignore my carping and purchase this book. It is huge and loaded with full-color photos of points and tools that will make your mouth water. I want to go to Ohio and hunt for artifacts!

5 comments about The Official Price Guide to Collector Knives, 14th edition (Official Price Guide to Collector Knives).

1. I wanted a book to help me identify a bunch of pocket knives I had acquired and what they might be worth. This book helped me do that quite easily and I would recommend it to anyone with similar goals. "The standard knife collectors guide" by Ritchie and Stewart was also of equal value.
   
   I would have liked to have seen more color photos and fewer copier quality pictures but the process was good enough to do what I needed. This book made it easier to discern differences among similar knives because of the detail that was included in knife types.



2. Well its a typical price guide. The values in it are way overinflated and none of the knives actually bring that much money. It is also missing prices for several highly collectible knives.
   The Case XX section of this book is kinda difficult to find what you are looking for.
   If you are thinking of buying this book then dont, I would recommend POCKET KNIFE TRADER'S PRICE GUIDE VOLUME 8 it is much easier to figure out and has actual prices and it is cheaper. It is also fresh off the presses and is written by a group of people who are directly involved with Case and Tony Foster who knows everything about knives.



3. A lot of good information in this book from Mr. Price!
   I would have liked to see more info on obscure knives but I also understand there are only so many pages in the book(750 or so), what info is found between the pages is detailed and accurate.
   A definite worthy addition to anyones library that collects knives.



4. This book is great. I wanted a book listing knife values and this shows everything on that subject for all knives.



5. If it wasn't for Case knives it wouldn't be much of a book.
   There is some good basic information, about the same as included
   in most knife books. Many many knife makers are not mentioned.
   I purchase reference books on all my interest and with few
   exceptions these books list a great percentage of the total
   industry, not just a few as this book does. It sure could have
   been better described.

5 comments about The Blue Book of Airguns.

1. This is a great reference book for all types of airguns. I recommend it for those collecting or researching airguns.



2. My husband requested I order the book for him, he won't put it down now. Full of information he needed. Receipt of the item was so fast and arrived in great condition.



3. Read about the history of airguns and learn everything you ever wanted to know about various brands and models of airguns made worldwide.



4. this is the complete airguns book i have read, before i read it i never know that there is so much brand and models of the airguns ever made in this world, thanks to DR.Beeman and thanks to amazone.com.



5. The Blue Book of Airguns is a must have for any airgun collector. It has great history of airguns that are very uncommon in the US. I dont always agree with the estimated values but the background, history and pictures of the airguns are great.
   Doug Law
   Nebraska Airgun Addict
   dlaw1940@yahoo.com

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.

4 comments about Official Soviet Mosin-Nagant Rifle Manual: Operating Instructions for the Model 1891/30 Rifle and Model 1938 and Model 1944 Carbines Originally Issued by the Ministry of Defense of the U.S.S.R..

1. This book is essential for anyone who owns a M44 type, Mosin Nagant rifle.
   It is easy to read and has some very detailed schematics. There is also some information that was supplied to Russian soldiers that show how to fight with the bayonet, etc. There is even a section showing how to shoot down enemy aircraft. Overall, it was well worth the money.



2. This is a must have book for every one that owns a Mosin Nagant rifle.
   This is a fantastic manual that includes instructions for every aspect of the Mosin Nagant. Take down & assembly, maintenance, cleaning, inspection, troubleshooting and even shooting & sniper tactics.



3. Major James F. Gebhardt has done a great service for all of us who own samples of the Soviet Mosin-Nagant Infantry Rifle. He's translated a Soviet manual published in Russian in 1961.
   
   This manual concentrates on the operation and maintence of the three most commonly encountered versions of the Mosin-Nagant rifle, the M 91-30, the M-38 and the M-44. These remained in reserve for the Red Army and Warsaw Pact armies until the fall of the Soviet Union.
   
   The original Mosin Nagant was adopted by Imperial Russia in 1891. The Soviets improved the sights and shortened the barrel in 1930 (hence M 91-30) and this is the rifle so prominently featured in the movie ENEMY AT THE GATES (in a scoped sniper version, that is.) The 91-30 is a real piece of history and this manual is very helpful for any shooter or collector.
   
   The M-38 is a short, carbine length version of the M 91-30. It is interesting that the M-38 was not equipped to mount a bayonet despite the Red Army's long association with bayonets. The M-38 was designed primarily for cavalry (horse cavalry) and Red Army cavalrymen all carried sabers eliminating the need for a bayonet.
   
   The M 44 is an M-38 equipped with a folding bayonet permanently attached to barrel. This was developed to meet frontline demands for something that was handier (shorter) for soldiers who increasingly rode on tanks and trucks instead of horses. The longer 91-30s, which were usually carried with the antique looking angular bayonets fixed, were too long for soldiers who spent most of their time riding on tanks or Lend-Lease Studebaker 2.5 ton trucks. The M-44 had the reliability of the familiar M 91-30 and the 44's bayonet could be pivoted so that it rode out of the way next to the barrel.
   
   The old 91-30 bayonets could be difficult to dismount and the Red Army never issued scabbards for them. To keep the soldiers from losing them, or throwing them away, a lot of officers insisted that they be mounted all the time which is not much of a problem if you're marching on foot through open country.
   
   It can be a real headache if you're getting in and out of trucks, or off the rear decks of tanks, however. And, by 1944, most Red Army soldiers rode on some sort of motorized transport. This was a rude suprise to the Wehrmacht and a justification for the M-44 which served during the Red Army's advance into Germany during 1944-45.
   
   This manual would be a great companion to Terence W. Lapin's excellent book, THE MOSIN-NAGANT RIFLE. I gave it five stars.
   
   It is interesting that Lapin translated a 1955 edition of this same Soviet manual and published his version in 1999. The material is the same except that Lapin adds some useful comments of his own.



4. 
   For those of you who have bought a Mosin and want to learn more about maintainence and troubleshooting.

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

1. Good Job MEC
   
   
   A very good book that gives valuable information on black powder pistols and their history. The author does a superb job on keeping it straight giving the latest and greatest. Along with the past of shooting pistols and percussion revolvers.



2. I am pleased with the book with one major exception. The book's promotional material here on Amazon shows large color pictures. Copy these for your viewing pleasure because that is all you are going to see. The book in a smaller format and everything is printed in black & white. The diagrams of the pistols parts, text in the pictures, etc are too small to see and be useful. The textural information however is VERY good. This is the only book I have found on the subject but it's presentation could be improved upon.



3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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.

5 comments about Shotgunning: The Art and the Science, Second Edition.

1. This book is a great book containing lots of useful information. I would recommend this book to beginners and advanced shooters alike.



2. Shotgunning: The Art and Science provides a good basic introduction to almost every aspect of shotguns and should prove especially beneficial for new shooters. That said, it comes up short in any substantial discussion of wingshooting technique--which was my primary need. And while the very detailed empirical discussions of ballistics and patterning are thorough and illuminating, much has changed in shotgunning technology since this book was published 30 years ago, and, of course, none of those changes are reflected. For instance, the move away from lead shot for virtually all waterfowling applications has had a profound effect on choke recommendations. Also, the birth and development of sporting clays has rejuvenated many shooters and brought countless other new shooters into shotgunning. Sporting clays is perhaps the most popular clays game being shot today, but it arrived after this book did.
   
   In short, buy this book for its focus on the immutable fundamentals of shotgunning, but look elsewhere for a discussion of technique or a more up to date overview of new and emerging technologies.



3. I thought Brsiter's work was very well written and showed how dedicated he was to the sport. For me, a person relatively new to shotgun sports and wing-shooting, this book is an excellent introduction to shotgunning fundamentals and why shooting a shotgun is so different than any other type of firearm.
   
   In addition, Brister takes the time to provide perspective on various types of shotguns, and even more perspective on various shotshell loads. The summaries of his shotshell tests were very eye-opening for me, as they can teach beginners how shot spreads are affected by larger payloads and higher powder charges, and also, how various loads may affect your ability to produce clean kills in the field, rather than crippling game or causing a slow and painful passing for birds.
   
   Though this book is almost 30 years old at the time of this review, ALL of the principles taught in it hold true today. Some argue that Brister was visionary when he wrote this book and I agree. Much of what is written could very well have had a huge part in shaping the shotgun and shotshell industry as we know it today.



4. I bought this book when it first came out over 20 years ago. I loved it then, and love it now. Much of what Brister wrote forms the bases for many current articles where his information is presented as "new" and he's not even credited! There's very little to criticize in the book. There's excellent chapters on guns, gauges, chokes, shooting styles, etc. It really was a comprehensive book at the time it was published.
   
   That said, the book was written before the lead shot ban in waterfowl hunting, before widespread availability of choke tubes, and before the rapid rise in popularity of sporting clays. Thus the book really doesn't address these issues, and the reader will have to look elsewhere to find current information. (Well, it does talk about choke tubes some, but at that time most shotguns still were purchased with fixed chokes while the reverse is true today.)
   
   This book should be in every serious shotgunner's library, and should be read, and then revisited every year or so, to remind the shooter that whatever recent article he/she just read was already covered by Brister!
   
   Brister's writing style is clear and concise. The book was well edited. Most topics are explained in detail, and information is presented in such a way that most readers should be able to understand. In this day and age of computers, DVD's and other communication media, though, some younger readers may prefer a different approach.
   
   I would love to see this book updated, with current photos and chapters covering some missing topics.



5. I agree with the other reviews in that this is a very indepth guide to shotguns (but with an emphasis on trap shooting). Unfortunately this is not a good book for waterfowl hunting as Bob goes in depth about *lead* shot and how it performs. While his testing methods and insights on how to shoot are good, I really would care less how #4 would perform on ducks as I can't legally use it in the US. This book was written before the ban on lead shot and hasn't been updated accordingly! This book is good for the trap/skeet shooter who can use lead shot but much less useful for the waterfowl hunter. Other than this I like the book as its a good read with clear points.