3 comments about Handguns 2007 (Handguns).

1. It plays second fiddle to the Ken Ramage's other more comprehensive book on all guns- Gun Digest 2001. It basically features a broad selection of popular handguns... specs, data, pictures, etc. I'd recommend getting the full Gun Digest 2001 instead unless your love for firearms is reserved exclusively for handguns.



2. This is an incomplete list of available guns in 2001. It also has guns listed that are no longer available. The pictures do not match up to the descriptions. There is a lot of useless information ie. air guns, lists of books about guns etc. I was disapointed with this book. I expected to see more information and reviews on available models. Did not even list Khar's 9MM, Guns and Ammo's Magazine Handgun of the Year winner in the book anywhere.



3. Handgus 2007
   Edited by Ken Ramage
   
   
   Gun Digest 2007
   Edited by Ken Ramage
   
   What can I say?
   They don't make them like they used to.
   This is not your father's gun digest.
   
   It has been a long time since I bought a Gun Digest but I am about to retire and I want to revive my interest in shooting spoorts. My primary interest is target shooting with handguns.
   
   I expected to catch up on all the new stuff and read dozens of interesting articles and seel all the new models and perhaps some fondly remembered old ones.
   
   Well, they don't make them like they used to.
   I was severely disappointed. Only 17 articles total. Many of them historical. The ones that are not historical tend to have long, boring, historical introductions.
   
   The Photography is absolutely beautiful. If you are interested in beautiful pictures of beautiful guns, buy the Gun Digest. If you are looking for information about guns, shooting, or hunting, stick to your regular magaziine subscriptions.
   
   If you are interested in handguns, Handguns 2007 is worth the money but just barely. It does not have the slick paper photography but it does have 21 articles. Still a lot of boring historical stuff about how one company morphed into another 75 years ago but a decent amount of real information.
   
   The catalog portion is a disappointment, it is neither organized or comlete. There are photos of guns with no descriptions and descriptions of guns with no photos. There are manufacturers who are not represented at all.
   
   
   Summary:
   If you are interested in handguns, buy Handguns 2007 only.
   
   If you are interested in beautiful pictures of guns, buy the Gun Digest 2007.
   
   If you haven't seen one on quite a while be prepared for a disapointment.
   
   
   
   
   

1 comments about The Gun Digest Book of Guns for Personal Defense: Arms & Accessories for Self-Defense.

1. Much of the book is really a catalog of gun models. The actual text is limited. What is written is well done and informative.

5 comments about Guns of the Old West: An Illustrated History.

1. Guns Of The Old West: An Illustrated History by firearms expert and historian Dean K. Boorman (President of the Armor and Arms Club of new York) is detailed guide to the revolvers and firearms of America during the course of its frontier years. Black-and-white as well as color photographs present examples of numerous guns and gun-related memorabilia, thereby enhancing a thorough history describing the evolution of guns and the relentless advance of a technology that changed how wars and individuals on the American frontier fought for their lives. Guns Of The Old West is a fascinating, informative volume which is especially recommended for antique gun collectors and western history buffs.



2. A "mixed review" is about the best possible for this book,
   because there is such disparity between the good and negative
   elements. The photos are fabulous, which much detail and
   well-informed captions, and that part is clearly the best
   part of this book. Most photos were taken of gun collections
   in famous museums, mainly the Gene Autry museum in L.A., and
   the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, WY, so the guns themselves
   are rare and usually documented in a way that clearly sets them

   apart from what most of us will ever see. Anyone who has ever
   tried to photograph a gun will have their breathe taken away
   by the clarity and beauty of these photos, and they have to
   be seen to be believed. Any student of the Old West, or of
   firearms, will want to study these photos and relish the
   details.
   Unhappily, the text doesn't seem to have as much detail or
   accuracy. Many old legends are repeated, seemingly without
   verification, and some of them are rather discredited now.
   So the stories have to be read with an open mind, knowing
   that further reading would be required before forming an opinion
   of some of the historic figures of the Old West.
   So there is an odd mix in going through this book, but the
   photos alone make this an interesting and worthwhile project.




3. This is a really good book.

   It has a lot of information about old guns that you simply will not be able to find elsewhere.




4. This was a gift to my husband. He loves it.



5. This is a great book for anyone who does not already own a collection of books on guns of the Old West. For the money it is SPECTACULAR! The book is color throughout. The only black and white material is actually from the 19th century and includes fine period photos of people with the guns being discussed as well as old drawings and correspondence. The text is brief and works as companion to the photos. I would recommend this to anyone with a new interest in this topic.

1 comments about Antique Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: The Comprehensive Guide to Pistols, Rifles & Shotguns.

1. This could have been a great reference book as it seems to have alot of information packed in it,Antique Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: The Comprehensive Guide to Pistols, Rifles & Shotguns but without a Table of contents or an index, finding the information you are looking for is dependant on a large portion of serendipity.

5 comments about Cartridges of the World: 10th Edition, Revised and Expanded.

1. This is a great, encyclopedic review of more cartridges than any one shooter is ever likely to see, let alone shoot. Maybe Mr Barnes missed some cartridges, but I think he hit everything important and/or interesting. But why not use scale drawings? It would have taken little more effort to make all the technical drawings life-size, and it would have increased the usefulness of the book greatly. As it is, comparisons between cartridges require a scale and some math, which is a nuisance. Granted, a few of these rounds would need more space on the page, but not many of them. A 50BMG SHOULD have a bigger entry than a 30-30, but instead it's shown reduced. But this is a technical complaint about a very excellent encycopedia. The writing is entertaining, too.



2. Frank Barnes was one of the great old timers that we have lost. A gentleman of seemingly infinite knowledge concerning ammunition and firearms. Much like his late friend John T. Amber, he willingly shared it with all.
   
   For much of the life of this book I would have easily given it five stars. Indeed if you have never read this book, and have more than a passing interest in cartridges, it still rates five stars. However I have been collecting and shooting guns for over fifty years, and have picked up a few prejudices along the way that color my judgment of the current work (11th ED.).
   
   My main gripe is that the publishing company seems to be trying to turn this into their cash cow by printing new editions in such short order that they actually show little or nothing new.
   
   The entire "Proprietary Cartridges" chapter is another problem. The chapter seems to be little more than an advertisement for JDJ/SSK Industries, Lazzeroni, A-Square, and several other minor players. What makes a cartridge "Proprietary" seems to change from cartridge to cartridge. Indeed some cartridges listed as "Current" would seem to be "Proprietary" and vice versa. Better to scrap this entire advertisement er... chapter, and put the whole mess under "Wildcats" and quit playing at semantics.
   
   With all of the various Short Magnums and Super Short Magnums that have been introduced in the last ten years we seem to be once again in an era of reinventing the ammunition wheel. Whether any of these new cartridges will stick is still up in the air. You would think that this amount of change in the civilian market would spur any number of interesting articles in a publication such as this. Wrong. Instead we learn about the needle gun. Interesting, but hardly timely.
   
   I suspect this publication will continue to flounder as long as the current set up exists. Hopefully someone will adopt the concept as their baby and completely rewrite and edit it closely. This is what it deserves, and what Frank would have wanted as well.



3. A lot of good information but the author seems to be behind in the modern day cartridges. Russ Haydon of the Woodchuck Den has really brought the 20 cal. into public view. With the several 20 cals. out there the author mentioned the 204 Ruger (an outstanding round), but very little else in that caliber.



4. EXCELLENT BOOK FOR ALL SHOOTERS, FROM THE 22CAL. ON UP !! NOW I REALLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY 9.3X57 AND THE 30/06 CARTRIDGE.



5. One of the most comprehensive sources of information about cartridges available. A MUST have for you library of firearms information.
   
   Steve Adams
   AdamsQuailHunter on GunBroker and Ancientguns Forums

3 comments about The Gun Digest Blackpowder Loading Manual.

1. Fadela has done it again. This seminal work, now in its third edition is updated and better than ever. Anyone, who uses a blackpowder rifle , pistol or shotgun should be equipped with this due to its sheer range of information.

   The book usefully covers the history of blackpowder rifles, what is avalible and basic care. Safety is emphasised, complete with enough horror stories to ensure one is always careful.

   Basic loading techniques are covered- flintlock, and cap lock for all types of firearm. The illustrations are clear, and the text nicely liad out and readily understandable by even the most novice shooter. Even the expert would learn a lot from Fadala in some of his tips- I certainly did. The rest of the book covers loads for practically all (I certainly am unaware of any brand that has been missed) blackpowder and pyrodex muzzle loaders in the market today. Loads are suggested together with ballistics. I have checked the figures with my own rifle and they are spot on. Everything is covered from .75 Cal Smoothbore "Brown Bess" Flintlocks to .32 cal cap lock squirrel guns. There is no critism that can be made of this book but for binding which is a soft cardboard- yours will soon fall to bits as it is taken to ranges and on shoots. Other than that- highly recomended.

   Grade: A+




2. The author (S. Fadala) is a recognized expert in the area of black powder shooting sports. The manual is well planned, referenced and provides a progressive experience in the use and feeding of black powder firearms. All areas of loading and shooting are represented in the manual. However, as might be expected, emphasis is placed on the rifle and pistol loads. Unfortunately, this does not carry over to the muzzle loading shotgun(s). This is an area that requires further work and shooters in this discipline might feel slighted.



3. I got this book for my brother who is totally
   into collecting guns (no, he's not a scary guy!).
   He was thrilled when he got it.

2 comments about Knives 2007: The World's Greatest Knife Book (Knives).

1. Like all of the Krause/DBI books, Knives 2007 is still going down hill. The custom maker index is useful but the articles are very amateur. Noting like the pre-2000 days when Ken Warner was the editor.



2. It's a gorgeous book. The pictures are superb. You may stare at them over and over. For those who like knives, it's a must have.

No comments about Metallic Cartridge Conversions: The History of the Guns & Modern Reproductions.

5 comments about Best Guns.

1. The above review is a bunch of baloney by someone who has never read the book. This book has nothing to do with handguns at all. It's about shotguns, and specifically about the two barrel variety. - - This happens to be an excellent book and a great resource for someone contemplating the purchase of a nice double gun. - -



2. I agree with the reviewer from Seattle -- this book is strictly about high-grade shotguns such as Parker, L.C. Smith, Fox, the Winchester 21 and many others, and has nothing to do with handguns. Overall it's a good book for this type of shotgun.



3. More McIntosh. I don't know who has the definitive work on shotguns, but this one must be close. Especially loved the section on spagetti shotguns. I can tell you up front that, for American guns, he prefers Foxes, but if you have read his works, you already know that.

   This is just more McIntosh. And that is good, even though he has ruined my life. For years I've just considered guns to be tools like drills and saws .... tools to be used but not pampered. Then I discovered McIntosh, and Italian shotguns, and life has not been the same since.

   I've been shooting Japanese. Totally reliable. Never had a problem. But it's like driving a Toyota. I want a Ferrari.

   Michael is to blame.




4. The book has a lot of history, and is very informative on the history of double guns, and especially detailed in that of American heritage, I read a substatial amount about auto ejectors which I understand, twisted bore and smooth bore, pretty much self explainable, but exactly what is a sidelock, what is a boxlock? How do they differ? Old or new which way is the way to go? I look forward to buying a few doubles and using them. Obviously I do not need a $10,000, or even a $15,000 plus double, but I would like one I could use in the field and have something of value down the road in the next 20 or 30 plus years. I think a few informative drawings and discriptions a little more of the understanding of the workings and parts in detail would be benefical. I am not new to firearms for I have a found respect of them and their uses in more than a few areas but doubles are fairly new to me, and with that, new terminology and parts are hard to understand without knowing what to look for.



5. A must have for anyone interested in classic shotguns. Interesting reading with adequate technical information, but not overbearing.

1 comments about Cap Guns: With Values.

1. A great book with quality photographs for beginners to identify and price collectible cap guns. A must for the novice.