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A Shining Time - Volume Three, Horse Soldiers, The Dragoons, 1776-1849. Spring. A Shining Time - Volume Three, Horse Soldiers, The Dragoons, 1776-1849. Spring.

Covered in great detail are Washington's continental Army Dragoons, the U.S. Light Dragoons, the U.S. Mounted Rangers, and the U.S. regiments of our frontier Dragoon units.
The Table of Contents includes the following:

Title Page
Contents
Introduction
Text-Dragoons
Continental Light Dragoons
Colonial Horse Soldier
The Enlisted Men
Early Continental Dragoon
Continental Dragoons
Continental's Muskets
Flintlock Pistols
Powder Horns
Cartridge Box-Saddle Holsters
Continental Dragoon's Horse
Continental Saddles-Horse Gear
Continental Era Canteens
Continental Swords-Belts
Dragoon Head Wear
Continental Dragoon Uniform
U.S. Light Dragoons, War of 1812
Saddles Era War of 1812
U.S. Light Dragoon's Pistols
Sabres, Era War of 1812
U.S. Light Dragoons Uniforms
U.S. Mounted Rangers: Arms, Clothing, Guns, Gear
The U.S. Dragoons
Officer, Rgt. of Dragoons
1833 Dragoon's Cap
Sergeant, U.S. Dragoons
Officer, U.S. Dragoons 1833
U.S. Dragoon's Insignia
U.S. Dragoon's Uniforms
Jefferson Boot-Ankle Boots
1839 Forage Cap
U.S. Dragoon's Uniforms
Sabres, U.S. Dragoons
Pistols, U.S. Dragoons
Powder Flasks
Colt, Dragoon's Revolvers
Percussion Revolver Detail
Hall Breechloaders
1847 Dragoon Carbine
Rgt. Mounted Riflemen
U.S. 2nd Regiment
Dragoon Insignia 1847
U.S. Dragoon's Knives
Dragoon's Saddles
Ted Spring's third volume in this series. This volume spans 75 years of the U.S. Cavalry, the golden age of the American Horse Soldier.

Our Price: $15.00
The Gun. Chivers The Gun. Chivers

At a secret arms-design contest in Stalin’s Soviet Union, army technicians submitted a stubby rifle with a curved magazine. Dubbed the AK-47, it was selected as the Eastern Bloc’s standard arm. Scoffed at in the Pentagon as crude and unimpressive, it was in fact a breakthrough—a compact automatic that could be mastered by almost anyone, last decades in the field, and would rarely jam. Manufactured by tens of millions in planned economies, it became first an instrument of repression and then the most lethal weapon of the Cold War. Soon it was in the hands of terrorists.

In a searing examination of modern conflict and official folly, C. J. Chivers mixes meticulous historical research, investigative reporting, and battlefield reportage to illuminate the origins of the world’s most abundant firearm and the consequences of its spread. The result, a tour de force of history and storytelling, sweeps through the miniaturization and distribution of automatic firepower, and puts an iconic object in fuller context than ever before.

The Gun dismantles myths as it moves from the naïve optimism of the Industrial Revolution through the treacherous milieu of the Soviet Union to the inside records of the Taliban. Chivers tells of the 19th-century inventor in Indianapolis who designs a Civil War killing machine, insisting that more-efficient slaughter will save lives. A German attaché who observes British machine guns killing Islamic warriors along the Nile advises his government to amass the weapons that would later flatten British ranks in World War I. In communist Hungary, a locksmith acquires an AK-47 to help wrest his country from the Kremlin’s yoke, beginning a journey to the gallows. The Pentagon suppresses the results of firing tests on severed human heads that might have prevented faulty rifles from being rushed to G.I.s in Vietnam. In Africa, a millennial madman arms abducted children and turns them on their neighbors, setting his country ablaze. Neither pro-gun nor anti-gun, The Gun builds to a terrifying sequence, in which a young man who confronts a trio of assassins is shattered by 23 bullets at close range. The man survives to ask questions that Chivers examines with rigor and flair.
Throughout, The Gun animates unforgettable characters—inventors, salesmen, heroes, megalomaniacs, racists, dictators, gunrunners, terrorists, child soldiers, government careerists, and fools. Drawing from years of research, interviews, and from declassified records revealed for the first time, he presents a richly human account of an evolution in the very experience of war.

Our Price: $20.00
US Combat Shotguns US Combat Shotguns

When a soldier must face multiple opponents at close quarters, few weapons can match the effectiveness of the shotgun. From World War I to the War on Terror, the shotgun has been a devastating weapon in the hands of US troops. For urban combat, prisoner control and shipboard operations, it remains as deadly today as it was a century ago. This book examines various types, from the early combat shotguns through to the riot gun and trench gun versions used in World War l. So effective was the trench shotgun, the Germans complained it violated the "Rules of War” as an inhumane weapon, and threatened to execute troops captured carrying one. More recently during the War on Terror, shotguns have been used to clear cave complexes in Afghanistan and buildings in Iraq, but especially to blow doors open during entries and searches.
Featuring specially commissioned full-coluor artwork, this is the story of the origins, development and the use of the combat shotgun in US service, from the trenches of World War l, to the Korean and Vietnamese Wars and lately the cave complexes of Afghanistan.

Our Price: $25.00
Beretta M9 Pistol. Thompson. Beretta M9 Pistol. Thompson.

In 1990 the Beretta M9 replaced the venerable Colt 1911 as the main pistol of choice for the US Army, and it has seen widespread use in Iraq and Afghanistan. Written by a leading pistol expert who currently trains US Special Forces in the use of this weapon, this book is an honest appraisal of the successes and failings of the 9mm Beretta. The volume traces the Beretta designs that preceded the M9, as well as its use on the battlefield, including the impact it has had on close combat training due its the larger magazine capacity. It also details the adoption of the Beretta by US law enforcement agencies and the impact this has had. This is a fascinating history of a classic pistol and an assessment of its future use.

Our Price: $25.00
The M16. Rottman The M16. Rottman

The M16 was first introduced in 1958 and was revolutionary for its time as it was made of lightweight materials including special aluminum and plastics. It was first adopted by US Special Forces and airborne troops in 1962 before it was issued to Army and Marine units serving in Vietnam. Its use spread throughout the following decades and a number of variants including submachine and carbine versions were also fielded. As a result it is now amongst the three most used combat cartridges in the world while over 10 million M16s and variants have been produced making it one of the most successful American handheld weapons in history .But despite its undeniable success the M16 is not without its detractors. Indeed, the "black rifle”, as it is known, is one of the most controversial rifles ever introduced with a long history of design defects, rugged ess issues, cleaning difficulties and reliability problems leading to endless technical refinements. This volume provides a technical history of the M16 and the struggle to perfect it together with an assessment of its impact on the battlefield drawing on over a decade's combat experience with the rifle.

Our Price: $25.00
The Bazooka. Rottman The Bazooka. Rottman

Most belligerents entering World War II armed their infantry with bulky and ineffectual anti-tank rifles as their primary means of combating tanks. US planners realized that what infantrymen needed was a relatively lightweight, man-portable anti-tank weapon that was simple to operate, accurate, and capable of knocking out the average tank at a reasonable range, while also being effective against fortified buildings, pillboxes, and personnel in the open. The bazooka combined a revolutionary new anti-tank rifle-grenade warhead, a much-modified British anti-aircraft rocket motor, and a cobbled-together launcher tube and electrical firing system; its first test-firing astounded observers, and it was immediately adopted by the US armed forces. Featuring specially drawn colour artwork, this engaging study tells the story of the bazooka, which set the standard for future light anti-tank weapons and their ammunition, and was a key influence on anti-tank tactics and techniques in the post-war era.

Our Price: $25.00
Browning Automatic Rifle. Hodges Jr. Browning Automatic Rifle. Hodges Jr.

For nearly fifty years the hard-hitting, mobile Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR, served in US infantry units as a light squad automatic "base of fire” weapon, providing quick bursts of concentrated fire. Designed in World War One, it didn't reach the front until September 1918. In the inter war years US forces used the BAR across the world, from China to Nicaragua. It also became a favourite of notorious gangsters like Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, who prized its ability to punch through police armoured cars. At the outset of World War II the US armed forces decided to adapt the BAR for a light machine gun role. The BAR was not without its flaws; it was heavy and difficult to dismantle and reassemble, and it didn't cope well with sustained fire. Nevertheless, the BAR saw action in every major theatre of World War II and went on to be used in Korea and in the opening stages of the Vietnam War. Featuring arresting first-hand accounts, specially drawn full-colour artwork and close-up photographs, many in colour, this lively study offers a vivid portrait of this powerful, long-lived and innovative weapon that saw service with US and other forces across the world for much of the 20th century.

Our Price: $25.00
The 58 and 50 Calibre Rifles and Carbines of the Springfield Armoury, 1865 - 1872. Hosmer. The 58 and 50 Calibre Rifles and Carbines of the Springfield Armoury, 1865 - 1872. Hosmer.

The .58- and .50-Caliber Rifles and Carbines of the Springfield Armory, 1865-1872
To date, there has been no single research source for information about the post-Civil War small arms that led to the selection of the .45-70 Springfield rifle and carbine. Yet these rifles and carbines bore the brunt of fighting in the early part of the Indian Wars. Today, they are popular with firearms collectors but who find little information to aid in determining their authenticity.
Richard A. Hosmer, a well-known collector of this period, has written a concise and comprehensive text on each of the eighteen rifles and carbines that were developed at the Springfield National Armory during this seven year period and field-tested by the U.S. Army during years that saw some of the most intense fighting in the West.
Of these eighteen arms, five rifles and one carbine were adopted and issued for general service; three were issued to the cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. The remaining seven rifles and two carbines were issued for various periods of field testing. They were all variations of the Allin “trapdoor,” Remington, Sharps, Spencer, and Ward-Burton breech loading systems. All are extremely historical arms.
Mr. Hosmer’s book provides a detailed description of each rifle and carbine, including markings, finishes, dimensions of all pertinent parts, and a history of each arm’s development. Each firearm is summarized in a separate table. Additional tables list all finishes and markings. Separate chapters describe the bayonets issued with each arm as well as their accoutrements and tools. The book is heavily illustrated with photos of the firearms and their parts.

Our Price: $30.00
Gun Digest Book of Classic American Combat Rifles. Wieland. Gun Digest Book of Classic American Combat Rifles. Wieland.

Great articles, written by great gun writers, about classic rifles!
The Gun Digest Book of Classic American Combat Rifles presents a unique compilation of articles on the greatest American combat rifles developed since 1776, and as they originally appeared in Gun Digest.
Since the first issue of Gun Digest in 1944, combat rifles have made regular appearances in the magazine, in articles on the romance, design, performance, historical, and technical significance—and even the shortcomings—of many rifles used by American troops in battle. Now, you can take a walk down memory lane, thru this volume of the best of these articles, written by the most respected writers working in the field during the second half of the 20th century:
On the Springfield rifle—Col. Townsend Whelen
On the rifles of World War II—Charles T. Haven
On the M-14—John Lachuk
On the AR-15/M16—Christopher R. Bartocci
Most shooters recognize names like Springfield, Colt, Armalite, Sharps, and Spencer. Those rifles made it to the top and stayed there, while many other rifle designs were tested and adopted by the U.S. military only to slide into historical oblivion. Yet all are part of the history of the American combat rifle, and you'll find these various type of rifles and their stories in this exciting book.



Our Price: $35.00
British Small Arms WW2 British Small Arms WW2

BRITISH SMALL ARMS of World War II, Reference guide to Weapons, Makers Codes and Contracts 1936-46
Author: Ian D. Skennerton
This study details the wide range of small arms used by the British Forces in World War 2. Contents include Rifles & Accessories, Shotguns and Air Rifles, Pistols and Revolvers, Sub and Machine Carbines, Machine Guns, Anti-tank Rifles and Projectors, Edged Weapons, Mortars & Bomb Throwers, Dischargers & Flamethrowers.

Our Price: $35.00
Guns of the Elite Forces. Walter. Guns of the Elite Forces. Walter.

An authoritative guide to the guns used by elite forces Fully illustrated with photographs and diagrams Written by a world authority on firearms The war against terrorism continues. Hardly a day goes by without the report of a new outrage. Foremost in the struggle against terrorism are the Special Forces. Guns of the Elite Forces provides a penetrating account of the weapons that elite fighting troops carry into combat. Such elites have always existed in the armies of the world. During World War II, elite units sprang up in most theatres of conflict - the German Brandenburgers carried out clandestine operations in Poland; in the Western Desert, the Long Range Desert Group and SAS penetrated deep behind enemy lines; for larger-scale raids the British Commandos and the US Rangers and Marine Raiders were formed. From 1945, the Special Forces continued to prove their value, operating as small numbers of highly trained fighters carrying out precision tasks to maximum effect and minimum cost in human lives. These qualities have proved essential in the ongoing war against international terrorism, where the risk to non-combatants is a major factor to consider. In the last few decades, and particularly since 9/11, a very special sort of fighting man - a member of an international elite, his fighting skills finely honed - has risen to prominence. At Entebbe, Mogadishu and the Iranian Embassy in London, he has shown his mettle. At the crucial point, the operative must depend upon his gun. Bursting into a room to confront a terrorist, the raider must be sure his weapon will perform perfectly. At long range, precision is similarly essential. In this illustrated book, expert John Walter provides an overview of the weapons elite forces carry into action, as well as the guns their enemies wield. John Walter is the acclaimed author of a number of books including Military Rifles of Two World Wars, Military Handguns of Two World Wars, The Greenhill Dictionary of Guns and Gunmakers, Guns of the Third Reich and The Luger Story.

Our Price: $35.00
British Enfield Rifles SMLE( No1) Rifles Mk1 & Mk111. Stratton. British Enfield Rifles SMLE( No1) Rifles Mk1 & Mk111. Stratton.

The British Enfield No.1 Rifle (Mk I through lshapore 2A/2A1) is not only one of the world's finest battle rifles, but also one of the longest serving from Africa's colonial wars through World Wars I and II and Korea to the conflicts of the Middle East. The British Tommy and the troops of the former British Commonwealth counted on their Short Magazine Lee-Enfields for nearly 90 years, and many are still in use today. Skip Stratton, who maintains the Enfield Rifle Research Internet web site and is a collector of long standing, has written a superb book that provides a well-organized, detailed look from the collector's perspective at this fine rifle series.
Dozens of charts and illustrations take you through seven manufacturers on three continents and seventy years of production to identify each variation of every single part of the rifle. Stratton shows you how to determine which parts are correct for each manufacturer and each period of manufacture. Is that Lee-Enfield pre-World War I, World War I, World War II, or post-World War II manufacture? British or Commonwealth? Original or arsenal reconditioned? It takes more than the date on the action body to determine that. And what do all of those codes and inspection marks and cyphers mean? Do they help detemine the age of the rifle and its parts? Yes, they do, and all are listed in the books' 158 pages and shown in more than 90 illustrations and photographs. Also included are descriptions of accoutrements, cleaning tools, and bayonets issued to the British and Commonwealth soldier with his Short Magazine Lee-Enfield. Serial numbers, codes, markings, cyphers - this book has it all in an easy-to-use layout.

Our Price: $40.00
British Enfield Rifles Lee Enfield No4 & No5 Rifles. Stratton British Enfield Rifles Lee Enfield No4 & No5 Rifles. Stratton

Charles (Skip) Stratton, has done an outstanding job- again. He presents the No. 4 and No. 5 rifle part-by-part. Every single model, including the sniper rifles, target and match rifles and training rifles, manufactured in the U.K., Canada, the U.S., Republic of South Africa and Pakistan, is thoroughly described.

He begins by presenting the historical background for the development of both rifles, the No. 4 in the dark, early days of World War II and the No. 5 (better known as the Jungle Carbine) prompted by the ferocious fighting in Malaya and Burma. He describes each variation of both rifles and explains what all the "marks," "numbers," and codes found on most parts mean and shows how to relate them to the various manufacturing factories in England, Canada, the United States, South Africa and Pakistan. He also provides a breakdown of serial numbers by year, factory and country.
Stratton then literally dissects both rifles, describing every single part and explaining the reasons behind any changes and points out how to identify those changes.
For instance, there are eight different receivers - action bodies- used on the eleven variations of both rifles, five variations of breech bolts, nine variations of rear sights, thirteen variations of barrels and two variations of stocks. Stratton also discusses every single part of the rifle in the same detail so that the reader and collector knows that there are three variations of the humble stock bolt, seven variations of the forend, three variations of the buttplate, and so on, as well as how to identify each and relate it to a specific range of serial numbers produced by a specific factory.
The book also translates the codes and markings that often pinpoint its original and subsequent military units. Collectors are thrilled when the discover that their rifle served at El Alamein or during the Invasion of Sicily, at Monte Cassino, Normandy or in the Far East in Malaya, or in Korea or Aden or anywhere else British forces were to be found between 1941 and the mid-1950s.
As with his first volume covering the Mk I and Mk III (No. 1) Rifles, this is a thorough and well-organized book that will aid the collector in determining originality and restoring these historical battle rifles to authenticity.

Our Price: $40.00
British Enfield Rifles P14 & the US M17 Rifles. Stratton British Enfield Rifles P14 & the US M17 Rifles. Stratton

Charles R. Stratton continues his very successful series on collectible British military rifles with the little understood, but widely available Pattern 1914 and U.S. Model of 1917 Rifles.
Often called the "American Enfield," the Pattern 1914 in .303 caliber was the only British military rifle ever built wholly in the United States even though it was designed by the engineers at Enfield Arsenal. The U.S. Model 1917 was the same rifle, but rechambered for the American .30-06 cartridge. Over 1.2 million Pattern 1914 rifles and 2.5 million Model 1917 rifles were built during World War I by three American companies, Winchester, Remington and Eddystone. More American soldiers, including Sergeant Alvin York, were armed with the Model 1917 Enfield than with the Model 1903 Springfield.
The Model 1917 Enfield has long been a favorite American collectible. Over the years, it has been sporterized for hunting and restored for collecting by thousands of shooters. Parts are commonly available and many P-14 parts are interchangeable with M1917 parts, making it quite easy to return a given rifle to original condition.
As in the previous two volumes, Mr. Stratton has provided a detailed description of each rifle on a part by part basis and noted whether or not the particular part is interchangeable between the two models. He provides a series of charts and explanations for the markings, codes and inspection stamps that appear on each part and tells how to determine which were originally manufactured for the P-14 or the M1917. He also provides a complete history of the rifle's development and use in both World War I and World War II. Also a complete description of the two sniper rifle variations of the P-14 that were fielded in both wars, the Pedersen device developed for the M1917, and the accessories that were issued with the rifle to soldiers of both countries, including ammunition belts, bayonets, tools and cleaning equipment. Separate appendixes provide an exploded view and nomenclature, production statistics, ammunition descriptions and sporting rifle derivations.
The demand for this book has been so great that the author and publisher decided to skip over Volume 3 in the series which will deal with the original "Long Lee" rifle for the time being. Volume 4, The Pattern 1914 and U.S. Model of 1917 Rifles is being published out of sequenc to meet this demand. ISBN 1-882391-29-2, 5.5 x 8.5 inches, perfect bound.
British Enfield Rifles,

Our Price: $40.00
Modern military Rifles.  Walter Modern military Rifles. Walter

Overview
This handbook is an authoritative source, by a leading weapons authority, on the most important military rifles in use in the world today. Modern Military Rifles includes makes and models from leading manufacturers and examines rifles from Germany, Russia, the USA, France, Britain, China and other major producers. Modern Military Rifles covers all significant aspects of design and employment, with data for each weapon on length, weight, barrel, magazine, muzzle velocity, cyclic rate and cartridges. Based on detailed research and familiarity with rifle models and variants, this book is an outstanding and up-to-date reference source.

Our Price: $45.00
The American Krag Rifle and Carbine 2nd Edn. Poyer The American Krag Rifle and Carbine 2nd Edn. Poyer

The Krag rifle and carbine were the first smokeless powder, magazine loading arms used by the United States Army. It was adopted from a Norwegian design in 1892 and reached the troops starting in mid-1894.
The Krag was the first precision-machined, small caliber, magazine loading rifle adopted by the U.S. Army. This meant that the production facilities and work force had to be completely rebuilt and reorganized. In just four short years, the entire U.S. Army, both mounted and dismounted branches, were completely equipped with the new rifle and carbine. So successful had been the design and initial production phase, that only minor changes were made to the rifle and carbine afterward.

It was the ideal time to introduce a new rifle. The U.S. Army in the 1890s was a peacetime organization. The frontier had been settled in the late 1880s and the Army had been reduced in strength to not quite 18,000 strong, and was scattered halfway around the world from Plattsburgh, New York to Anchorage, Alaska to Honolulu, Hawaii. All but two troops of cavalry were still stationed west of the Mississippi River and no military formations in regimental strength had been assembled since the Sioux Wars in 1876-1877.

But the combination of Spanish imperialism in Cuba and the sinking of the battleship, USS Maine, led the United States into a short, sharp war in 1898 that gave way to a longer, more bitter fight in the Philippines. In 1900, Chinese revolutionaries styled the "Boxers" threatened to murder all foreigners in China. The U.S. Army and Marines brought their Krag rifles to mainland China in concert with forces from other European nations and quickly relieved the siege of the Foreign Legations at Peking and then helped clear the country of insurgents.

Even though the Krag only served the U.S. Army for eleven years, it did so admirably and saw much hard fighting. It only gave way to the Model 1903 Springfield as the latter rifle could be loaded quickly and easily with a five round clip.
The American Krag Rifle and Carbine provides the arms collector, historian and target shooter with a part-by-part analysis of what has been called the "rifle with the smoothest bolt action ever designed." Each of the fifteen models of the American Krag rifle and carbine are described in detail. All changes to all parts are described and matched to serial number ranges. A monthly serial number chart by production year has been devised that will provide the collector with the year and month in which his rifle or carbine was manufactured.
The mystery of the so-called Philippine Constabulary rifles is solved and the "School" rifle is introduced. A new and complete exploded view is included as are instructions for assembly and disassembly of the rifle and carbine.

Our Price: $45.00
The SKS Carbine (CKC45g). Kehaya & Poyer The SKS Carbine (CKC45g). Kehaya & Poyer

A complete analysis of the Communist Bloc's SKS Carbine -the first detailed study of this fine, collectible carbine in twenty-five years. Every part analyzed to tell you how to determine its country of origin and whether or not those parts are compatible between SKS carbines of different Nation's manufacture.
This famed Soviet-designed shoulder arm, which together with the AK-47, armed hundreds of thousands of "National Liberation Front" fighters from Vietnam to Angola. It was manufactured in six countries and its total production ran into the tens of millions. Since 1986, over 1,000,000 of those Albanian, Russian, East German, Chinese, North Vietnamese, North Korean, Romanian and Yugoslav SKS Carbines were imported into the United States. That vast number not only provides a fertile field for collectors, but helps keep prices low enough to make the SKS carbine a fine plinking and hunting rifle.
The SKS Carbine examines the firearm on a part-by-part basis so that you can determine 1) which parts are original on a particular SKS carbine, 2) in which country they were produced, 3) which of those parts are interchangeable between different manufacturers and which are not, 4) how to read serial numbers to determine date of manufacture and country of origin, and 5) what the inspection markings stamped on metal and wood parts mean. Since the vast majority of SKS Carbines in the U.S. are military surplus, you will learn how to examine and select a fine, shootable SKS Carbine. You are also provided with complete assembly/disassembly instructions, how to manufacture most parts if you cannot find a commercial source, and ammunition characteristics, and ballistic information.

An expanded list of factory codes for the Chinese SKS carbines has been made available to the authors by collector Howard Bearse. That information and more has also been included in this 5th revised and expanded edition of The SKS Carbine.

Our Price: $45.00
Tally Ho!  Bob Foster. Tally Ho! Bob Foster.

Bob Foster is a well known figure at book and print signings in many parts of the UK. Although recognized as a Battle of Britain veteran, little is known of his life, or the details of his war service with the RAF. Persuaded to tell his story to air historian and well established aviation author Norman Franks, the result is a very readable account of his flying years. These began shortly before WW2, when he learnt to fly with the RAFVR. Called up for war service in September 1939, he completed his training and was posted to 605 Squadron, equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. By early September 1940 he and his Squadron were in the thick of the air fighting over southern England, operating from Croydon. Surviving the Battle, he later became an instructor, but shortly after joining 54 Squadron, which had Spitfires, he and this unit became part of a group sent out to Australia to help defend the Darwin area.Bob's squadron and two others, 452 and 457, engaged the Japanese incursions throughout 1943. Awarded the DFC for his efforts, he returned to the UK and was given an assignment with a RAF public relations outfit, ending up in Normandy within three weeks of the invasion of 1944. Often serving right up in the front lines, Bob saw the war at very close hand, and then quite by chance became one of the first, if not the first RAF officer to enter Paris with the liberating French army, and again, by chance, was in General de Gaulle's triumphant procession down the Champs-Aelysees. His memoir is an entertaining collection of stories and reminiscences of two distinct areas of WW2, which also shows how luck often shaped the lives of the fighter pilots involved. Bob Foster later became a successful sales manager with Shell-Mex and BP, as well as serving with the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. He now lives with his wife Kaethe near Bexhill in East Sussex.Norman Franks is a well-respected and world-renowned author and has over seventy-five books to his name. Author of "Jasta Boelcke", "Ton-Up Lancs", "Air Battle for Dunkirk" and "Frank 'Chota' Carey" he has also been co-author of many titles with distinguished fighter pilots such as Neville Duke ("War Diaries of Neville Duke"), Jimmy Sheddan ("Tempest Pilot") and Paul Richey ("Fighter Pilot's Summer"). He lives with his wife Heather in East Sussex.

Our Price: $45.00
US Infantry Weapons in Combat. Goodwin US Infantry Weapons in Combat. Goodwin

The first thing that the reader must know about this book is that it is a gun book.  It is not simply war stories, but sixty-five interviews with soldiers and Marines specifically relating their experiences with the US infantry weapons in combat during World War II and in the Korean War. The differing opinions of these men is fascinating. One man loved the M1 rifle and hated the M1 carbine while the next loved the M1 carbine and hated the M1 rifle. Based upon his personal experiences each man had his own opinion on the weapons that he had used during these wars and relates those observations to the reader. So much of what we collectors and history buffs think we know about the use of US infantry weapons in combat has been derived from two sources: movies and books. Some movies, like “Band of Brothers” are very accurate, others are not. The general history books of these wars rarely contain the in-depth details of infantry weapons that would be of interest to collectors. The stories about US infantry weapons contained in this book are the real hands-on experiences of the men who actually used them for their intended purposes. Once I began reading these interviews, I could not put the manuscript down. – Scott Duff

Our Price: $50.00
Swedish Mauser Rifles. Kehaya & Poyer Swedish Mauser Rifles. Kehaya & Poyer

The writing team that brought you "The SKS Carbine" has done it again with the "Swedish Mauser Rifles." One the earliest military surplus imports into North America after World War II, more than 300,000 of these beautiful rifles are now in private American and Canadian hands and another 75,000+ in European gun racks. Yet, only two books have been written about this finest of all Mauser rifles, one in German and the other directed more toward shooters than collectors.
"The Swedish Mauser Rifles" provides the “Fore Collector’s Only” part-by-part examination for every one of the14 different models of this fine military and civilian match rifle. Every marking, every code is explained. A new, first ever list of serial number ranges by year has been compiled. All military and many civilian accessories are included with photos. Line drawings illustrate every part to provide the clearest view. A new color insert provides photos of the various models.
Also included is a discussion of production methods and total rifles produced for each model. Serial numbering is clarified between carbines and rifles (many share the same serial number). Each model is discussed in detail and illustrated with photos.
The target versions of this very fine rifle are analyzed and photographed. A complete discussion of the various sniper rifle models are included (with photos) up to the present PS90 based on the AWS Sniper Rifle. Ammunition types are listed and performance data is included. Appendices discuss production methods and totals produced; the obscure m/39 and /40 rifles, the development of the Swedish arms industry to the present, a short military history of Sweden, the composition of Swedish steel - which did not change from 1894 to the end of production in 1944 - and assembly/disassembly and trouble-shooting. We think this book will be a major contribution to the field of arms collecting.
"The Swedish Mauser Rifles" contains 263 pages packed with information and illustrations and photos. Perfect bound with four-color cover.

Our Price: $50.00
Collecting American Sniper Rifles 1900 - 1945. Poyer Collecting American Sniper Rifles 1900 - 1945. Poyer

A quick search of Ebay for anything related to sniper rifles—telescopic sights, mounts, manuals, cases, etc.—illustrates the collecting "frenzy" for sniper rifles, both old and new.
Weaver telescopic sights used on the World War II-era Model 1903A4 Sniper Rifles sell for $900 to $1,500 dollars, only most of those offered for sale are fakes or are misrepresented commercial sights. The "chat rooms" are full of misinformation because there is very little reference material available.
Collecting the American Sniper Rifle, 1900 to 1945 provides accurate information that will allow the collector to determine whether or not a particular rifle or telescopic part—or other accessory—is correct.
The book provides a detailed description of...
the sniper rifle with all parts and markings that make it uniquely a U.S. military sniper rifle.
the telescopic sight with all parts and markings that make it uniquely a U.S. military sniper scope.
the bases and mounts with all parts and markings that make them part of the U.S. military sniper scope assembly.
The books also contains a history of the development of each particular sniper rifle and telescopic sight. Its mounting on the rifle and sighting in are described in detail. A history of the development of the rifle leading to its use as a sniper rifle is included in an appendix, as are descriptions of British and Canadian sniper rifles that used American-produced telescopic sights.
This book covers the sniper variations of the Model 1903 Springfield:
U.S. Model 1903 .30 Caliber Rifle with the Warner & Swasey Telescopic Sight
U.S. Model 1903 .30 Caliber Rifle with the Winchester A5 or Lyman 5A
Telescopic Sight:
Model 1903A1 (Sniper) U.S.M.C. Rifle with the 7.8x Unertl Telescopic Sight
Model 1903A4 .30 Caliber (Snipers) Rifle with the Weaver M73B1 Telescopic Sight.

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Collecting American Sniper Rifles 1945 - 2000 Poyer Collecting American Sniper Rifles 1945 - 2000 Poyer


This volume in the “Collecting the American Sniper Rifle” series includes the M1C and M1D Garand Sniper Rifles, the Winchester and Remington match rifles used as sniper rifles in Vietnam, the USMC M40 Sniper Rifle, the US Army’s M24 and XM2010 Sniper Rifles, the Special Operations Command M86 and M89 Sniper Rifles, and the T3 and M2 Carbines equipped with the T120, M1, M2 and M3 Infrared Sniperscopes.
Each sniper rifle is analyzed in depth for serial number ranges, markings, parts codes and other identifying markings. The telescopic sights, mounts, and rings are specifically identified for their military use complete with markings and where useful, serial number ranges.
You find an M1C or M1D sniper rifle at a gun show or a gun shop? How do you know that it is an original and authentic U.S. military sniper rifle. These and other U.S. military sniper rifles have been counterfeited for several decades now. Others have been built by well-meaning shooters and collectors for their own use, but over the years, and in other hands, they have become “original and authentic” sniper rifles.
M1Cs fall into a distinct range of serial numbers and their telescopic sights and mountings possess distinct characteristics. Do you know what they are?
The M1D, the most popular U.S. military snipers rifle to collect, are widely faked. Do you know how to identify a correct M1D. Producing an M1D only requires a change to the barrel and a new handguard. The mount and bracket to the telescopic sights have been widely manufactured for more than thirty years as after-market replacements. Original M84 Telescopic Sights and their mounting are identified, photographed and compared to after-market reproductions.
Telescopic sights for the M1903A4, M1C, M1D and M40 sniper rifles are now being reproduced in China for sale in the United States. None of them say “Made in China.” Often they are sold on Ebay and other auction sites, either reworked to appear original, or without stating that they are reproductions. Do you know how to tell the difference?
There are a few original USMC M40 and the M24 Sniper Rifles that have been released for sale to police departments and to civilians. But the have also been reproduced by numerous gunsmiths and small companies for the past twenty or so years. Most of the shipping boxes made it plain that these were not the real thing, but once the box is lost, or the rifle on a table at a gun show, or listed on a gun auction site, how do you tell a reproduction from the original?
Collecting the American Sniper Rifle 1945-2000, like its predecessor, Collecting the American Sniper Rifle 1900 to 1945, provides detailed descriptions and tables of identifying characteristics. If you are interested in collecting American sniper rifles, these are the books you need. They may save you hundreds of dollars and a lot of grief.

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A Brief History of Cryptology. Boone A Brief History of Cryptology. Boone

Most of us experience the interactions of cryptography, communications, and computers as we go about our daily activities. While on our laptops, we conduct secure financial transactions and communicate about business and personal matters. But not long ago, only people with special security clearances working at secured communications centres had such access. This book looks at how this dramatic transition came about.


J. V. Boone presents a historical overview of technological developments in cryptology and the closely associated fields of communications and computers. Having directed research at the National Security Agency (NSA) for years, he is well suited to tell the story. Boone identifies milestone accomplishments and activities in the three fields to provide an introduction to the talented people who have led developments and applications. He includes illustrations to give a feel for the equipment and systems, but his book's focus is on the essential ingredient for success in cryptology: brainpower. Everyone from high school students to policy developers in government and industry will be drawn to this concise history of the joint progress of cryptology, communications, and computers. Although he writes primarily from a military intelligence and command/control viewpoint, there are no involved explanations about how individual pieces of equipment function and no elaborate mathematical presentations. For those whose curiosity he has stimulated, he provides additional references.

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Wireless at War. Peter Jensen Wireless at War. Peter Jensen

After 1900, as the potential advantages of wireless technology to the battlefield and for marine warfare became apparent, interested industrial organisations multiplied, keeping pace with the growth of the armies and navies that would soon apply their products to devastating effect. How twentieth-century warfare helped to speed the development of radio and electronic communications is worthy of recall.
Warfare, however, can be seen as having had a more profound impact on this process over the past 100 years than almost any other driving force. Describing how this impact has led to improved systems of communications and a progressive diminution in size and weight of apparatus is one of the main objectives of this volume.

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The M16 /  AR15 Rifle The M16 / AR15 Rifle

The M16 has been the nation's military rifle since 1964, longer than any other military rifle. During those 36 years, it has been carried in combat and on peacekeeping missions by American, allied and friendly soldiers to every corner of the world.Over thirty new pages added to this edition with up-to date information on the latest military developments in the M4, M16A3 and -A4, and M25 models, designated markman’s rifles, .22 caliber tactical rifles, and all new calibers in which the AR15s are chambered.)

The civilian version, the AR15 rifle, has been manufactured in the hundreds of thousands by more than a dozen different companies. It is the current National Match Service Rifle and the most popular target match rifle in use today.

The M16/AR15 Rifles by Joe Poyer provides a detailed examination of this famous rifle in both its military and civilian versions. Following a history of its development and the evolution of military tactics that guided its design, a comprehensive part-by-part examination of the rifle is provided.

Markings and codes for military and civilian rifles and carbines are deciphered and a six page table lists all models by all manufacturers currently in production, with specific features.

For those interested in competition, three AR15s were custom-built; a spacegun for long range bench rest matches, a service match rifle that complies with all current OCM and NRA competition rules and a .22 rimfire AR15 rifle that is not only amazingly accurate but is legal in California and other states that ban large capacity magazine, centerfire, semiautomatic rifles. The design and building process is thoroughly described for those wishing to build their own match rifles.

The M16/AR15 rifle is the last military rifle that Americans will be allowed to own. The M16's replacement, which incorporates a 20 mm grenade launcher, is already well-advanced in testing and is due to be introduced by mid-decade. But the AR15 rifle will remain the national match service rifle far into the foreseeable future.

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The AK-47 and AK-74 Kalashnikov Rifles and their Variations. Poyer. The AK-47 and AK-74 Kalashnikov Rifles and their Variations. Poyer.

This book contains the most complete and up-to-date examination of the famed Kalashnikov rifle yet that every shooter and collector needs. The book provides a part-by-part examination of the AK-47 and AK-74 rifles and describes in detail all the major variations between the 7.62 x 39 mm AK-47 and ARM. Also the 5.45 x 39 mm AK-74, AK-74M and AKS-74U, and the new Century series AK-101 THRU AK-108 rifles and submachine guns now being produced in the Russian Federation.
Also described in detail are all the national variations of the Kalashnikov rifles, including the Bulgarian, Chinese, Egyptian, East German, Hungarian, Iraqi, North Korean, Polish, Romanian, and Yugoslavian manufactured Kalashnikov rifles in both 7.62 and 5.45 caliber. A separate chapter describes all clones of the Kalashnikov system from the Belgian FNC through the Israeli Galil to the Swiss STg.90 series.
Other chapters include: 1)a complete history of the rifle's development, 2)a short biography of Mikhail Kalashnikov, 3)descriptions and use of purpose-built telescopic sights for the Kalashnikov rifles, 4)accessories and tools issued to the soldier, 5)ammunition carriers from vests to pouches, and 5)various types of Soviet and Russian ammunition. Also described are the Soviet and other 6)national sniper rifles and 7)the new Russian An-94, the replacement for the AK-74.
Appendices contain information on how to identify models and national origins of entire rifles, as well as parts, by markings and finishes, serial numbers, assembly/disassembly, cleaning and maintenance, operation, troubleshooting, accessories, parts suppliers, and the legal considerations of owning or assembling an "assult weapon" under the various federal laws - its easier than you might think.

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Guns of the Gurkhas. Walter Guns of the Gurkhas. Walter

Overview
The story of the firearms used by the Royal Nepalese Army from the Treaty of Segauli to the end of the Second World War, based on detailed examination of the guns and new archival research.

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The M14 - Type Rifle. A Shooters and Collectors Guide. Poyer The M14 - Type Rifle. A Shooters and Collectors Guide. Poyer

The M14-Type Rifles, A Shooter's and Collector's Guide, 3rd Edition
The M14-Type Rifle, 3rd edition, revised and expanded, by Joe Poyer . The M14 rifle was the last semiautomatic battle rifle adopted by the U.S. military. It lasted less than ten years before being replaced by the M16. But in that short time, it developed fierce adherents and became one of the finest match rifles in the world. During the war in Iraq, the M14, as well as its sniper variations, the M21 and M25, have made an astonishing comeback. This new, revised and expanded 3rd edition describes the use of the M14 rifle and its sniper variations today by all four branches of the U.S. military, plus the U.S. Coast Guard.
The M14-Type Rifle provides a detailed history of the rifle's development and use, particularly today in Iraq and Afghanistan where the high-powered 7.62 x 51 NATO (.308) cartridge is ideal for long range sniping and for penetrating body armor and light vehicles. The M14 rifle and its two sniper variations, the M21 and M25, are described on a part-by-part basis. A survey of all current civilian semiautomatic M14-type rifles and components available today is also included as a separate chapter and brought up to date. Included also are the Chinese variations of the M14. The history of the development and use of the M14 in Vietnam is discussed showing how it led to the development of the sniper variations.
The book also serves as a guide for shooters who want to restore an M14 to original condition or build a superb match rifle from the civilian versions. Various receivers and parts kits are discussed. Separate chapters show how to turn a commercial M14-type rifle such as the M1A, into a superb match rifle by choosing the right barrel, glass-bedding the stock, and unitizing the gas cylinder. Also discussed are National Match rifles with specifications, ammunition to be used for the best accuracy, targeting and shooting the M14-type rifle and trouble shooting and maintenance. Finally, all G.I. issue accessories are described. The book is fully illustrated with photos and drawings that clarify the text. Appendices provide up-to-date information on parts and supplies and gun smithing services. Finally, the current legal ramifications of owning a semi-automatic rifle is explained.

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Waffen-SS. Elite Forces 2. Hook, Sharpe, Davis Waffen-SS. Elite Forces 2. Hook, Sharpe, Davis

Two famed German panzer units both of which saw extensive action on the Eastern Front during World War II are analysed in fascinating detail in this heavily illustrated book. The first, Hohenstaufen, the 9th SS Panzer Division, was named after the house of the medieval Emperor Frederick II. The division fought on the Eastern Front in spring 1944 before moving to the west in June. Fighting first around Caen and then in the battle to keep the neck of the Falaise Pocket open, the division acquitted itself well, and continued to do so in the retreat through France and Belgium. Ordered for a refit at Arnhem, it arrived there on 9 September, ten days before ?Market Garden? started. Hohenstaufen was the unit that was instrumental in keeping the advancing Allied thrust from making contact with British 1st Airborne Division in Arnhem. In reserve for the Battle of the Bulge, the division was committed to assist in the capture of Bastogne. Sent to Hungary in February 1945, Hohenstaufen fought against the Red Army up till its surrender to the Americans on 8 May 1945. The other unit, Grossdeutschland, often referred to as Guderians Eastern Front elite force, was formed in 1939 as a motorised infantry regiment, and ended World War II as a panzer corps. It fought in France and the Balkans, and from 1941 as an elite unit exclusively on the Eastern Front at first under Guderians 2nd Panzer Army and later, combined with the Brandenburg Division, defending East Prussia as the Panzer Corps Grossdeutschland. Its key battles included the great encircling operations in the early days of Operation Barbarossa, the final thrust to Moscow as part of Operation Typhoon, Kharkov, and Kursk. Grossdeutschland was one of the most important units in the German order of battle and was involved in some of the fiercest fighting of the war.

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AK-47. Kahaner. AK-47. Kahaner.

No single weapon has spread so much raw power to so many people in so little time--and had such a devastating effect--as the AK-47 assault rifle. This book examines the legacy of this world-changing weapon, from its creation as means of fighting the Nazis to its ubiquity today in every kind of conflict, from civil wars in Africa to gang wars in L.A.

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