Today we're looking at John Potocki's excellent reference work, The Colt 1905 Automatic Pistol. Not much doubt what the subject is, right? The development of John Browning's iconic 1911 pistol is generally not much discussed, and Potocki's book is a good way to learn all the ins and outs of the p...

Today we're looking at a new book by Maxim Popenker and Anthony G. Williams, Sub-Machine Gun. It should come as no surprise that a collaboration between these two folks results in an excellent reference book (we previously reviewed their work on WWI aircraft guns). This book includes both a detai...

To go along with the week's focus on self-loading Enfield conversions, we have a copy of Ian Skennerton's Small Arms Identification volume #13, Special Service Lee-Enfields: Commando and Auto Models. It's only about 47 pages long and predominantly on the silenced de Lisle carbine, but also includ...

We've been on a bit of a Luger kick recently, and it continues today. A few weeks ago we looked at Geoffrey Sturgess' three-volume tome on Luger and Borchardt development, which takes the story of the Luger through the end of World War I. Today, we have ​Simson Lugers​ by Edward Tinker and Graham...

Today we're looking at one of the earlier books printed by Collector Grade, Thomas Dugelby's Modern Military Bullpup Rifles. It's a good resource on the EM-2 rifle (and others), but unfortunately is very much out of print. You can find a couple exorbitantly priced copies on Amazon, but beyond tha...

Since we looked at a couple French revolvers yesterday, it seems only appropriate to have a resource on them (and later French automatic pistols) today. Specifically, Military Handguns of France by Eugene Medlin and Jean Huon. You might recognize Jean Huon's name from a previous review we did on ...

One of the areas of rifle collecting that is easy (and cheap) to get into and very difficult (and expensive) to master is that of Mausers. Literally dozens of countries used Mausers in scores of variations. A great many of them are still available for very affordable prices, including commonly se...

We really liked the last book we reviewed by Paul Scarlata (German Gewehr 88 "Commission" Rifle), and so we decided to grab another one off the shelf. Today, it's Mannlicher Military Rifles, and Scarlata does another excellent job. Mannlichers have been very cheaply available here in the US in th...

Today we're taking a look at William Easterly's booklet "A Comprehensive Study [of] Japanese Submachine Guns: 1920 - 1945". Talk about a subject with very little written coverage - Easterly has photos, data, and descriptions of at least a half dozen really unusual experimental Japanese SMGs form ...

If you need a resource on the incremental changes to the major Japanese rifles over the course of WWII, Japanese Rifles of World War II is just the thing for you. Focusing on the Type 99, Type 38, Type 44, Type 2 (paratrooper) and sniper Arisakas, this book is ideal for beginning and intermediate...

We just got in a copy of Russ Arendell and Steve Woodrum's new book on the Carcano, Italy's Battle Rifle: Story of the Mannlicher-Carcano Series of Rifles. It's the most useful reference book on the Carcano series that we know of, although it does have some shortcomings:

If you'd like to pick ...

By request from a reader on the Forgotten Weapons Facebook page (where we post upcoming teasers, among other things), we are looking at W. Darren Weaver's book on the G41 and G43/K43 rifles, entitled Hitler's Garands: German Self-Loading Rifles of WWII. It was published by Collector Grade, so you...

Today we're looking at two books on the subject of Nepalese firearms. The video goes a bit longer than usual, but the story behind these books is a really cool one -- a lost time capsule of thousands of firearms showcasing 150 years of arms development.

We have probably out most specialized book yet for you today, entitled History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936. As the title suggests, it is about firearms (and to a lesser extent bayonets. rifles, and holsters) with German police property markings. The structure of German police ...

The Glock isn't a forgotten weapon by any stretch, but Paul Barrett has written a very interesting book on how the company got into gun manufacturing and how it grew so quickly.

Anyone who has looked at German arms and militaria from WWII and the years prior will be familiar with the 3-letter (or number) code system used to obscure where production was taking place. The more common codes are well known, but there are hundreds of smaller manufacturing companies or job sho...

And now, for our regular book review. We had a lot of interest in the FG-42 video we posted a couple days ago, and decided to check out the sole really good book on the gun. Many books make passing reference to the FG-42, but only one will give you an in-depth look at its design and history: Deat...

Today we have a copy of John Remling's work, a "Collector's Guide to Tokarev Pistols". It's a thin volume, but a good introduction and basic reference to the development of the TT33 Tokarev pistol and the different nations that adopted it.

Unfortunately, it does appear to be out of print, and ...

Today we take a look at Bruce Canfield's Collector's Guide to the M1 Garand and M1 Carbine. This is one of Canfield's earlier books, and is now out of print. It is still available, though, and a less expensive alternative to his revised and expanded "Complete Guide".

Most folks are not familiar with the variety of Japanese handguns available beyond the basic Type 94 and Type 14 Nambus. James Brown's guide to these guns is an excellent source of information, covering the rarer handguns used by Japan as well as the variants and manufacturing changes of the main...

Herbert McBride was a American who grew up learning to shoot from Civil War veterans and some of the big names of the American West, like Bat Masterson. He had a taste for adventure, and spent time scouting for railroads and searching for gold in Alaska. He had tried to ship out to South Africa t...

Every pile of dusty old books you find at a gun show has a zillion reprints of Cartridges of the World and how-to pamphlets on stock refinishing from 1960. But occasionally you'll find a real gem in those piles - and this book is one of the gems. Written by R.K. Wilson and published in 1943, the ...

Today we take a look at Iain McCallum's "Blood Brothers: Hiram and Hudson Maxim: Pioneers of Modern Warfare" - a book deserving a place in everyone's firearms library. Most people don't realize that Hiram Maxim was a creative and technical genius, and the machine gun was one one of his many notab...

I borrowed this book from a friend to take a look through, and not I really don't want to give it back. I always buy myself a book or two after Christmas, and this is definitely what I'm getting myself this year. It's expensive, but worth every penny. Everything in here is excellent - the depth o...