MilsurpDan
Ultimate Member
I figured it might be beneficial to us if we make a thread dedicated to the various firearm reference books that us collector's might be interested in getting to help further our habit. Like which books we like and would recommend getting or which ones to steer clear of. If it generates enough interest, perhaps we could get this turned into a sticky so newbies or anyone else can look it over.
Just recently I realized how woefully inadequate my C&R reference book collection was. I kept relying on other people online for the information I desired. In the past month, I've probably spent $500+ buying books on the different types of firearms I collect. Now, I have all that knowledge in my own hands.
Please feel free to add your favorite books or suggest anything that would be helpful.
The "Karabiner 98k & Kreigsmodell" book Volumes by Bruce Karem and Michael Steves is probably the single best series on the German K98k you can ever find. The books are hardcover and all 4 books comprise probably close to 2000 pages of information about all variations from Pre-War to the end of WW2. There's tons of color photos and original documents pictured as well.
https://www.thirdpartypress.com/
I'd seriously recommend buying all 4 books now as Vol. I & Vol. III are out of print and copies are seriously low in quantity now. Vol. 2 was just released this past week. The authors were kind enough to send me signed copies.
"Military Rifles of Japan" by Frank Honeycutt is a great reference on the various Arisaka and other rifles used by Japan from Pre-WW1 up through WW2. Mr. Honeycutt actually sells the newer 5th Edition on Amazon. He will also sign your copy if you ask him too. I just bought one from him about a week ago.
"Bayonets of Japan: A Comprehensive Reference on Japanese Bayonets" by Raymond Labar is probably the single best book on bayonets I've ever seen. It literally goes over every variation imaginable, from early Musket & Foreign made bayonets up through the various fighting knives and post WW2. The book is out of print so you might have some trouble finding it. I was lucky enough to find a copy last week for $100.
"The German Rifle" by John Walter is an older book on the various German made rifles from the Dreyse Needle Gun up through the Mauser. It's got a few mistakes but does a good job going over the different types and is still a good read.
"Mauser Military Rifles of the World" by Robert Ball is a must have if you collect Mauser rifles. It gives a great overview over pretty much every single model adopted by every country who used a Mauser rifle.
"The Model 1891 Carcano Rifle" by Giovanni Chegia & Alberto Simonelli is a great book that goes over most every Carcano Rifle variation and goes over the history and usage of the design.
"A Collector's Guide to the German Gew. 88 "Commission" Rifles and Carbines" by Paul Scarlata. It does a good job of going over the Gew 88 Rifles & Carbines and provides a lot of nice background history and pictures of the rifle in use. It also goes over disassembly which is nice. For the price, it's pretty much a must have if you own a Gewehr 88.
The only thing that bothered me was that it didn't seem to discuss the Gewehr 88/S. I mean the actual 88/S, the fairly rare wartime modification that had the rear sight re-calibrated for the S ammunition. Not the commonly termed "88S" that most people mistake it for that just has the "S" mark on the receiver.
Apparently Deiter Storz's book on the Gewehr 88 Rifle is the best and most comprehensive book on the subject. Mr. Storz is the curator of the Bavarian Military Museum.
Just recently I realized how woefully inadequate my C&R reference book collection was. I kept relying on other people online for the information I desired. In the past month, I've probably spent $500+ buying books on the different types of firearms I collect. Now, I have all that knowledge in my own hands.
Please feel free to add your favorite books or suggest anything that would be helpful.
The "Karabiner 98k & Kreigsmodell" book Volumes by Bruce Karem and Michael Steves is probably the single best series on the German K98k you can ever find. The books are hardcover and all 4 books comprise probably close to 2000 pages of information about all variations from Pre-War to the end of WW2. There's tons of color photos and original documents pictured as well.
https://www.thirdpartypress.com/
I'd seriously recommend buying all 4 books now as Vol. I & Vol. III are out of print and copies are seriously low in quantity now. Vol. 2 was just released this past week. The authors were kind enough to send me signed copies.
"Military Rifles of Japan" by Frank Honeycutt is a great reference on the various Arisaka and other rifles used by Japan from Pre-WW1 up through WW2. Mr. Honeycutt actually sells the newer 5th Edition on Amazon. He will also sign your copy if you ask him too. I just bought one from him about a week ago.
"Bayonets of Japan: A Comprehensive Reference on Japanese Bayonets" by Raymond Labar is probably the single best book on bayonets I've ever seen. It literally goes over every variation imaginable, from early Musket & Foreign made bayonets up through the various fighting knives and post WW2. The book is out of print so you might have some trouble finding it. I was lucky enough to find a copy last week for $100.
"The German Rifle" by John Walter is an older book on the various German made rifles from the Dreyse Needle Gun up through the Mauser. It's got a few mistakes but does a good job going over the different types and is still a good read.
"Mauser Military Rifles of the World" by Robert Ball is a must have if you collect Mauser rifles. It gives a great overview over pretty much every single model adopted by every country who used a Mauser rifle.
"The Model 1891 Carcano Rifle" by Giovanni Chegia & Alberto Simonelli is a great book that goes over most every Carcano Rifle variation and goes over the history and usage of the design.
"A Collector's Guide to the German Gew. 88 "Commission" Rifles and Carbines" by Paul Scarlata. It does a good job of going over the Gew 88 Rifles & Carbines and provides a lot of nice background history and pictures of the rifle in use. It also goes over disassembly which is nice. For the price, it's pretty much a must have if you own a Gewehr 88.
The only thing that bothered me was that it didn't seem to discuss the Gewehr 88/S. I mean the actual 88/S, the fairly rare wartime modification that had the rear sight re-calibrated for the S ammunition. Not the commonly termed "88S" that most people mistake it for that just has the "S" mark on the receiver.
Apparently Deiter Storz's book on the Gewehr 88 Rifle is the best and most comprehensive book on the subject. Mr. Storz is the curator of the Bavarian Military Museum.
