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Book of Winchester Firearms
- Thread starter hoytx10
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30-30remchester
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A great book and a must for the serious collector is titled "The Winchester Book" by George Maddis. Lots of pictures and great info.
gmiller0737
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I agree I've had that book for years
DWalt
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There are many Winchester books covering both specific gun types and models (Model 70, Model 12, .22 pumps, etc.), and more general coverage of all types. There are also books dealing with the history of the company. What is your main interest?
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Lever action rifles and shotguns are what interest me the most about Winchester firearms.
Currently most interested in Model 12’s and 94’s, but I would like to learn more about all of the varieties of lever guns and shotguns.
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rockquarry
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I have a number of them, but as someone already mentioned, the Maddis book is an excellent one, my favorite. There is another Madis book, the Winchester Handbook, a very condensed version of the big book - more of a quick reference book than a reading book. Rule's "Rifleman's Rifle" about the Model 70 is a great book to read even if you don't own a Model 70 and is incredibly detailed as such a book should be.
Wilson's "Winchester an American Legend" is a big coffee table book with lots of photos, but not much in the way of detailed information. Harold Williamson's "Winchester" is a historical work on the company, it's structure, the many products (gun and non-gun) of a diversified business entity. Big and detailed in many aspects but not intended as just a "gun" book.
The Wnchester Lever Legacy by Snooky Williamson is a kind of offbeat lever-action treatise, but a good one and all of the lever guns are covered from a user's viewpoint rather than a technical one. Herbert Houze's "Winchester Model 52" is interesting reading even if you're not a 52 enthusiast.
There may be many more. I doubt any of the above books are cheap these days; I don't know if any are currently published.
Wilson's "Winchester an American Legend" is a big coffee table book with lots of photos, but not much in the way of detailed information. Harold Williamson's "Winchester" is a historical work on the company, it's structure, the many products (gun and non-gun) of a diversified business entity. Big and detailed in many aspects but not intended as just a "gun" book.
The Wnchester Lever Legacy by Snooky Williamson is a kind of offbeat lever-action treatise, but a good one and all of the lever guns are covered from a user's viewpoint rather than a technical one. Herbert Houze's "Winchester Model 52" is interesting reading even if you're not a 52 enthusiast.
There may be many more. I doubt any of the above books are cheap these days; I don't know if any are currently published.
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DWalt
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This would be my reading list:
The Winchester Book, George Madis, Taylor Publishing, 1961
Winchester, the Gun That Won The West, Harold F. Williamson, A.S. Barnes & Co., 1952
Winchester, an American Legend, R. L. Wilson, Chartwell Books, 1991
Winchester Shotguns, Dennis Adler, Chartwell Books, 2006
If you are the least bit interested in Winchester .22 Pump guns, this one cannot be beat:
Winchester Slide Action Rifles, Volumes I and II, Ned Schwing, Krause Publications, 2004
For Model 70 rifles:
The Rifleman’s Rifle, Roger C. Rule, Sherwood’s Spirit of America, 1966. (Very detailed)
Some of these books are out of print and will be quite expensive in the used book market, so be prepared.
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444 Magnum
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The Winchester Book by George Madis, as already stated, is a good book on most all of the models. More time is spent on the lever guns than some of the other models. Madis spends 45 pages on the 1894 with numerous B&W photos. Lots of data about model changes, etc.
For the 1894 specifically, this book is pretty thorough:
The Winchester Model 94-The First 100 Years by Robert C. Renneberg. This book is 208 pages with larger, better quality B&W photos. Lots of technical data.
Concerning the model 12, Madis only dedicated 8 pages of The Winchester Book to the model 12 and most of that is pictures. He did write The Winchester Model Twelve in 1982. It is a smaller book with 174 pages dedicated to the model 12.
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444 Magnum
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Yes to these ^^^. They are model specific but very in-depth. The Schwing books cover the 1890 and 1906 in volume I and the Model 61 and 62 in volume II. Schwing also wrote excellent references on the Model 42 and Model 21 shotguns. But as stated, they can be pricey.
If you get into the 1873's and The Winchester Book isn't enough, James D. Gordon's two volume tribute to "the new model 1873" is extremely thorough; but it will cost around $1,000.
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AJ
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Books are pricey.......sometimes the gun will cost less than a book!
DWalt
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Somewhere, I have another book specifically about the Model 12, which is not the one by Madis. As I couldn’t locate it to get the information, I can’t cite it. I have far too many books, and to make it worse, they are spread out to several places in each of two houses. Some are authentic rarities.
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AJ
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HOUSTON RICK
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All that I know is that Winchester is expensive compared to Henry and Marlin. They look nice in other people's collections. I know folks with dozens of Winchesters who lovingly care for them but have never fired one. I would certainly read a few books before buying one.
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rockquarry
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Sounds like a very good buy. I think I bought mine new forty years ago and may have paid that much then. Is yours a 1 of 1,000 book ?
See if E-Bay has a copy of History of Winchester Firearms 1866-1980 by author Barnes. Describes all models made up until 1980 including years made and how many of each produced. Older book so might be had for short money.
rockquarry
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Regarding the Madis books - this is from memory and may not be 100% correct but other more knowledgeable folks here can provide better information... George Madis had a home and / or office in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. I ordered the big book from him at that address, whatever it may have been. I'm pretty sure I also ordered the small book "Winchester Handbook" from him at the same time along with the pocket manual, "Winchester Dates of Manufacture". All three were signed. I suspect all books Madis shipped personally were signed. Whether these books were available for sale elsewhere, I don't remember, but would guess they were. Anyone know better?
444 Magnum
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I didn't realize how many years it's been, but in 2012 I called and spoke with Pat Madis, George's widow. I bought books directly from her including her last deluxe copy of The Winchester Book-gold gilded and leather bound with coated pages. I think maybe she said George had 100 bond that way. She didn't want to let it go, but I made here a generous offer and now it's mine. I have yet to see another. They're probably tucked away in collections/libraries. At the time, 2012, Pat was still selling new books.
The Winchester Book has come down in value. I usually see them in the $70-$100 range for the standard book. Hoytx10, you did well at $41.
That book is a great starter reference to the lever guns. After reading it, you'll better understand the factory process and mentality and you'll be better able to confirm original vs. altered condition.
The Winchester Book has come down in value. I usually see them in the $70-$100 range for the standard book. Hoytx10, you did well at $41.
That book is a great starter reference to the lever guns. After reading it, you'll better understand the factory process and mentality and you'll be better able to confirm original vs. altered condition.
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