Looking for a Good Gun Book

HotRoderX

HotRoderX

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I looking for a good History book on Firearms? I prefer Handguns I am almost done reading the book 1911 The First 100 Years. Its been excellent and I like something else to start reading. I seen this book on Amazon The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms [ but the ratings are kinda crappy on it so not sure if its worth the 12bucks. I am open to anything to due with Gun History or Famous people that had to do with guns. Biographies are not out of the question I tend to enjoy them also.

Thanks guys for all the help.
 
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Here are two to start with, and the best for last.

I absolutely love (Elmer Keith-Hell..., I was there). It's not really a history on handguns, but a good read never the less. Also, a forum member wrote a GREAT book called "Unintended Consequences". John Ross is the man behind that book. That read is about history and has some really cool stuff in it. The largest book I have ever read by the way. Be nice with comments everyone!! ;) Here is the #1 book IMO!!!!
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"The Handgun", by the late Geoffrey Boothroyd is the best primer of its sort. Crown Publishers. You may find it at a good price on Amazon.com or other Net sources.

Covers handguns from the first through the 1960's. Superbly written by a major authority. Heavily illustrated, too.
 
"Sixguns by Keith" is superb and considered a classic. It has a long chapter on history as well as fancy shooting, gun leather, reloading, bullet construction, and combat shooting. The book is a bit pricey, but I think it was well worth it. My one wish- color photos. "Sixgun" was written before color photos in books were common.
 
Anything by Skeeter Skelton.
The older books are "Good friends, good guns and good whiskey" and "Hoglegs, hipshots and jalapenos". He also has a collection of stories put together after his death called "I remember Skeeter". The last one is a paperback, the first two are hard bound. If you can find them they are a bit pricey, but you'll read them over and over again. Skeeter was a Southwestern lawman and a big fan of S&W revolvers, as well as Ruger and Colt Single actions. He talks a lot about guns but also fascinating law enforcement stories. I think you'd really enjoy them.
Jim
 
I kinda like "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson." It's sitting on my coffee table right now, much to the chagrin of my wife. Not exactly something you read from front to back, but lots of information and history.
 
I will concur with others....either of the books by Elmer Keith or Skeeter's books are more than well worth the effort....also might suggest "No Second Place Winner" by Bill Jordan...not a "history" really but some really good war stories as well as practical info
 
+1 on Sixguns by Elmer Keith and No Second PLace Winner by Bill Jordan. There is also Sixgun Cartridges and Loads by Elmer Keith.

Others are
The Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers by Julian Hatcher
Sixguns and Bullseyes and Automatic Pistols by William Reichenbach
The Snubby Revolver by Ed Lovette
Famous Firearms of the Old West by Hal Herring
Combat Shooting For Police by Paul Weston
The Custom Revolver by Hamilton Bowen
 
Let me recommend "Death in the Long Grass" and "Maneaters" by Peter H. Capstick.
Exciting to say the least. I have a bunch of his books that I started collecting in the 50s and early 60s. Always getting ready for my big Safari. Instead I went on my big Safari in the Far East and I've never made it to the Dark Continent. Now its just a dream.

Rule 303
 
Texas Star said:
"The Handgun", by the late Geoffrey Boothroyd is the best primer of its sort. Crown Publishers. You may find it at a good price on Amazon.com or other Net sources.

Covers handguns from the first through the 1960's. Superbly written by a major authority. Heavily illustrated, too.
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I agree with this choice. Keith's Sixguns is informative but I find it dry and difficult to read.

Biographies? Have you read Hell, I Was There? A very readable book by Keith.
 
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"American Rifle: A Biography"
"Shooters and Stalkers"
"Guns: How They Work" by Ian High

Once I get home, I'll list a bunch more.
 
Anything by Jack O'Connor.
Two more by Hatcher: "Hatcher's Notebook" and "The Book of the Garand".
Check out the list of books published by Collector's Grade Publications. All are great reading on very special subjects.
 
Rule 303 said:
Let me recommend "Death in the Long Grass" and "Maneaters" by Peter H. Capstick.
Exciting to say the least. I have a bunch of his books that I started collecting in the 50s and early 60s. Always getting ready for my big Safari. Instead I went on my big Safari in the Far East and I've never made it to the Dark Continent. Now its just a dream.

Rule 303
Click to expand...

Capstick was a hell of a writer. I remember waiting every month for American Hunter just for his stories. As I recall, Peter was a game warden in Africa for a number of years and carried a .470 nitro express.
 
I just started reading this one last night so I can’t say how good it’ll be, I do know that the old photos looked pretty interesting.

Title & Author: Legendary Lawman ~ The Story of Quick Draw Jelly Bryce by Ron Owens.

From the back: Largely unknown except in a few law enforcement circles, Jelly Bryce was at the forefront of the conflict during America’s gangster era. As an Oklahoma State Game Ranger, Oklahoma City Police Detective, and FBI Agent for over 30 years, Bryce was the man responsible for creating the FBI’s first firearms training program, developing their concealed holster and their fast-draw techniques, and personally trained hundreds of their agents. Hired by the FBI without any college, he was involved in 19 shootings in the line of duty and was electronically timed at two-fifths of a second to draw and fire accurately. It was said if a criminal blinked at Jelly Bryce, he died in darkness.
If you ever wondered who the anonymous men with badges and guns were who really lived the lives depicted in the movies and on television, this is the story of one of those unique men.
 
For revolvers, I have 2 by E Keith, Sixguns and Hell I was there both great Keith also had a good book on Shotguns. I have Fast and Fancy by McGivern, I have not been able to get through it yet as the above posted said about Keith "its a bit dry". Jeff
 
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For a guy who was such a fast and accurate shot, McGivern was an an amazingly turgid writer. Sloooow as mo-las-ses. Never used a dozen words when he could say the same thing with 48, or better yet 64. Good luck with that! (Maybe keep it by your bedside to combat insomnia. :))

Elmer Keith's Hell, I was There is a great read. I think it's a real American classic, not least because it is written like he must have talked. It is lucky for us that his editor was wise enough not to try to clean it up. Not about guns per se -- it's an autobiography.
 
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