suggestions good books on milatary rifle history

C

czscotia

Regular
Rating - 100%
42   0   0
Location
Grand Prairie
Hey guys,
anyone suggest good books or sites that would give me a little history on rifles used in WW1 WW2? Looking for a little more depth than the typical picture books you find at Coles etc.
Thanks
 
You might look for an older edition of SMALL ARMS OF THE WORLD. It has been revised about a dozen times since it first came out in 1944, each time leaving out more of the really olde stuff. Eleventh Edition is good. The latest edition is just about useless for your purposes as well as expensive.

Nip on over to Milsurps dot com and take out a membership there. Their Military Knowledge Library contains fabulous treasures, including WW2 books on rifles and machine-guns, Shoot To Live (best training course ever written on WW2 bolt rifles, especially on the use of the Number 4 Lee-Enfield, around which the book is writen), manuals on everything from the Ross Rifle to the Garand. LOTS of books on handguns and diffrent types of ammunition, too. All free for download. I downloaded 800 MB of stuff from there in a couple of evenings and, when I get that all read, I'm going back for more.
.
 
The Book of Rifles by WHB Smith and Joseph E Smith.

There are several revisions but basically it breaks down all of the major players by country and lists their small arms and even gives some dimension and facts about the cartridges they use. In some cases they list the pressures of the cartridges, powder form and velocities.
It will usually list manufacturing plants as well. Lots of information. Some revisions are better than others. The earliest editions have pics and drawings of the internals of pistols, rifles and smgs. No dimensions or specs but very descriptive views of all the working components.
 
Another vote for Book of Rifles and SAOTW. While on the subject, go for WHB Smith's "Book of Classic Pistols and Revolvers" as well. Available on the used market via Amazon.
 
Hatcher's Notebook and Hatcher's Book of the Garand both make interesting reading.

If you want something really really in depth try any of the books by Collector Grade Publications.
 
A Rifleman Went To War by Herbert W. McBride


<http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rifleman-went-to-war-herbert-w-mcbride/1100449554#Overview>
 
+3 "A Rifleman Went to War"

Read it at least 3 times in the past 20 years, it was used as the starting document for US Army sniper schools even though it's a Canadian story (of an American while wearing our uniform in WW1).
 
smellie said:
You might look for an older edition of SMALL ARMS OF THE WORLD. It has been revised about a dozen times since it first came out in 1944, each time leaving out more of the really olde stuff. Eleventh Edition is good. The latest edition is just about useless for your purposes as well as expensive.

Nip on over to Milsurps dot com and take out a membership there. Their Military Knowledge Library contains fabulous treasures, including WW2 books on rifles and machine-guns, Shoot To Live (best training course ever written on WW2 bolt rifles, especially on the use of the Number 4 Lee-Enfield, around which the book is writen), manuals on everything from the Ross Rifle to the Garand. LOTS of books on handguns and diffrent types of ammunition, too. All free for download. I downloaded 800 MB of stuff from there in a couple of evenings and, when I get that all read, I'm going back for more.
.
Click to expand...

I second the Small Arms of the World book. I picked up a 70's edition for $20 at a used book store. It's jam packed with military weapons from every country across the globe including info on rare and very old models.
It's my bible now :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom