The Book of Rifles by W.H.B. Smith

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shootinironlen

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I caught the AMA on Reddit for the fella that does Forgotten Weapons. If you haven't heard of his youtube channel I HIGHLY recommend that you find several hours of free time. One of the questions asked was what books and reference material he would put into a top five list. This book was #1 on that list. I found it on Amazon for $3 plus $5 shipping. I could not be happier with the purchase. The level of detail is excellent. It's in nice, well used condition and clearly was loved by someone before me.
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You got a very good deal on that book. It isn't readily available and never really was. Collectors of milsurp rifles should not be without it. I have the same book as well as a second printing of the second edition from 1946. The second edition doesn't have as many firearms listed as the later editions but it has a much larger format. The second edition is full of the function drawings of mechanisms in far more detail than the later editions.

Great books. The older book cost me a beer. It came from a friend that was on the last train called Cancer and I drove out to Alberta to say goodbye. He had sold off all of his firearms as well as accessories and loading equipment but kept the book for me as he knew I would be there. What a valued gift that was. The later edition cost me $25 at a gun show over 20 years ago.

Just for some information, I have never seen a soft cover printing of these books. They are full of information and a class act all the way through. Bear in mind, like most reference books, there is a good chance that some mistakes sill be made.
 
I have a copy of the second printing (1965).
I think I paid about $10 for it 15 years ago. Great book!
Previous owner was B. Aschacher from Coleman, AB (written inside front cover).
 
Paid 30. for mine, used, but worth every penny. Think I've got every edition of Small arms of the world, including the last by Ezell. Don't think there has been any equivalent written since.

Grizz
 
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That one has been a part of my Library since before a lot of you guys were only a gleam in your Father's eye. I still buy every reasonable one I find at Gun Show and give them out to friends.

A good reference library is essential if you are really interested in firearms, and I have never regretted spending money on a book. It is NOT what you know, but knowing WHERE TO FIND THE INFORMATION that really counts.
 
buffdog... Us, poor young fellows can only buy books nowadays. Guns are way too much expensive now... I'm glad to be a book lover too, I begin to have a nice library too.

Oh by the way... If any of you guys have an extra copy of The Spirit of the Pike: British Socket Bayonets of the Twentieth Century, by Graham Priest, please let me know!!
 
Out of curiousity I checked current asking prices for some of my books----I was blown away!

I suspect that some books represent better investment value that the guns.
I am glad that I bought them years ago.
I would never pay these prices. (Some are in Canadian dollars---most are in U.S. dollars.)

$856.54


$750


$749.95 for Vol.2.



$450


$379.95


$354.63


$259.94


$350


I suspect that these books can be found on eBay cheaper than on Amazon.
 
drm3m said:
Out of curiousity I checked current asking prices for some of my books----I was blown away!

I suspect that some books represent better investment value that the guns.
I am glad that I bought them years ago.
I would never pay these prices. (Some are in Canadian dollars---most are in U.S. dollars.)

$856.54


$750


$749.95 for Vol.2.



$450


$379.95


$354.63


$259.94


$350


I suspect that these books can be found on eBay cheaper than on Amazon.
Click to expand...

Yeah, they can be worth some serious cash sometimes.
I used to have a first-edition of Elmer Keith's "Shotguns" Loaned it to a guy and never saw him or it again.
I'm very careful about who gets to borrow my books now.
Quite a few guys want to borrow my 1951 "Shooter's Bible" to check it out.......................NOPE! pull up a chair in the basement and spend as much time as you want. It doesn't leave the house.
 
Some of these prices came from Abebooks.

This book really surprised me $750 to $1,049 U.S. (From Amazon I think.)
In 2006 I paid $111.25 Cdn. (tax included) in Montreal from a militaria book dealer--I stll have the invoice.)

This book was published by Collector Grade Publications---printed and bound in Canada in 2004.

I bought this book because I had two MP44s---both have recently been sold.
Percentage wise the book 'seems' to have appreciated much more than the two guns.



The reason that I bought the book shown above.
Top- dewat '#### and click'
Bottom --12(3) CA.

 
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