Percussion Pistols and Revolvers


Book Description

In the early transition from the long-lived flintlock system, handgun development closely paralleled that of the long arms. With the advent of the revolving pistols, however; came patents that created monopolies in revolver production and the through-bored cylinder necessary for self-contained metallic cartridges. The caplock revolvers took on a separate evolution and remained state of the art long after the widespread appearance of cartridge firing rifles and shotguns. They rode in the holsters of of explorers and adventurers across the world and granted safe conduct in the back-alleys of the Industrial West right up until the last quarter of the 19th Century. Handguns possess a mystique distinctly different from that of other firearms. They are tools of personal empowerment-chosen by their owners to provide independence and freedom of movement. In the ambitious, optimistic early years of western industrial civilization they were the emblem of liberty and equality and the bane of repressive governments and social movements. Largely because of the traditions that emerged in the time of the caplock pistols and revolvers, they remain so in the early years of the 21st Century.




Percussion Revolvers


Book Description

A fascinating look at the history and development of the revolver. Highly detailed and informative, Percussion Revolvers explores the advent, development, and use of precartridge revolvers during the middle years of the nineteenth century. The percussion revolver emerged in the 1830s and remained state-of-the-art until metallic cartridge revolvers came into common use in the mid-1870s. Through the use of modern replicas, shooting enthusiasts Mike Cumpston and Johnny Bates investigate the capacities and limitations of the original revolvers, providing insight into their accuracy, utility, and ballistic performance. Chapters include: Replicas: The Good, the Bad, and the Awful Early Revolvers, 1836–47: The Paterson and the Walker Colts The Dragoons Colt Revolvers of Midcentury: The Pocket and Navy Models Holsters, Belts, and Sashes The Later Years: The Last of the Colt Percussion Designs A Hail of Lead: The Confederate LeMat Bates and Cumpston discuss the development of the precartridge arms, placing them in their proper historic context. They also take a look at modern replicas, including detailed information on selection, maintenance, and shooting, while delving into both the positive and negative realities that can be encountered when using these firearms. A valuable reference for students, fiction writers, and active shooters, Percussion Revolvers is an in-depth and comprehensive exploration of caplock handguns and their modern replicas.




United States Martial Pistols and Revolvers


Book Description

A historical reference for more than one hundred handguns. United States Martial Pistols and Revolvers, first published in 1939, provides firearm collectors and enthusiasts with a single authoritative volume containing information on the development and description of martial short arms, from the flintlock pistol that was available at the birth of the nation to the latest available handguns during the World War I. This book is particularly useful to collectors as an important reference source, offering a listing of single-shot pistols, revolvers, and semiautomatic pistols, over the period of 1799–1917. Gluckman covers the brief histories of more than one hundred handguns, going into the specific details of the chemistry of gunpowder and the development of the first automatic firearms. Following innovators like Reverend Alexander Forsyth, John P. Lindsay, and Samuel Colt, the evolution of the weapons is carefully examined over time. The comprehensive text is accompanied by a series of original illustrations of the pistols and revolvers, demonstrating the specifics of many gun mechanisms. For experts and the more casual hobbyist alike, this book offers a unique collection of information on martial pistols and revolvers in the United States, up until WWI. Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for hunters and firearms enthusiasts. We publish books about shotguns, rifles, handguns, target shooting, gun collecting, self-defense, archery, ammunition, knives, gunsmithing, gun repair, and wilderness survival. We publish books on deer hunting, big game hunting, small game hunting, wing shooting, turkey hunting, deer stands, duck blinds, bowhunting, wing shooting, hunting dogs, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.







Firearms: An Illustrated History


Book Description

This fascinating visual account of firearms shows everything from the earliest cannons to modern weapons of war. It also highlights how gun technology and military tactics developed in tandem over time. Centuries ago, the Chinese discovered that if they put gunpowder and a projectile into a metal tube and ignited it, they could fire the projectile with enormous force. The first guns were born. Firearms: An Illustrated History showcases over 300 firearms including pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, machine-guns, and artillery, each with annotated close-up photographs and details of their origins, barrel, and caliber. It details the use of the firearms, not just in the military but for sport, hunting, and law enforcement. This comprehensive volume traces the history of firearms, highlighting "turning points" such as the rifle with its parallel spiraled groves that could impart a spin to bullets making them fly straighter. It also showcases iconic firearms such as the Walther PPK self-loading pistol popularised in James Bond films. With information on the great gunsmiths including Beretta and Kalashnikov and a detailed guide to how guns work, Firearms: An Illustrated History is an essential purchase for everyone interested in guns and military history.




Single Action Sixguns


Book Description

170 Years of the Guns that Tamed the West and Made All Men Equal! &break;&break;The Peacemaker. The Ol' Thumb-Buster. The Hawg Laig. &break;&break;No firearm in the world is more immediately recognizable than the 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver. Yet Colt's famed six-shooter was only one of hundreds of models of single action revolvers that fought wars, tamed a wild continent and bought the long arm of the law to a new world. Single Action Six Guns is packed with fascinating facts about all makes and models: Colt, Smith & Wesson, Remington, Ruger, Freedom Arms, John Linebaugh, United States Fire Arms, and many more... &break;&break;Hundreds of full-color photos &break;Up-to-the-minute reloading data for today's hottest cowboy action guns




Colt Blackpowder Reproductions & Replicas


Book Description

COLT BLACKPOWDER REPRODUCTIONS & REPLICAS - A COLLECTOR'S & SHOOTER'S GUIDE is an illustrated volume on blackpowder firearms & recently manufactured reproductions/replicas of such famous makes as Colt, Remington, etc. Included is a history of the Colt percussion revolver & similar makes, with photos. Reproductions are covered in detail, with many limited &/or special editions & also guns manufactured by major Italian manufacturers, with an in-depth look at these factories & guns they have made for American companies & organizations. Chapters include practical percussion shooting & detailed loading information by gun & caliber, cowboy action shooting & Civil War reenactment. Additionally, this publication has information on shooting & maintaining blackpowder pistols, as well as a complete blackpowder pricing guide with model descriptions providing the most up-to-date information on most recently manufactured makes & models. Dennis Adler is well-known in the automotive community for his photographic & literary achievements. This book is a visual masterpiece! Retail $29.95 plus $4.00 S/H. Available from Baker & Taylor, Ingram or directly from the publisher by calling 1-800-877-4867, non-domestic 952-854-5229, FAX 952-853-1486 or web site www.bluebookinc.com.




Antique Pistols


Book Description




Handguns


Book Description

Traces the development of firearms from the first crude models of the fourteenth century to the elaborate and precise guns of modern times.