Free eBooks The Illustrated World Encyclopedia Of Guns Available To Downloads
This encyclopedia explains the development of arms, and shows the specifications of modern weapons. The book introduces readers to key designers and manufacturers and the technology involved in their production. The directories are the most comprehensive reference published for the general reader. Grouped according to country of origin, each gun's features are listed, as are the military, political and technological context in which each gun was developed.
Hardcover: 512 pages
Publisher: Lorenz Books (June 16, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0754820653
ISBN-13: 978-0754820659
Product Dimensions: 7 x 1.4 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #486,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #84 in Books > Reference > Encyclopedias & Subject Guides > Military #182 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Firearms & Weapons > Firearms #346 in Books > Reference > Encyclopedias & Subject Guides > Sports
This book was given to me as a birthday gift, and overall I am pleased. There is a good deal of small arms history presented that is well worth reading, and the number of rifles, handguns, and full-auto weapons listed with accompanying photographs make this nice addition to the library.That said, I don't get the feeling the publishing was completely unbiased, as I would hope for something claiming to be an encyclopedia. The back cover states the it "Features all the most significant and famous firearms." However, after spending 20 minutes with book I already discovered the lack of, among others, the Smith & Wesson Model 27 and Sig P210. Indeed S&W only get a dedicated four pages in the entire handgun section. Who get's a dedicated full seven pages? Para-Ordnance. Huh? No discussion of S&W's flagship revolver or the (arguably) best semi-automatic military sidearm ever made, but each and every clone of the 1911 made by Para-Ordnance gets a photo and full paragraph? Furthermore, regarding the picture of the 1911 on the cover? It's not a Colt, but a Para-Ordnance. Taurus was also apparently more deserving of dedicated space than either Colt or Smith and Wesson.Now, I have no fundamental problem with a book like this being partly advertisement for the writer's funders, so long as they're honest about it. However, I have yet to find any such disclaimer.
Good history on the development of gun technology and contains information on many rare weapons. However, that makes the common guns it skips a head scratcher.They show a number of Spanish made weapons, explain they were too complex for their own good, were never selected for major contracts, and used only in very limited quantities in the Spanish Civil War, shows specs and picture. I've never seen one before, and probably never will see one again.But as a test of completeness, I flipped to a few guns from my personal collection.1. Glock 19 - Mentioned, but not pictured.2. Beretta 96 - 3 versions of the 92, no mention of a 963. Remington 700 - A couple lines that state the M24 was based on a Remington 700BDL, and the only information about the M24 it is its 308 cartridge, and the stock scope it comes with.4. No mention of shotguns in this book at all.5. No mention of the Browning hi-powerNow, I could understand skipping a few common civilian models if this was a military only book, but instead of picturing exotics like the Glock 19, they save the space for A Taurus PT940 SSPRL a special edition mother-of-pearl Taurus.
The title says it all. I stumbled upon this book at Borders Books for the ridiculous clearance price of $9.99. That was in 2008 and they got snapped up like hot cakes! I found it on as a gift for a friend at a higher price, but it's well worth it. There are literally thousands of color-side view pictures and specifications of just about every firearm imaginable; from Colonial Muskets to Mausers to M-4 Carbines and beyond, from every part of the globe. Not justrifles, but handguns and revolvers as well. Of course it does not have everything ever made in the category of "Guns" but it's pretty darn close. I live in Florida, where we have Gun Shows just about every other month. This book has been invaluable to me as a research reference for a particular piece that I've found at a Collector or Modern Weaponry Show. This is a must have book for any of you gun enthusiast/historians out there. Just make sure it looks EXACTLY like the picture of the cover--as that is THE one you want. You will love this book.
This book cover small arms ranging from handguns(single-action revolvers/double-action revolvers/semi-auto pistols),SMG,rifles(bolt-action/semi-auto/automatic) to MG. Licensed production models by various countries were also included. Pictures of the guns were in color and of excellent quality. However, there's no pictures for some of the firearms. Specification include : manufacturer,caliber,magazine capacity,type of action,total length,barrel length and weight unloaded. Effective range for all the firearms was not included. Overall, it's a good buy.
Overall this is an excellent book and covers more firearms than most of its kind, however, there were several firearms that had no photographs and definitely should have. The absence of photographs for weapons with a plethora of readily available photos such as the Bizon and thr MAC 50 could only be described by laziness or cost cutting, either of which seems unacceptable in such a volume. There's really no excuse, hence three stars.
Not quite what I was expecting. I expected a more detailed encyclopedia of gun mechanics and operation ...not just a history with a list of guns. Some of the guns don't have any illustrations, and the information provided you could probably get by googling the gun...was really looking for a more technical book.
Excellent book. Basically, a picture book that shows numerous firearms across the ages. The pictures are very well done and the descriptions of the firearms are highly accurate. At the front of the book, there are short summaries (1-2 pages) of specific types, for example, German submachines guns.This book would appeal to all levels of firearm knowledge. If you are a newbie, it will open your eyes. If you are an expert, it is a quick reference to find a specific firearm.Please note, this book shows pictures of firearms. It is not a disassembly manual and there are very few photos of the firearms in use. The pictures show the firearm, period. I don’t have a problem with this but I just want everybody to know.Highly recommended, especially the paperback version, which I got, because it is compact and can be easily carried with you.
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