Chris McNab
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Subjects -> History -> Military -> Weapons & Warfare -> Conventional -> General
Subjects -> History -> Military -> Weapons & Warfare -> Conventional -> General AAS
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Antiques & Collectibles -> Firearms & Weapons
Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5
Average rating: 3.5 of 5
Interesting Historical Review but lacking modern details 4 out of 5 stars.
16 of 17 people found this review helpful.
I have been learning a lot about modern handguns, and I wanted a book that would give me some history of guns, how their operation has evolved, and an overview of the types of handguns in existance. This book is definitely interesting and fun to flip through, and has some great photos. I liked the photos of the older flint-lock pistols, pepperbox revolvers, and guns of the old-west. Some of the oddities were especially interesting, including the Japanese sword-gun (not a bayonet, but a full-size sword with a handle that was a gun). Also, I liked the WWII Liberator, made by GM to be cheap, easy to build, and to dropped in mass on Germany for partisans to get. However, I felt the book was lacking in a few key areas. I understand that the author can't possibly include every gun ever. But why are there so many examples of home-made guns throughout the years, and no entry for the Glock? The Glock was a revolutionary gun, with an interesting history of unknown Gaston Glock with no gunmaking experience making a gun for the Austrian army that bucked much conventional thinking regarding guns. Who would think a plastic frame would make a reliable gun? Now, every gun store you go into is packed with Glocks, and it is the favorite sidearm of many LEOs including police and FBI. Most CCW books I read recommend the Glock. Half the new guns I see today are essentially Glock copies (Springfield XD, Steyr, S&W SW, etc). The only mention of the Glock in this book is in a side-panel about SWAT teams, where it mentions that SWAT teams use Glocks among other weapons.
This book was an interesting read, but I wonder what criteria the author picked for each gun he included. I would have also liked more diagrams, showing how each gun works and the progression of various styles of gun. I give the book 4 stars since it was fun to flip through, and makes a good coffee table book, but for serious study of firearm history, you might need to go elsewhere.
Editorial Review:
From the invention of gunpowder more than 1,000 years ago in China to the latest Metal Storm firing system with electronic ignition, The Great Book of Guns presents a historical approach to the development of firearms and their place in world events. In chapters on Pistols and Revolvers, Rifles and Shotguns, Submachine Guns, and Heavy Machine Guns, individual weapons are featured in chronological order. Each entry is superbly illustrated with color photography and has detailed specifications and individual descriptions of the gun and its historical context. With an extensive index, up-to-date glossary of technical terms, and historical timeline of firearms, it's easy to chart the history and development of firearms with this superb treatment of more than 1,000 internationally produced weapons.
