Book Description
Old Guns & Whispering Ghosts brings to life the history, spirit, character, and contradictions of the Old West ...in the process of recounting the dramatic stories of its most legendary firearms. Author Jesse Hardin entices us into the fascinating world of shootists and drovers, defiant Indians and backwoods hunters. The dramatic photographs and inspiring text powerfully describe the period of rapid arms development and cultural change occurring between 1866 and 1916, from the close of the Civil War until what he considers to be "the last organized Indian raid," Pancho Villa's cross border attack on Columbus.
Old Guns & Whispering Ghosts "reads like a poem, and has all the depth and fascination of a psychological thriller," essayist Susan Weed writes. "History really IS more riveting than fiction! Here the lore and allure of firearms is used to shed light on not only the Wild West but the human condition, and our undying dreams."
Includes: John Wesley Hardin & the lonely truths about "shootists"; Teddy Roosevelt: cowboy hunter and conservationist; Buffalo Hunters & the mystique of the single-shot rifle; Ben Lilly, last of the mountain men; Elfego Baca & the most uneven gunfight in Western history; Frontier kids & early .22's; the importance of a code of honor, then and now; and much more!
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-09-14
If you like old guns and western history you will love this book. I highly suggest this if you are cowboy minded.
Excellent historical account of old west firearms........2006-11-03
I am fairly new to the cowboy action shooting scene. I have a specific interest in American western history and how firearms were an intricate part of the history of the western expansion. Old Guns and Whispering Ghosts is truely a masterpiece of literature. Jesse Hardin presents a beautiful narrative document of the old west and some of the best firearms ever made in a finely printed hard cover book. The pictures are wonderful and the prose outstanding. From the start of the book one can not help but note the authors love of the subject. For those of you who love old western firearms, the history of the west and wonderfully presented narrative, this is the book you must add to your library.
Book Description
Civil War collectibles, one of the hottest and fastest growing areas of collecting, now becomes part of the Warman's® encyclopedia of antiques and collectibles.
Following Warman's trusted reputation for detailed listings and accurate pricing, this premiere edition catalogs more than 3,000 Civil War collectibles that were either produced for or used by the armies and navies of the United States and Confederate States between 1861 and 1865. Lists artifacts, relics, and memorabilia such as firearms, weapons, projectiles, uniforms, personal objects, flags, banners, and money.
Collectors receive an introduction to collecting Civil War memorabilia and appendices listing manufacturers, a glossary of terms, and fakes. Accurate pricing is based on actual collectible sales and prominent collectors.
• Lists more than 3,000 Civil War collectibles
• Collectibles include firearms, weapons, projectiles, uniforms, tin types and carte de visites, personal objects, flags, banners, and money
• Offers additional resources such as an introduction to collecting Civil War memorabilia and appendices listing manufacturers, a glossary of terms, and fakes
• Pricing reflects current market values based on actual transactions
Customer Reviews:
Great for collectors.......2007-04-06
This a great book for collectors of Civil War relics! The book has nice colored pictures of everything from bullets and artillery shells to full uniforms and pictures. Great reference for all your collecting needs.
For the money, this one's hard to beat!.......2004-10-07
I've collected Civil War relics for over 13 years now & I can tell you that it's very important to have a book like this. By studying this book you'll be able to better identify relics as well as tell a fake from the real thing. I've already used this book to identify a canteen I recently bought for $40.00(!) as a Union medical canteen. Also, this book will tell you the general price of each relic so that you won't be cheated by some crooked dealer on e-bay! However, this book doesn't cover excavated relics well at all & doesn't even mention collecting Civil War veterans' relics. The very best Civil War relic price guide available is North & South Trader's Civil War Collector's Price Guide which not only covers ALL categories of Civil War relics but also has great sections on Revolutionary War relics & the War of 1812. That price guide cost at least double what Warman's guide does, but it's worth it. I think both are great & belong in every Civil War buff's library.
extremely helpful/detailed book.......2003-12-24
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it had exactly the information I was looking for, and was extremely interesting. I highly recommend this book for anyone intersted in the Civil War, whether or not they collect Civil War items.
Book Description
The weapons of the Confederate soldiers and Union Army, a commanding presence 140 years ago, are among today's most revered collectibles. Warman's Civil War Weapons offers Civil War enthusiasts a listing of more than 100 weapons and military vehicles, featured in 400 stunning full-color photos.
From the early battles that relied on muzzleloaded weapons, to the introduction of submarines, handguns, shoulder arms, edged weapons and more, this book chronicles the history of an innovative age of weaponry. Weapons including the Butterfield Revolver, Sharps Model 1859 and Confederate short sword are shown in detail, with a performance summary. This unmatched reference provides the information needed for a historical study and collecting.
-Features on more than 100 weapons
-400 full-color photos for quick identification
-Covers effectiveness of the weapon in battle
Book Description
It was perhaps the most important firearm of its era. Tested and proved in the fiery crucible of the Civil War, the Henry Rifle became the forerunner of the famous line of Winchester Repeating Rifles that "Won the West." To the amazed muzzleloader-armed Confederates who had to face this deadly "sixteen shooter," it was "that damned Yankee rifle that was loaded on Sunday and fired all week." Here is the fascinating story of this rifle and its battle history, all illustrated with wonderful photographs, including a large color section.
Customer Reviews:
The Historic Henry Rifle.......2007-03-09
This book is for those who want to know the origin of the Henry rifle. It contains a lot of specific detail regarding specific Henry rifles. It is, however, also interesting to read about the difficulty selling the Henry to the military, considering the design's advantages were outstanding. The Henry continues to be produced today as an exceedingly popular rimfire and large bore rifle.
Civil War buffs will also enjoy reading of the Henry's part in that war and speculating as to the effect more widespread use of the Henry repeater would have had.
Book Description
Historians often call the American Civil War the first modern war, pointing to the use of observation balloons, the telegraph, trains, mines, ironclad ships, and other innovations. Although recent scholarship has challenged some of these "firsts," the war did witness the introduction of the first repeating rifles. Prior to the Civil War, muzzle-loading arms, limited to at most three shots a minute, regulated the rules of engagement and pace of battle. Rapid fire small arms introduced new and more deadly tactical possibilities, and no other innovation of the turbulent 1860s would have a greater effect on the future of warfare. In A Revolution in Arms: A History of the First Repeating Rifles, historian Joseph G. Bilby unfolds the fascinating story of how two New England inventors, Benjamin Henry and Christopher Spencer, each combined generations of cartridge and rifle technology to develop reliable repeating rifles. In a stroke, the Henry rifle and Spencer rifle and carbine changed warfare forever, accelerating the abandonment of the formal battle line tactics of previous generations. As graphically demonstrated at Gettysburg and Chickamauga, firepower could cause heavy casualties in an opposing force and, properly applied, alter the course of a battle.
Although slow to enter service, the repeating rifle soon became a sought after weapon by both Union and Confederate troops. Oliver Winchester purchased the rights to the Henry and transformed it into "the gun that won the West." The Spencer, the most famous of all Civil War small arms, was the weapon of choice for Federal cavalrymen. The revolutionary technology represented by repeating arms used in the American Civil War, including self-contained metallic cartridges, large capacity magazines, and innovative cartridge feeding systems, was copied or adapted by arms manufacturers around the world, and these features remain with us today.
Customer Reviews:
An indispensible and original study.......2006-07-19
Joseph Bilby's "A Revolution in Arms" is considerably more than just a treatise upon repeating rifles used during the American Civil War. Rather, it is a careful study of how those weapons were used and how a coherent, although unofficial doctrine eveolved over time. It is a study that required extensive research into obscure primary sources because relevant contemporary official reports were essentially nonexistent. Therefore, "A Revolution in Arms" is a genuinely original contribution to the military history of the Civil War, exploring areas previously unknown and subject only to speculation. Mr. Bilby wisely does not claim too much importance for the firearms at the center of his book; he does not claim that they were a decisive factor in achieving Union victory, although he concludes that they probably shortened the effort.
While Henry and Spencer rifles (and carbines) together are the primary focus of "A Revolution in Arms" because of their relatively widespread use, the book does not neglect other repeaters such as the Colt Revolving Rifle and even delves to some extent into single-shot breechloaders. Nor is the Civil War employment of these arms presented in isolation; instead, a lengthy prewar context is provided and Mr. Bilby continues his narrative with a survey of the military use of repeating rifles in various foreign armies for the rest of the Nineteenth century.
For anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of American Civil War firearms or tactical developments (infantry as well as cavalry), "A Revolution in Arms" is indispensible.
A New Look At Old Arms.......2006-04-12
Bilby's book is the first really comprehensive look at the development *and* tactical use of repeating arms. Although most of the book concentrates on the Civil War he begins before the Late Unpleasantness and continues for some ways after it. Bilby is an excellent writer (a skill no doubt honed by years as a columnist for Civil War News) and this slim book is an easy read.
This is not just a nuts and bolts book -- Bilby mentions the men who made the rifles, national and army politics, and some of the real reasons why repeating rifles were not adopted sooner. It was not just military conservatism but also well-justified fears about mechanical reliability and resupply in a horse-drawn era, as well as the fact that a repeater could not stand as heavy a charge as a single shot rifle.
Overall, highly recommended if you want to learn about repeaters and how they came into general service, and why it took longer than you might think.
A Significant Contribution to Civil War Historiography.......2006-02-08
It was with great pleasure that I provided an endorsement for the back cover of Joe Bilby's latest book. Mr. Bilby had done the same for my own latest work, The Bloody Crucible of Courage: Fightig Methods and Combat Experience of the Civil War, and one always wants to return a favor. However, reading the manuscript I was deeply and genuinely impressed with this effort and truly believe that this work will provide a significant and lasting contribution to Civil War literature. It, therefore, is probably not inappropriate that I repeat this endorsement here:
"Clearly written in a vivid compelling style, A Revolution in Arms is among a handful of works to provide both a comprehensive history of the development of an emerging weapons technology (in this case, the repeating rifle) and how this was ultimately employed during America's great internecine struggle. With this effort, Joseph Bilby has emerged among the front runners of a new school of the study of Civil War military history that is both more encyclopedic and ecumenical in scope and treatment than has been previously available."
Until now, most books on Civil War firearms have tended to focus almost exclusively on the technological development of the weaponry, augmented here and there by the occasional biographical accounts of the main players in the story. A detailed account of how these weapons were used during combat, how they did or did not influence prevailing tactics and combat experience is usually limited to a handful of paragraphs. It is this intertwining of the technical, the biographical with fully developed narratives of how these weapons were used on the Civil War battlefield that makes Joseph Bilby's latest work both interesting and invaluable.
So much of existing Civil War literature has looked upon the story of the evolution of the weaponry and tactics in isolation, as if they somehow sprung up out the ground after the shots fired at Fort Sumter. Current research increasingly is showing that not only can the development of rifled artillery, submarines, ironclads be traced much further back than has hitherto been thought possible, but the story is very much a "tale of two continents." Again, Mr Bilby's work scored high in this regard, and will substantially contribute to a broader and more accurate understanding of how the repeater appeared on the American battlefield.
A Revolution In Arms: A History Of The First Repeating Rifles.......2006-01-19
Joseph Bilby is a prolific writer well known for his research skills.He uses his investigative skills garnered from years as a Military police Officer and later a Chief investigator in his home state to ferret out the facts as opposed to folklore and /or romanticism. Perhaps in no other area of historical writing is this more true than in dealing with firearms. We long have been satisfied to settle for quaint myths seasoned with a little bit of Saturday Morning Westerns fiction! Author Bilby, in A Revolution of Arms: A History of The First Repeating Arms has put those days to a well deserved rest! By resorting to "just the facts" he tackles the Colt, Spencer and Henry with scholarship evident from a man who knows and understands firearms.The impact of these innovative weapons are measured by the historical context in which they were used. There are historians who know something about guns and writers who know something about history. As we re-visit such renowned organizations as Berdan's. Sharpshooters,Wilder's Brigade and the Michigan Cavalry Brigade at Gettysburg it is obvious Bilby knows a great deal about each subject area and shares his knowledge generously! To this end we are all the much richer and this book catapults into the " must have" catagory.No firearms or Civil War Library will be complete without it's inclusion.
A Revolution In Arms: A History Of The First Repeating Rifles.......2006-01-05
Joe Bilby has earned an outstanding reputation as a meticulous and skillful historian of firearms development and their practical uses in 19th Century warfare. The invention of repeating firearms had an enormous role to play in changing the nature of the battlefield and Joe Bilby does a superb job not only of explaining the unique characteristic of the weapons themselves but their impact and practical application on the field of battle. `A Revolution In Arms', is a superb book well organized and written which the reader will find himself coming back to again and again as an important reference.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent resource of material about the Union Soldier.......2003-03-09
Since the Civil War ended, the uniforms of the Union Soldiers have been portrayed as basically blue with the gold buttons going down the center. While this is marginally accurate, the uniforms of the Union Soldiers that fought in the Civil War were actually unique and had various patterns. In this excellent book, the uniforms are shown in color, and they are quite different, yet the same in general appearance. It is informative, interesting and enjoyable to view the wide variety of Officer and Enlisted Uniforms that were worn during the Civil War.
Also presented in this fine book are the various flags that were flown by regiments in battle. Flags made by Tiffany's to Women from throughout the Union, these flags were in fierce battle and were held by brave men who in quite a few instances gave the ultimate sacrifice by waving their regimental flags.
Cannons, Swords, Pistols, Rifles and other arms are shown as well as Cannons, Canteens, and various other equipment that was used by Union Soldiers are displayed.
This is the companion book to the Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy and both books are a MUST have in the serious Civil War Historian, and affecianado's library.
Highly Recommended!
arms and equipment of the union.......2000-06-23
an excellent book! .fine quality of photos.interesting articles.the book is specially for civil war buffs and historians.this is one of the most oustanding books on the civil war.classic! .
civil war buff
ARMS & EQUIPMENT OF THE UNION.......2000-03-03
One of three similar books issued by TIME/LIFE that is a good introduction to those of us gettng started in War Between The States reenacting who want to get the right authenticity. This book deals with Small Arms, Uniforms, Equipment, Music, Flags, and (my field of interest) Artillery, and lists why certain equipment was used over others of the time. Easy to read, loaded with photographs of period equipment, this book is well worth the price, which, incidentally, is MUCH less expensive than the bookstore price (even considering P&H). If your library carries it, great! But if not, it's a good investment... I first saw the book in Gettysburg when I had a question for a merchant specializing in period headwear (whom I can't mention: Sorry BILLY!), and he referred to this book to find the answer. Drop me a line if any of you have questions. (No, I'm not the author or affilliated with sales)... atondale@nls.net
An excellent guide on many assets of the Union........1998-11-11
This book is an excellent guide to weapons, equipment, uniforms, battleflags and many other interesting things of the Union Army. Anyone interested in the Civil War should have this book.
Average customer rating:
- Great compilation for a work billed as an "introduction"
- Good for beginners
- Everything I hoped for
|
An Introduction to Civil War Small Arms
Earl J. Coates , and
Dean S. Thomas
Manufacturer: Thomas Publications (PA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Civil War
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Confederacy
| Civil War
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Military Science
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Conventional
| Weapons & Warfare
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Firearms
| Conventional
| Weapons & Warfare
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
History of Technology
| Technology
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Civil War
| United States
| Americas
| History
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| United States
| Americas
| History
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Weapons & Warfare
| Military
| History
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Military Science
| History
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
History of Technology
| Technology
| Science
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Civil War Firearms
-
Arms and Equipment of the Civil War
-
A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges
-
Cannons: An Introduction to Civil War Artillery
-
Warmans Civil War Weapons
ASIN: 0939631253 |
Book Description
Fifty Union and Confederate muskets, rifles, carbines and pistols are concisely discussed with specifications. Also includes photos of the ammunition.
Customer Reviews:
Great compilation for a work billed as an "introduction".......2006-08-12
Coates and Thomas have produced a very usable and informative work. Titling it an "introduction" is somewhat misleading. While it might only be 96 pages long, it is a very full and well illustrated 96 pages. Certainly it is not fully detailed and does not present all arms, but neither is this a superficial sampling.
The overall format is an introduction to each weapon with basic specifications, several paragraphs of text about development use and production, a photograph of the weapon, a period photograph of a soldier armed with the same, and a photo of the cartridge. This is repeated for each major weapon. There are also several other general information sections about various aspects of small arms. Of considerable use to wargamers is a section listing known weapons of MANY regiments (looks like at least 1,000.)
If this is but an introduction, I should very much like to see a complete work on the subject by these authors.
Good for beginners.......2006-06-16
A nice little book for those beginning to see interest in civil war firearms. Nicely orgnaized. Well written. Well illustrated. Provides a brief history on the mainly used firearms and their accouterments. Then provides basic instruction in their use.
A good book to have.
Everything I hoped for.......2005-02-25
This book is extremely well organized, has clear black and white photos of the guns, sample portraits of actual soldiers with the guns and of the ammuntion. The text is concise, but clear and not technical, perfect for a beginner like me. Since buying and reading it, I've been able to quickly recognize guns I've seen in museums, without even having the book with me.
Average customer rating:
|
Civil War Small Arms of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps
John D. McAulay
Manufacturer: Andrew Mowbray Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Naval
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0917218876 |
Book Description
From renowned author John D. McAulay comes the first reliable and comprehensive guide to the firearms and edged weapons of the Civil War Navy and Marine Corps. This fascinating book starts during the 1850s, and then proceeds to cover each of the war years in surprising detail, listing specific weapons used on specific ships and in specific engagements. The variety of weapons covered is amazing. Arms inventories for nearly 400 vessels are carefully transcribed for your use, showing guns, swords pikes, knives and accoutrements. 216 black and white photos, coated paper and cover art by famous nautical artist Tom Freeman. See why Norm Flayderman calls this "a highly significant addition to the lore of American arms history...the cornerstone for understanding this subject."
Amazon.com
Although set during the Civil War, David Madden's latest novel really takes place in the terrain of the mind. Sharpshooter is a story of the dislocating and disorienting effects of war. The narrator of the story is Willis Carr, who is 13 years old when the story begins. Taken prisoner by the Confederates, he gains his freedom when he joins them as a sharpshooter. As Willis tells his story, he is swept along by events he does not comprehend. This is to be expected from an adolescent boy; however, Willis later discovers that older soldiers have the same problem, only vaguely recollecting the events that unfold around them.
Customer Reviews:
Not Your Standard Historical Fiction.......2002-02-23
This is a strangely-told Civil War novel. It's the remembrance of Willis Carr, who was drawn into the war at 13 in the hills of East Tennessee. Many localities from that area are mentioned in the story. Sharpshooter is strange because it is told by the narrator many years after the war and he doesn't seem to remember actually being a part of the events. It's a good effort, but could have been even better. Madden's work is pretty well received by critics, probably because he does such a nice job of making "history" readable.
Among the best of recent Civil War fiction.......1997-02-21
Madden's novel is both entertaining and challenging. The first half is a young adults conversion from non combatant
and Tennessee farm boy through an East Tennessee rail road raider and into the CSA army as a sharpshooter. The second half of the novel presents the soldier after the war as he returns from an alcoholic binge in the West. His personal recollections are hazy but he confronts the question: "Was it war or was it murder?" By touring the
Civil War battlefields and bumping into assorted veterans, some of whom are truthful and some are liars, he confronts his battlefield wounds of his body and his psyche. Not your usual Civil War novel and at times it may make you restless
but Sharpshooter does the work its sets out to do
Books:
- Oriental Carpets: A Complete Guide - The Classic Reference (Oriental Carpets)
- Oriental Carpets: A Complete Guide - The Classic Reference (Oriental Carpets)
- Petretti's Coca-Cola Collectibles Price Guide
- Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems
- Route 66 Lost & Found: Ruins and Relics Revisited, Volume 2
- Secrets of the Alchemist Dar: Collector's Hardcover Edition (A Treasure's Trove)
- Sew the Contemporary Wardrobe for 18-Inch Dolls: Complete Instructions and Full-Size Patterns for 35 Clothing and Accessory Items
- Shaker Design
- Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #1 (Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born)
- The Art Crowd
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Beating the Dow with Bonds : A High-Return, Low-Risk Strategy for Outperforming the Pros Even When S
- Small Spaces, Beautiful Gardens
- Life with the Kids: A Year's Supply of Family Funnies
- Lonely Planet Costa Rica
- Official Final Fantasy VII Strategy Guide
- The Chronicles of Narnia CD Box Set
- Of Oxygen Fuels and Living Matter
- Inside Java 2 Platform Security: Architecture, API Design, and Implementation
- Fast Track Jobs Accpa
- A Day No Pigs Would Die
Guns of the Old West: An Illustrated Guide
Guns of the New West
Guns Of The Wild West (Buffalo Bill Historical Centre)
Gun Digest Book of the .44
Percussion Pistols And Revolvers: History, Performance and Practical Use
