Traditional Muzzleloading Association

The Den - Members' Library => Resources => Topic started by: jtwodogs on March 14, 2009, 04:18:30 PM

Title: can anyone suggest some books with pics.
Post by: jtwodogs on March 14, 2009, 04:18:30 PM

Since I am a newbie to the genre. Would like to have some reference material, one with lots of pics of guns from 1750 on.
Can anyone suggest anything, and where to find, I was thinking of going to Amazon, but have to start my search somewhere.
Thanks

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Post by: melsdad on March 14, 2009, 06:07:48 PM

I think you would do well with "Rifles Of Colonial America" I don't have either volume yet, but they are on my list.

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Post by: Indiana on March 14, 2009, 06:33:46 PM

Yup, Rifles of Colonial America is what you need.  They are kinda pricey, but well worth it for the reference material.  All of the Shumway "Longrifle Series" books are expensive, actually, but very nice books.  I've been buying one or two a year for the past couple years and have a nice little collection.  I'd reccomend starting with RCA (volume 1 or 2, doesn't really matter).

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Post by: Indiana on March 14, 2009, 06:35:42 PM

http://www.shumwaypublisher.com/store/s ... sp?catid=2 (http://www.shumwaypublisher.com/store/shop/category.asp?catid=2)

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Post by: tg on March 14, 2009, 07:24:41 PM

You might want to get started at your local library by intewrlibrary loan if they don't have the books you want "Longrifles of Colonial America' Vol. 1 and 2  George Schumway Publisher. the erliest dated gun is 1761 from Reading others are thought to date back to 1740-50 but the earlier guns dates are based on speculation and traits common to guns as they get older and many years of hands on by the author and others.

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Post by: Stryker on March 14, 2009, 08:13:31 PM

yep, I have both RCA 1 an 2 and thoughts on the Kentucky rifle. All 3 are excellent.

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Post by: mario on March 14, 2009, 09:14:52 PM

Now, now boys. Rifles weren't the only guns out there...

Flintlock Fowlers by Tom Grinslade

Battle Weapons of the American Revolution by George Neumann

Both available at http://www.trackofthewolf.com (http://www.trackofthewolf.com)

Mario

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Post by: tg on March 14, 2009, 09:17:51 PM

There are a fair number of smoothrifles represnted in the RCA books some may be just worn out but the concensus is that many were made that way, which is a pretty handy way to go if you are not chasing antelope on the great plaines.

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Post by: Buffler Razz on March 14, 2009, 10:10:49 PM

I have Vol 2 of Shumway's RCA and will soon have Vol 1. I also have Flintlock Fowlers, anothe fine book. Spend a little time looking at the guns, and kits, on Track of the Wolf too. Lots of ideas there.
Razz

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Post by: Bruce Bogart on March 15, 2009, 08:22:06 PM

Yoiu might try the Kentucky Rifle Association. Google them. They sell a CD with quite a few rifles pictured thereon, for about $20.00 I believe. Good way to get to see a bunch without a large outlay.
Just a thought.
Bruce

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Post by: melsdad on March 15, 2009, 08:25:02 PM

I am wondering.......The books Rifles Of Colonial America Vol I & II. Are the pictures in the books color, or black & white only?

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Post by: Hank in WV on March 15, 2009, 09:46:21 PM

B&W

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Post by: Buffler Razz on March 15, 2009, 10:20:50 PM

Brian
The pictures in the RCA books are great, even if they are B&W, and the info on the guns is first rate. Having the various dimensions of the gun really helped me with my build.
Ron

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Post by: James Kelly on March 16, 2009, 07:30:36 AM

Forget Amazon.
Used gun books by the zillion are on
http://www.abebooks.com (http://www.abebooks.com)
search by author, title or keyword.
Wide, very wide, range of prices for the same thing. I have bought from US, Canadian and European dealers through abe.

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Post by: ridjrunr on March 16, 2009, 12:45:00 PM

James,I have never bought books online.As a general rule,do you think abe has better prices? I am building a library for myself as well.Thanx for the input,ridjrunr

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Post by: Craig Tx on March 16, 2009, 02:28:02 PM

I use Alibris Books http://www.alibris.com/ (http://www.alibris.com/)  alot.

They carry both new and used.

You can also find out of print books as well.


Craig

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Post by: tall bear on March 16, 2009, 03:33:05 PM

I have bought a ton of books from Abe books.Most of what i've bought are used and out of print.They usually have a broad range of prices which is nice since I'm not a book collector just need the reference material.

Mitch

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Post by: Mike R on March 16, 2009, 05:08:02 PM

For early guns [rifles] the already mentioned Shumway's RCA v1&2 is the standard.  Also mentioned, the Grinslade book on fowlers. You might also consider the new book "Of Sorts for Provincials" which has alot of military & militia/civilian  guns from the F&I War period [mid 1750s-60s]--and Ahearn's book on Muskets of the Revolution--which includes alot of earlier pieces.  Hamilton's of Colonial Frontier Guns shows trade guns of the early period [17th -mid 18th cent].

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Post by: James Kelly on March 20, 2009, 11:43:39 AM

abe may have 4 or a dozen different prices for the same thing, each from a different dealer.
I found out the expensive way that it is good to search for the book by name.
Example--you look up key word "Kentucky Rifles" and find one book you want out of maybe 30 or 100 listed.
Next step is to repeat the search, but this time search for the specific title of that book.
This time there might be more choice of bookstores, hence prices, for that specific book.
May not entirely make sense but that's the way it is.  
I don't know how any site could have better prices than abe, as they have so very many different dealers selling thru them.
I also use abaa.org, Antiquarian Book Dealers. More limited selection but sometimes a slightly different selection.

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Post by: ridjrunr on March 20, 2009, 12:57:13 PM

James,Thanx for the input.I've looked at abe and it looks pretty good.I see what you mean aboout checkin both ways.   ridjrunr