Battle of the Little Big Horn...................

[5MadFarmers]

Shooting them. That is another area where so many on these boards exceed my experience and likely capability. I seem to be more of a collector. When it's shooting time I tend to stick to an M1 and an 1896 Swede. Periodically a Colt 1911. That last is missing the US Property marking so a shooter.

Gutta Percha cartridges. I guess loose powder and a cap would work for that? I have no idea what to shoot in that thing.

I've not taken the musket out either and I really need to figure out how to load and shoot that.

[Bill D]

The Smith uses a unique rubber cartridge case although Dixie Gun Works sells a brass case which is probably better for prolonged use. The rubber was a problem during the war as the case tended to vulcanize during prolonged firing in a hot chamber and was difficult to extract. Loading isn't rocket science - just dump 45-50 grains of FFg black powder or a modern substitute into the case and seat the bullet by hand. No tools needed, then a musket cap on the nipple and let 'er rip.

If you want to PM me an address, I'll send you a case and a few bullets. Everyone needs to shoot one, just to say you have.

[JBinIll]

That is one fine looking weapon,congratulations on your aquisition.If you have an interest in shooting some of these carbines there is a book out published by Mowbray Publishing titled Civil War Carbines by Peter Schiffers.The author aquired many of the CW carbines and goes into detail on testing and shooting them to compare his experiences with historical reports of the period.Has quite a bit of information on making up the cartridges and loads.Nice score on the books.

[5MadFarmers]

The Smith uses a unique rubber cartridge case although Dixie Gun Works sells a brass case which is probably better for prolonged use. The rubber was a problem during the war as the case tended to vulcanize during prolonged firing in a hot chamber and was difficult to extract. Loading isn't rocket science - just dump 45-50 grains of FFg black powder or a modern substitute into the case and seat the bullet by hand. No tools needed, then a musket cap on the nipple and let 'er rip.

If you want to PM me an address, I'll send you a case and a few bullets. Everyone needs to shoot one, just to say you have.

I suspect I should. Take a long vacation next summer and just drag all of the oddities out and shoot them. Have the kid camcorder it all. It'll take some doing - there are quite a few.

Thanks for the offer. I'll email my address tomorrow night after the auction.

[5MadFarmers]

That is one fine looking weapon,congratulations on your aquisition.

Thank you. As peculiar as it sounds the deciding factor to take that one was the wife - for her own strange reasons.

If you have an interest in shooting some of these carbines there is a book out published by Mowbray Publishing titled Civil War Carbines by Peter Schiffers.The author aquired many of the CW carbines and goes into detail on testing and shooting them to compare his experiences with historical reports of the period.Has quite a bit of information on making up the cartridges and loads.Nice score on the books.

Sigh, yet another book. Mind you I like books, own thousands, but it's getting rather serious from a space perspective. I've been going back to the store for bookcases with a sad frequency lately. Each one seems to start a "Franklin Mint" set I may never complete but will spend time trying. Not counting "electronic copies" and books photographed at the library, page by painful page, the following are the "must have" sets:
1) Ordnance Memoranda. Original and reprints but preferably the former. 29 total.
2) Ordnance Notes. 12 or 13 sets. Photographed them, all of them, page by page. I've also been finding them ever so slowly.
3) "Description and Rules for the Management" manuals. Originals and reprints but prefer the former as they have names and serials sometimes. This also includes the "Instructions" for the other stuff. I've been doing well on this front.
4) War Department Documents. Over 1,000. All those "drill regulations" and such.
5) Training and Technical Regulations. Post-WW1 to the start of WW2. I might have the most complete set extant.
6) 1930s Basic Field Manual sets. Odd little series. Hard to complete but I'm working on it.
7) Technical and Basic Field Manual series from 1939-present. FM23- being the really interesting ones. I have a picture of the TM collection at the library and it's in the tens of thousands. I limit my intake of TMs. 9- series mainly.
8) Standard Nomenclature Lists. So expensive they make me cry.
9) Sundry other "official" documents. Annual reports, etc.

Then we get to the collector books. All scarce and expensive. Not just guns - "gun related." "Ordnance Went Up Front" and "Shots fired in Anger" type things.

Outdated but the list I worked from:

Baird, John D.; "Fifteen Years in the Hawkins Lode"; Gun Room Press, 1976
Baird, John D.; "Hawken Rifles"; Buckskin Press, 4th printing, 1973
Ball, Robert W.D.; "Springfield Armory Shoulder Weapons 1795-1968"; Antique Trader Publications, 1997
Bartlett, W.A. & Gallatin, D.B.; "Cartridge Manual: an illustrated digest"; Pioneer Press, 1956
Brophy, William S.; "The Springfield 1903 Rifles"; Stackpole, 1985
Brophy, William S.; "The Springfield Armory - 1890-1948"; Mowbry, 1991
Brophy, William S.; "The Krag Rifle"; 2nd Ed., 5th printing, Gun Room Press, 1998
Browning, John & Gentry, Curt; "John M. Browning, American Gunmaker"; 2nd Ed, 4th printing, Browning, 2004
Canfield, Bruce N.; "Complete Guide to the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine"; 2nd ed., Mowbray, 1999
Canfield, Bruce N., Lamoreaux, Robert L., & Johnson, Edward R.; "Johnson's Rifles and Machine Guns"; Mowbray, 2006
Carey, A. Merwyn; "American Firearms Makers"; Crowell, 1953
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol I (listed as of 3 volumes)"; GPO, 1951
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol I (listed as of 3 volumes)"; GPO, 1951 - Presentation copy #49.
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol II (Part VII)"; GPO, 1952
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol III (Parts VIII and IX); GPO, 1953
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol IV (Parts X and XI)"; GPO, 1955
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol V; GPO
Coggins, Jack; "Arms and Equipment of the Civil War"; Fairfax Press, 1962 - 1983 printing.
Crowell, Benedict; "America's Munitions"; GPO, 1919
Cunningham, Gary M.; "American Military Bayonets of the 20th Century"; 6th ed., South Greenburg, 2005
Datig, Fred A. Cartridges for Collectors. Beverly Hills, CA: Fadco Publishing Company, 1958.
Deyrup, Felicia Johnson; "Arms Making in the Connecticut Valley"; George Shumway, 1970
Dorsey, R. Stephen; "American Military Belts and Related Equipment"; Pioneer Press, 1984
Duff, Scott A.; "The M1 Garand: WW2"; 9th ed., South Greenburg, 2004
Duff, Scott A.; "The M1 Garand: Post WW2"; 11th ed., South Greenburg, 2004
Dunlop, Roy.; "Ordnance Went Up Front"; Samworth, 1948
Edwards, William B.; "Civil War Guns"; Stackpole, 1962
Farrington, Dusan P.; "Arming & Equipping the US Cavalry, 1865-1902"; Mowbray, 2004
Ferris, C.S. & Beard, John; "Springfield Model 1903 Service Rifle, Production and Alteration, 1905-1910"; Ferris, 1995
Flayderman, Norm; "Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms"; 8th ed, Krause, 2001
Frasca, Albert J. & Hill, Robert H.; "The .45-70 Springfield"; Springfield, 1980
Fuller, Claud E.; "Springfield Shoulder Arms - 1795-1865"; S&S Firearms, 1968
Fuller, Claud E.; "The Breech-loader in the Service"; ARCA, 1933
Fuller, Claud E.; "The Rifled Musket"; Bonanza Books, 1958
Fuller, Claud E.; Whitney Firearms. Huntington, WV: Standard Publications, 1946.
Gardner, Robert E.; "American Arms and Arms Makers"; F.J. Heer, 1938
Gardner, Robert E. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms. New York: Crown Publishers, 1963
George, John; "Shots fired in anger"; 2nd ed, NRA, 1981
Gluckman, Arcadi; "Identifying old US Muskets, Rifles, and Carbines"; Stackpole, 1965 (Bonanza Books)
Gluckman, Arcadi; "U.S. Martial Pistols & Revolvers"; Stackpole, 1956
Gluckman, Arcadi and Satterlee, LeRoy Deforest; "American Gun Makers"; Stackpole, 1953
Hackley, Frank W., Woodin, William H., Scranton, Eugene L.; "History of Modern U.S. Military Small Arms Ammunition, Vol 1, 1880-1939; Macmillan, 1967
Hackley, Frank W., Woodin, William H., Scranton, Eugene L.; "History of Modern U.S. Military Small Arms Ammunition, Vol 2
Hatch, Alden; "Remington Arms - An American History"; Rinehart, 1956
Hatcher, Julian S.; "Hatcher's Notebook"; Military Service, 1948 (2nd corrected printing)
Hatcher, Julian S.; "Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers"; Small Arms Technical Publishing Co., 1935
Haven, Charles T., and Belden, Frank A.; "A History of the Colt Revolver. New York"; Bonanza Books, 1940
Hicks, James E. Nathan Starr. Mt. Vernon, NY: James E. Hicks, 1940.
Hicks, James E.; "Notes on German Ordnance, 1841-1918"; Stoeger, 1941
Hicks, James E.; "United States Military Firearms"; Hicks, 1962
Hicks, James E.; "United States Ordnance, Vol I, Small Arms, 1776 to 1946"; Hicks, 1946
Hicks, James E.; "United States Ordnance, Vol II, Ordnance Correspondence"; Hicks, 1940
Hopkins, Richard E. Military Sharps Rifles and Carbines. Campbell, CA: Published by the author, 1967.
Hosmer, Richard A. & CFM; "The .58 and .50 Caliber Rifles & Carbines of the Springfield Armory, 1865-1872"; Northcape, 2006
Johnson, Melvin M. & Haven, Charles T.; "Automatic Arms"; 2nd printing, Morrow, 1942
Johnson, Melvin M. & Haven, Charles T.; "Automatic Arms"; 5th printing, Morrow, 1944
Johnson, Melvin M.; "Rifles and Machine Guns"; Morrow, 1944
Johnson, Melvin M. & Haven, Charles T.; "Ammunition"; 2nd printing, Morrow, 1944
Karr, Charles Lee and Karr, Caroll Robbins; "Remington Handguns"; Stackpole, 2nd ed. 1951
Kauffman, Henry J.; "Early American Gunsmiths, 1650-1850"; Telegraph Press, 1952
Kehaya, Steve & Poyer, Joe; "The Swedish Mauser Rifles"; 2nd ed. North Cape, 2003
Kimmel, Jay; "Savage & Steves Arms, Collector's History"; Corey/Stevens Publishing, 1990
Lewis, Berkeley R.; "Notes on Ammunition of the American Civil War"; American Ordnance Association, 1959
Logan, Herschel C.; "Cartridges"; Standard Publications, 1948
Logan, Herschel C.; "Hand Cannon to Automatic"; Standard Publications, 1944
Lustyik, Andrew F.; "Civil War Carbines - From Service to Sentiment"; World Wide Gun Reports, 1962
Mallory, Franklin B. & Olson, Ludwig E. "The Krag Rifle Story"; Springfield Research Service, 1979. First printing, November 1979.
Mallory, Frank; SRS Vol 1
Mallory, Frank; SRS Vol 2
Mallory, Frank; SRS Vol 3
Mallory, Frank; SRS Vol 4
Marcot, Roy M.; "Spencer Repeating Arms"; Northwood Heritage, 1983
McAulay, John D.; "Carbines of the Civil War"; Pioneer Press, 1981
McAulay, John D. Civil War Breech Loading Rifles. Lincoln, RI: Andrew Mowbray, Inc., 1987.
McAulay, John D. Civil War Carbines. 2 Vols. Lincoln, RI: Andrew Mowbray, Inc., 1991.
McHenry, Roy C. & Roper, Walter F.;"Smith & Wesson Handguns";
Myszkowski, Eugene; Remington-Lee book around here somewhere
Myszkowski, Eugene; "The Winchester-Lee Rifle"; Excalibur, 1999
Naramore, Earl; "Handloader's Manual"; Samworth, 1937
North, S.N.D.; "Simeon North";
Pitman, John; "Pitman Notes on Firearms, Vol 1, Breech-loading Carbines of the United States Civil War Period"; Armory, 1987
Pitman, John; "Pitman Notes on Firearms, Vol 2,Revolvers & Automatic Pistols"; Thomas, 1990
Pitman, John; "Pitman Notes on Firearms, Vol 3, U.S. Breech-loading Rifles & Carbines, Cal. .45 "; Thomas, 1991
Pitman, John; "Pitman Notes on Firearms, Vol 4, U.S. Magazine Rifles & Carbines, Cal. .30"; Armory, 1992
Pitman, John; "Pitman Notes on Firearms, Vol 5, Miscellaneous Notes - Calibers .58, .50, .30, Confederate & Foreign"; Armory, 1992
Poyer, Joe & Riesch, Craig; "The .45-70 Springfield"; 4h ed. North Cape, 2006
Poyer, Joe, and whomever - Krag book. MIA around here somewhere.
Riling, Ray. Guns and Shooting
Riling, Ray; "The Powder Flask Book"; Bonanza, 1953.
Rohan, Jack; "Yankee Arms Makers"
Satterlee, Leroy Deforest; "10 Old Gun Catalogs"; 3rd printing, Vol I, Gun Digest, 1957
Satterlee, Leroy Deforest; "14 Old Gun Catalogs"; 4th ed., Vol II, Follett, 1962
Sawyer, Charles Winthrop; "Our Rifles"; Williams Book Store, 1946
Sellers, Frank; "Sharps Firearms"; Beinfield, 1995
Shockley, Philip M.; "The Krag-Jorgensen Rifle in the Service"; World-Wide Gun Reports, 1960
Shockley, Philip M.; "The Trap-Door Springfield in the Service"; 11th ed, World-Wide Gun Reports, 1958
Smith, Winston O.; "Sharps Rifle";
Stevens, R. Blake & Ezell, Edward C.; "The Black Rifle"; Collector Grade Publications, 1987
Stockbridge, V.D.; "Digest of U.S. Patents Relating To Breech Loading And Magazine Small Arms, 1836-1873"; Flayderman, 1963
Van Rensselaer, Stephen; "American Firearms"; Century House, 1947
Waite, M.D., and B.D. Ernst. Trapdoor Springfield. North Hollywood, CA: Beinfield Publishing, Inc., 1980.
White, Terry A.; "American Manufacturers of Combustible Ammunition: Merrill, Sturtevant, and Mason"; Thomas Publications, 2002
Winant, Lewis; "Early Percussion Firearms"; Bonanza, 1959
Winant, Lewis; "Firearms Curiosa"; Bonanza, 1955

Green, Constance McLaughlin, Thomson, Harry C., & Roots, Peter C.; "U.S. Army in WW2, The Technical Services, The Ordnance Department: Planning Munitions for War"; OCMH, USA, 1955
Thomson, Harry C. & Mayo, Lide; "U.S. Army in WW2, The Technical Services, The Ordnance Department: Procurement and Supply"; OCMH, USA, 1960
Vigneras, Marcel; "U.S. Army in WW2, Special Studies, Rearming the French"; OCMH, USA, 1957

Quartermaster General, USA; "U.S. Army Uniforms & Equipment, 1889"; University of Nebraska Press, 1989
Letterkenny Ordnance Depot; "Letterkenny Ordnance Depot in War and Peace"; Pridemark Press, circa 1956
Smithsonian Institution; American Military Insignia, 1800-1851; GPO, 1963
Tillinghast, B.F.; "Rock Island Arsenal in Peace and War"; , Henry O. Shepard Company, 1898

Missing some but they all show up eventually. Some acquired since I updated that list. Under 20 in that list still missing. Closer to 10 I think.

Buying books can be more expensive than buying guns. It's death of a thousand cuts. I'll add that book to the list.

[JBinIll]

Outdated but the list I worked from:

Baird, John D.; "Fifteen Years in the Hawkins Lode"; Gun Room Press, 1976
Baird, John D.; "Hawken Rifles"; Buckskin Press, 4th printing, 1973
Ball, Robert W.D.; "Springfield Armory Shoulder Weapons 1795-1968"; Antique Trader Publications, 1997
Bartlett, W.A. & Gallatin, D.B.; "Cartridge Manual: an illustrated digest"; Pioneer Press, 1956
Brophy, William S.; "The Springfield 1903 Rifles"; Stackpole, 1985
Brophy, William S.; "The Springfield Armory - 1890-1948"; Mowbry, 1991
Brophy, William S.; "The Krag Rifle"; 2nd Ed., 5th printing, Gun Room Press, 1998
Browning, John & Gentry, Curt; "John M. Browning, American Gunmaker"; 2nd Ed, 4th printing, Browning, 2004
Canfield, Bruce N.; "Complete Guide to the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine"; 2nd ed., Mowbray, 1999
Canfield, Bruce N., Lamoreaux, Robert L., & Johnson, Edward R.; "Johnson's Rifles and Machine Guns"; Mowbray, 2006
Carey, A. Merwyn; "American Firearms Makers"; Crowell, 1953
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol I (listed as of 3 volumes)"; GPO, 1951
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol I (listed as of 3 volumes)"; GPO, 1951 - Presentation copy #49.
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol II (Part VII)"; GPO, 1952
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol III (Parts VIII and IX); GPO, 1953
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol IV (Parts X and XI)"; GPO, 1955
Chinn, George Morgan; "The Machine Gun - Vol V; GPO
Coggins, Jack; "Arms and Equipment of the Civil War"; Fairfax Press, 1962 - 1983 printing.
Crowell, Benedict; "America's Munitions"; GPO, 1919
Cunningham, Gary M.; "American Military Bayonets of the 20th Century"; 6th ed., South Greenburg, 2005
Datig, Fred A. Cartridges for Collectors. Beverly Hills, CA: Fadco Publishing Company, 1958.
Deyrup, Felicia Johnson; "Arms Making in the Connecticut Valley"; George Shumway, 1970
Dorsey, R. Stephen; "American Military Belts and Related Equipment"; Pioneer Press, 1984
Duff, Scott A.; "The M1 Garand: WW2"; 9th ed., South Greenburg, 2004
Duff, Scott A.; "The M1 Garand: Post WW2"; 11th ed., South Greenburg, 2004
Dunlop, Roy.; "Ordnance Went Up Front"; Samworth, 1948
Edwards, William B.; "Civil War Guns"; Stackpole, 1962
Farrington, Dusan P.; "Arming & Equipping the US Cavalry, 1865-1902"; Mowbray, 2004
Ferris, C.S. & Beard, John; "Springfield Model 1903 Service Rifle, Production and Alteration, 1905-1910"; Ferris, 1995
Flayderman, Norm; "Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms"; 8th ed, Krause, 2001
Frasca, Albert J. & Hill, Robert H.; "The .45-70 Springfield"; Springfield, 1980
Fuller, Claud E.; "Springfield Shoulder Arms - 1795-1865"; S&S Firearms, 1968
Fuller, Claud E.; "The Breech-loader in the Service"; ARCA, 1933
Fuller, Claud E.; "The Rifled Musket"; Bonanza Books, 1958
Fuller, Claud E.; Whitney Firearms. Huntington, WV: Standard Publications, 1946.
Gardner, Robert E.; "American Arms and Arms Makers"; F.J. Heer, 1938
Gardner, Robert E. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms. New York: Crown Publishers, 1963
George, John; "Shots fired in anger"; 2nd ed, NRA, 1981
Gluckman, Arcadi; "Identifying old US Muskets, Rifles, and Carbines"; Stackpole, 1965 (Bonanza Books)
Gluckman, Arcadi; "U.S. Martial Pistols & Revolvers"; Stackpole, 1956
Gluckman, Arcadi and Satterlee, LeRoy Deforest; "American Gun Makers"; Stackpole, 1953
Hackley, Frank W., Woodin, William H., Scranton, Eugene L.; "History of Modern U.S. Military Small Arms Ammunition, Vol 1, 1880-1939; Macmillan, 1967
Hackley, Frank W., Woodin, William H., Scranton, Eugene L.; "History of Modern U.S. Military Small Arms Ammunition, Vol 2
Hatch, Alden; "Remington Arms - An American History"; Rinehart, 1956
Hatcher, Julian S.; "Hatcher's Notebook"; Military Service, 1948 (2nd corrected printing)
Hatcher, Julian S.; "Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers"; Small Arms Technical Publishing Co., 1935
Haven, Charles T., and Belden, Frank A.; "A History of the Colt Revolver. New York"; Bonanza Books, 1940
Hicks, James E. Nathan Starr. Mt. Vernon, NY: James E. Hicks, 1940.
Hicks, James E.; "Notes on German Ordnance, 1841-1918"; Stoeger, 1941
Hicks, James E.; "United States Military Firearms"; Hicks, 1962
Hicks, James E.; "United States Ordnance, Vol I, Small Arms, 1776 to 1946"; Hicks, 1946
Hicks, James E.; "United States Ordnance, Vol II, Ordnance Correspondence"; Hicks, 1940
Hopkins, Richard E. Military Sharps Rifles and Carbines. Campbell, CA: Published by the author, 1967.
Hosmer, Richard A. & CFM; "The .58 and .50 Caliber Rifles & Carbines of the Springfield Armory, 1865-1872"; Northcape, 2006
Johnson, Melvin M. & Haven, Charles T.; "Automatic Arms"; 2nd printing, Morrow, 1942
Johnson, Melvin M. & Haven, Charles T.; "Automatic Arms"; 5th printing, Morrow, 1944
Johnson, Melvin M.; "Rifles and Machine Guns"; Morrow, 1944
Johnson, Melvin M. & Haven, Charles T.; "Ammunition"; 2nd printing, Morrow, 1944
Karr, Charles Lee and Karr, Caroll Robbins; "Remington Handguns"; Stackpole, 2nd ed. 1951
Kauffman, Henry J.; "Early American Gunsmiths, 1650-1850"; Telegraph Press, 1952
Kehaya, Steve & Poyer, Joe; "The Swedish Mauser Rifles"; 2nd ed. North Cape, 2003
Kimmel, Jay; "Savage & Steves Arms, Collector's History"; Corey/Stevens Publishing, 1990
Lewis, Berkeley R.; "Notes on Ammunition of the American Civil War"; American Ordnance Association, 1959
Logan, Herschel C.; "Cartridges"; Standard Publications, 1948
Logan, Herschel C.; "Hand Cannon to Automatic"; Standard Publications, 1944
Lustyik, Andrew F.; "Civil War Carbines - From Service to Sentiment"; World Wide Gun Reports, 1962
Mallory, Franklin B. & Olson, Ludwig E. "The Krag Rifle Story"; Springfield Research Service, 1979. First printing, November 1979.
Mallory, Frank; SRS Vol 1
Mallory, Frank; SRS Vol 2
Mallory, Frank; SRS Vol 3
Mallory, Frank; SRS Vol 4
Marcot, Roy M.; "Spencer Repeating Arms"; Northwood Heritage, 1983
McAulay, John D.; "Carbines of the Civil War"; Pioneer Press, 1981
McAulay, John D. Civil War Breech Loading Rifles. Lincoln, RI: Andrew Mowbray, Inc., 1987.
McAulay, John D. Civil War Carbines. 2 Vols. Lincoln, RI: Andrew Mowbray, Inc., 1991.
McHenry, Roy C. & Roper, Walter F.;"Smith & Wesson Handguns";
Myszkowski, Eugene; Remington-Lee book around here somewhere
Myszkowski, Eugene; "The Winchester-Lee Rifle"; Excalibur, 1999
Naramore, Earl; "Handloader's Manual"; Samworth, 1937
North, S.N.D.; "Simeon North";
Pitman, John; "Pitman Notes on Firearms, Vol 1, Breech-loading Carbines of the United States Civil War Period"; Armory, 1987
Pitman, John; "Pitman Notes on Firearms, Vol 2,Revolvers & Automatic Pistols"; Thomas, 1990
Pitman, John; "Pitman Notes on Firearms, Vol 3, U.S. Breech-loading Rifles & Carbines, Cal. .45 "; Thomas, 1991
Pitman, John; "Pitman Notes on Firearms, Vol 4, U.S. Magazine Rifles & Carbines, Cal. .30"; Armory, 1992
Pitman, John; "Pitman Notes on Firearms, Vol 5, Miscellaneous Notes - Calibers .58, .50, .30, Confederate & Foreign"; Armory, 1992
Poyer, Joe & Riesch, Craig; "The .45-70 Springfield"; 4h ed. North Cape, 2006
Poyer, Joe, and whomever - Krag book. MIA around here somewhere.
Riling, Ray. Guns and Shooting
Riling, Ray; "The Powder Flask Book"; Bonanza, 1953.
Rohan, Jack; "Yankee Arms Makers"
Satterlee, Leroy Deforest; "10 Old Gun Catalogs"; 3rd printing, Vol I, Gun Digest, 1957
Satterlee, Leroy Deforest; "14 Old Gun Catalogs"; 4th ed., Vol II, Follett, 1962
Sawyer, Charles Winthrop; "Our Rifles"; Williams Book Store, 1946
Sellers, Frank; "Sharps Firearms"; Beinfield, 1995
Shockley, Philip M.; "The Krag-Jorgensen Rifle in the Service"; World-Wide Gun Reports, 1960
Shockley, Philip M.; "The Trap-Door Springfield in the Service"; 11th ed, World-Wide Gun Reports, 1958
Smith, Winston O.; "Sharps Rifle";
Stevens, R. Blake & Ezell, Edward C.; "The Black Rifle"; Collector Grade Publications, 1987
Stockbridge, V.D.; "Digest of U.S. Patents Relating To Breech Loading And Magazine Small Arms, 1836-1873"; Flayderman, 1963
Van Rensselaer, Stephen; "American Firearms"; Century House, 1947
Waite, M.D., and B.D. Ernst. Trapdoor Springfield. North Hollywood, CA: Beinfield Publishing, Inc., 1980.
White, Terry A.; "American Manufacturers of Combustible Ammunition: Merrill, Sturtevant, and Mason"; Thomas Publications, 2002
Winant, Lewis; "Early Percussion Firearms"; Bonanza, 1959
Winant, Lewis; "Firearms Curiosa"; Bonanza, 1955

Green, Constance McLaughlin, Thomson, Harry C., & Roots, Peter C.; "U.S. Army in WW2, The Technical Services, The Ordnance Department: Planning Munitions for War"; OCMH, USA, 1955
Thomson, Harry C. & Mayo, Lide; "U.S. Army in WW2, The Technical Services, The Ordnance Department: Procurement and Supply"; OCMH, USA, 1960
Vigneras, Marcel; "U.S. Army in WW2, Special Studies, Rearming the French"; OCMH, USA, 1957

Quartermaster General, USA; "U.S. Army Uniforms & Equipment, 1889"; University of Nebraska Press, 1989
Letterkenny Ordnance Depot; "Letterkenny Ordnance Depot in War and Peace"; Pridemark Press, circa 1956
Smithsonian Institution; American Military Insignia, 1800-1851; GPO, 1963
Tillinghast, B.F.; "Rock Island Arsenal in Peace and War"; , Henry O. Shepard Company, 1898

Missing some but they all show up eventually. Some acquired since I updated that list. Under 20 in that list still missing. Closer to 10 I think.

Buying books can be more expensive than buying guns. It's death of a thousand cuts. I'll add that book to the list.

LOL I have concluded for every $100 I spend on firearms,accoutrements,etc.I spend $200 on books to find out exactly what it is I have.I have a good percentage of those books with the exception of the references on the machine gun related ones.Some of those books are a better investment than firearms if the prices some of the out of print book dealers charge.It seems anymore that every time I see a new book out it costs $80 or $100 and then I must ask myself where I am going to put it.You're absolutely right about those SNLs,hard to find and expensive.

[5MadFarmers]

We've hijacked LBH. The GP thread.

Books. Today I bought the two most expensive books I've ever purchased.







That one cost me a bit more than that $5 advertised price.







Also took a Krag. Been an expensive year. I think I'll quit for a while.

[JBinIll]

Very desirable books congrats.Can be budget busters that's for sure but you don't find them everyday.

LOL,Apologies to the OP for trainwrecking the thread.

[Mark in Ottawa]

As I recall Custer attacked 8,000 Indians with about 400 troopers so I suspect that if Custer had had 4 gatling guns, the result would have been that a few hours later, the Indians would have had 4 gatling guns in their collection

[dryheat]

Poyer doesn't get invited to many parties, does he?

[Thomasm]

I imagine that the opposition would have gained about 4 gatling guns. Numerical odds were a big problem on that day. Seems like "Hoka Hey" sort of drowned out the drowned out the" Ooorahaa's".

[fredtheobviouspseudonym]

. . .my honest, personal opinion that Old Blondie was a self centered, self serving, egotistical, power hungry SOB and he got what he deserved. That Indian just started chuckling with a big smile on his face and never said a word.

The book "Custer Died For Your Sins" has a lot of left-wing ideas but I did like this line (IIRC): "Every Native American, regardless of family, tribe, or linguistic group, feels a quiet sense of accomplishment when thinking of George Armstrong Custer."

[fredtheobviouspseudonym]

Simply to weigh in (and put myself forward as an opinion pinata) I read somewhere that Guns and Ammo did a test of the era's carbines about 15 years ago. They used, IIRC, original weapons in excellent condition. Apparently the Spencers grouped to about 8 inches at 100 yards -- kinda iffy for shooting out West even at 300 yards.

However, my source did not note where the magazine obtained the ammunition, and that's going to have a major effect on accuracy.

[Nick Riviezzo]

Spencers? I thought they had Trapdoors. Nick

[fredtheobviouspseudonym]

Apparently they tested ACW era weapons -- Sharps & Spencer carbines and a Springfield 1863.

Apparently the Springfield could consistently hit a 12" by 12" target at some 300 yards.

Don't have the original article, tho'.