Guns Books

This book is a labor of love for Versatile Hunting Dogs. It includes the detail progress of how to change a breed of dog to a better ( some would say the best ) versatile foot hunters companion dog. The detail on the history, breeding, and testing of a hunting dog is brought together with dog info on a current breeding/program in a special insiders view.
This is a single source point of reference for Versatile Dogs.
A very interestingly presented lesson in dog breeding.
Jack Dallimore

I've seen breed books before. Boring club lists. Here is a change of pace. This is riveting reading for anyone. A rare look inside a breed. (The only look? Any other insider books like this?) If you wonder why a dog book needs to have a lawyer look it over, you'll know why after reading this. Candid reports on the serious troubles a dog breed club faced with its dog going downhill fast. Starts with how the dog was created; its highpoints; its intro to the US; then outlines how the trouble started. A great distillation of the purpose and spirit behind those who work for dogs and why. A great primer! Health, stability and function: these basics were all in trouble. But the club found a way out. A desparate measure. ---The one fault with the book is its one-sided nature. But it is quite clear that it is a personal story. My own subsequent investigation showed that the situation and rescue method was perhaps arguable. But that's second-guessing. This book puts you on the frontline of an emergency. You get the feel that if someone else wanted to stake their career and reputation on the quality of a breed, they could have. But you won't find many who will make such a stand. The characters in this book do. Many people quit the club. But it looks like the dogs are far better off. Quite a tale! As good as any potboiler!

This book is more than an excellent, well researched, history of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. It is about the future of all breeds. That future is in the hands of people. Some individuals use a breed for their own ends. Others cooperate together for a common goal. This book is about people cooperating together to develop the Griffon Gundog Supreme. The history of the Griffon and the methods used by the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Club of America to improve and preserve this breed can apply to any breed.

Along with books on how to write, any aspiring writer should have books on how NOT to write, and this one certainly fits the bill. It is crammed with examples of the worst in crime fiction, so it is not only a good instruction manual for helping you avoid the pitfalls of bad writing but provides a boost of morale to those who think their writing isn't up to snuff. Should be on your bookshelf next to The Stuffed Owl and Damon Knight's In Search of Wonder.

Absolutely hilarious. Pronzini's look at the worst in crime and detective fiction turns over some real gems of second (or third, or fourth)-rate 'literature.' The author deserves a vote of thanks for daring to enter into this dark world, and sincere congratulations for making it back out alive. I read this book quite a few summers ago and return to it frequently. For sheer entertainment, it's really tough to beat.

Do yourself a favor and find a copy of this book. But watch out for me: now that I see that Pronzini's done a follow-up, and a second book on Western lit, I'm going to be scouring the shelves myself.

Love mystery? Then you'll love this book. Hate mystery? Then YOU'LL love this book. Pronzini is a fount of information about the "best" (read:hilariously inept) in mystery fiction. He's read every book ever written in the genre, it seems, and shows genuine affection for the form. The fun he pokes at the authors and their works is gentle and doesn't distract at all from your wonderment at the fact that these books ever even existed. It might, however, make you want to seek them out and try for yourself. Or maybe it'll help prevent a misstep in purchasing a book you wouldn't end up enjoying. Either way, this book is worth a read (or three). These mystery authors have gone unsung for too long. Bravo Mr. Pronzini!

Have you ever wondered exactly what the Brady Bill does? Or how the Clinton gun ban law defines "assault weapon"? Answers to these questions, and many, many others can be found in a fine new book Gun Laws of America. Written by Alan Korwin and Michael P. Anthony, Gun Laws of America is a citizens' legal guide to every federal gun control law on the books today. Even gun law experts will be impressed with the breadth and scope of this book, which includes the first federal gun control which is still on the books (a 1894 statute authorizing the forfeiture of firearms used for illegal hunting in Yellowstone National Park). And then there's the first real "gun control" statute within the modern meaning of gun control: a 1927 statute outlawing mail-order handgun sales. The authors do more than just provide the full text of every federal gun control statute. At the beginning of each statute, they also provide a plain-English summary of the statute, so that a non-lawyer can get the gist of it. In addition to the well-known gun control laws, the authors also supply information about the huge variety of less-known laws. For example, did you know that if you use food stamps to buy firearms or ammunition, you will be permanently disqualified from the food stamp program? I had never realized that a legal resident alien who violates any firearm statute (including the most trivial municipal ordinance) can be deported for the violation. Handloaders and other folks who purchase gunpowder will be interested in federal statutes involving explosives. Did you know that the Secretary of the Treasury (who oversees the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) has the authority to enter onto and investigate any site where an explosion has occurred? Persons concerned about local control of the schools will be surprised to find a federal law requiring that public schools expel any student who brings a gun onto school property. And of course there is the heart of the federal gun control laws: sections 921 through 930 of volume 18 of the United States Code. This law came into being as the Gun Control Act of 1968. It outlaws all interstate firearms sales, with a few exceptions. Having been modified by the Firearms Owners Protection Act (1986), the Brady Act (1993), and the Clinton Crime Bill (1994), the federal gun statutes are now quite complex, with cross-references piling up one on the other. Gun Laws takes you through these laws step-by-step, so that you can see precisely what the federal government outlaws, and what it doesn't. You will also find little-known provisions that may be quite important to you. For example, as the result of an NRA amendment to the Brady Act, airlines which ship your firearms in checked baggage have to put the "firearm tag" on the inside of the case, so as not to make the case a target for theft. The other major part of the federal gun control system is the National Firearms Act of 1934, which requires a special tax stamp to possess machine guns, short shotguns, and short rifles, and which also sets up a federal excise tax system for firearms manufacturers. One particularly interesting part of the book traces the rise in the volume of federal gun control laws. Before the Roosevelt Administration, there were hardly any such laws. Since the 1960s, huge numbers of gun laws have been enacted every decade by Congress. Review by Dave Kopel, Independence Institute, http://i2i.org.

As a state certified Concealed Handgun Instructor in Texas, I am most indebted to Mr. Korwin and his research staff for the very thorough presentation of Texas and U.S. Federal legislation. Not only are the statutes presented in an orderly manner, there are ancillary laws that are thoroughly discussed -- both are presented in legalese and in layman's terms so that the unannoited may understand fully what is being laid out in the law.

I require that all my clients purchase his Texas Law book when they sign up for my course. It has proven to be immeasurably necessary to gaining a more complete understanding between what the written law states and what the courts choose to interpret from that law.

Mr. Korwin's book on Gun Laws of America will help you keep out of harms way from laws in states that do not have certification courses such as those available in Texas. Be very aware of Federal legislations that can destroy your freedom if you do not know of them. My best to all of you that wish to protect yourself and at the same time do not want to become an unwitting criminal in doing so. These books by Mr. Korwin, and those he recommends, are a must for gun owners across America. Add them to your personal library and knowledge base if you wish to become an informed and sanely secure gun owner.

Every federal gun law in America word - for - word, with that unique "gist" that only Korwin can do. A must for any person interested in the subject and an excellent compliment to his position paper

A small-timed armed robber is compelled to flee for his life when he kills a cop in a botched liquor store robbery. Over the subsequent 24 hours we learn a great deal about the psychology and life of Colley Donato and encounter, along with him, a bizarre gallery of characters, such as a buxom ex-stripper who nurses a murderous rage and a Jersey hillbilly family with a vicious dog. This is graphic, unsentimental stuff. There are no good guys and no one to root for, just a desperate criminal who deserves all the misfortune that comes his way. Evan Hunter's (AKA Ed McBain) spare but knowing prose is compulsively readable and he tells a savagely fascinating story.

Ed McBain made a very welcome departure from his 87th Precinct novels--police procedurals, almost all of which begin with a murder to be solved--and wrote one of the toughest American crime novels up to that time (1976). In fact this reads like it could have been written two weeks ago, not over 25 years ago: a contemporary crime novel from the criminal's perspective with enough emphasis on psychology to keep the reader hooked straight through to the end.

The key phrase here is, "He who lives by the gun, dies by the gun." Prophetic words for the protagonist, Nicholas "Colley" Donato, a criminal whose expertise is the heist. McBain puts Colley through a whole set of stuff including successful jobs, a violent partner, and an equally violent woman who lusts and murders more intensely than any man in the story--and of course the knockout ending at a small town gun shop.

This is hardboiled crime writing at its finest, and very highly recommended.

Another winning recommendation from a member of the Rara-Avis hardboiled book mailing list. Up to this point I've avoided Mystery Writers of America Grand Master McBain (too popular and too many other books waiting to be read) but this little 1976, non-87th Precinct, gem was time well spent. The story is about the aftermath, told from the perspective of a small time New York City armed-robber, of a Bronx liquor store robbery gone bad. The writing is fairly fast-paced, the story unsentimental and the attitude hard-boiled. McBain, best known for his police procedural 87th Precinct series (54 books since 1956 and still counting) is worth a look if your literary tastes tend towards this genre.

This is John Farnam at his best. It shows his grasp of everything from the latest trends to the lessons of history. He is blunt and to the point, and is hard on himself and others, as he should be! As he relays so often, this is a hard world, their is no room for sissies, and you are on your own in an emergency! Their is no fluff here, only hard learned facts!

He is also adaptable, as is shown in this book, when something better comes along that works, he will acknowledge it and add it to his tactical tool box. He has a sharp mind and is a fantastic instructor!

I constantly go back to different chapters, even ones I have already read, and will still find something new. As John says, "Highly Recommended!"

What more could you want...practical firearms discussion, current events and all tied into 'the lessons of history'. I was also surprised to note how much John's 'chidlhood' photos look like John Elway(another local hero).

An excellent compilation of John Farnam's `quips', or informative e-mail messages, sent from May 1998 through 2002. The book is well organized and makes for an easy read. Highly recommended to anyone interested in practical information from one of the best trainers out there. I've recreated the table of contents below to give the reader a better idea of what the book contains.

Guns & Warriors: DTI Quips, Volume I
Contents
1. General Advice
2. Travel Advice
3. Women
4. Gun Handling
5. Techniques
6. Tactics
7. Accidental Discharges (AD's)
8. Civilian Incidents
9. NTI
10. Ammo
11. Pistol Advice
12. Pistol Reliability
13. Pistol Problems
14. After Market Parts
15. Rifle Advice
16. Rifle Reliability
17. Shotgun Advice
18. Show News
19. Hunting
20. Police Incidents
21. Officer Involved Shootings
22. Duty Gear
23. Patrol Rifle
24. Training Tips
25. Military
26. Bosnia
27. Philippines
28. South Africa
29. Terrorism
30. History: Miscellaneous
31. History: America
32. History: South Africa
33. History: The World Wars
34. History: Southeast Asia
Glossary
Index

Having read several of Mr. Graves's War of 1812 titles, I was quite intrigued about this particular and peculiar subject when I stumbled upon it during an internet search. Placing an order here on Amazon for the book, I was not disappointed in any way when it arrived at my door. Mr Graves has an eye for detail while weaving a good story that holds the reader's attention. I literally finished this book in one (albeit long) sitting.

Not only are the major personalties discussed, but the rank and file have their place as well. Tactics, uniforms, and weapons are covered but in such a way that the layman can understand. Both the Patriot Hunters and the British/Canadian forces are given their due during the course of the battle.

This is a book that no Canadian should dismiss, nor those of us who are wanna be Canucks!

The border between the United States and Canada is the longest unfortified and unguarded border between two sovereign nations in the world. The relations between the two countries is friendly and the countries are solid allies and trading partners. To travel to and in Canada is a joy and very rewarding (being referred to as 'English' in Quebec province is somewhat unsettling, though). It wasn't always so.

American armies have invaded Canada twice-in the War of the Revolution and the War of 1812, both times for territory and loot, and have met defeat twice in the strategic aims of the invansions. Canandians defended themselves with skill and valor, though most of the credit usually went to the British regular forces which, especially in the War of 1812, robbed Canadian units of the credit due them.

There was a small, completely unprovoked third 'invasion' of Canada in November 1838 when a small number of American 'liberators' (read terrorists) crossed the Canadian frontier to help 'free' Canada 'from the British yoke.' This relatively unknown incident is stirringly retold by Canadian historian Don Graves in this excellent volume which should be read by all interested in the history of the North American continent and hopefully will spark an interest in Canadian military history, which has been largely ignored by most historians. It is a rich history of devotion, valor, and selflessness by a people small in number but who have proven themselves the equal to all, and the superior to many, on the battlefields of the British Commonwealth and Empire.

The author is an excellent storyteller, and his research is flawless and thorough. An authority on the Niagara frontier of the War of 1812, his books are a must for all military history buffs and enthusiasts. He has earned a reputation as the master historian of the small battle, and he certainly demonstrates that in this book.

In the late 1830s, Canada was undergoing tething troubles politically, undoubtedly searching for a national identity within the constraints of British suzerainty. Agressive Americans intent on expansion again thought they could take advantage of this state of affairs and gain some of Canada for the US under the guise of 'freeing' the Canadians. What did happen was a violent incursion onto Canadian territory along the St. Lawrence, the seizure and 'siege' of a windmill along the waterway, and a bloody end to the problem, Canadians and British rallying to drive out the invaders. Royal Navy units were used in the river to bombard the American's position, even engaging in a battle in the river with a steamer the Americans had hijacked.

Royal Marines, British Regulars, and Canadian militia turned out to counter the American 'adventurers, to face a foe better armed than they, and also equipped with artillery. The fighting was intense, sometimes desperate, but the invaders were defeated, and the prisoners taken were subjected to 'Her Majesty's Justice', being confined in the citadel of Fort Henry at Kingston before the final, inevitable disposition of their crimes.

There are detailed appendices in the volume which give lists of those individuals and units that participated in the fighting. The book is also well-illustrated and thoroughly documented. It is a pleasure to read and study and is highly recommended. Although it is from an 'unfashionable' period of military history, it also gives an interesting and uncommon perspective of the American concept of 'Manifest Destiny.' It might also prompt the more thoughtful into a reappraisal of the Texas movement for independence and the other Alamo.

I have studied the Battle of Windmill Point, the central subject of "Guns Across the River", for twenty-five years. I have visited the major landmarks in the event, the windmill, Fort Wellington and Fort Henry in Ontario and Ogdensburg, N.Y. and I have lectured on the incident. I have sifted through several archives in libraries and historical societies and I have found that while Donald E. Graves book has a definite Canadian slant that U.S. readers may find slightly disorienting (Americans are not the heroes in this book) the book engagingly recounts a forgotten 1837 instance of American terrorism visited upon Canadians. While I may quibble with the omission of some details, overall, the events are compellingly told and Graves skillfully integrates their significance into the larger picture.

I've picked up quite a few books on the first and second world war, and this is definitely one of the must reads. It is a great read (no worries this is history written at its finest). The book's focus makes it a great read to get into this period. To get some more context I would also recommand Dreadnought by Robert K Massie. It focusses on the entire complex history of the coming of the great war. But in any case, start with the guns of August!!

This book is probably the best I have read this year. The author's presentation of the story behind the first world war is absolutely fantastic. I could not put it down and finished it in less than three days.

Few of us have any real understanding of the events and personalities which pushed 1914 Europe into a war that should have been over in less than 6 weeks with a resultant German victory, but would instead grind on for years. In this her 3rd novel, Tuchman has done a monumental job of research and interpretation of the facts for the novice reader of military-political histories. She provides us a clear understanding of how the Kaiser and the Imperial German General Staff, contrived to build a case for war, developed a brilliant strategy to execute and win that war on two fronts [against the French and the Russians] and then to ultimately dominate the European continent. She introduces us to reluctant heroes like King Albert of Belgium and to weaker characters like Czar Nicholas of Russia. We are exposed to the brilliant German strategist Count Alfred Von Schlieffen who was the visionary for the incredibly bold and complex blueprint of military actions during the first 35-40 days of the Great War. Then she exposes flawed generals such as the indecisive Joffre of France and then the incompetent warriors like General Sir John French, of the British Expeditionary Forces. All in all... 'The Guns of August' [like Tuchman's 'Stillwell and the American Experience in China'] is a great read and a must have for the library of serious students of military-political history. One serious flaw however, is that this particular edition as produced by Tess Press, is overflowing with errors that even a novice proof-reader would have caught. They are so numerous as to be distracting and I would strongly recommend buying this great book only as published by a different printing house.

This is a book that you will read in one afternoon and remember forever.

Gonzalez has assembled a collection of splendidly crafted and entertaining stories populated by believable characters and set in the Arizona Territory of the late 19th Century. Solomon Pliskin arrives from the Russian Steppes, a stranger in a strange land and with the firm anchor of faith,tradition and good will, lives and celebrates the American Dream.

The reader, entertained by the foibles of human nature (meet a "woman so narrow minded that she can look through a keyhole with both eyes.") also learns many interesting things about Jewish traditions and history and the contributions of Jewish settlers in the American West.

The Hanukkah Gun can sit comfortably on the same shelf with the works of O. Henry, James Thurber,H. Allen Smith and Jean Sheppard.

My husband knows this author and suggested the book to me. I can't believe that this is Mr. Gonzalez's first effort into the publishing world. It was written so descriptively and clearly. I really appreciate the time and effort he put into following up his use of unfamilar (Jewish) terms with the definition. He also seems to have a wonderful grasp of understanding people and their emotions and motives. I really appreciate how the main character of Solomon Pliekin was able to get right to the heart of the matter when dealing with bigots and other such characters that are functioning, acting or reacting from ignorance and stereotypes. I enjoyed how each story drew us deeper into the lives of Sol and his deep religious beliefs but did not whack us over the head telling us that if we have different religious beliefs we are wrong or misguided. I particularly found relative the statment made by Big Ed Hannigan in the story "Vote for Mr. Pliskin" who said, "I am a Christian. You are a Jew and I have another good friend who is a Pascua Yaqui Indian medicine man. He said it best when he said "Isn't it wonderful that the Creator made so many different people, and so many different ways to worship Him?" ' Too many times in todays world we judge and misjudge people simply because they do not agree or follow our customs and practices. I hope that Mr. Gonzalez will continue to write these short stories. More people need to be exposed to his deep, thoughtful and powerful understanding of what it means to be of strong faith yet allow others to be just as strong in their faith. It was also refreshing to read a good western tale that was not rife with gunshots and blood but instead matzah and moxie. God bless you "scribe" and may you and your stories flourish.

from some clever story experiments he showed us online. These stories are an expansion of his well-conceived Solomon Pliskin character.

Pliskin is a Jewish Russian immigrant who sets up as a second hand goods dealer in the Old West.

The stories are deceptively simple-I'd say most kids around age 10 on up could undestand and enjoy them. But there are plenty of hidden little touches that adults will appreciate. His most lighthearted stories have some darker subtexts, and his darker stories can be pretty amusing in places. He's twisty that way.

All illustrate a moral point, but no heads are ever beaten with these ethical themes. They're there, you'll absorb them, but they don't taint the flavor at all. Further, these aren't gun tales as such, either, but as the time and place of the setting requires guns and gunplay, Mr. Gonzalez not disappoint in this respect. When guns are used, they are correct guns used realistically.

There aren't a lot of Jewish-Western books. After this one, you'll hope for more.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a western that kept my attention throughout the whole book. My husband and I are both looking forward to the next one by Jack Neuman. It was written with compassion and a love for family ties, which I felt made for easy reading and plenty of characters to draw my interest and yet enough excitement to warrant the title "Hot Lead & Smoking Guns.

I really have enjoyed reading this tale! I don't normally like westerns because of the graphic bloodshed descriptions and foul language but this book is a very pleasant read, not offensive. I appreciate his subtle humor with the lack of vulgarity and could really put myself into the story. Jack does a nice job of painting word pictures. I look forward to his next book!

You almost feel yourself on the trails with Big Iron because of the explicit description of the action taking place. Very well writen with feeling for the avid western-gun slinging reader without alot of killing and gore. For a night of good reading i reccomend this book for all.

Just terrific. Two Gun Mojo featuring Wild West comix icon Jonah Hex is a rousing Western hybrid. Sure, the horror elements--zombies brought to life by a spike-toothed snake-oil salesman skilled in the ways of voodoo--don't bring Gary Cooper in black and white to mind, but I'm all for Hex and horror colliding in a one-horse town. And if Wild Bill Hickok himself is back as one of the undead to challenge the speed of Jonah's gunhand, then so much the better.

The supporting characters help keep us rooted in the West: Slow Go, aged bounty-hunter, terrible shot, and perfect foil for Hex, at least until the zombies corner him in a stable in the night of dead; the Indian woman whom Hex defends in a bar full of bigots and who later repays the favour by attending Hex's public hanging (sign says "Noon Or Thereabouts") in disruptive style; the Apaches and Cavalrymen who go to war with Hex caught right in the middle when all he wanted was a little revenge, out in the desert, against Doc Williams, snake-oil peddler, and all-around snake.

This is a brutal tale of murder, revenge and most types of lawlessness you could imagine on the wild frontier. The art by Truman and Glanzman is superb--a dusty nightmarish treat--but some of the images are quite gory. Jonah himself is a study in quiet charisma and determination, and author Joe Lansdale puts all the right words in his mutilated mouth while the bullets keep flying out of his gun. This was a wonderful finale to my recent look at the Wild Wild West in Comics, before turning my focus to Space Soldiers.

This book is probably one of the best comics in recent history. Lansdale and Truman's styles mesh into a cohesive package of grit and laughs, breathing new life into the once-thought-dead genre of the western comic. I knew that I had to buy it after the first page. Lansdale's strong narrative voice grabs the reader by the neck and and holds him there until the final panel. Be sure to pick up the 5 issue miniseries that follows, Riders of the Worm and Such, as well...

This is a prime example of why comics should be getting more respect. Landsdale and Truman recreate the badass character of Jonah Hex and pit him against a supernatural (?) menace. The art is gritty and real, the dialogue is crisp and clear as a desert sunrise. My favorite line? " That's Jonah Hex his own damn self. He's killed more men than hell has souls. " The fact that this series hasn't been optioned as a film is a crime. I have heard that Hex was recently on an episode of Batman: The Animated Series. If anyone could do this series justice, it'd be them. If you like westerns with an edge, this is for you. If you're a horror fan wanting a creepy story, this is for you. Check it out. It won't dissapoint.