Customer Reviews

Collecting Classic Bolt Action Military Rifles

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book after collecting rifles for a few years, it is in fact the ONLY contemporary book to cover the history and development of all the major manufacturers and models in such detail and with great pictures too. The chapters of the book are well planned and as I find myself exploring a new area of collecting, I read the relevant chapter again. After collecting German bolt actions for some time I got interested in Lee-Enfields and the discussion and pictures of these rifles was very helpful in getting a good coverage of the rifles and models. It can also be helpful to the more experienced collectors, some time ago I came across a rifle in a store marked as a Greek Mauser. I know what a Greek Mauser looks like and this was not one, it is marked 'Breda 1927' on the side of the receiver. After perusing Mr. Scarlata's book I came across a whole section including pictures of the rifle, it is a Mannlicher Schoenauer 1903/14 rifle. Scarlata explains how in 1926 the Greeks signed an agreement with Societa Anonima Ernesto Breda of Brescia Italy for 100,000 of these rifles which were delivered in 1929. He also mentions that there is some speculation that the rifles were in fact produced by Steyr and assembled and finished in Italy so as to bypass restrictions imposed on the Austrians by the Allies after WWI. If you are at all interested in the history and development of bolt action rifles you need this book.

I couldn't disagree more with the earlier review. This book is quality work. Mr. Scarlata does a good job describing the primary weapons of the major and minor powers of the late 19th to the middle 20th century. He then goes on to describe the major variants of each type. As Scarlata desribes the firearms, he points out with word and photo the unique features that he and, hence, you will find interesting. I almost didn't buy the book because of the earlier review. I'm glad I did. If you want to know everything about every variation of the US Krag get Brophy's book. If you want good meaty info on most of the world's bolt rifles here is the place to start. By the time you need more information on your rifle of interest, just flip to the comprehensive bibliography in the back of the book.

This is an excellent text and hits the target dead on (right in the old 'X'). It captures the fun and spirit of "milsurp" collecting and covers all of the major areas in sufficient detail for a typical collector.

It's true that if you're a specialist collector in a particular area you will want additional reference materials--but this book does not set out to be the encyclopedia of firearms minutia. Instead, it's an enjoyable look into the collecting world. Having said that, it still provides a goodly supply of solid details that match my other (more encylopedia-like) reference works.

It focuses on the types and classes of rifles that collectors are likely to come across in today's environment, and stays right on topic throughout. It also has a few pages on rifles that you won't likely come across... but would sure like to!

Filled throughout with excellent photographs, and each major rifle's "stats" are called out in a highlighted box.

The physical production of the book is beyond reproach--you really are getting fine quality in a book that will last. The writing is easily accessible, though at times a bit too chatty for my tastes. Aside from a few minor typographical errors (reference to an antique Winchester Model 1985, for example) the read is enjoyable and just plain fun. With a good editor the 2nd edition will be a true classic.

Most firearms books for the collector fall into general types: Slick picture books available at your local brick & mortar bookstore which are long on pictures and short on data (and much of what they contain is wrong), bare-bones price guides, and weighty specialty tomes that cover one make or model in excruciating detail.

What the field is thin on are general overview volumes on one particular field of collecting that have enough information to be useful on a broad variety of arms in that particular field. This book is one of those rare volumes.

While there are many more detailed works available on, say, Mausers or Mosins or Enfields, this book offers enough detail on the broad field of bolt action military rifles to be of assistance to both beginners and to more experienced collectors venturing outside their preferred field.

Very nice book. I think it goes into detail very well and includes many popular Military rifles. Some rifles that I was more interested in did not have an individual chapter but were lumped in one chapter as "Others". I would like to see more on them and not quite so in depth on the others. I think the author touched on what he liked and did not give all rifles equal research and coverage. Just my opinion.

This is a nice, well-written and organized overview for a starting collector of these rifles. If you are looking for very specialized, in-depth knowledge you may have to go to a work covering that specific rifle, such as the one I got for the M1 carbine and Garand. Otherwise this book should work for you.

This book is a broad and moderately detailed history of the development of the military bolt action. For someone just getting interested in the subject, it would provide a useful general guide, but it lacks sufficient detail and depth to be useful as a reference for anyone other than the most casual collector. In fact, I was quite dissapointed by the paucity of information related to actually collecting these rifles, given that that is what the book purports to be. If the book were titled as a history it would certainly have fulfilled my expectations, but even with that it is too expensive for what it delivers. I returned mine.

Lacks substance. You may not find this book very helpful if your more than a beginer at collecting guns.

This book is a pretty good history for bolt action military rifles, however a serious collector will find little value in this book.