Customer Reviews

Guns of the American West

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I ordered this book expecting the ultimte story on the fascinating subject of Old West firearms. Indeed, the photographs of the guns discussed are absolutely stunning. No reader will be disappointed there. But just a quick scan at some of the photo captions revealed some frustrating annoyances: 1) in many multi-gun pictures, the exact location of each gun within the photo is not clearly called out in its caption; this is confusing, especially to those readers unfamiliar with the guns shown. It would have been much easier to find each pictured gun if the author had numbered each one, then included these numbers in his captions so the reader would know exactly where in the layout a particular gun is located. 2) Most of the gun photos include interesing period accouterments such as holsters, badges, documents, photos, etc. Sometimes the accompanying caption identifies these intriguing items, but at other times the caption ignores them. This, too, is frustrating, since in most cases these historic paraphernalia are as interesting as the pictured guns themselves. 3) A few captions contain factual errors. One, for example, states that a small medal shown with one pistol is the Medal of Honor, which it is not. In another, it is stated that Lt Col George A. Custer lost his entire regiment (the 7th Cavalry) at the Little Big Horn battle. In fact, only the five companies under Custer's immediate command were wiped out. Hundreds of troopers from the other companies survived the fight. Bottom line: from this first quick look at the book's photos and captions, I must reluctantly conclude that there are probably many more mistakes and frustrations in the captions that I didn't have time to find. As far as the main text of the book, I offer no opinion, since this initial scan encompassed only a brief look at the photos and their captions. All things considered, I would certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in viewing a treasure trove of beautiful photos of some of the most famous guns in American history. If only more time had been spent on making the captions as enjoyable as the pictures....

Over the decades, I've read a lot of books on firearms...and a few of those are really outstanding...but it's only rarely that I am as positively impressed...excited, actually... as I have been by this glorious book. The book is primarily a collection of photographs, and those photographs are gorgeous. If you're interested in a book on this subject, you already probably see a lot of beauty in these old guns; but, Dennis Adler seems to have a special talent for magnifying and enhancing that beauty. Sharply-focused, well-illuminated, often highly-detailed pictures of wonderful old guns, many photographed against sumptuous backgrounds which not only avoid detracting and distracting from the guns pictured, but actually add historical meaning and context to them...this author has a talent for photography of guns (and cars too, or so I've been told) that I've not often seen before. And, the price: I'm accustomed to paying very high prices for good gun books, something I accept because I assume that the market for such books is too small for the publishers to recover their costs through high volume. Well, this book is for that same market, and it only costs $18 from Amazon (and, I think, $30 list), and it's as good as some of the best firearms books ever published. I've just received Vanderlinden's truly excellent book on FN pistols: invaluable text and great photos, but it cost $65 and it's all black & white (and Adler's "Guns of the American West" is in color, completely in color...you should see the case colors on some of the SAAs.). I've just received Brunner's "The Colt Pocket Hammerless Automatic Pistols II": great photos, but this one costs $80(!), and wastes 78 of its 240 pages on a mindless, mind-numbing list of guns issued to generals. Adler's book has ~330 pages, and not a single one is wasted.

Speaking of text: Adler's text in "Guns of the American West" is very good, and does a good job of discussing the guns, the historical backdrop, and the place of those guns in that history. This book does not have nearly the kind of detail and depth of a classic like "A study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" of Graham, Kopec and Moore, and it can't: Adler's photographs shove out the text, and that is as it should be. This is primarily a pictorial history.

And the price...perhaps I shouldn't keep returning to this, because the book is excellent, at any price. But in a field in which we've gotten accustomed to regularly paying $60 to $90 for good books (and hundreds of dollars, when those books, however mediocre, go out of print), I sincerely appreciate a publisher and an author who provide us with a great book at a fair price. In every way, Dennis Adler and Chartwell Books have provided a great service to those of us who can find fascination in a worn Smith topbreak, and they've treated us as though they respect us.

Dennis Adler does it again. I do wish it were not so inexpensive - it looks like it could be fluff and images but in fact this is an informative, Excellent book on all fronts - and the images are anything but superficial - they are stunning (as one would expect - see all his car books).
I didn't think I would like this one as much as a single topic book, but the romance of the Western world came through and wins the day. I am sure every Hollywood prop man will buy a copy to make sure they give the right gun to the right outlaw or sheriff!

This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in the subject. Lots of excellent pictures and a good historical review. Highly recommended reading.

Once again, Denis Adler wrote a great book and the photos are a pleasure to the eyes.

It is amazing that one book could contain this breadth of coverage on such a vast topic. The images are exquisite, and detailed. Lighting and composition of Dennis' sets, featuring historic firearms posed with period accessories truly enhance the subjects photographed. And the text accompanying the photos draws on Dennis own experience, his extensive research, and personal communication with many experts and collectors of the firearms exhibited. Also, Dennis has actually fired many of the guns represented as well, adding the flavor of personal experience to the other features of the book.

The publisher has done a superb job of printing the photos, preserving detail and subtle colors as well. This is really an incredible bargain for anyone enjoying the history and mechanical development of firearms from the colorful era of US History known as the Old West.

Truly a "coffee table" book that will probably spend more time in the hands than on the table!!!

If you play cowboy(SASS), collect guns or just love Western movies and you want to learn more about the guns of the west. This is your book.

I began once to review an Adler book on Colt single actions, but the influence of Bambi's Thumper the rabbit stopped me cold. As I start this one "Guns of the American West" has six absolutely glowing reviews. Joseph Rosa, the old arm chair historian of guns and gunfighters, from whom Adler lifted this title, has none. One fella from San Francisco calls it the best gun book ever, and yeah, he even claims to have read lots of others. I dunno!
Now I'm really enthralled with most of the beautiful photos too, but, sorry Thumper, use these books with great caution. Adler has reasonably well copied a wealth of info from the numerous better references on both Colt and western used guns, but he makes errors, adds little, and avoids the "second contract Colt Dragoon," the only news in Colt collecting in decades. Worst, from that very dubiously "western" knife on the front cover to the cheap 1980s Taiwan spurs on the back, Adler corrupts the fine items with numerous non authentic items of modern bling like his own new holster. He most often mentions these atrocities, but I've fought fakery for the sixty three years I've collected guns and cowboy gear. People trust pictures, and these seem to lie. Bill Mackin

If this is guns of the old west, why are there no native american firearms in this book? Guess they wanted the " pretty " guns, but i like the old used guns, & the Indian guns with the brass tacks & the crude repairs