Customer Reviews

Mauser Military Rifles of the World

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This book was written to give the collector an overall review of all models and countries where the Mauser military rifles were used. A short history of the countries and of each individual model gives the researcher a fine source of information. Based on the chapter covering my own country (Brazil), I can say that Mr. Ball has made a very good job in writting this book. It is not a book to read from the beginning to the end, but a research source in which you will find a good amount of information before you buy a rifle or to help you catalog your already purchased one. It has helped me a lot (Brazil, alone, has 13 different models!).

Bob Ball's second edition of Mauser Military Rifles of the World should provide Mauser collectors or enthusiasts with plenty of new and interesting information about this ubiquitous rifle. I greatly enjoyed the photos, they are much better than anything currently out there. The highlight of the book is it's alphabetical listing by nation; no searching for model numbers or years. Finding a rifle is a simple matter of knowing where, roughly, your Mauser came from. I particularly enjoyed the color section. While there was some duplication in the book, it was nothing so terrible as to detract from the overall feel and look of the volume. I found the book to be a good value and a welcome addition to my library. If you like Mausers you will enjoy this book.

Ball picks up where Olson stopped. A brief discourse on the user nation's history is provided prior to discussing the rifles themselves. Not given to a revisionist historical perspective, he nicely summarizes the nation's development and its adoption of the Mauser.

The author then launches into a discussion on the characteristics of the various individual models of Mausers the respective country issued to its troops and supplements the text with excellant photos not only of the rifles but of troops themselves.

His final chapter, "Mauser Curiosa", is all too brief and Ball glosses over unusual developments or prototypes. The WWI German approach to a trench rifle is unlike those seen at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site (See photos in Brophy) or on display at the Imperial War Museum in London. Admittingly, an entire book could be devoted to the odds and ends comprising the "curiosa" chapter.

With its sewn bound heavy stock glossy paper, the physical quality of the hardbound book is good. However, some threads on my copy of this sewn bound book were not properly trimmed. As an excellant companion to Ludwig Olson's, "Mauser Bolt Rifles", any Mauser enthusiast would find it a worthy addition to their library.

Bob Ball's second edition of Mauser Military Rifles of the World should provide Mauser collectors or enthusiasts with plenty of new and interesting information about this ubiquitous rifle. I greatly enjoyed the photos, they are much better than anything currently out there. The highlight of the book is it's alphabetical listing by nation; no searching for model numbers or years. Finding a rifle is a simple matter of knowing where, roughly, your Mauser came from. I particularly enjoyed the color section. While there was some duplication in the book, it was nothing so terrible as to detract from the overall feel and look of the volume. I found the book to be a good value and a welcome addition to my library. If you like Mausers you will enjoy this book.

Starting with a good format, the photos fail to live up to expectations. Several are not the correct photo for the caption. In spite of this, the book is a good basic guide to military Mauser long arms.

This book is perhaps the best general reference on Mauser military rifles in print. The book is divided alphabetically by country to allow you to quickly find information about the rifle you are looking for. There are black and white pictures of many of the rifles mentioned, as well as several full-color sections.
Because of the wide range of Mausers covered, descriptions and information on each rifle is short and brief.
This book is a must for any and every Mauser collector and enthusiast.

This is the best edition Yet! Great color photos and detail. Very well laid out by country. This makes it so easy to find what you are looking for. A thorough reference work on the Mauser rifle. If you are a bolt action collector or shooter, then this is a core book that should be in your library. If I could have only one book on Mauser bolt guns, then this is it. Hats off to Mr. Ball!

As a collector, I need 100% accuracy in my reference material in order to buy and sell in the market without losing my shirt or my reputation. I also enjoy a good story. This book failed, unfortunately, in both instances. The photography can be very disappointing, and the mis-labeling of so many shots - and the poor quality of many of the stills - made me and others wonder why an amateur in the field attempted this book. Accuracy is essential in a work such as this, and it just is not there. I would caution anyone considering its purchase.

The 4th Edition is much improved over previous editions. It's impossible to have a book to cater to all collectors, everyone has there own tastes. For what it's worth so far I've noticed that most of the innacurate information has been weeded out. It doesn't give as much detailed information as I would like, but for a basic treatise on mauser rifles it's darn good

There are more pictures in this edition than the 3rd but I feel the 3rd edition had more details that are missing in the 4th edition. Like the Spanish FR-7 and FR-8, there are details and differences that are addressed in the 3rd edition of these 2 rifles that are omitted in the 4th. It is a nice general review of the mausers.