Customer Reviews

The Model 1911 and Model 1911A1 Military and Commercial Pistols

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a fan and collector of John Browning's creation that has seen service in two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and numerous other military operations throughout the world during the past 90+ years. So when this book came out I was among the first to get a copy and read it. The content is excellent and the information pertinent for the serious collector or admirer of these fine guns. Most of it is a re-hash of the information found in Charles Clawson's notable books, most of which are now out of print. I should also state that most of this information can now be found on the internet on various forums and newsgroups. For the price (nearly $40.00) I was expecting a quality book that would hold up under use. The book itself is little more than a cheap paperback printed on a mediocre grade of paper with a flimsy paper cover. I was disappointed with the quality of the book itself, and thought it was greatly over-priced for a paperback handbook. If you don't have another source for this information, you will probably need this book. If you don't want to spend nearly $40.00 for a cheap paperback, you may be able to get most of the information elsewhere. On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate the content as a 10, while I rate the quality of the book itself as a 3. Overall, I would give it a 5-6.

I picked this up at the NGD in Louisville It is an excellent stand alone reference and a compliment to the Clawson volume. And with Karl Karash involved you know it will be accurate. $40.00 well spent and more bang for the buck compared to Clawsons book now over 700. The only downside is it's paperback and won't stand up to daily use.

Extensive facts and details covering both the pistols themselves and their related accessories. Brief story history of their developement and first use. Excellent as a fact check book to verify the correctness of any 1911 or 1911a1. Contains all the facts currently believed to be correct with many excellent pictures and drawings.

Great book with LOTS of information about the 1911. Even goes into detail about the correct grips for the time period. Great book...highly recommend. A book that should be on any collector shelf that owns, or is a fan of at least one 1911!

Super reference book for the Model 1911 pistols. Full of info any collector needs to know. Highly recommend this book.

this is a great value for the money with lots of good history and reference material on all the variations a must for the collector or the enthusiast

An excellent reference for anyone who owns a M1911 or M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol. Well illustrated. Information concerning all parts, finishes, markings and accesories. I was very glad I purchased this book, it has been a great help in restoring a vintage Colt 1911.

Got my copy three weeks ago. This is the most complete book on the Model 1911 and Model 191A1 pistol I have come across to date. It's a must-have for collectors.
A previous reviewer suggests that this book is a "rehash of Charles Clawson's books . . ." which is nonsense. By that definition, Clawson's book is a rehash of previous books by Bady, Wilson, Goddard, and Harrison. All of these new books retell the story of the Model 1911, but they offer new insights and information each time.
The Poyer book is full of new information not previously known . . . how to identify all parts and markings by serial number range to assure yourself that the pistol is all original. How to differentiate all of the various grip panels that have been made over the years by company and serial number range. Serial number ranges for every model manufactured by Colt, Remington-UMC, Remington Rand, Union Switch & Signal, Ithaca, and Singer are included. How to identify magazines by manufacturer and serial number range of use.
And most important of all to collectors, all markings on the slides and receivers of all Model 1911s and Model 191A1s from Colt to A.J. Savage by serial number range. The book also describes accouterments, lists all holster makers for the U.S. military, and describes metal and wood finishes and tells you how to tell if the pistol or its parts have been refinished.
I have had an Argentine Ballester-Molina copy of the Model 1911 pistol for years and did not know much about it. The book devotes an entire chapter to the Argentine pistols, another to British markings, and so on.
Anyone who thinks they can find all this information on the Internet is in for a sad surprise.
Signed: A Serious Remington Collector

This book is similar to the series of firearms reference books by this publisher/authors. Well written and contains much detailed information on the subject in a single publication. A good first/only detailed reference on the military 45 auto pistols.