Customer Reviews

The Winchester Book

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Whether you intend to buy 1 or 1000 Winchesters, you need this book in order to determine the correctness and originality of the Winchester you are thinking of buying. George Madis has done a remarkable, exhaustive job of presenting each model, its characteristics, variations, special order features, improvements progression, dimensions, historical background, predecessor models, and other pertinences to help you to know what you are buying. At the end of each model/chapter are a list of the serial numbers produced each year,the total number produced and the rarity of special features as well as standard features. Following the guns themselves, are chapters on sights (standard and special order), and special order features, barrel lengths, finishes, engraving and calibers. There is even a chapter on Winchester pistols. All in all, it is still the best, most comprehensive study of this most important manufacturer's longarms which were used to forge our civilization from the raw, wild, unexplored country our forebears faced in the last half of the 19th century.

Madis is indeed useful for researching the original condition and factory options of Winchester rifles. His dates of manufacture are absolutely unreliable however. For the model '94 Renneberg's book "The Model '94, the First 100 years" and for the Model 70 Rule's "The Rifleman's Rifle: Winchester's Model 70, 1936-1963" are far better references.

For the advanced collector, or aspiring-to-be advanced collector, or even for the gunshop owner who is likely to come across a fair number of older Winchesters, this is the definitive work on the models of Winchester guns from the 1866 to the 70, and everything in between. Some sections are far more in depth than others, but all are informative and interesting, as well as well laid-out to learn what you need to know.

I've collected guns since I was about 12, and managed the gun department at a large sporting goods store, and consider myself a fairly knowledgable person in Winchesters, Colts, and Smith & Wessons, but the information I learned in this book made me realize the difference between a real expert and a guy who sees a real collectable maybe a few times a year. However, after reading this, I have actually identified a few fakes (1866's) as well as explain some neat special feature guns to owners wondering what they had.

Not necessarily the book for everyone, due to the price these days, but certainly worth spending the money on if you want the best work on the subject.

This book is my go to book for most if not all Winchester questions. The book is laid out well and contains some info about nearly every Winchester model ever made. Due to this, some of the model coverages are superficial, IE the model 70 or model 12. However, since it has info regarding basically every model, it is an indispensable resource for the Winchester collector or simply any gun collector. If there are any must have gun collecting books, this is certainly one of them.

Book arrived in better than expected condition. I am glad to add to my collection. I would purchase from this seller again in a moment. Thank you