Customer Reviews

Winchester Pocket Guide: Identification & Pricing for 50 Collectible Rifles and Shotguns

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

 

 

When you try to shrink the impossible amount of necessary information into a "pocket guide," omissions will be inevitable, and this book unfortunately has its share. Models 1905, 1907, and 1910 aren't even mentioned, and descriptions and information are of necessity, painfully brief. In any dynamic market, all prices are subject to change. There have been many since the book was first issued in 2004, and there have been no updates. A better price guide would be The Blue Book of Gun Values, issued annually, around March or April. For more in-depth information, a better bet would be to buy the author's (Mr. Ned Schwing) individual books on the firearms of choice. Hard covers are difficult to find and expensive but the paperbacks serve equally well, give much more information, and will give the prospective buyer a fuller understanding of the firearm under consideration. The pocket guide gives just enough information to get the same potential buyer into trouble, IMHO. There is no substitute for the complete knowledge to be gained from other books available, especially the author's, whose volumes I and II, "Winchester Slide Action Rifles," the 1890, 1906, 61, and 62, is the industry standard.

I found the information inaccurate (production dates for Mdl 71 for instance) and incomplete. I can get more accurate info online. However, the book does make a fine pad for vise jaws in my shop.

To anyone who collects rifles and shotguns, this guide is very useful. Aside from the wealth of knowledge it offers, the size is great - allowing you to carry it with you when you need to reference something!!