Each year on the 4th of July, I take some time away from cookouts, fireworks, and my family to spend a few moments with my favorite firearm.  I sit alone in my gunroom, reflecting upon the one piece in my collection that for me most embodies Independence Day.  It doesn’t have a gas cylinder, it isn’t even Parkerized.  It isn’t a mint, perfect example; in fact it is probably the worst condition piece in my collection.  It is a well-used Model 1763 Charleville flintlock musket, which features a branded “U STATES” surcharge and three sets of initials carved into the stock.  Both sling swivels have been removed and the studs…

THE US KNIFE BAYONETS & SCABBARDS – A Collector’s Guide As a longtime collector of U.S. military edged weapons, I can confidently say that Gary M. Cunningham’s U.S. Knife Bayonets & Scabbards is one of the most important and comprehensive guides available—and I’m thrilled it’s finally back in print. For years, original copies of this book have commanded steep prices on the secondary market, and for good reason: it’s a cornerstone reference that many serious collectors have relied on for decades. Content That Sets the Standard This book doesn’t just list bayonets—it documents them exhaustively, covering virtually every variation of U.S. knife bayonet from WWI through modern production, including: M1905,…

One of the most interesting firearms I have had the opportunity to own is a Tulle Fusil de Grenadier. As a lifetime history buff, I knew from a young age that Forbes Road, the 18th century road from Fort Ligonier to Fort Duquesne, passed about two miles south of my home. As a boy it never entered my mind that I would one day own a French musket that may have been carried along Forbes Road. The French & Indian war lasted from 1754 through 1763. In addition to Jumonville Glen, battle sites in my area include Fort Necessity, Braddock’s crossing of the Monongahela River, Fort Duquesne, Fort Pitt, Fort Ligonier…

When in 1992 I learned that my future father-in-law, Thomas Shoen, Jr., had been a paratrooper in World War II I had to add an M1A1 carbine, jump boots, and a M1942 jump suit to my collection.  In conversations with fellow collectors I have found that many of us collect the firearms and accoutrements that we do because our dad, grandfathers, or uncles carried them in World War II or Korea.  With that motivation it quickly becomes a personal quest to collect these artifacts as a way to honor their sacrifices for our freedom and in their memory. – Scott Duff Thomas Shoen, Jr. was drafted into the Army in…

As a serious collector of all U.S. martial arms, I have long awaited publication of a collector-oriented book on the United States Rifle, Model of 1917.  Even though the Model 1917 was the predominant rifle of U.S. troops in the “war to end all wars,” it has been largely ignored by collectors.  In my opinion, one of the reasons for this neglect is that until now there has not been a book that specifically addresses the type of information that we collectors seek.  In order for collector-interest to advance for a particular model of firearm, detailed collector-oriented information must be generally available.  Regardless of the model of arm and its…

Everyone knows about the famous Springfield ’03.  From collectors to service rifle shooters to every 1950s deer camp uncle with a sporterised rifle.  But do you know all ‘03s are not Springfields?  The M1903 rifle was the primary U.S military rifle from 1903 through 1936 and remained in use in the early days of World War II.

When the U.S. entered the war, it had a similar need for rifles. The Springfield Armory had delivered approximately 843,000 M1903 Springfield rifles, but due to the difficulties in production, rather than re-tool the Pattern 14 factories to produce the standard U.S. rifle, the M1903 Springfield, it was realized that it would be much quicker to adapt the British design. Although it might have been faster to retain chambering for the .303 British military cartridge, the design was modified for the U.S. .30-06 Springfield cartridge to simplify ammunition logistics.   Acknowledgements v Foreword vii Introduction ix   Chapter Page 1 Origin 1 2 Manufacture: Interchangeability vs. Production 7 3 World War One 31…

It would be bemusing to find an arms collector or firearm enthusiast who was not familiar with the U.S. Rifle, Caliber, .30, Model of 1903. Developed by the Springfield Armory and adopted in 1903, the rifle is so closely associated with that venerable National Armory in Massachusetts that when someone refers to a “Springfield rifle,” it is almost axiomatic that they are referencing the M1903. It is sometimes forgotten, however, that another U.S. government ordnance facility also manufactured M1903 rifles from the time of the rifle’s adoption in 1903 until just after World War I. Foreword v Preface vii   Chapter Page 1 Rock Island Arsenal 1 2 First Production…

“Some movies, like “Band of Brothers” are very accurate, others are not. The general history books of these wars rarely contain the in-depth details of infantry weapons that would be of interest to collectors. The stories about US infantry weapons contained in this book are the real hands-on experiences of the men who actually used them for their intended purposes. Once I began reading these interviews, I could not put the manuscript down.” – Scott A. Duff Table of Contents v          Illustrations vii        Foreward ix         Preface xiii        Acknowledgements 1           Darrell “Shifty” Powers • World War II – ETO • Army, 101st Airborne Division 12        Bill Trexler •…