ew book on rifles and their pointy bits

A friend on another forum has just announced his publishing of his new book "Military Rifles of Armies in Europe 1867-1886 " on guns and their pointy bits http://www.probooks-finland.com/book/ I have ordered my copy and will post a fuller report when it arrives, but it looks an excellent reference for both bayonet and gun collectors for this period, it covers a lot of countries at a critical period of weapons manufacture. take a look and if you order please let him know you got the link from me ;-)

Looks like a nice book. Can't wait for your review. If it's good, I might order one.

It appears to be a very high quality book with excellent photographs that is reasonably priced. Thanks for bringing the link to our attention, we are looking forward to your review.

I have heard from one person who has got it already and he was impressed saying it was a good book for bayonet and rifle collectors of this period. I know where some of the pictures and bits came from and it samples some fantastic collections and gets knowledge from some really knowledgeable people. Can't wait

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Originally Posted by old-smithy

...... a good book for bayonet and rifle collectors of this period.

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Not to mention the cartridges illustrated. That is something that we will not see here in the US very often. Some of the early European rounds are rarely - if ever - seen here.

Got my copy last night and am delighted. the book covers the evolution of the firearms - from pin fire to magazine fed - over the period and covers the modifications to older weapons and new builds. The detail may not be enough for some but it was very interesting for me. Where the weapon held a bayonet there is an image and name, so you can find the bayonet for any weapon that can accept one and vice versa find all the weapons that accept a bayonet. So that 1866 Chassepot can fit a whole lot of other weapons (the book starts after the chassepot). The change from pin fire to cartridge and magazine weapons is very interesting and there are some that would not look out of place in a SciFi movie! The breadth of the range precludes huge detail but for both bayonet and rifle collectors (of this period) I can see this book being a very useful addition to your library.

there are also pictures of the cartridges used by the various weapons, amazing how short some of them are, also it was amazing to see that the weapons were ranged out to 2000m way back then, can't believe they were that accurate!

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Originally Posted by old-smithy

there are also pictures of the cartridges used by the various weapons, amazing how short some of them are, also it was amazing to see that the weapons were ranged out to 2000m way back then, can't believe they were that accurate!

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They were considered accurate at that range when used on a target the size of a company front and that was what they were used for. Volley fire, not an individual soldier firing at an individual target though it was likely occasionally tried to the displeasure of the NCO and officers.

Thanks for your review, it sounds like a fine book.

It says for volley but even so, I doubt it did little more than raise morale. As for the book, I would recommend it to anyone collecting guns or bayonets of the period, the linking of th etwo is very usefull.