Rocky,

I agree with Charlie and I'd add to the list Bruce Canfield's book:
Complete Guide to the M1icon GARAND and the M1 CARBINE

The book explains in some detail, but in an easy to understand and fun to read style, many of unknowns and misunderstandings we all have when we begin collecting carbines. He wrote this book particularly for new(er) collectors and it also has tons of great photos to go along with the text. Advanced collectors probably know most things he explains in the book, but after you read it you'll know enough to understand most things advanced collectors are talking about. I didn't read it until a couple of years ago but I wished I'd read it first.

He doesn't intend it to be a book containing all the codes and data you'll eventually need as you try to determine all the correct codes, etc, and he even recommends at the beginning of his book that you'll also need WAR BABY and WAR BABY II for complete data info as you go farther into collecting.

He also hates the crooks who ruin collecting for less experienced collectors and tries to cover many of the things to look out for.

I recommend them in this order -

Canfield - Interesting, informative and moderately priced. (Like an interesting set of WWII TIME LIFE Books)

WAR BABY! - Expensive, but the heart of all your carbine books. (More like a set of encyclopedias - Complete and serious reading, but it's a Must Have) even if you don't get anything else.

Riesch - Inexpensive, but not a lot to it. Just the basics, etc. (Small enough to take to gun shows - Most boring of all)

WAR BABY! II - Expensive and covers a lot about post WWII carbines plus many of the commercial carbines.
(Kind of like masters degree type of book)

WAR BABY III - Just got mine a few months ago, but haven't read it yet.

I'm sure it'll be expensive, but I can hardly wait. (Hey, has anyone heard anything about it lately???)

Check around Amazon, and sometimes you can get you can a good deal on Ebay, but be careful not to get an old edition. Especially Riesch -
There are errors and/or disagreements in all of them, but my 5th Ed of Riesch is a mess.

JMO,
~ Harlan

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