Ian D. Skennerton

[Flying10uk]

I've got several of Ian Skennerton's smaller books that I've picked up 2nd hand when I've seen them at a reasonable/good price. I didn't suddenly wake up one day and think to myself "Today I must buy some of Ian Skennerton's books.". But if I have seen something by him offered at a reasonable price 2nd hand and have thought that it may be of interest I may buy it.

If you want a specific one of his books that is still being published but don't want to pay the current retail price, it's a case of finding a 2nd hand copy.

[CINDERS]

From my shelves what I have in Ian's H/C's I have his SAIS on various others types and 2 x H/C on Commonwealth Bayonets one a collectors grade but the main one you want of Ians for the Lee Enfield is the one bottom left "A century of Lee Metford and Lee Enfield Rifles." its a bigger version of the other 2 the mauve one top left is a 300 limited signed run mines No.211 its the same as the one to its right.
Another I have that is a pretty good read is a H/C by Major E.B Reynolds it can be a bit pricey, there are the Stratton books which are not too bad either but only small S/C's so whilst they have good info nothing like Ian's books.

[breakeyp]

Senior collectors in the 1970's told me to buy two reference books for every gun I bought. I have traveled with Ian in England and he has stayed with me a few times. His memory/recall is amazing.

[Brian Dick]

Buy books!

[Surpmil]

Then read them!

[Seaforth72]

The old advice is “Buy the books, then buy the gun.” it is true!

If you are going to buy more than one Lee-Enfield and collect several of the Enfield family of firearms Skennerton’s books are ESSENTIAL. Knowledge is power and saves you thousands of dollars and much heartache over the years.

If you are going to buy only one or two standard “cheap” Lee-Enfield rifles, and you do not want to know what the markings mean, you do not need his books. However, if you are going to buy a lot of Lee-Enfields and/or expensive models like snipers, early models, trials rifles, foreign issue marked, experimental etc. then you would be foolish to not buy all of his relevant books.

Are his books perfect? No, there are a very few minor errors as happen in every book, but the books are 99.9% correct and are the best reference out there. I have a lot of his books, including three of his biggest books and every penny was well spent. There are times that I have bought something and and then regretted that I had not checked his books before-hand as I could have save myself some money (more than the cost of the books). The only wish would be that they could be in digital form so that I could consult them while I am at a gun show with one hand while the other hand was holding onto the rifle in question. Note for gun show novices: if you put the gun back down on the seller’s table and let go of it, it is fair game for the guy standing behind you, the guy who has had virtually memorized Skennerton’s book and is praying that you will walk away.

I recently spotted an extremely rare Lee-Enfield Lattey sniper sight in its original box at our local gun show I was not sure if it was complete and did not have Skennerton’s book with me. Rare as it was, if it was missing any pieces, they would be impossibly to find. After the show I checked at home in Skennerton, 2007 THE LEE-ENFIELD, found that from the photos I had taken that it was 100% complete, but then the gun shows were cancelled due to the pandemic! :-( Luckily I knew the seller and was able to arrange a “contactless” purchase on his front doorstep. :-) I need to remember to have it in the car at least when local gun shows resume after the Covid-19 pandemic passes.’

[HarryB]

I blame Ian Skennerton for my addiction to collecting Military firearms. I was invited to his house in the early 1970's to view his collection. I've been hooked ever since.
I believe he later sold his collection to finance his research in the UK which would have been a big sacrifice to make, but I guess it paid off. The man is a walking firearms encyclopedia!

[Jc5]

If you are at all interested in Lee Enfields, do not even hesitate... pay the money for Skennerton's 2007 edition of The Lee Enfield. (Be careful when shopping: you want the BIG one, not the small booklet called "The Buyer's Guide"---it has the same cover so look sharp). Yes, it's expensive, but not compared to other gun books of the same quality. For the wealth of data it contains, it's a bargain. If you cannot afford it, save up. If for some reason you later give up on Enfields, you can sell it for close to full value, or sell it with your rifle.

Keep in mind the book is not just for collectors...every historical rifle has a story, and is part of a larger story. This is what makes historical arms so fascinating. What were the designers thinking when they built it the way they did? Why choose one thing and not the other? Why did they change it over the years? What problems were they trying to solve? How well did it solve the problem? Why did it stay in service for a century? Skennerton tells that story. Other books might give you tips on model identification (Stratton's books are great for working on rifles on your workbench) but no other work tells the story like Skennerton does. The LE story is a great story---a story that belongs not just to Britain, but to many nations, and the wider world of small arms development.

Pay the money for the book. Buy once, cry once. You won't regret it.

[CINDERS]

Apologies guys I misinformed you the mauve Lee Enfield Story I have is No.30 of a limited edition, its this one my "The Broad Arrow" that is No.211 of 300 H/C limited Ed so sorry about that in my trade its absolutes as there is no maybe in a court of law with a death on site if you have set the crews up to fail.

So if your going to go the full monty you may as well get this one they are worth every penny or $'s

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

find the "Shelby Cobra" so to speak

Identify with the reference. Have found a couple but not for sale or to many $$$.