Buy Books, Read and Study

Navy · 08-11-2002, 01:54 PM

All,

It has become apparent to me that there are several members and contributors (and you know who you are so don't bother wasting time with feeble excuses) who cause forum discord by asking questions and then refuting answers they receive from some internationally known experts who are or used to be in this group. A quick run through of some of the questions indicates that in several instances, the questioner had not read or was not aware of authoritative published material that covered the topic in detail. This is a basic failure to do one's homework.

Folks, if you are going to play in this pool, you need to know how to swim pretty well-pardon the metaphor.

Let me be direct. Before anyone buys their second Luger-if they are seriously intending to be a collector-they should have a copy of every book written about Lugers in the English language.

That means 2 Kenyons, Davis, Costanzo, Bobba, 6 of Still, 3 Datig (or is it 4?)Jones, 2 Reese, 3 Walters,...well, you get the point.

You simply have to know what you are buying and there is no time-efficient way to learn it all first hand. Soooo, instead, buy the books, read and study.

After you have read them all cover to cover, made notes on the inconsistencies between one author and another or in a single author's work, and have done some field research, then it is appropriate to challenge the author's authority.

I am by no means saying everything in all of the books is absolute gospel, but its pretty damn close, and most of the errors of fact in these works, such as the infamous Costanzo mistake on the meaning of the S.D. property mark, are well known to the collecting fraternity.

So, before you buy more Lugers, buy the opportunity to acquire more Luger knowledge first. You will not regret it. And you will not appear such a neophyte in public venues such as the forum. Believe me, $800-1000 spent on books will save you tens of thousands over time.

My zwei pfennigs.

Tom A. <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />

08-11-2002, 01:54 PM	#1
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Buy Books, Read and Study All, It has become apparent to me that there are several members and contributors (and you know who you are so don't bother wasting time with feeble excuses) who cause forum discord by asking questions and then refuting answers they receive from some internationally known experts who are or used to be in this group. A quick run through of some of the questions indicates that in several instances, the questioner had not read or was not aware of authoritative published material that covered the topic in detail. This is a basic failure to do one's homework. Folks, if you are going to play in this pool, you need to know how to swim pretty well-pardon the metaphor. Let me be direct. Before anyone buys their second Luger-if they are seriously intending to be a collector-they should have a copy of every book written about Lugers in the English language. That means 2 Kenyons, Davis, Costanzo, Bobba, 6 of Still, 3 Datig (or is it 4?)Jones, 2 Reese, 3 Walters,...well, you get the point. You simply have to know what you are buying and there is no time-efficient way to learn it all first hand. Soooo, instead, buy the books, read and study. After you have read them all cover to cover, made notes on the inconsistencies between one author and another or in a single author's work, and have done some field research, then it is appropriate to challenge the author's authority. I am by no means saying everything in all of the books is absolute gospel, but its pretty damn close, and most of the errors of fact in these works, such as the infamous Costanzo mistake on the meaning of the S.D. property mark, are well known to the collecting fraternity. So, before you buy more Lugers, buy the opportunity to acquire more Luger knowledge first. You will not regret it. And you will not appear such a neophyte in public venues such as the forum. Believe me, $800-1000 spent on books will save you tens of thousands over time. My zwei pfennigs. Tom A. <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />