Book Review: German Handguns

[sheepherder]

"German Handguns: The Complete Book of the Pistols and Revolvers of Germany, 1869 to present"

Present in this case being ~1999 when this was written (published in 2001).

This book was discussed and recommended by learned scholars at that fashionable Forum, Jan C Still Luger Pistols Central Powers Axis Pistols Discussion Boards.

http://luger.gunboards.com/showthread.php?p=177043

What got my interest in this book was the fact it is by Ian V. Hogg and contains a written description of how to field strip the handguns reviewed. 319 pages, 7 1/2" x 10", pics in B&W, a short history along with author's observations (and opinions).

Quite interesting...

(An excerpt of the field stripping of the Borchardt is attached)

Not a coffee table book; the B&W pics are sufficient to identify a particular handgun, but not beautiful. It's not something you read from cover to cover, like, say, "Red Storm Rising", but a valuable resource to quickly identify a gun show find and field strip it for inspection.

Good for auctions like RIAC, where 4 or 5 handguns are 'bundled' together as one auction lot, and you don't have a clue what the other handguns are (and the description with those handguns leaves a lot to be desired).