Firearm reference books

[Benton]

I am always trying to add to my library of gun references and would like some insight from other students in this forum. Often times it is hard to find reviews on potential purchases, much less have an opportunity to even glance at a table of contents or index prior to ordering them.

What is covered in Nelson and Musgrave's The World's Machine Pistols and Submachine Guns, Volume II? It is the only volume I find cataloged many places and so I wonder what was in volume one. How current is it?

I'm also looking at buying Peter Laidlaw's The Guns of Dagenham and Sten Machine Carbine books from Collector Grade Publications. I've never seen a bad book from this publisher, but does one of the titles have more substantial reading than the other? I prefer copy over photos. While I'll likely end up with both at some point, I'm limiting myself to one new book on British subguns for the moment.

Lastly, I'm looking for a good book on Kalashnikovs. I know of Ezell's book from Collector Grade, of course, but I was wondering how Charlie Cutshaw's books compare.

Thanks for any information you fellows can pass along.

 

[Jim K]

The reason you can't find Nelson and Musgrave's "The World's Machine Pistols and Submachine Guns, Volume II", is because Volume II is "The World's Assault Rifles and Automatic Carbines." Both books were intended to be part of an extensive World's Weapons Series, but AFAIK only the two volumes were ever completed. Dan Musgrave later co-wrote "German Machineguns" with Smith Hempstone Oliver.

Jim