Wanted: Books

[Adrian]

I am looking for books on vintage airrifle. I have tried Amazon but after placing an order with them 2 months ago , I still haven't received anything.

Any orther bookshops that any one can recommend. I am in South Africa and any help would be appreciated.

I have just started a collection and have 20 airguns.
Please mail to stafixbloem@absamail.co.za

[rockdrill]

Hi Adrian,

There is a list of some titles here:

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2005/...gun-books.html

But as to where to find them.....

Try searching the web for specialist book sellers.

Regards

Dale

[silva]

Hello Adrian,

If you have a look on the other vintage airguns site www.vintageairguns.co.uk they have a book section which gives you lots of info on the various different publications.

A good general one that spans the last 120 years and most air rifles you can think of is "The Collectors Guide to Air Rifles by Dennis E Hiller" -There is also a volume on air pistols available by the same author. Hiller is a very important chronicler and largely responsible for the upsurge in Airgun collecting in the 1980's.

If you collect Bsa's there is, "Bsa and Lincoln Jeffries Air Rifles", by John Knibbs - this covers all the pre 1918 designs - another fine ground breaking book.
Also Knibbs has another more recent book, "The Golden Century", which covers all Bsa Airgun, Rifle and Shotgun manufacture. This has additional info on all the post 1918 to 2004 Bsa air rifles, as well as lots of interesting vintage rimfire, centrefire and shotgun stuff.

There is also "The Airgun Book" by John Walther, a well known gun writer, which is a excellent reference for more modern, yet obscure 1970/80's collectables. There are updated editions of these so try to get the Red covered one.

If you like older collectable books try , "Gas, Air and Spring Guns of the World" an American book by WHB Smith, a fascinating volume which covers many interesting and unusual worldwide designs, up until about 1960 or so. Especially good for little known European designs and exotica.

Also "Airguns and Air pistols" by L Wesley, this is a great British book from 1955 and could well be described as the first modern airgun publication (I think ??)

All these books are quite often seen on that worldwide auction site E**Y and can often be bought for around £20.00 as a readers copy, apart from the Golden Century which is about £30.00

I think there are some other books on vintage air rifles in German and there must be American ones on Daisys, Crossmans and other BB guns.

What vintage air rifles do you encounter in South Africa, are there any home produced designs ?
I would imagine that there must be some great old british air rifles to be found there too.

Best Regards Morgan

[pennineway.fswo]

Hi Adrian
Good to hear that your current government has seen the light and and relaxed some Fire-arms legislation on .177 airguns

In addition to those books referred to by Morgan there is a book by George C Nonte Jnr called 'Complete book of the Airgun' (publishers - stackpole books 1970). which is worth having/reading

The book referred to by Morgan - 'The Golden Century' is superb and still available from John Knibbs International. Definately worth the money to anyone interested in old BSA's

Incidently, that is a nice part of the world you come from. I have pleasant memories of my time out there
ATBest
john

[Dave S]

Adrian,
try searching using book butler
I have found it good for tracing down books from international sellers all over the internet.

Dave