Percussion Pistols & Revolvers Book ~Colt-Remington-Ruger-Replicas~ Softcover!

Description

PERCUSSION PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS
HISTORY, PERFORMANCE, AND PRACTICAL USE
by Johnny Bates and Mike Cumpston
From the earliest single-shot pistols through the Colts, Remingtons, Rugers, and more, this book is an in-depth look at these great nostalgic old guns.
In the early transition from the long-lived flintlock system, handgun development closely paralleled that of the long arms. With the advent of the revolving pistols, however, came patents that created monopolies in revolver production and the through-bored cylinder necessary for self-contained metallic cartridges.
The caplock revolvers took on a separate evolution and remained state of the art long after the widespread appearance of cartridge firing rifles and shotguns. They rode in the holsters of explorers and adventurers across the world and granted safe conduct in the back-alleys of the Industrial West right up until the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
Handguns possess a mystique distinctly different from that of other firearms. They are tools of personal empowerment-chosen by their owners to provide independence and freedom of movement. In the ambitious, optimistic early years of western industrial civilization they were the emblem of liberty and equality and the bane of repressive governments and social movements. Largely because of the traditions that emerged in the time of the caplock pistols and revolvers, they remain so in the early years of the twenty-first century.
"I have recently been reading an excellent and in-depth book about the history and use of percussion pistols and revolvers. When received, I started to give it a quick thumb-through and keep it nearby to finish later. It did not work out that way. I have now finished reading the book, and re-read parts of it.
. . .  No one can turn a phrase quite like Mike Cumpston. He is one of the most interesting conversationalists that you might ever meet, and his expertise with the English language shows in this book. While the book is very informative, it is also entertaining, and holds the attention of the reader very well. The subject matter covers just about every example of the better percussion handguns in history, and follows through with instructions on the loading, firing, cleaning, and maintenance of the weapons.
The book is laced with black and white photos throughout to illustrate the writer?s points, and also contains loading tables with ballistic results for most of the arms reviewed, to fully illustrate the power of these weapons. The subject matter ranges from the earliest single shot pistols through the great old Colts and Remingtons,  and includes replicas and modern cap and ball sixguns, such as the Ruger Old Army.
The illustrations in the book show the relationship of the internal parts, and the authors explain a few easy modifications to keep the guns running and make them easier to shoot well. While many shooters are not really into cap and ball revolvers or percussion pistols, the book still contains a wealth of knowledge relating to the history, function, and heritage of modern weapons. For shooters who do shoot these old guns and their replicas, this book is a goldmine of good information. For those who are thinking about getting their first cap and ball revolver, this will be the best money that you could ever spend. Shooting these types of handguns is a whole different shooting experience, and this book makes understanding the history, principles, and methods simple.
. . .
Percussion Pistols And Revolvers
is a great asset towards the understanding of how these guns work. A copy should be included with every new cap and ball revolver sold, and every history buff, whether interested in firearms or not, should own a copy. Firearms manufacture was a huge driving force in bringing the United States to the forefront of the industrial revolution of the late nineteenth century, and this book covers that part of our history very well. This is a thoroughly enjoyable and informative book, well-written and illustrated, and should serve as a valuable reference book for shooters of such nineteenth century firearms as not only a historical reference, but as a basic repair and maintenance manual for percussion firearms. I have never seen so much good information on the subject gathered into one reference book."---
Jeff Quinn,
GunBlast Online Magazine
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1: CAPLOCK PISTOLS - OVERVIEW
Chapter 1: Prelude and Timeline
Chapter 2: Replicas - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Chapter 3: Shooting the Caplocks
Chapter 4: Deringers, Derringers, and Pocket Pistols
Chapter 5: Caplock Martial Pistols
Chapter 6: Belt and Overcoat Pistols - Spanish Kit Gun
Chapter 7: The Multi-Purpose Caplock - The Lyman Plains Pistol
Chapter 8: Dedicated Target Pistols - The LePage
Chapter 9: Dueling and Dueling Pistols
PART TWO - REVOLVERS
EARLY REVOLVERS
Chapter 10: The First Revolver - The Texas Paterson
Chapter 11: Managing Caplock Revolvers and Their Loads
Chapter 12: The Percussion Revolver Comes of Age
Chapter 13: The Dragoons
Chapter 14: Disassembly of Colt Revolvers After 1850
THE MIDDLE YEARS
Chapter 15: The Mid-Century Pocket Models
Chapter 16: The Colt 1851 Navy - The Quintessential Caplock
Chapter 17: Gone to Texas - A Colt Chronology
Chapter 18: Belt Hooks, Holsters, and Sashes
THE LAST YEARS
Chapter 19: The Colt Army Model of 1860
Chapter 20: The 1861 Navy .36
Chapter 21: The New Pocket Models
Chapter 22: Colt Pocket Navy
Chapter 23: The 1858 Remington Army and Navy Revolvers
Chapter 24: A Hail of Lead - The Confederate LeMat
Chapter 25: Digression - The Ruger Old Army Percussion Revolver
Chapter 26: The World Moves On
GLOSSARY
APPENDIX A: ITALIAN PROOF MARKS BY YEAR OF MANUFACTURE
APPENDIX B: COLT'S RECOMMENDED LOADS - EXPRESSED IN GRAINS
APPENDIX C: 19TH CENTURY COMBUSTIBLE CARTRIDGES
APPENDIX D: PETITION FOR FRONTIER PROTECTION
APPENDIX E: THE IRISH CODE
APPENDIX F: 44 CAP AND BALL REVOLVER
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
Softcover. 2005. 6x9. 212 pages. Black and white photographs. New.
PLEASE NOTE:
PHOTO IN THIS AUCTION IS A STOCK PHOTO OF THE BOOK. YOUR BOOK IS BRAND NEW FROM THE PUBLISHER, NEVER READ, NEVER SHELVED.