Book Review: New M1911 Pistol Book

[dalbert]

All,

 

Here is another book review I would like to share with others on this site, who I think will have an interest. This book is also selling briskly, and currently sells for about $75. I like this book, however I couldn't give it the highest rating based on certain opportunities that I mentioned. Here is the review I posted on Amazon:

 

U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1920 - 1945

By Edward Scott Meadows

 

Let me start by saying this is a very good book, which I recommend, and I'm certain it will increase in value if it's not reprinted. I've heard they are selling at a quick pace. The reason I'm rating the book a 4, instead of a 5, is that the author's style of presentation of the work does not demonstrate any progress, even though 16 years passed in between the first and second book in what is anticipated to become a 3-book series. The information is excellent, and I will certainly reference this book frequently, however I have the following specific suggestions for improvement.

 

1. I would like to see more inset photos of markings and other unique features, and more accessories presented in photos along with the firearms themselves. Most of the pictures are quite predictable right and left side photos of the pistols, almost exactly like the earlier book. A good example of how to make the whole book more engrossing can be seen in the inset pictures and accessorizing shown in Stuart Mowbray's book, "Bolt Action Military Rifles of the World," which I think is the current benchmark for quality firearms books.

 

2. Color, please! The only color in the book is presented in the last 8 pages, which are beautiful, but appear as an epilogue to the entire work, following the index. Those who buy this book will have been willing to spend just a few more dollars to have more color pictures throughout...For instance, I have the wonderful 1939 color poster of the M1911A1 shown on page 275, but the black and white photo simply does not do it justice. It's a rare item, and would have been great to see, documented in color, in such a reference book.

 

3. In my opinion, the paper items associated with firearms offer rich sources of information, and are intertwined with the history of the firearms themselves. Being an avid firearm book collector, and a firearm paper item collector, I always look for firearm books to include information on the manuals, catalogs, ads, company letterheads, posters, and any other paper items that were produced for that particular firearm. To me, it is an important part of their overall history, and the depth to which they are covered conveys to me how much time and effort went toward covering the firearm in its entirety. In this book, coverage of the publications associated with the M1911 are limited to a 2-page list, with no pictures. The author could have done much better here, and demonstrated the ability to do better on the paper item subject in his prior book. Perhaps the content was edited down, but I don't see a reason for doing so, since the book is about 100 pages shorter than the last book, and does not approach any size that would dictate cutting back.

 

So, I offer the aforementioned specifics as constructive criticism toward this new book, but I want to emphasize that most of the work inside is excellent, and it should certainly grace any serious firearm collector's bookshelf. I'm glad the author went to the trouble of publishing it, and I hope that my specific comments will be taken constructively, and might help to improve the presentation of any future writing on the subject. 4 out of 5 stars from me...

 

Here is a link to the book on Amazon:

 

http://www.amazon.com/U-S-Military-Automat...=cm_cr-mr-title

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[RoscoeTurner]

How does this one compare with Charles Clawson's book?

[dalbert]

RoscoeTurner,

 

I still like the Clawson (small edition) book for ease of reference, and for the way the markings and differences are compared. At this point, I like the Clawson book better from a collector perspective, since that is its focus. The Meadows book adds historical perspective, and has many pictures of the M1911 in use. I'm still warming up to the way the new Meadows book is organized.

 

I do not consider myself an expert on the nuances of the M1911, but there is one review on Amazon by someone who seems to know M1911's quite well, and he details several issues with the Clawson book that make me want to seek a second opinion. His review can be seen at this link:

 

http://www.amazon.com/review/R38LFGSDHUG0Z...#R38LFGSDHUG0ZW

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[RoscoeTurner]

I am goiing to have to do a little research through NAPCA to see if any know the reviewer. The review on Clawson's books is the only one he has a record of on Amazon.