16 replies to this topic

[dalbert]

About once a month, I check the Collector Grade Publications website to see what inventory remains in stock.  As you may know, R. Blake Stevens, the founder of the company passed away a few years ago.  I believe his wife carries on the remaining inventory sales, and I have not heard of any plans to continue the company with new titles, or more reprints.  In the last month, the number of titles has reduced significantly, and now there are only 10 titles remaining for sale, which are as follows:

 

The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol

The Mauser Archive

The Browning Machine Gun Volume 1 - Rifle Caliber Brownings in U.S. Service

The Browning Machine Gun Volume II - Rifle Caliber Brownings Abroad

The Browning Machine Gun Volume III - Supporting the Rifle Caliber Brownings

The Browning Machine Gun Volume IV—Semper Fi FIFTY!

PISTOLE PARABELLUM - History of the "Luger System"

NEW! STURMGEWEHR! From Firepower to Striking Power--REVISED AND EXPANDED 2017 EDITION

The Schmeisser Myth - German Submachine Guns Through Two World Wars

The ArmaLite AR-10: World's Finest Battle Rifle

 

Some titles that have gone out of print in the last few months are as follows:

 

The Ultimate Thompson Book

Colt's New Service Revolver

Desperate Measures - The Last-Ditch Weapons of the Nazi Volkssturm (This is still available at regular price on Darrin Weaver's website)

Magnum: The S&W .357 Magnum Phenomenon

Death From Above: The German FG42 Paratrooper Rifle

German Universal Machineguns, Volume II From the MG08 to the MG3

Serious Smith & Wessons the N- and X-Frame Revolvers (The S&W Phenomenon)

War Baby (Reprint)

War Baby II (Reprint)

 

Anyway, I thought I'd alert members here, in case you still want to buy any of these titles at original prices.  I personally just purchased 6 different titles that were the last remaining copies at 3 different retailers.  Unless something changes, it appears that Collector Grade will fade away...

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[Marc O]

My hope is for positive change. 
Best wishes to Sue, (R. Blake’s wife) for a successful strategy and outcome that first meets her own needs, followed by ours as part of the customer community. 

 

Marc

[dalbert]

I also hope that Collector Grade can keep going, but I think that with each day that passes, it becomes less likely.  I have not heard of any offering of the company for sale, and I think its value would hinge on how prepared the infrastructure is to quickly put existing titles back into print. 

 

Some hurdles that I see are as follows:

• Inventory has been sold down to only 10 slower moving titles
• Having an availability of printed inventory for a potential buyer would enable immediate revenue while other preparations for future sales are made, whether they be new titles, or reprints of existing titles
• The cost of reprinting several titles to start off would be high
• Older books may not be able to be reprinted due to different technology used at the time they were originally published
• Not sure how organized the files are for each book that was published
• Continuity of publishing business practices could be lost

There are some solutions for the above in terms of on-demand publishing, but that is a different business model, and one that favors new titles.  Owning Collector Grade Publications, if it were sold, would likely not add value to new titles printed by on-demand publishing, because the on-demand printer (think Amazon) would become the publisher of record.  At least that's the way I see it.  

 

I hope we see Collector Grade revived to publish new books, but it will take a determined effort by someone who wants to publish gun books without making much money, probably for many years.  I think it's more likely that we will see Schiffer, Mowbray, Wet Dog, and maybe Front Sight Post Publishing pick up some of the slack for new titles.  More titles will also come forth through Amazon, as they already have.

 

Just my $.02...

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[johnsonlmg41]

moderated

Edited by johnsonlmg41, 17 January 2022 - 08:13 PM.

[RoscoeTurner]

as dead as the new (4 year old +) Vickers book to be out by 2022. 

I will be 65 later this summer, hoping I will live long enough to see this book delivered.

[dalbert]

Collector Grade is now down to 9 book titles remaining in stock.  

 

"The Browning Machine Gun Volume IV—Semper Fi FIFTY!" just went out of print.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[timkel]

The AR10 book is very well done and a must have book.

[dalbert]

Collector Grade is now down to 8 titles remaining in stock.

 

The Browning Machine Gun Volume III - Supporting the Rifle Caliber Brownings is now out of stock.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[dalbert]

Collector Grade now has only 7 titles remaining in stock.

 

"The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol" is now out of print.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[Merry Ploughboy]

The lack of an Index in the few of their books that I ever bought was a big turn off that kept me from considering any other titles.

 

MHO, YMMV, etc.

[dalbert]

Collector Grade is now down to 6 titles in print.

 

"The Mauser Archive" is now out of print.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

[Ryo]

Like a slow countdown..

 

I think Mauser Archive is still available at Chipotle Publishing. I bought the Ultimate Thompson from this board from the author (which is cool).

 

In some ways I understand why they don't want to go digital due to the piracy. Personally I love the hardback books, but in reality I love being able to instantly search for what I'm looking for in a PDF or other format.

[colt21a]

I knew Blake from back in the late 80's and bought most all titles from him. Sold most all of them off over the decades many still new in wrap.Even sold off many signed copies also. Since most all of the guns are gone. Did not need more memories of what i had laying around. Yes that company and those books are end of era.Back 30 40 years ago BOOKS and people the way to go. build that vast library of Knowledge.no new Youngbloods getting into yet ever again.

 

Some old War dogs still will not admit.Sure we always want it back like some old days, time and change has just rolled over us.when i started about 90% of who i knew are gone.....Not too long ago i sold off my last 1921 first edition Thompson manual.

 

at SAR show this year. will have some auto ord letter heads. found them recently in a old file cabinet. so i knew they sat for 30 years.

 

it is best for any oldsters to move things now....

 

Or it will just get thrown out,Or end up at the dog and cat foundation. ha ha,AND ALBERT HAS A GREAT POINT IF YOU NEED THOSE BOOKS NOW BUY IT.and John 41 had a valid point no market for the company.

they could not off the Thompson sub gun from Roger. HECK THOSE THAT BOUGHT IT IN 1982 are getting long in the tooth.

they won't be cheaper. Kinda like the guns.

 

RON K.

[dalbert]

Only 5 Collector Grade titles now remain in print.  

 

PISTOLE PARABELLUM - History of the "Luger System" is now out of print.

 

David

[colt21a]

David i bet by Jan. none to be left secondary and 3rd markets only.Collector Grade had a great run.And nobody in future to take over.sadly that is the way we are heading.RON K.

[dalbert]

Collector Grade shut down as of 12/31/21.  Here is what it says on their website:

 

 

Collector Grade Publications Incorporated

After 42 years in business, Collector Grade Publications has now officially closed its doors.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank our many regular/loyal customers who have contributed to the success of our company over the years.

Anyone interested in purchasing Collector Grade titles, should get in touch at info@collectorgrade.com and we will forward a list of dealers in the USA who still have many of our titles available.

[Ryo]

That's sad to hear..