August 2019 Newsletter
For 12 years our newsletter has gone to more than 20,000 Firearms Collectors, Enthusiasts, Historians and Professionals Worldwide. We now reprint over 6000 Vintage Gun Catalogs, Books and Manuals from the 1840s to the 2000s
See all the New Additions (scroll down) this month!!
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Most Internet Browsers – Firefox, Edge, Opera etc – have decided to truncate, or cut off, the bottoms of long emails. There is a tiny note at the bottom allowing you to retrieve the rest of the email.
Rob and Abby
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On a Mission:
Last Winter... Yachtsmen forgot their boats?
This is a Google Maps Image of Club Island in Lake St. Clair, MI. We don't know the truth about, what appear to be, dozens of sunken yachts frozen in the ice. Follow the link yourself, zoom in and let us know what you think the story is. We suppose the boats may be ghost images from an earlier summer photograph but that would make the composition awfully precise don't you think?
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All the contributors who, over the years, have lent us originals, scanned their originals for us and even sent us money for the project are the backbone of what makes us successful. This month we want to thank Steve Pagotto for the AYAs and our cobber, Ross from Down Under, for the Omark manual!
ARMS HERITAGE MAGAZINE - Volume 8, All Six Issues
AYA 1968 Shotguns Catalog
AYA c1956 Shotguns Catalog
Cooper Arms 2004-5 Catalog
Manuals:
Arsenal SA-93 7.62 Semi-Automatic Rifle Manual- Bulgaria
Arsenal SLR-95 & 96 7.62 Self-Loading Rifle Manual- Bulgaria
Barrett 50 Cal Rifle M82A1 Operator Manual
Barrett REC 7 6.8mm Operator's Manual
BRNO M4 Bolt Action Rifle Manual
BRNO ZKB 680 Bolt Action Rifle Manual
BRNO ZKM 611 .22 Mag Semi-Auto Rifle Manual
Browning 9mm Hi Power Field Service Manual
Browning M1917 HMG .300 Mechanism Made Easy Manual
Bushmaster .308 Operating Manual
Bushmaster ACR Operating Manual
Bushmaster Carbon 15 .22LR Operating Manual
Bushmaster Carbon 15 M97S, 97, 21 Pistols and Rifles Manual
Bushmaster-All 9mm Pistols & Carbines Manual
Clayco 1984 Sports Model AKS Semi-Auto Manual
Cobra Derringer M22, C22M, C25, & C32 Manual
Cobra FS32 & FS 380 Auto Pistol Manual
Cobra Patriot .45 ACP DA Pistol Manual
Colt 1972 Peacemaker .22 Revolver Manual
Colt 1972 Pocket .25 Automatic Manual
Colt 1980 .22 Conversion for Semi-Auto Pistols Manual
Colt 1989 AR-15 .22LR Conversion Manual
Colt 1993 SA Army Revolver Manual
Colt 1995 .22 Conversion for Colt Semi-Auto Series 80 Pistols Manual
Colt 1996 MK IV Series 80 & 90 Pistols Manual
Colt 1998 Cowboy SA Revolver Manual
Colt c1970 Colteer 1-22 Rifle Manual
Colt M16A Carbine-Commando, 9mm SMG & M4 Carbine 1993 Manual
Colt-Walther M4&M16 .22LR HV SLR Manual 2009 Manual
Hercules 1936 HiVel No3 Rifle Powder Manual
Omark 44 - .308/7.62mm NATO by Lithgow (Sportco/Slazenger) 1969 Manual
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In an effort to suppress dissent, enforce conformity and strengthen the courts the President was successful in pushing through the Alien Friends and Enemies Acts. Congress passed the legislation by the slimmest of margins. The acts granted the president the right to expel any foreigner or un-naturalized immigrant or to arrest anyone born in a hostile country at will. Meanwhile, anyone who spoke, wrote or published anything against the government, Congress, or the President that might bring them “into contempt or disrepute” or that might be considered “scandalous and malicious” would be subject to up to five years in prison and a $5000 fine. Two dozen people were arrested for sedition, including James Logan of Philadelphia and a number of critical newspaper writers and editors and Kentucky congressman Matthew Lyon (who was reelected while in jail).
President John Adams - Alien Friends Act of 1798, Alien Enemy Act of 1798
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Over time Ebay has changed and manipulated their rules to pander to buyers by encourage whining. Some people have even learned to game the system. We found this particularly so from buyers outside the U.S.. Consequently, we dropped overseas sales entirely from Ebay, it was costing us more in lost postage alone than we made from the sales. Anyway, here are some examples of Ebay problems we dealt with last month (note there were no such issues from our website sales that outnumber ebay sales two to one- see letters from readers below).
(Dear Rob) Disappointed very cheaply done reproduction. Fuzzy copy. Looks like recopied and recopied multiple times. I just ordered other firearm books for $25 to $35 with hundreds of pages. Did not discuss special models and serial numbers. But not about S20. I will keep. Not worth going to post office. hreeve-cze68qn (ebay)
Dear hreeve… We refunded your money because you were disappointed. Abby and I try hard to preserve old gun publications, over 6000 of them to date. Not all are perfect by any means, but the one you bought actually came from an original Remington manual. Because it was shortly after WWII, perhaps they copied it themselves. Few catalogs or repair manuals include serial numbers but we do list links on our website to sites that have Remington serial numbers. We are sorry you didn't like it though. Cheers, Rob
(Dear Rob) Thanks for your reply. I found internet sight that listed all 48 serial numbers. The list out all 48 grades A thru F and dates. Encluded special engraved models and craftsmen engraver. No need for reimbursement . I now understand just repro of Manuel. Would be great if you added index to internet charts. Y'all are sincere people. Thanks
We think so, Rob
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(Dear Rob) I ordered a manual from you for my dad for Father’s Day. I’m really disappointed with the quality of the manual as well as the extremely long wait for shipping (if I recall it took several weeks for him to receive it). I feel like I got ripped off. jem918 (ebay)
Dear jem..., I'm sorry about your complaint so Abby is refunding your money. You ordered on the 13th, we shipped the 18th and it was delivered the 20th of June (seven days). The shipping is normal for us because we print to order some 6000 different old firearms catalogs and manuals to order and there are just two of us old codgers to do it!
Not everything we offer is perfect by the very nature of what we have to work with, tatty originals, photocopied and a host of other problems but we do our best to bring life to each one and, after all, where else can you find many of these old publications? Abby and I hope this explanation helps, Cheers, Rob
(Dear Rob) Thank you! I really appreciate your prompt refund; I really didn’t expect that. I just gave you a 5 star review because I can see you’re an honest business. (jem918)
Dear jem, We think so. Rob
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Cornell, Bren 1942 MKII .303 Light Machine Gun Parts Manual (UK). Seems sort of a chintzy "manual" with little information in it, and not the best copy on the important reference parts. Pic appears to be a bound piece, but, then that is just your copy. You don't get bad FB, just seems to not be a very good value. Robert excellence101 (ebay)
Abby and I, in our retirement, try to preserve old firearms catalog, manuals, and books before they are all gone. We now offer over 6000 of them so it is impossible to make perfect reproductions using the same paper, color ink, or binding for each one and still price them economically. The image you mention is of the original which was tied together with thread. We chose our heat binding method because we don’t make forgeries of originals, which would cost a pretty penny. We also have to state, somewhat obviously, that we didn't write them so are not responsible for the contents although we do include an index. We do offer a number of Bren publications, although not all may appear on ebay. Cheers, Rob for cornellpubs
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Hi Abby, I received the Bear 1979 Archery Catalogand found it only had 27 pages instead of 47 like the original catalog. I also expected an exact replica that is stapled like my old catalog. I held back on posting negative feedback until I could find my old catalog to compare it to see how many pages were missing before I contacted you. I would like a refund and can send it back if you want to send me a shipping label. As soon as we resolve this I'll leave a positive feedback. Very respectfully, Lance Norgard (Ebay)
Hi Lance, We guarantee our reprints so Abby has refunded your money. I can't explain why you got only 27 pages, as you can see in the advert, it does have 47. Our printers are set to fault/stop if the page count doesn't match and everything else in the print run was good so I am stuck, no excuse, sorry.
Regarding binding, Abby and I, in your retirement, are attempting to preserve old arms catalogs, books and manuals before they are all gone. So, in order to print to order the over 6000 publications we offer, we have to standardize printing and binding. We absolutely cannot reproduce identical copies of originals on the original paper, to the original size or match the method of binding, stapling or weaving, etc.. The two of us do the best we can, so we refund the money if someone gripes. I am sorry to disappoint. Cheers, Rob
(Dear Rob) Thank you for the refund. I didn't mean to gripe about the binding. I guess if it had 47 pages vs 27 I would have been completely satisfied. I will say the reproduction quality was outstanding. V/r, Lance
Thank you, Rob
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Here it is!!!
The 2018 Annual Compendium of issues is ready. A little late, but here and ready for your order.
Volume 8 – Number 1
The Needham Conversion Musket Ed Hull
The Palmetto Rifle – An Examination of Survivors Frederick Novy
Duplicate Serial Numbers Charles Pate
Volume 8 – Number 2
Screw-Barrel (Queen Anne) Pistols Staff
The Brass Pan Springfields Kent Jones
Look at Me! Dick Herman
Follow-up on Needhams Ed Hull, Jim Buchanan
Volume 8 – Number 3
Sharps Pistol and Pistol Rifle – Part I Frank Graves
Tinder Lighter Pistols Frank Graves/Dick Salzer
Joseph Perkin Arms the Revolution Matthew Skic
Luger Collecting Dick Herman
Volume 8 – Number 4
Sharps Pistol and Pistol Rifle - Part II Frank Graves
U. S. Military Marksmanship John Spangler
OSS Capt. Pattersons .32 Colt Automatic Charles Pate
Artillary Luger Dick Herman
Volume 8 – Number 5
Hopkins and Allen’s Vest Pocket Derringer Staff
Bacon’s Gem Revolver Staff
Samuel Hamilton Walker Staff
The Gallager Carbine Dick Salzer
The Snail-Drum Luger Magazine Dick Herman
Volume 8 – Number 6
The J. an F. Garrett Revolvers Shannon Pritchard
German Rifle Grenades of WWI Michael Heidler
2nd and 3rd Generation Percussion Colts Jimmie Campbell
Hiram Berdan’s First Bolt-Action Rifle Ed Hull
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Read this and dozens of other terrific articles in Arms Heritage Magazine. A year subscription costs a mere $19 and you can have access to this year plus the last eight years!
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Good after breakfast Abby & Rob, Thanks for the July 2019 Newsletter. I was reading the “rants & raves section, I reckon this is the best reading I have had in a long time. I will tell you how good it is……………… My mates and I are very keen fox and feral cat shooters here in Australia. We usually go spot lighting on Friday & Saturday night. Over the last couple of weeks the weather here has been so cold & wet that we decided not to go, after all at our age, we now like to go out in a “certain degree of comfort”. Yes !!! we actually chickened out.
So, I was telling these guys about your newsletter, and we decided that the weather was to inclement , so a night at home with coffee and cashew nuts and a hot fire was in order . That’s when I opened the “Rob & Abby” newsletters. We started reading the “rants & raves”, this went on for quite some time, a couple of my mates are very” twisted little wombats” and some of the commentary cannot be written here , but believe me Abby it was the best nights entertainment we have had in a long time. I know that some of the “turkeys” you have to deal with can, from time to time, be very challenging. However, they in their ignorance are some of the best sources of entertainment on the net.
Thanks for a great Newsletter , looking forward to the August edition. Best Regards, From, Rex - Australia
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(Dear Abby) Handbook for Shooters & Reloaders Vol II 1966 Ackley-Wildcat Good day. I'd like to purchase both volumes 1 and 11. Would you combine shipping? Thanks “theboothfamily” (ebay)
Dear Booth Family, Sure, but being ebay it isn't easy. The complicated way to do it is to find the ebay link to request combined shipping, then go back and forth for a couple of days and eventually it works (they do that because they charge commissions to us for shipping)! The easy way is to go ahead, buy the two, send Abby a note and she will refund the difference when she ships and we'll eat the ebay commission. I suggest the latter. Cheers, Rob Mouat
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(Dear Abby) Wanting to know the price of my Davison firearm 28 gauge
Hello....., Mike Rich, owner of I HAVE THIS OLD GUN, has been involved in firearms restoration and appraisal since 1962. Although Mike specializes in appraising Early American “Doubles,” side-by-side shotguns and rare rifles, he also does firearm appraisals for most American made guns. These appraisals are frequently used to establish value for insurance, estate sales and/or resolutions and for owner’s wanting to know “what’s it worth?” Whether one gun or an arsenal, send Mike an email to get started. Prices for a written appraisal begins as low as $35.00. Rob
click here for Mike Rich
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Dear Abby I purchased a disassembly/assembly manual from you years ago and it allowed me to repair my old Winchester 63. Since that date I have received your entertaining and informative newsletter. I admit I like your fielding of the Rants. Thanks again, Greg Hudson
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Dear Abby, I am looking for information about the set trigger Anschutz made as an option for their Match 54 target rifles, or 14xx series, about 1954 to 1977. After looking at your selection of Anschutz reprints I suspect #4235, the Anschutz Model 54 Match Instruction Manual c1963, might be my best hope. In an ad for one of these triggers, I have seen a picture of pages with directions for it from some Anschutz publication but can't tell you which. I have bought from you folks a few times before, and appreciate the service you provide. Thank you. David Dunkle
Dear David, The 54 catalog #4235 does have brief illustrated instructions for the double trigger set No. 5039 as well as the match hair-trigger no 1404-U8. Cheers, Abby
(Dear Abby) Thanks for getting back to me on the weekend. I will order it through your website. I also like the bound yearly annuals of "Arms Heritage" you have made up. Did you ever consider offering a multi-year package of them at a discounted price? Anyhow, thanks again for your time. DD
Hi Dave, I'd like to be able to help with the AH prices but they are priced at just about cost as the support we do for the magazine. If you order hard copies, Abby will make sure the postage is correct and will refund any overage. We print AH Magazines on Xerox "color cube" printers which produce a really nice, solid-wax-like finish. The technology was so expensive Xerox has discontinued the line and we will soon lose those printers so if you want a set, you better order soon. If you can swing it, the magazines are really worth the price or you can join AH online and for the yearly fee get digital access to all the back issues for free. Cheers, Rob
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Hi, I currently own a confederate flag that I bought from an antiques dealer a decade ago. They told me it came from an old bannerman’s catalog. Wondering what magazines you currently sell have Alabama regiment flags in their contents. I could send a picture of the flag, just looking to find the provenance. Thanks, John - “johsepansk0” (ebay)
John, After leafing through hundreds of pages of BANNERMANcatalogs this is what I think you have. While Bannerman had a collection of "War Flags" they kept them as a permanent exhibit and stated from at least 1910 through the 30s that they were not for sale. On the other hand, they did offer reproductions of flags, including Civil War Flags. Page 307 of the 1936 catalog show some good examples. I bet that is what you have. Cheers, Rob
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RE:Winchester 1962 Firearms Catalog - Texas (or Arizona) Rangers Those men are indeed Arizona Rangers. When Winchester was informed of its mistake the president of Winchester traveled to Arizona and apologized. Forty-six Arizona Rangers hailed from Texas, and a quarter of them were former Texas Rangers. That explains your Texas Ranger. Jim from Tucson
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Hello. Just to know if you are shipping to Italy, and what I come to pay for a standard shipment. Thank you very much and greetings. Enrico.(ebay)
Hello Enrico. I am, sorry, we no longer ship outside the US through our eBay account. You would have to order through the website for that service. Cheers, Rob for cornellpubs
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Hello, I found your books on ebay, I am interested in these (23) books, can you do any better price on the group? I think the books total $427.85. Would you consider $300 shipped? thanks Malcolm George
Dear Mr. George, Thank you for your note. After hard experience and in consideration of the fees Ebay charges, we have learned to not discount our reprints sold on Ebay. Since you found our email address you have probably also found our website where we can offer you free shipping with such an order. But honestly, I would suggest you buy a few of our reprints so you can see how we prepare them. An initial order also gives you the opportunity to see the "quality" of the reproductions. I'll paste a link from our website discussing just that. We are also available to talk on the phone 9-6 Eastern time M-F.
about us.
Please don't take offense by what might seem to be a tough response to your kind offer, but after 15 years trying to please all the people all the time we have learned to be a bit more forthcoming in the early stages of a larger order. Cheers, Rob
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Hi Abby, I recently ordered theHibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. 1884 Gun Catalog (Chicago), I was hoping to find info on an old double barrel, hammered 12 gauge shot gun, but there is no info that I could find. Maybe you can help me identify the year. The side of receiver it has Gold Hibbard, and has a gold shield in bottom of stock, it has a octagon barrel for about 12" +or - then goes to round barrel the rest of the length.
Thank you, Ike
Hi Ike, I looked through some of our resources and cannot find such a shotgun. I'll put it in the newsletter next month and perhaps someone will recognize it. It does have an ejector so it isn't terribly early but the octagon to round barrel is distinctive. Rob
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(Dear Rob) Re: greener harpoon gun Item #1379. DOES THIS HAVE A PARTS DIAGRAM AND DISASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS my serial # on gun 536 thank you
Dear… No, it is more of an owner's manual for assembly, shooting and disassembly. Rob
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(Dear Rob) Re: Is it ok to keep bullets in a magazine for a extended time?
Dear… Ruins the spring over time.
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