doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Books on Guns

I don't know if you have all noticed but a number of good books have been released recently. I have read the following and can recommend them:

Best of British by Vic Venters & David Grant

Gun Craft by Vic Venters

Paradox by Roger Lake & David Baker

Magnificent Madness by Donald Dallas

We are spoiled these days for quality written work on our favourite subject. So if you have a birthday coming up - tell the kids/wife/dog to get you these. Many hours of interesting and informative reading there.

Has anyone read either of these books: Best of British by Vic Venters & David Grant or Gun Craft by Vic Venters?

If you have, what are their focuses - gunmaking, technical stuff, etc? Or are high-level, gunmaker history stuff?

Thanks

OWD

waiting for Best of British to be delivered. I'll post as soon as I can look it over.

Best of British is gun porn - D. Grant has gun photography down to a science while Vic provides the model's stats. There's some trade and gunmaker detail scattered throughout and in the appendix. I have this book on the coffee table next to a big comfy chair, because it's always fun to page through - even for non-gun lovers. Don't get me wrong, I love the book (and it's not so over the top like British Gun Engraving) I just don't keep it in the library as a gun reference.

Gun Craft is the opposite of the above. Good history and lots of technical explanation combined with some fine photos, for reference. You gotta love the science and art of fine shotguns to have this book. I read it twice last week and have dog-eared pages for reference.

I don't have a lot of intrest in the Paradox guns so I can't help much there.

Madness is a sad but very interesting "you can't make this stuff up' kinda book. Poor ol' Gordon was more than a little off center, but the man had a passion for collecting guns - and a lot of other expensive stuff.

I'll still take Vintage Guns for the Modern Shot over all of 'em.

All these books I have in my library and enjoy thoroughly. I find that most of Dallas's and Vic's books are very informative and entertaining. Especially "Gun Craft" and "Magnificent Madness" and Don's "The Best of British Sporting Gun and Rifle" which feature some of my better guns and photography. Sorry for "blowing my own horn"

Got all except the Paradox book. It was reviewed recently. Smallbore, do you know if it is available generally or only from Hollands? David Baker was supposed to be bringing out Volume III of his work on British guns but I have not yet heard anything. Anyway, when is your book on boxlocks going to appear? Lagopus.....

you can get the Paradox book direct from David Baker. I think Vol. III of The British Shotgun will come out pretty soon.

The boxlock book - a third is written but I have been quite busy and finding the time and energy to get on with it has been hard. They always say the first one is easy - I admire Don, David and Vic for the amount of work they are able to produce! I struggle to do an article a month for Sporting Shooter and a couple a year for Double Gun Journal.

Thanks. I have no contact details for David Baker other than via a shooting magazine. Do you have any details? Thanks. Lagopus.....

Here's the easiest way to get David or Roger:

http://www.tavee.us/ParadoxHorsleySite/ParadoxHorsley.html

Thanks. Lagopus.....