The internet is a great resource for doing research, but I also love the feel of a real book in the hand, flipping through pages and looking at nice glossy photographs. I think the ultimate gun room has a fireplace in the corner, a wall of prized rifles, and at least one wall of bookshelves. We review books regularly here at Forgotten Weapons, and keep a running catalog of book we mention on the blog. From here you can see our reviews and link to Amazon to purchase any books that you need to add to your own shelves. If you have written a book not in our catalog, please drop us a line and we’d be happy to add a review of it!

General Reference

The Book of Rifles, by W.H.B. Smith and Joseph E. Smith – Our Review – Buy it!

Sub-Machine Gun, by Maxim Popenker and Anthony G. Williams – Our Review – Buy it!

Textbook of Automatic Pistols, by R. K. Wilson – Our Review – Buy it!

The Evolution of Automatic Pistols, by Gordon Bruce – Our Review – Buy it!

Bolt Action Military Rifles of the World, by Stuart C. Mowbray and Joe Puleo – Our Review – Buy it!

The World’s Assault Rifles, by Gary Paul Johnston and Thomas B. Nelson – Our Review – Buy Hardcover! – Buy Kindle!

Hatcher’s Notebook, by Maj. Gen. Julian S. Hatcher – Our Review – Buy it!

Aircraft Guns

Flying Guns of World War I, by Anthony G. Williams and Dr. Emmanuel Gustin – Our Review – Buy it!

World War I

A Rifleman Went to War, by Herbert W. McBride – Our Review – Buy it!

Specific Countries

Austria

Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun, by Paul Barrett – Our Review – Buy it!

Mannlicher Military Rifles, by Paul S. Scarlata – Our Review – Buy it!

England / UK

The Sterling Years: Small Arms and the Men, by James Edmiston – Our Review – Buy it!

France

Military Handguns of France, by Eugene Medlin and Jean Huon – Our Review – Buy it!

Proud Promise: French Autoloading Rifles 1898-1979, by Jean Huon – Mentioned here – Buy it!

Germany

The Gew. 88 “Commission” Rifle, by Paul Scarlata – Our Review – Buy it!

Hitler’s Garands, by W. Darrin Weaver – Our Review – Buy it!

Death From Above: The German FG42 Paratroop Rifle by Thomas B Dugelby and R Blake Stevens – Our Review – Buy it!

Israel

Builders and Dreamers: Habonim Labor Zionist Youth in North America, by J.J. Goldberg and Elliot King – Mentioned here – Buy it!

Japan

Japanese Rifles of World War II, by Duncan McCollum – Our Review – Buy it!

Collector’s Guide to Imperial Japanese Handguns 1893-1945, by James D. Brown (the short version) – Our Review – Buy it!

Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893-1945, by Harry L. Derby III and James D. Brown (the big encyclopedia!) – Our Review – Buy it!

Japanese Submachine Guns, by William Easterly – Our Review – (see review for purchase information)

Mexico

Mexican Military Arms: The Cartridge Period 1866-1967, by James Hughes – Our Review – Buy it!

Nepal

Treasure is Where You Find It, by Christian Cranmer – Our Review – Buy it!

DVD – Treasure is Where You Find It – Our Review – Sample clip – Buy it!

Guns of the Ghurkas, by John Walter – Our Review – Buy it!

Russia / USSR

AK47: The Grim Reaper, by Frank Iannamico – Our Review – Buy it! (not available on Amazon)

The Mosin Nagant Rifle, by Terence W. Lapin – Our Review – Buy it!

Collector’s Guide to Tokarev Pistols, by John Remling – Our Review – (currently out of print)

United States

A Collector’s Guide to the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine, by Bruce Canfield – Our Review – Buy it!

Belgian Rattlesnake – The Lewis Automatic Machine Gun, by William M. Easterly – Mentioned here – Buy it!

Hatcher’s Book of the Garand, by Julian S. Hatcher – Mentioned here – Buy it!

War Baby! The US Caliber .30 Carbine, by Larry L. Ruth – Mentioned here – Buy it!

The Springfield 1903 Rifles, by Lt. Col. William S. Brophy – Our Review – Buy it!

The ’03 Springfields, by Clark S. Campbell – Our Review – Buy it!

Illustrated Guide to the ’03 Springfield Service Rifle, by Bruce N. Canfield – Our Review – Buy it!

Biographies

Blood Brothers: Hiram and Hudson Maxim – Pioneers of Modern Warfare, by Iain McCallum – Our Review – Buy it!

The Sterling Years, by James Edmiston – Our Review – Buy it!

Fiction

A Sailor of Austria (The Otto Prohaska Novels), by John Biggins – Mentioned here – Buy it!

Pale Horse Coming, by Stephen Hunter – Our Review – Buy it!