Vickers Guide: WWII Germany Vol I

• ISBN 978-0-9965032-3-5
• vickersguide.com
• 360 pages
• 13”x11” (approx.)
• Mott Lake Publishing
• P O Box 158294 Nashville, TN 37215
• mottlake.com

Vickers Guide: AK Kalashnikov Vol I

• ISBN 978-0-9965032-4-2
• vickersguide.com
• 360 pages
• 13”x11” (approx.)
• Mott Lake Publishing
• P O Box 158294 Nashville, TN 37215
• mottlake.com

As a lover of fine military books, I was immediately impressed by these wonderful books. They are everything that a premium quality, collector-grade coffee table book should be, without the “fluff.” Often, a book with great photos lacks technical expertise, simply relying on the photos to carry it. This most certainly is not the case with the Vickers Guide series. Author Larry Vickers definitely knows his stuff, as the list of his military and civilian awards and certifications attest.

Currently, there are five titles in the Vickers Guide series. In order of release, these are: 1911; AR-15, Vol. I; AR-15, Vol. II; WWII Germany, Vol. I; and AK Kalashnikov, Vol. I. This review will cover the two most recent titles.

Each title is available in three different versions or editions, these being the Standard, Signature and Limited Editions. The Signature Edition is hand-signed by Larry Vickers. The Limited Edition of each title is also hand-signed by Vickers, along with a personal handwritten message of your choosing. This numbered series is limited to 250 books (a mere 100 copies for the 1911 title).

Unfortunately, the vickersguide.com website now shows that all three versions of the AR-15 Vol. I are sold out. However, it also mentions the 1911 Standard Edition has been reprinted, so perhaps the AR book will be also.

These are large format books, measuring 13 inches wide, by 11 inches tall. And many of the photographs span across two pages, so the image is 26inx11in. The books are printed on premium quality paper, so the photos really pop. Each page feels a bit heavier than a typical page from other books. A nice touch is a ribbon page marker that is sewn into the binding. Not a huge deal, but it does add another touch of refinement to an already fine work.

Speaking of photography, the images featured are stunning. Photographer James Ripley has created a series of beautiful photos. The photos are studio quality images, more like high-end product photography than the usual distant, hard-to-make-out action shots in many books. Each photo is taken against a white background and is properly lit to avoid glare to bring out the finest details. Additional photography of mainly uniforms and other militaria was supplied by Jeff Demers for the WWII Germany Vol. I book.

Naturally, quality of this level does not come cheap. Starting at $95 for the Standard Edition (Signature Edition is $125, and the Limited Edition is $200), this is a big purchase for many people. However, books of this quality level do tend to increase in value once they are out of print. A quick browse on Amazon for other books of similar quality confirms this. Perhaps, if someone is having difficulty finding a suitable gift for you, a fine book is in order.

WWII Germany, Vol. I examines handguns, submachine guns, the K98k infantry rifle and sniper rifles. (The soon to be released Vol. II will cover semiauto rifles, select-fire rifles, belt-fed machine guns and “Last Ditch” weapons.)

The book begins with a sombre dedication to those lives lost due to WWII and the evil of the Third Reich. Vickers and Rupley want to be perfectly clear that displaying firearms and other historic militaria containing Swastikas and Nazi eagles does NOT imply any sort of support for such an evil regime.

The P08 Luger leads the collection of arms featured. Several fine specimens are displayed, representing different manufacturers, branches of service, grip types, etc., and then the P38, followed by foreign pistols put into German service.

Machine pistols and submachine guns pro-file some of the early attempts to create a practical SMG, culminating with the iconic MP38 and MP40 designs. The Soviet PPSh-41 is also discussed, due to so many being captured and put into German service.

The section on bolt-action rifles opens with a .22 rimfire training rifle, along with an article by guest author Robert Simpson explaining how the German military pulled a fast one on international inspectors. At the end of the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles put limits in place to prevent Germany from re-arming. By making “commercial sporting target” rifles, Germany was able to rebuild her arms industry and offer marksmanship training to huge numbers of men prior to WWII.
The K98k infantry rifle is studied in detail, comparing specimens from pre-war, early-war and late-war. Ian McCollum, of Forgotten Weapons fame, wrote a detailed essay on this subject. He contributed several articles, including a piece about waffenamts and proof marks.

Sniper rifles based upon the K98k are given a separate section. Also included is a look at Soviet sniper rifles. As with the PPSh-41 mentioned above, the rationale is that so many rifles were captured and used, it is valid to include the Mosin-Nagant as German equipment.

AK Kalashnikov Vol. I deals exclusively with the 7.62×39 caliber AK rifles, so we can probably expect a second volume on 5.45×39 in the future. In this first volume, the AK series is covered, from the earliest AK-47, up to the modern AK-203 and AK-15 variants. (It is worth noting that guest author, N.R. Jenzen-Jones, Director at Armament Research Services, points out that the name AK-47 actually only applies to the early “trials” guns, prototypes that took part in the selection process. The production service rifles are correctly named “AK” only, followed by the “AKM.”)

Speaking of the true AK-47 trials guns, the authors were given access to two early trials guns; one fixed stock and one underfolder. Again, Rupley was able to use his masterful photography skills to capture details of these rare items. Also featured is a gun presented to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
Several guest authors contributed articles on specific subjects. Ian McCollum wrote a piece on the progression of the Type 1, 2 and 3 receiver differences. He also contributed an article comparing and contrasting the German Sturmgewehr to the AK design. Maxim Popen-ker, founder of worldguns.ru wrote about the influence German designers may or may not have had on the AK. (He believes the German influence was minimal.) Rob Stott, publisher of the AK-47 Catalog Volume I, covered Type 2 production, as well as Chinese factory codes.

After covering the USSR and Russian models, the many foreign-produced variants are examined. Countries covered include Albania, Bulgaria, China, DDR (East Germany), Egypt, Hungary, Iraq, North Korea, Pakistan (Khyber Pass knock-offs), Poland, Romania, Vietnam and former Yugoslavia. There are many small but significant differences in these various models, detailed both in text and photos.

Several pages are given to cover the many variants of magazines fielded over the years, both Soviet and foreign. Guest author Brandon LeLeux wrote a three-page history of AK mags, describing steel, aluminum and polymer types, followed by five pages of comparison photos.

Based on the two titles I have seen, I predict great success for this series. And I hope the authors continue to add more books. Using the same format for WWII-era U.S., British Commonwealth and Soviet arms would make an amazing collection.

This is another high-quality book from Schiffer Publishing. American Breechloading Mobile Artillery 1875-1953, by Williford and Batha describes U.S. artillery from shortly after the American Civil War up to the Korean War.

Following the Civil War, America had plenty of muzzle loading cannon, but no breech loading artillery. The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 showed the importance of breech loading guns. The first attempt at a breech loader was actually a conversion of the Civil War-era Model 1861 3-inch ordnance rifle. This gun, essentially a trials gun with only six being made, is covered in The First New Breechloaders chapter.

The book is broken into chapters based on gun types presented in approximately chronological order. Typical chapters are Mountain Guns, Pre-War Heavy Artillery, First World War 75mm Field Artillery, Pack Howitzers, and Anti-Tank Guns. At the beginning of each chapter is a brief rundown of the characteristics of each class of weapons. The book does not contain anything on fixed coastal guns or anti-aircraft cannons. It also does not cover self-propelled guns or rocket artillery. This is by choice, presumably in order to keep the book to a reasonable size. For the same reason, it does not cover mortars, recoilless rifles, etc.

Each model of gun is given two pages and generally includes a history of its development and use in combat, along with a side view line drawing, period photos and a current photo of a surviving piece.

A list of factories that produced cannons or carriages is also included. This is divided into Government Facilities, Private Facilities, and Foreign Facilities. This last group is mainly Canadian, British, and French companies. Each company is given a brief history of its production of artillery pieces. Over the years, there have been a surprising number of firms doing so.

Well written, logically arranged, and featuring an interesting selection of old photos, this title covers the topic perfectly.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Title: American Breechloading Mobile Artillery 1875-1953: An Illustrated Identification Guide
• Author: Glen M. Williford with Thomas D. Batha
• ISBN: 978-0-7643-5049-8
• Copyright: 2016
• Binding: Hardcover with matching dust jacket
• Size: 8.5 x11in
• Pages: 232 pages
• Photos: 257 B&W photos
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
• Website: schifferbooks.com
• MSRP: $50

Author Anthony Vanderlinden has definitely set a high standard for firearms reference books with his latest release. One glance at the new expanded two-volume set of books titled FN Browning Pistols, Sidearms That Shaped World History is enough to see this has been a true labor of love for Vanderlinden.

Vanderlinden’s publishing company, Wet Dog Publications, has rightfully earned a solid reputation for high quality books on arms related to the FN firm. I have previously reviewed books covering FN Mauser rifles, the FN-49 rifle, the Polish VIS Radom pistol, and the earlier 2^nd edition of FN Browning pistols. (This second edition was reviewed in V21N3, April 2017.)  All these have been fine books, combining solid research with beautiful photography and layout. And yet, this new third edition goes above and beyond even Wet Dog’s high standards.

With the third edition having over double the material as compared to the second edition, it should come at no surprise that each book is oversize at 9.25 x 12.25 inches (235 x 310mm). The total page count is 840 pages. It also features 2790 color and period (B&W) photos.

Upon opening, the first thing you notice is that the pages are color-coded. The chapters are broken down by color, and the top of each page is colored accordingly.

Volume I begins with a long detailed section on history, then biographies of important people tied to FN, followed by production, sales network, and accessories.

Volume II covers the pistols themselves, with chapters on John M. Browning prototypes, the Models 1899, 1900, 1903, 1907, 1905, 1910, 1910 Grand Browning, 1922, Baby Browning, Le Grand Rendement (High Efficiency), High Power, the 100 Series, and an Engraving Gallery. The entire table of contents is repeated in both volumes. The page numbering runs continuously through both volumes, as does the color-coded pages.

Chapter 1 delves into the rich history of gun-making in Liege, Belgium, the Industrial Revolution as it applied to Liege, and the formation of FN to build the 1889 Mauser rifle under licence. During the early years, FN also built bicycles, motorcycles, and cars, as well. This is all documented in detail. The Sarajevo Affair covers the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Duchess Sophie Chotek that caused WWI. The pistol that the killer used was an FN Browning Model 1910.

Following this, chapter 1B covers The Great War: 1914-1918. Chapter 1C looks at the interwar years in Interbellum: 1919-1940. More cars, motorcycles, and even buses and typewriters are mentioned. Of course, small arms are covered, as are licence-built Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft cannons. Additional sub-chapters cover WWII including the takeover of the factory by the German army, the liberation of the factory in late 1944, and the postwar era. The entire History chapter is approximately 140 pages and covers a lot of ground.

Starting with master firearms designer John M. Browning, chapter 2 introduces us to various members of the FN team. Besides Browning’s son Val Browning, and assistant Dieudonne Saive, others such as Felix Funken, head of the engraving shop, and Auguste Benard, the artist behind much of the advertising posters and catalogs are introduced.

Chapter 3, Proofs and Markings, is a short, just 16 pages, but detailed look at proof marks, acceptance marks, and German occupation marks. Before spending a lot on a pistol, a thorough study of markings would be a very good idea.

Next is FN Production Processes. This is broken down into finishes, slide legends, serial and contract numbers, production years by model and serial number, and grips. There are many varieties of grips shown in full color, and quite a few have a counterfeit alert notation along side. Forgeries exist! Be warned.

Chapter 5, FN’s Sales Network, starts with the participation of FN in various World’s Fairs in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These fairs were a great way for companies and countries to show off their products. The book features a wonderful assortment of old sepia tone (B&W with a brown tinge) photos of FN-built cars, bikes, motorcycles, and pistols. Also shown are various presentation gifts like keychains and gold-plated cufflinks with small pistols attached, ashtrays and matches with the FN logo… and even cigars!

Volume I ends with Chapter 6, Accessories. This is broken down to include prewar FN catalogs, manuals, factory boxes, factory presentation cases, magazines, tools and cleaning rods, shoulder-stocks, pocket holsters, and finally belt and shoulder holsters. This section has an astonishing number of items featured, enough to make serious FN collectors envious.

Volume II is entirely focused on the firearms. Chapter 7 examines the prototypes of JMB. Many of these hand-made guns can be seen at the John M. Browning Firearms Museum in Ogden, UT. (While this book deals with entirely pistols, the museum also displays long arms and several early full autos as well.)

I found it amazing that the earliest of these early prototypes (1894 dated) is fast approaching 130 years old. Over a dozen models are shown, most photographed from three views (left, right, and top). (A few models have an extra close-up view of a particular detail). All are arranged in chronological order. This is to allow you to see the progression of improvements through the years. Unfortunately, none are disassembled to show the innards.

The following chapters discuss the development process, serial number sequences, various slide markings, international orders, and many other points of interest relating to the many models of pistols produced over the years.

A nice idea that has been included is a “see also” notation that directs you to various accessories, etc. I think of this as a manual “hotlink.”

The High Power chapter, at just over 100 pages is divided into three sub-chapters. These are prewar, Wartime, and Postwar. Incidentally, there is a sidebar that clarifies the correct terminology of the High Power. Belgian FN made, and Canadian made John Inglis marked pistols are always spelled High. Only the post-war American made, by Browning Arms Company are marked Hi-Power.

At first, I was surprised to note that there is almost nothing on the Colt M1911. However, this does make sense as the main subject is FN Browning, not Colt products. There is a chapter on the FN Modéle 1910 Grand Browning, however, which is the immediate predecessor to the M1911.  

The final chapter is a gallery of finely engraved pistols. There are some fantastic examples of the engraver’s art shown. These are often factory presentation models or sales samples. Many have either ivory or mother-of-pearl grips, and several have gold inlay. This looks very impressive when contrasted against deep dark blueing.  

As I have noted in previous reviews, all of Wet Dog’s titles are proudly printed and bound in the United States. Vanderlinden feels very strongly about this, even if it does add to the cost. Speaking of cost, yes, this set is certainly is getting up in price. However, it must be noted that high quality, limited printing reference books hold their value and often gain value once they sell out. A look online for other respected gun books shows they often double or even triple in cost. As well, by consulting this book prior to buying an expensive firearm or accessory, you might well avoid the pain of getting burned by a forgery. This may well pay for this set right there.

If you are fan of FN guns, especially sidearms, this 2-volume set is HIGHLY recommended.

Final thoughts… With the closing down of Collector Grade Publications in early 2022, their 3-volume set on the FN-FAL rifle is not likely to be reprinted. It is my hope that Wet Dog will consider filling the void and publish a top quality, highly researched book about the FAL rifle.