For the serious student of firearms accurate and comprehensive works on the weapons in question are a must. When it comes to “accurate and comprehensive” Collector Grade Publications leads the way. All the other works from this publishing house have been most impressive in their content. This latest offering is no exception, it is superbly researched, written, and illustrated.

Covering the Browning Automatic Rifle, Mr. Ballou offers a comprehensive in-depth look at the B.A.R. from concept to current semi-auto copies. Starting with John Moses Browning himself, the book slowly unwinds this devastating gun’s long history. From gearing up for World War I, into the trenches, post war development, gangster use during the Roaring 20’s, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam this book covers it all. It offers a looks at the weapon itself in all its different models and variations along with their ancillary gear. The changes made over time to “improve” the B.A.R. as it gained weight are well documented. But this book offers much more than that. It offers substantial insight into the men who carried, fought with, and sometimes died with the B.A.R.. Combat reports abound, as do comments by users about what they thought of the weapon, and how quickly they tossed the bipod into the nearest ditch. Foreign variations are not ignored, and even models for the Police and FBI are covered, as are modifications performed by such notorious criminals as Clyde Barrows.

To be frank, $80 is a lot of cash for a book. However this is not your run of the mill firearms book. Extremely well illustrated it covers the B.A.R. from A to Z. If you want information on the Browning Automatic Rifle, this is your one stop shopping. I highly recommend this work, the amount of research that went into putting it together must have been staggering. If you love B.A.R.’s you’ll love this book.

1900 Luger, US Test Trials
By Michael Reese II
Published by Pioneer Press
Union City, Tennessee 38261
Library of Congress # 71-117532
Price $6.00 plus $4.50 shipping and handling
105 pages
Reviewed by Stephen Stuart

One of the most sought after variations of the Luger handgun is the 1901 US test specimens. Early in the spring of 1901 two test Lugers were bought and tested through the United States Board of Ordnance and Fortifications under Lieutenant Colonel Frank H. Phipps. After an initial test of these two pistols, he ordered a field trial to be conducted. This field trial would include a thousand model 1900 pistols, 200,000 round of ammunition and extra magazines. The first shipment arrived in October 1901.

This test trial of the Luger handgun came up with mixed results. Some commands like the pistol, others did not. These trials proceeded until finally DWM, the manufacturer of the Luger handgun stopped the trials. Some arms historians have pondered the question why they stopped the trials. Many believe that DWM would no longer put up with the requests of the US Ordnance Department. Still some say it was because DWM knew that the Luger was going to be accepted by the German Military in large numbers. In Mr. Reese’s book, 1900 Luger, he provides insight into the trials of the 1900 Luger by providing the test results of these pistols for the reader to discern what is fact and fiction. Included in the test are photos of actual surviving specimens and some of the holsters specially produced for them by Rock Island Arsenal.

Even though the photos are sometimes of poor quality and the Xeroxing of documents are a little fuzzy, the book as a whole is well worth the six bucks. It gives the reader insight into the minds of the Luger testers almost ninety years ago in their own words. It is also a wonderful piece of reference by providing the serial numbers of all the pieces actually tested. Even with some of the problems in printing I found this a worthy edition to my reference library.

The Official Soviet 7.62 mm Handgun Manual
Translation by
Major James F. Gebhardt,
U.S. Army (Ret.)
Paladin Press
P.O. Box 1307
Boulder, CO 80306
1-800-392-2400
ISBN 0-87364-907-9
$20.00 plus S&H
104 pp
Reviewed by David M. Fortier

Underneath the title it says “Instructions for use and maintenance of the Nagant 7.62 mm Revolver Type 1895 and the Tokarev 7.62 mm Semi-Automatic Pistol Type 1933” and that’s exactly what this book is. Here is a translation of the original Soviet handgun manual for these two combat pistols. The Nagant served from its adoption in 1895 to the end of the Great Patriotic War in front line Soviet service. The Tokarev served from its adoption in 1930, through its simplification in 1933, until it was replaced by the PM Makarov in the early 1950’s. Like all Soviet weapons these two handguns earned a reputation for being tough and reliable no matter the abuse they were subjected to.

Now with large quantities of these handguns in the United States there is an English translation of the Soviet manual available to the American shooter. Piece by piece identification and explanation of each parts function is given. Step by step disassembly and then assembly of the Nagant and Tokarev is given. Trouble shooting and repair work is taught. Accessories and cleaning equipment are covered, as well as ammunition. The Soviet military method of sighting the weapons in is detailed, as well as cleaning, and maintenance. The deployment of the handguns in combat is explained, not only with and without the use of cover, but even from horseback!

Anyone who owns a Nagant or Tokarev will find this manual informative and useful. The drawings (original Soviet)are excellent. The translation is extremely good and reads perfectly. Now you can have the information directly from the source on how to use and maintain your Nagant or Tokarev pistol.

By James L. Ballou

My book is finished, five years and a host of friends have produced a 500-page tome that I hope will be well received by my friends and colleagues. Rock in a Hard Place, the story of the Browning Automatic Rifle can be found on the bookshelves and is available from the usual sources. There is a list of 150 people that contributed to my book, but I would like to thank all who contributed materials and support to my work.

Contrary to my opening sentence, my research is not finished, it is still a work in progress.

Many questions remained unanswered, and whole sections are missing. The sad thing is much valuable historical material has been destroyed or ignored by the companies involved. There is a dearth of material on Royal TypeWriter who produced 61,000 BAR’s during the Korean War. Why were some BAR’s marked BOSTICH? The best I could find was that BOSTICH was a division of Stanley Tool who made magazines and bolt parts. Did they recondition some BAR’s or did they subcontract receivers? I still would like to answer these questions.

So I am appealing to you RKI’s out there to fill in the blanks. I had a 20th Chapter in my manuscript called “Number Games” where I tried to establish the serial number ranges of all six major manufactures. Accounting for overlapping and large gaps from over two hundred examples, I tried to establish the ranges from extrapolation.

A couple of ground rules. Serial number one has no validity as everyone produced one. Note that Colt started at 12,701. Often there will be overlapping and a suffix will be added. Next, anything ending in 000 will probably be a special piece reserved for presentation.

I am enclosing my estimation of the serial number assignment, in the hopes that you, my friends, will clarify and solidify the list.

One personal mystery I would like answered, is why was the leather scabbard produced to accommodate the BAR without the bipod and how was it mounted in a vehicle?

It is up to you, “The precious remnants” of the “greatest generation” to answer these enigmas. My book was written not only to record the saga of the BAR, but also to pay homage to the brave men who used the BAR to make the world “safe for democracy”.

Researching the caliber’s of the BAR produced some rather interesting results. The 280/30 story of the British assault weapon cartridge is well documented in my book. Not mentioned is the startling find by Stan Andrewski of a 7.62 x 39 Belgian BAR. Also, not mentioned from Brophy’s book on Marlin Firearms is a special .22 caliber training BAR produced and state by the US Marine Corp. This was a fully automatic .22 Long Rifle in BAR configuration demonstrated in August of 1956 by Tom Robinson at Quantico, Virginia. Though not adopted, it was a great idea.

Finally, Professor Ed Libby, who offers a unique insight into this controversy, mentions the Japanese BAR in 6.5mm or 7.mm.

The truth often comes out of controversy. I eagerly seek comments, objections and additions.

James L. Ballou
90 Lafayette Rd.
Salisbury, MA 01952
978-465-5561
jimballou@hotmail.com

THE SECRET OF THE ROCK

I first wrote about the BAR for the old Machine Gun News in 1996, “The B.A.R.: USA’s First S.A.W.” I stated, “In its initial conception, the BAR fired from the closed bolt, and ejected from the top.” Though I was skeptical, I dutifully reported this fact. Many questions troubled my mind; I could not see how the firing pin could be struck after the bolt was closed. Many years went by as I researched the book, Rock in a Hard Place. I consulted all of the greatest minds in the business to no avail. Then, I presented the problem to Bill Vallerand whom I describe as “our national treasure.” Bill has forgotten more about BAR’s than I will ever know when I “wrote the book on them.” He was as baffled as I was.

So, like any good reporter we must go to the source. I spoke to the one man who had access to the primary source, the prototype, Mr. Byron L. Lewis of the Union Station Depot, Browning Museum in Ogden, Utah. This was the “Mother Lode.” He was able to remove the Number 1 gun from its display case and lay hands on the “Holy Grail.” His superiors would not let him detail strip the gun, more the pity. In an historic phone call, I spoke to Byron as he handled the very rifle. Three times he pulled the operating handle back and the bolt would not stay back. Then I asked him to pull the trigger. A loud “click” ensued. The hammer now hit the firing pin! The number one prototype fired from the closed bolt.

The mystery and secret still remained hidden; how did John Browning get the mechanical delay necessary to strike the firing pin?

The book was published and I eagerly awaited Bill Vallerand’s call to hear his reaction. “Gooood!” was his reply and we went over it page by page looking for mistakes.

I then directed him to page 135, figure 149. It then struck me like a lightening bolt! The operating slide is in two parts and the hammer has a slot and not a hole. There are two distinct movements of the parts of the operating slide. This is the secret of the ROCK.

This Aberdeen Proving Ground photo supplied by Robert W. Faris dated August 23, 1938 must be an experimental closed bolt-firing B.A.R. based upon John Browning’s original prototype.