German Small Arms Markings From Authentic Sources by Joachim Gortz & Don L. Bryans Walsworth Publishing Company, 1997 Hardcover, 148 pages

Yes Virginia, there is a Holy Grail.  Or, perhaps more accurately, every niche of human endeavor has its own Grail, the one thing that ties all the loose ends together and makes sense of it all.  For the collector and historian of Imperial and Weimar German rifles and pistols, German Small Arms Markings From Authentic Sources by Joachim Gortz and Don L. Bryan is "it."

German Small Arms Markings is that rare bird in the universe of firearms reference books, original source material.  Gortz and Bryan have amassed the text of the original German "Vorschrift uber Stempeln der Handwaffen" or Small Arms Marking Instructions for the whole gamut of the Imperial and Weimar eras.  For example, the book includes (but is by no means limited to):

•  Prussian Printed Instruction No. 185 "Small Arms Marking Instructions," 1909
• Bavarian Printed Instruction No. 448 "Small Arms Marking Instructions," 1910
• Prussian Printed Instruction No. 298a "Instructions for Maintenance of Weapons at Troop Level for Units Armed with Rifles and Bayonets Model 98, Annex F: Marking of Small Arms and Cleaning Equipment, Engraving of Range Finders and Field Glasses," 1913
• Instruction for the Marking and Identification of Weapons and Equipment, Guidelines, 1922

More than mere translation, the book is lavishly illustrated.  Photographs and line drawings of not only the small arms, but units, soldiers in action, historic sites and such arcane but fascinating bits as a World War Two soldier's pay book serve to shed light on what are often dry and arcane regulations and give substance to them.

The marginal notes keep the book flowing and organized such that even the most unfamiliar are able to grasp the ideas and concepts.  At the same time, the veteran collector will find the book to be an invaluable resource in the identification and historical placement of many parts of his or her collection.

While perhaps a less philosophic strong point, but equally important, the book provides valuable knowledge that will assist the novice and veteran alike in not getting "taken" in shady deals involving forged or misrepresented pieces.

If you collect Imperial or Weimar small arms, or are merely interested in what is a most fascinating part of European history, you cannot afford to be without this book.
 

German Small Arms Markings is available from IDSA Books.  Click on the image to order:

 
 
 

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