Book Review: The World’s Assault Rifles

posted on November 29, 2010
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
2010112915433-assault-rifles-book_f.jpg

Noted arms historian Thomas B. Nelson is considered a legend in the field of firearms in general and assault rifles in particular. After his military service, Nelson worked at Interarmco (later Interarms) for nine years. In 1963 he published the classic reference “The World’s Submachine Guns,” and in 1967 he co-authored the original volume of “The World’s Assault Rifles” with Dan Musgrave. He was the founder of Collector’s Armoury, Ltd.

In the four decades since the original edition of “The World’s Assault Rifles” was published, the market has seen exponential advancements in the design and development of these small arms. Now Nelson has teamed up with Gary Paul Johnston to revise this classic volume. Their painstaking research into classified archives, corporate and private collections, and military and museum arms all around the world brought forth a monumental body of research. From this wealth of data, the authors present 70 chapters comprising more than 1,200 pages of guns from more than 50 countries, fully illustrated with 2,000 photos and drawings.

Encompassing technical and design data starting from the early 1900s, as well as what is on the drawing boards for tomorrow, this encyclopedic volume covers every facet of assault rifle development. Just a few of the topics in this massive tome are World War II German developments, the insider story of the Stoner system, the candid behind-the-scenes story of USSR/Russian developments, and a look inside assault rifle production in China. Ten years in the making and priced at $70, this new edition of “The World’s Assault Rifles” will become the standard reference on assault rifles for decades to come.

Contact: Ironside Int’l Publishers; (800) 336-4572, ext. 11; www.ironsidepub.com.

Latest

Freedom Ordnance FM9D 1
Freedom Ordnance FM9D 1

Review: Freedom Ordnance FM-9D

New small arms with groundbreaking designs are rare in an industry where new products tend to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Fortunately, Freedom Ordnance marches to the beat of a different drum and invested its creative energy into developing the unique, innovative FM-9D. 

Number of Retail FFLs Dwindling

The number of retail outlets with an FFL Type 01 license to sell firearms has declined by more than 13 percent in just the last five years.

Ammunition Depot and NRA Partner to Expand Support for Second Amendment Litigation

The NRA has invested more than $3 million in California Second Amendment litigation since 2021 and has provided support for Rhode v. Bonta; Ammunition Depot is launching a checkout donation option to help fund ongoing legal efforts.

The Murdoch & Co. EM85: An SA80 for America

Most modern service rifles are sold in the U.S. in semi-automatic form. There is one glaring exception, and that is the British L85. Murdoch & Co., an American company, is changing that reality with its EM85.

I Have This Old Gun: The British Brown Bess

One of the most iconic military longarms ever made, the British Land Pattern musket, more commonly known as the "Brown Bess," equipped British infantrymen across the world for more than a century.

Rifleman Interview: CCI Rimfire Ammunition

CCI’s rimfire offerings were part of the Plinkapalooza event in May.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.