Rifleman Q&A: Out-Of-Print Sources

by
posted on February 13, 2024
** 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. **
firearm magazines

Q. I have noticed that your writers of vintage firearms often refer to rare or obsolete catalogs in their articles. Not all of us have access to such a vast, and I assume, expensive, library of reference books. Is there an affordable way to obtain information as well as out-of-print catalogs on vintage guns such as Winchester, Colt, Marlin, L.C. Smith, etc.?


A. I can empathize with your frustration. After all, part of the allure of owning vintage firearms is knowing their history, what they cost when new and what special-order options were available. Much of this information can be found in older catalogs that were contemporary with the guns. But, as you noted, the original catalogs have become expensive and hard-to-find, and many are very collectable. There are some readily obtainable resources, however, for information on older firearms, including:

The NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va., has more than 2,500 firearms on display. By logging on to its website and clicking on “Guns,” you can find information on individual firearms spanning the centuries.

Another great source is the online Blue Book Of Gun Values, which lists practically every conceivable firearm by manufacturer, model and variation. A printed version of the Blue Book Of Gun Values, available for $60 at bluebookofgunvalues.com/shop, contains the same information but also provides approximate values. An updated edition is printed annually, and I often refer to it.

If you’re seeking detailed information on specific firearms, Mowbray Publishing has a wide selection of books on topics ranging from antique guns to modern battlefield firearms.

And, finally, if you want actual reprints of older gun catalogs, there is no better source than Cornell Publications, a mail-order repository of more than 6,000 firearms catalogs, books and manuals spanning the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Their reprints are available for a fraction of the cost of the originals.

—Rick Hacker, Field Editor

Latest

Making Keltec Pr57 1
Making Keltec Pr57 1

Making The KelTec PR57 In Wyoming

To make its PR57 handgun, KelTec invested in an entirely new manufacturing facility located in Rock Springs, Wyo. "American Rifleman Television" headed out for an inside look at the company's efficient production process.

Taurus 66 Combat: A New "Fighting Revolver"

First introduced in the 1970s, the Taurus 66 Combat is a medium-frame revolver that has seen several evolutions in its lifetime, and the latest update creates what the company considers "the final word in fighting revolvers."

Review: Taurus GX2

From cars to cellphones, as a product gets more sophisticated, it usually also gets more expensive. And, as modern handguns get more modular and optic-ready, their prices tend to go up.

Rifleman Q&A: A Garand Puzzlement

"We are a father-and-son NRA member tandem in search of an answer regarding the branding of an M1 Garand rifle. We own an M1 rifle that has markings indicating it was a “lend lease to England,” and it also has a .308 barrel/sleeve."

$160K Raised For HAVA At SIG Sauer Event

SIG Sauer hosted its 9th Annual Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) Charity Golf event early last month and raised more than $160,000 to support disabled veterans.

Scout The Trail To A General Purpose Rifle

The search for a universal longarm—one suitable for both hunting and defensive scenarios—is a trek that involves a bit of doubling back.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.