Book Review: 101 Classic Firearms

by
posted on March 15, 2016
book.jpg

compilation of 101 articles written by author John Marshall over the years, 101 Classic Firearms moves forward in time through the course of its pages to provide readers with detailed histories and fascinating trivia concerning some of the most seminal and interesting firearms of the past 150 years. Focusing on what he calls the “Golden Years” of firearm development—the middle of the 19th century through the end of the 20th—Marshall takes his audience from the 1857 manufacture of the first U.S. Model 1855 Rifle Musket all the way to Heckler & Koch’s 1991 development of the Mk 23 Mod 0.

Along the way, Marshall covers all the heavy hitters of the gun world from this time period, while still saving more than a little space to shine some light on a few of history’s relatively obscure offerings. While a good portion of the book’s entries understandably center around the military arms that shaped the course of human events during the time period covered, no shortage of influential sporting guns are profiled within its pages, as well.

Each entry contains a detailed history of the development of the gun in question, how they work, and in many cases, how much a gun enthusiast can expect them to fetch on today’s market.

As the author himself points out, his inclusion of every gun that he might have wanted in this work would have “required a library rather than a book,” but Marshall effectively covers a lot of ground in 221 pages. And with entries possessing detailed, yet entertaining, information likely beyond the capacity of the average firearms lover to retain, 101 Classic Firearms is the kind of book that gun enthusiasts of all stripes will be interested in coming back to time and again. Price: $30. Contact Dillon Precision Products, Inc.; (800) 223-4570.

Latest

heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees
heavy machine gun crew with DShK on tripod pointing in air above trees

Red Fifty: The Soviet 12.7 mm DShK Heavy Machine Gun

While the Browning .50-cal. M2 machine gun has been unequaled for a century, John Moses Browning’s genius design has had one significant 12.7 mm competitor: the Soviet DShK.

Support The NRA Youth Education Summit (YES) On Giving Tuesday

With more than 1,200 students having graduated from the program and over $700,000 in scholarships awarded since 1996, NRA's YES is an immersive leadership program for high school students eager to learn about the foundations of our nation, the importance of civic engagement and the role of the Second Amendment.

Rifleman Review: Remington 360 Buckhammer

Remington Ammunition's 360 Buckhammer is a straight-wall hunting cartridge that's designed to give deer hunters an ideal round for their Midwestern hunt.

New For 2025: EAA Girsan Witness2311 Brat, Match and MatchX

European American Armory Corp. (EAA) introduced an affordable variation of the double-stack 1911 design with their Girsan Witness2311 in 2023, continually adding additional chamberings and slide length options. New for 2025, the company is adding three new versions of the Witness2311 with the Match, MatchX and Brat models.

Review: Citadel Trakr

At less than 4 lbs., this repeating rifle is easy on the back while also being extraordinarily easy on the budget.

Freedom Munitions To Move Ammo Component Production To Idaho

Freedom Munitions has announced it will be consolidating its projectile component production from X-Treme Bullets out of Nevada into its Lewiston, Idaho, facilities.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.