At some point in the not too distant future, I would like to convert an area of my basement to a somewhat traditional "Gun Room." In your mind you can envision stained wood cabinets, taxidermy, a gun rack of some size and sort, artifacts, and of course, gun books.

For reference, the majority of my time spent with guns is through hunting and just about everything I own is wood and blued steel. I have a decent selection of Browning firearms, double shotguns, and big game rifles. That said, I certainly have and use firearms for defensive purposes.

Currently, I am looking to acquire classic books for my library, both to display and read and I would love to hear recommendations on your favorite gun books, be they focused on hunting, Africa, sporting arms, defensive arms, inventors, dog training, etc.

Some ideas of things that I already have or that I'm interested in:
Robert Ruark: Horn of the Hunter, The Old Man and the Boy, Use Enough Gun
Peter Capstick: Death in the Long Grass
Hornady Reloading Handbook
Teddy Roosevelt books
Hemingway books
Havilah Babcock books
A River Runs Through It
JM Browning designs


Look forward to your suggestions!

Pretty much any of the Collector Grade Publications gun history books, or the newer Headstamp Publishing or Wet Dog Publishing gun books.

(Collector Grade is out of business/out of print now, so prices have risen, but you can sometimes find bargains in used bookstores or on eBay.)


Here's an older photo of a portion of my gun library.

The handloaders guide to cartridge conversions
Speer reloading manual
Lyman’s cast bullet loading manual
Cast bullets for beginners

I really don't have many but your including Ruark is terrific. I love his writing and have the ones you noted as well as a couple of his novels. I have some Hemingway and Capstick, too. I just passed some of my older fishing books on to a niece's husband, Kip Farrington's.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Pretty much any of the Collector Grade Publications gun history books, or the newer Headstamp Publishing or Wet Dog Publishing gun books.

(Collector Grade is out of business/out of print now, so prices have risen, but you can sometimes find bargains in used bookstores or on eBay.)


Here's an older photo of a portion of my gun library.

nice pile, I have many of those titles here at the shop, and that is maybe a 3rd of what we have here and at home,


was brought up with the mantra buy the book, then buy the rifle

I've seen enough of your posts over the years to make me think we have a fair amount in common. I think your initial list is great and I have most of those.

- I would add copies of Gene Hill's writings - leather-bound if you can find them.

- Roderick Haig-Brown was a wonderful outdoors writer...mainly fishing. I particularly like A River Never Sleeps

- Fishless Days, Angling Nights by Sparse Grey Hackle

- Nash Buckingham was another very popular outdoor writer from the '30's and '40's

- Stories Of The Old Duck Hunters by Gordon MacQuarrie is a wonderful collection of stories - some of my favorites

- Not exactly display worthy but if you want outdoor humor at its best, checkout Patrick McManus - Start with " A Fine and Pleasant Misery". I can still remember my dad sitting in the chair laughing while reading his books.

I was building a library of my own for a number of years. I stopped collecting a while back, but I still enjoy what I have. I'll scan my shelves when I get home and see if there might be some other I should recommend.

About twenty five years ago, there were ads in American Rifleman for a book of the month. A while later some kid from the NRA called and asked if I wanted to buy them. I said sure, he was so giddy, I heard him say "he's going to buy them!!". They are very nice leather bound books.
I have all the ones in this picture plus more for a total of 19. Do you ever get up to the Cincinnati area?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16691...tkp%3ABk9SR_Sb-_qqZA

Thanks everyone. Nice collection Rogue, though militaria is not in my wheelhouse.

Browndrake, I will check those out for sure.

Schmelby, thanks for the offer but I don't foresee Cincy in my future anytime soon.

Keep 'em coming.

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
About twenty five years ago, there were ads in American Rifleman for a book of the month. A while later some kid from the NRA called and asked if I wanted to buy them. I said sure, he was so giddy, I heard him say "he's going to buy them!!". They are very nice leather bound books.
I have all the ones in this picture plus more for a total of 19. Do you ever get up to the Cincinnati area?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16691...tkp%3ABk9SR_Sb-_qqZA

Anyone else?

Jeff Cooper founder of Gunsite has written several books including principles of personal defense.

Don't forget the Pat McManus collection.

What? No mention of "Hell, I was There".

@Rogue,

What does ARS Mechanica cover? Is it a must have book?

It's the history of FN Herstal (by FN itself). Not super in depth, it's more about big glossy promo photos. Akin to an extra large coffee table picture book.

Not a must-have. CDNN was clearancing them out for like $10 a few years back, so I grabbed it.

https://www.wetdogbooks.com/ars-mechanica-ultimate-fn

As mentioned: Cooper's Works, Elmer Kieth's Works, Anything Collectors Grade.

Vickers Guide to SIG and which ever other guns you like (wonderfull picture, good history bits)

For M16
The Great Rifle Controversy!
Misfire!

For terminal Balisitics:
Lagarde
Fackler
Hatcher's note book

For Colt
Seven Serpents

For Hunting Rifles,
Jack O'conner
Townsend Wheeler

For Training
Training at the Speed of life
Kyle Lamb's book (Black Rifle,Green Eyes and Staying in the Fight)

The NRA Mueum's picture book is nice one to look at.

YellowJacket, sent you pm.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
It's the history of FN Herstal (by FN itself). Not super in depth, it's more about big glossy promo photos. Akin to an extra large coffee table picture book.

Not a must-have. CDNN was clearancing them out for like $10 a few years back, so I grabbed it.

https://www.wetdogbooks.com/ars-mechanica-ultimate-fn

But do you happen to have a book about the history of cats on Naval vessels?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OttoSig, August 16, 2024 09:20 PM

As a matter of fact, I do!

Some weirdo I know sent it to me. Bless his heart... He means well.

quote:

Originally posted by CD228:
As mentioned: Cooper's Works, Elmer Kieth's Works, Anything Collectors Grade.

Vickers Guide to SIG and which ever other guns you like (wonderfull picture, good history bits)

For M16
The Great Rifle Controversy!
Misfire!

For terminal Balisitics:
Lagarde
Fackler
Hatcher's note book

For Colt
Seven Serpents

For Hunting Rifles,
Jack O'conner
Townsend Wheeler

For Training
Training at the Speed of life
Kyle Lamb's book (Black Rifle,Green Eyes and Staying in the Fight)

The NRA Mueum's picture book is nice one to look at.

add Dunlap and HAtcher to that list,


and a good one is Aftermath,

To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth