by Charles Winthrop Sawyer - 1920/1921
This gentlemen gets down into the weeds on American rifles. It is almost gun for gun in the early years. The plates showing each as he describes them are as close to bringing them to life as possible. He visited some of these gunsmiths in the day. He handled pieces in private collections. He makes it very clear why there was an early "American" rifle and how it was properly distinguished from the German, Belgium. Spanish or Eastern rifles.
Since I do have a number of "early" Kentucky and or Pennsylvania rifles, a lot of what he describes helps me to way better understand what I am holding at any given time. A complete and classic volume if you are going to own, collect or just want a fine education on the how and why our rifles have evolved. Fascinating!