Favorite Authors - George C. Nonte, Jr.

Some people wouldn't consider a non-fiction writer as a favorite. They might point to Stephen King or James Patterson or some purveyor of the romantic pot boiler but I have different tastes. No, I'm not alone. There are many out there who count among their favorite authors, Elmer Keith, John Taffin, Jack O'Connor, Charles Askins, Skeeter Skelton, Jim Wilson, Brian Pearce, Ken Waters, John Barsness, Ross Seyfried, or Dave Scovill. I wanted to tell you about my favorites and why they are my favorites. I want you to know why I have their book(s) in my collection and why I think you should read these authors whatever title you might come across.

The first I decided to write about (but I admit that this article might not be "published" first) is Major (US Army, Retired) George C. Nonte, Jr. Why? Well, just because I was searching the bookshelf for a last minute trip to the "reading room" and grabbed his last book, Pistol Guide. I was once again reminded why I liked his style and I thought he would be a worthy first subject for this series.

To start, you should know a little bit about the man. MAJ Nonte was born on February 9, 1926 in Monticello, Illinois. That's about 9 months and 10 days before my father was born in Breakabeen, New York. It is also one reason I liked his writing. I think he had a direct and personal style of writing that was like Dad and I always wanted to meet him. I think he and Dad would have gotten along just fine.

MAJ Nonte entered the Army in WWII (about 1944) and retired 20 years later (in 1964) as a Major in the Ordnance Corps. That service included tours in Europe and the Middle East as well as in the United States.

He authored several thousand magazine articles (of which I've read more than a few) which appeared in major outdoor and gun magazines of the time. His book credits include Cartridge Conversions*, Firearms Encyclopedia*, Pistolsmithing*, Guide to Muzzle Loading, and Modern Handloading*.  For the Stoeger Publishing Company he wrote Pistol & Revolver Guide, Gunsight Guide, To Stop a Thief: The Complete Guide to House, Apartment and Property Protection, and Black Powder Guide*.  His last two books were Pistol Guide* and Revolver Guide, rewrites/revisions of Pistol & Revolver Guide.

MAJ Nonte died in his office at work June 30, 1978, that's 30 years ago today.  He was only 52 years old. 

I think his first articles I was able to read were in Shooting Times Magazine as this was about the only shooting magazine we could get in 1965-1968.  He drew me in with his articles which covered gunsmithing of the 1911, handloading, and a memorable bear hunt using the 1911 and Super Vel ammunition.  He never let me go.  Somehow, in his writing, he made all things seem possible even for me and made me a part of his activities.  I loved it and I still do.

Note:  * = I have these books.

Rimfire Rifleman by Edwards Brown

I recently found Rimfire Rifleman by Edwards Brown and after briefly examining it noted that the book had quite a bit of information about competitive smallbore rifle shooting. Noting the publication date, I thought it would be pretty dry. It isn't. The authors use a story about a typical post WWII family, their neighbors and shooting buddies to provide the information they'd like to provide about smallbore (.22 rimfire) rifle shooting. I think that is a pretty neat aspect of the book.

Although it reads a bit like the screenplay for an episode of "Leave it to Beaver" sans Eddie Haskell, it reads well and it is easy to understand the shooting information provided. One might think it is a bit dated due to the 1947 era information provided, but the basics are all applicable to the current smallbore game. Indeed, some shooters are still using the same equipment.

I really like the book and I'm glad I bought it. I'm hoping that I'll get my grandchildren to either read it or perhaps, I'll read it to them...

A Must Read... A Fortunate Life by A. B. Facey

A Fortunate Life by A. B. Facey, ISBN 0-14-008167-4, was a gift to me from a thoughtful Australian friend, Bruce Scott. Written as he spoke, Mr. Facey tells of his life from 1894 to his wife's death in August 1976. He experienced quite a bit in his life and although he called it a fortunate life, his early years might be thought of as anything but fortunate. Yet, he overcame much to live a long and good life with his wife.

The book is an easy read, the story is fascinating, and I would have loved to have met and personally known Mr. Facey. You will too, after you read the book.

I have to say also that I was immediately put in mind of my grandfather, also a farmer much of his life, who was born in 1898, told in 1917 that he had only 6 months to live due to TB (discovered in his enlistment physical) and yet lived until 1974. It was another generation indeed. One to which hardships weren't disabling. I think that just maybe a few difficulties make life better appreciated.

A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver

I just received my copy of the Thirty Year Anniversary Edition of A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver by Ron Graham, John Kopec, and C. Kenneth Moore. It is inscribed to me by Mr. Kopec.

I'm afraid this won't be a book review, exactly. Surely, any serious collector knows of the previous editions and so no review by me will be of any help to them. The book is $129.95 plus $10 shipping from Kopec Publications which makes it pretty darn expensive. Kopec Publications does not have a web site so I can't link you to them. There is no on-line photo of the book, so I'll have to photograph mine.

I'm telling you right now that no photo I take of this book can do it justice. This is a tome of incredible quality and well worth the money spent. Not only is the book well made, but there is seemingly endless info and photos of guns. Oh goodness, such photos! Absolutely marvelous. A feast for the eyes. This book is, in a single word, luxurious.

I'll have to find the time to read it. Actually, I'm thinking it will be savoring. This book invites savoring. I might wear a bib as well...

Paco Kelly's New Book

The truly internationally famous Paco Kelly has completed and published a new book. Rifles and Handguns, An American Freedom by Paco Kelly has been reviewed by Jeff Quinn at Gunblast.com.

The first 100 books were a Collector’s Edition, numbered and signed. It sold for $52.50 including postage in the US. Those are gone, sold out! The standard edition is $46 shipped to anywhere in the US.

To order Paco’s "Rifles and Handguns, an American Freedom", send cash, check, or money order for $46 (in the US) to:

PACO KELLY
P.O.BOX 1170
CORTARO, AZ 85652

I've got my copy and boy am I excited! This is a great book that reads well and tells the true life stories of a one of the greater shooting "gurus" of our time.

FWIW, Paco's first book, An American Heritage-Leverguns has sold for $150+ and is listed for as much as $589! I'd suggest that you get this one while you can and keep your eyes peeled for An American Heritage-Leverguns in all your local used books stores.

Handgun Hunter Magazine

Ok, I'm going to jump on a bandwagon, mostly for selfish reasons. Having seen this magazine mentioned on the Sixgunner forum, I ordered the last three issues without hesitation. I'm impressed. Handgun Hunter has more high quality photos (for us illiterates) than any other publication of which I'm aware including Single Rifle and Double Gun Journal. Published in Stafford, VA (another reason to support this fine magazine) by Gary Smith (who I do not know), everything about this magazine speaks to quality. The magazine is a full color publication, perfect bound, printed with a 100# cover and 60# inside pages. Heck I couldn't even find a spelling error (maybe I should read it again). I think that if this thing remains in publication it should be worth taking to the book binder for preservation... Check it out.

Book Review - Guns of the Gunfighters

Title: Guns of the Gunfighters
Author: "Doc" O'Meara
ISBN: 0873494334

The old west has long been a fascination for many of my generation raised on tales of high adventure and romantic depictions of cowboys, Indians and soldiers on the American frontier. "Doc" really manages to address both the real and the reel cowboys and their guns in this book. Even my wife was interested in looking through this book (as she was by the Hollywood related displays at the Cody Firearms Museum). Every boy who loves the "old west" whether he's a history or movie buff will love this well illustrated book.

Book Review - Big Bore Handguns

Title: Big Bore Handguns
Author: John Taffin
ISBN: 0873494636

Mr. Taffin starts with a well presented history of the large bore handgun from the beginning of the repeating era. He then continues to address nearly every large caliber handgun including semi-autos and single-shots. THEN he has info on leather, hand loading, and some interesting anecdotes. All of this is written in Mr. Taffin's uniquely direct, informative but interesting style. Profusely illustrated with many excellent black and white photos, the only improvement would be that the photos were in color. A marvelous reading experience for the firearms enthusiast. "Big Bore Handguns" is one of those books any newcomer to the sport must have. Not quite as broad in subject matter as Keith's "Sixguns", "Big Bore Handguns" deserves a place on the bookshelf next to Keith's classic.

Book Review - Classic Colt Peacemakers

Title: Classic Colt Peacemakers
Author: "Doc" O'Meara
ISBN: 0873492714

The wonderful, detailed, color photos in this book are worth the admission price. Mr. O'Meara isn't all about the photos. His is a well researched history of Colt and the Single Action Army development. Mr. O'Meara discusses the art of engraving these guns. Well written, this is another book from this knowledgeable fellow that every sixgun aficionado will want to own.

Book Review - Single Action Sixguns

Title: Single Action Sixguns
Author: John Taffin
ISBN: 0873499530

The well-known, knowledgeable Mr. Taffin has stepped up and given us a book that is not only a erudite explanation of all things "sixgun" but a visual feast of fine firearms. Well written, illustrated, and printed, this is a book that every person seeking knowledge of revolvers should have.

Mr. Taffin picks up where the great Elmer Keith left off. He thoroughly covers the history of the single action revolver, common & not-so-common, modern & antique, as well as accessories such as leather, custom stocks (grips) and reloading information. He does this with a warm, inviting writing style unencumbered by wasted stlystic prose. The book has benefited from high production values with most of the 300+ superb photos in color and the publisher is to be applauded for not having taken the cheap route. This is a reference work that will go next to my copy of Sixguns by Elmer Keith.

The book, "SINGLE ACTION SIXGUNS" may be ordered direct from Mr. Taffin for $44. Mail to JOHN TAFFIN, PO BOX 45072, BOISE IDAHO 83711. You will NOT regret buying this book.

Book Review - Percussion Pistols and Revolvers

Title: Percussion Pistols and Revolvers
Author(s): Mike Cumpston and Johnny Bates
ISBN: 0595357962

To be frank I thought I'd read just about every sort of muzzleloading "how to" book there is. Then I subscribed to the Sixgunner Forums nominally the home of one John Taffin and frequented by Mike Cumpston.

Mike was posting a lot about his acquisitions and shooting of various cap'n'ball revolvers and his accompanying photos were absolutely excellent. So, when I discovered he'd just been writing a synopsis of the chapters he was writing for this book I had to have a copy.

It was well worth the money. 26 chapters in 195 pages may seem a little thin to some, but the information is concisely presented and the illustrations are anything but gratuitous. Mike and Johnny cover every major reproduction cap lock pistol or revolver. They also have appendices on the following:

• Italian Proof Marks by Year of Manufacture
• Colts Recommended Loads
• 19th Century Combustible Cartridges
• Petition for Frontier Protection
• The Irish Code
• 44 Cap & Ball Revolver

If there is anything bad to say about the book it is all on the publisher. The print is a bit small for some and the photos fail to demonstrate Mike's excellent photographic skills being too small and in black & white. This is one peeve I have and something I simply can't understand. They seem to insist on softbound, B&W photos, in short as cheap a production as possible. Why are most publishers convinced that shooters want cheap books? I don't, I want a quality book, even hardbound, and good clear photographs.

That said, this book is worth the $16.95 retail (and would be worth the difference for larger, color photos). Messers Cumpston and Bates are to be congratulated on good work well done.

"Ken Waters' Notebook - Best Wishes for Good Shooting"

From Wolfe Publishing is "Ken Waters' Notebook - Best Wishes for Good Shooting". It is basically a collection of correspondence, mostly from Ken but also from others with questions to give some flavor I think. In as much as Ken is very knowledgeable the book is useful, perhaps, but it is repetitive without illustrations. It does point out how much time Mr. Waters spent answering mail. Many of the letters are detailed, lengthy and required research to cite sources.

But I have a gripe and I think that if I had known about this I would not have bought the book.

The problem is that, being only half way through the book, I've found several instances where letters are repeated. I'm not talking about a misbound book with repeated pages (irritating enough) but different pages (as numbered) with the same letters. In at least one case a couple of letters are out of sequence. Hard to follow a train of thought unless you chose to read the book from back to front at that particular point! That is POOR editing. It makes me wonder what jewel of knowledge I have not gotten that was supposed to be there.

Yep, I'm writing Wolfe. Just thought I'd warn some of you who'd be interested so that you could wait for the second, corrected, edition.

"Pet Loads" by Ken Waters

Title: Pet Loads (8th Ed.)
Author(s): Ken Waters
ISBN: 1879356562

"Pet Loads" is a collection of Mr. Water's series of articles on loading various cartridges formerly published in "Handloader" magazine. There are also two supplements to this edition with articles published since the edition's release.

Mr. Waters has detailed reloading information and anecdotes about more than a hundred cartridges in this soft bound/paperback book. Not so obvious to the casual browser is that there is also a lot of information on various firearms associated with the cartridges covered and used to test the loads and many reloading techniques here as Mr. Waters records many decades of reloading experiences.

Because the articles were written over those decades of accumulating experience, some very popular cartridges have updates where Ken brings them up-to-date with new bullets and powders. One just can't the wealth of reloading experience with this number of cartridges, bullets, powders and primers not to mention reloading tools from any other book. A big plus is that Mr. Waters' writing style is easy to absorb and far from boring. Also, there is blank space provided for reader notes on their loading of the cartridge.

The only bad thing is that the photos are not well reproduced and in black and white. Some of this is because it appears that the articles were copied from the magazine and the magazine was around long before everything was done on a computer. Still there's sufficient detail for those hungry for knowledge.

Currently on sale at MidwayUSA for $30, the normal price is $48 and it is well worth the expense. I bought a first edition and passed it on when I got this one. The new owner did the same. Once you've read this book, most any reloader will agree, this is one must have book.

Clipping Articles and the Rediscovered Treasures

I have a system by which I keep no more than 4 years of most issues of magazines to which I subscribe. However, I no longer simply pass the magazines on or throw them out. As I get each new issue I pull the issue for that month from 4 years ago (I keep them in magazine binders such as the one pictured), review (i.e. re-read), and clip the interesting or useful articles. It is amazing how little is worth the effort in some magazines.

This month is a goody. I get the February 2007 issue of "Handloader" with articles on the .32 Winchester Special and .32-40, then, I get to pull the February 2003 issue with many other interesting articles.

The first of these articles is "Real Cowboy Loads for the .45 Colt" by Brian Pearce. While Mr. Pearce talks about Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) it is to put the original loading of the .45 Colt and smokeless replacements in the proper context. He has actually chronographed the original loading of 40 gr. blackpowder (BP) for the 255 gr. lead bullet at 1000 fps. This shows that the original load was indeed more powerful than the smokeless powder replacement which pushed the same bullet at 850-870 fps.

I thought this article would be of interest to levergun shooters of the cartridge. My experience is that the modern load equals the old BP load but only when fired from a carbine.

The next article is by one of my favorite authors, Ross Seyfried. "Holland & Holland Paradox, a Reloading Miracle" is a wonderful tale of Mr. Seyfried's work with a Paradox gun. Oh what a wonderful gun and Mr. Seyfried has been persistent in learning to load for this gun.

I've always wanted one, and not insensitive to the cost of such a glorious gun, I clipped this article "just in case". I haven't gone much into detail on this one. My attempt would be a poor imitation indeed of Mr. Seyfried's writing. You can still get this issue and article for yourself.

The last article I thought clip-worthy was "Loading to the Aiming Point" by John Barsness. In this article Barsness addresses a personal interest of mine, loading reduced loads for rifles. In this article he illustrates the method through loading for the 9.3x74R, 6.5x54mm Mauser, .257 Ackley Improved, and .416 Rigby with others mentioned. he also mentions Townsend Whelen and his use and loading of reduced loads. I liked this article enough to consider it clip-worthy despite lack of loading data on cartridges I am loading.

Of course you could buy the back issues of "Handloader". They now have three ways to do so. The entire boxed set (#1 through #238) for $120 or one year for $19.95 or a single issue on DVD for $5.95. Digital form should provide quick searches and printing of only the pertinent information.

Hogdon Annual Manual 2007

I found it at the bookstore today and bought a copy. I will say that you shouldn't throw out your earlier issues. Some data has disappeared (such as for the .30-40) but the "magazine" is much thicker. Included are articles on the .30-30 and .45-70 by Layne Simpson and on the .38-40, .44-40 and .45 Colt by Jim Wilson. Also, due to Hogdon's purchase of IMR, there's some IMR data notably for Trail Boss in rifles and an article on that. Worth $8? I think so, but again, I'm not getting rid of my old issues which have data not included in this one.

UPDATE:

I keep finding data that was removed from this issue which could have been left in as it was HOGDON powder data. .32 S&W, .30-40, and more. Gone. What they did with the IMR data was list a separate entry for that like they cut and pasted the data from the IMR site. Also, the articles include Winchester data. There may be clues as to which powders (IMR and Winchester) will be dropped in favor of Hogdon brand OR the other way around. Some are duplicates like H110/W296, HP-38/W231 or near duplicats like IMR4227/H4227 (H4227 discontinuance already announced).

Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas

Title: Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson
Author(s): Jim Supica and Richard Nahas
ISBN: 089689293X

Even if you have only a passing interest in Smith & Wesson firearms this is a must have book. Misters Supica and Nahas have done themselves proud on this 3rd edition with detailed explanations of terms and definitions including excellent illustrative photos. This is a BIG book too being oversize and 432 pages but not a one is wasted.

Now, I'm not knowledgeable enough to tell you that every model is described and pictured, that is why I got the book, but it certainly seems that way. Rifle, pistol and revolver, over 770 models as the cover notes. Also, variations and engineering & production changes are described listed chronologically with dates. Even belt buckles and such are listed. Of course there are serial number ranges by year. The book also provides prices by condition. While prices are always going to be subject to change, this provides at least a starting point for both buyers and sellers.

How well is this book organized? This book format should be duplicated for all manufacturers but I think Colts need the first. I've yet to find some bit of knowledge I need about the S&Ws that isn't given in this book. But organization isn't the only strong suit, it is well written and avoids being dull as most such catalogs tend to be.

The cost is $26.99 and free shipping from Amazon or you can buy it direct from the author and it is worth every penny.

Book Reviews

I think that I will start posting some book reviews. I am often asked what books one should have or must have for this or that. Naturally, folks don't want to spend money on books that don't give them the information they need. I'm the same way. I try to check the books out for their content before purchase. That includes asking others, particularly those with some experience, what books they think are best. I'm sure this has saved me money. It also helps to choose a book by a "proven" author. I may have been lucky as I've seldom seemed to go wrong.

These reviews might not be in any particular order, by author, subject or otherwise. If you have a book you want a review for, drop me an e-mail. I'll try to move it up to the top of the list.

Just received my mail and in it, a copy of Townsend Whelen's "The American Rifle". 1st Ed!

Should be interesting reading. Shows a picture of Dr. Mann's 200 yard (!) covered (!!) rifle range. Nice little house to load and shoot from as well. WOW! Wish I had one.

Discusses various cartridges of the time period in which the book was written and a lot of time is given to the service rifles and their cartridges.

Of course, I haven't read it yet, but it won't be long until I've gone through it a couple of times.