May 2017 Newsletter
This Free Newsletter Goes to Over 20,000 Firearms Collectors,
Enthusiasts, Historians and Professionals Worldwide
WORLD'S LARGEST FIREARM PUBLICATION REPRINT STORE
Over 5000 Vintage Gun Catalogs, Books and Manuals from the 1840s to the 2000s!
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 * If for any reason this letter does not display properly, you can view the newsletter on our website (and all back issues too). For a downloadable copy of our catalog of reprints or manuals this will take you there.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO YOUR GUN COLLECTING FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES
New This month!
This is the first newsletter we have offered that is compatible with hand held devices. That means those of you (some 50% by our calculations) who use telephones or tablets to read the newsletter will not have to scroll back and forth to read the text and see the pictures. We are keeping the newsletter fairly simple as a sort of test. Please let us know if you have any problems.
NOTE: Hand held devices may take a few moments to download text and images depending on your service, location and device settings.
Thanks, Abby
Oh bother(s), and darn too!
Cell phone? This guy was a telephone engineer in London c1925
A.G. Wallihan, photographer. Augusta Wallihan—Grocery Shopping. Albumen print, circa 1895. Standing over one of her many trophy mule deer, subsistence-and-sport huntress “Gusty” Wallihan appears every inch the frontier matron with her dressy bonnet, prairie-pattern cartridge belt, floral-embroidered gauntlets, hunting knife, and Remington-Hepburn rifle. (Museum of Northwest Colorado)
How many matinee stars can you recognize?
Let us know who you think these folks are and the shows they appeared in...
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It is with deep regret we note the passing of our friend and colleague Dick Chamberlain.
His edited obituary is from the Deegan Funeral Chapel:
Dick Chamberlain died peacefully at home April 28 at the age of 88. He was born on February 7, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan and grew up there, moving to Whittier, California with his brother and parents in 1949. During the Korean War he served as a Special Agent for the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps.
He earned bachelors and masters degrees at Whittier College and a doctorate in Education at the University of Southern California. As a teacher of history and government his career spanned middle and high school, community college, and university extension.
In 1960 he married Judith Lasse. They were married for over 40 years.
At Porterville, California he served as Director of Adult Education, raising Durham cattle as a sideline. Always interested in conservation he founded the Porterville Area Environmental Council and led its involvement in creating the Yaudanchi Ecological reserve, opposing excessive development of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, as well as testifying in Congress on behalf of the present Golden Trout Wilderness.
Retiring from their respective positions in 1986 Dick and Judy moved to Flournoy, California where they had acquired the former Luce ranch. There they coauthored “Civil War Letters of an Ohio Soldier” based upon Dick’s grandfather’s letters home from that war, and “Two G.W. Coles: Pioneers in the West” about Judy’s family.
In addition Dick’s books on antique cartridge reloading tools went through several editions. His interest in American firearms history led to assembling artifacts for the Tehama County Museum. Of Cornish descent Dick was active in Cornish organizations and publications.
In 2011 Dick sold the ranch and moved to Escalon to live near JulieBeth & Rex. Richard also moved to Escalon to help him. Dick started a gun collectors club there, volunteered at the Escalon museum, continued to be active in California Cornish cousins, and attended the United Methodist church. In April 2017 he had a heart attack and came home with hospice.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 27 at 11:30am at the Escalon United Methodist Church, 2000 Jackson Avenue, Escalon, CA 95320 with fellowship time to follow at his home. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his name to Alzheimer Dementia Support Group, 700 McHenry Ave, Suite B, Modesto, CA 95350 or Optimal Hospice, 1101 Sylvan Avenue, Suite B-10, Modesto, CA 95350. Deegan Mortuary in Escalon is handling the arrangements.
A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, May 13 at 11am at Living Word Fellowship Church, 1150 W. Pioneer Ave., Porterville, CA 93257 in the fellowship hall.
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It's done! Volume 6 is now available from the Cornell website, just click above. We bet you can't wait!
With the help of Cornell Publications we have produced “Annual Compendiums” of our first five years of publication. We have removed all commercial advertising and redundant material and the volumes are now pure articles on arms and related topics.
Check in at Arms Heritage Magazine
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New Books and Special Thanks
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We are still embroiled in the project to produce a new website. Our problem is here is that the data from our existing website has been copied to the new site. Our old, existing website still works well but we are having search issues with the new one so it is still in the testing stage.
Anyway, the net result is we can't add anything to the old site without redoing the whole job again when the new site is up and running. Rest assured, we are working hard and hope to have some good news for you next month. Meanwhile we have over 5000 items in the existing site- please go buy something there to help us pay for the new site!
(Dear Abby) Re: Steyr-Mannlicher Schoenauer Repeating Sporting Rifles 1975 (in English-Catalog). mtmanron (Ebay) asks: “does this catalog give me phone numbers or sites for parts???
Dear mtmanron, I would not trust and numbers are current; we are away so cannot check, Abby (I checked when I got back and wasn’t surprised to find that in the ad piece featuring new rifles there was nary of mention of parts for broken weapons). Abby
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Dear Abby, The pub I ordered is labeled April, 1886 Winchester. Naturally I assumed it contained Winchester model 1886 information. It does not but starts with model 1866 and stops just short of model 1886. I could not review the pubs online to verify the correct one to order. Can you verify the October 1886 issue actually contains the model 1886 Winchester 33 caliber rifle? If so request that publication vice one received and will return the one you sent in original packaging. Thx. Craig Fay
Dear Craig, We are on the road - all publications at the website have a complete index as to what they contain - so use the website to be sure. Best, Abby
A, First time using your website, which isn't very intuitive. Pub title is misleading. Are you going to exchange the April 1886 pub for the Oct 1886 pub? Verified. Thx, Craig
Craig, We are away right now but will help you when we have access to our office. Presumably you weapon was made after the catalog was issued which was certainly not our fault so I don't think we can be blamed for misleading you! At any rate we didn't write the thing we just reprinted it, but yes we'll take care of you. Sorry you don't think the site is intuitive. It was the best this old mind could come up with when I designed the thing. Rob
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it.mhlma (Ebay) Hello , perfect leaflet just arrived !! Many thanks. Just a more question : do you have the possibility to investigate about Browning / FN serial numbers ? because it would of interest for me to know about year of production of my FN 1906 pistol 6,35 mm. Brgds, R.Mühlmann
Hello, I cannot give links over Ebay, they will not allow that. However if you look up the Browning company they should have what you need. Cheers, Rob Mouat
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RE: CZ-83 Double Action Czech Pistol Manual in English- From: elder70warrior(Ebay) (Dear Abby) Thanks. The other versions found on Google are much less professional than yours.
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RE: Sig P220 Sauer Manual (Text in English) From: cab2750 (Ebay) (Dear Abby) what print date is on the back page? Thanks
Dear Cab… None that I can see otherwise I would have included it... see image, Abby
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Hi both, Thanks for acknowledging the order, as curator of the Birmingham Proof House Museum I am sure it will help in answering many enquirers we get. Regards, Dave Evans, Curator
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Dear Abby, Looking for information on a Townley Metal & Hardware Co shout gun - single barrel break open. I know it was made by a Crescent Fire Arms Co but that is about it. Do you have anything else? John Lehmann
Dear Mr. Lehmann, We have a number of catalogs by (crescent or stevens) but I don't know what gun you have (shot gun?). Rob
(Dear Rob) Townley American Boy shotgun. A215055 single barrel, break open, 12 gauge. (John Lehmann)
Dear Mr. Lehmann, OK, but because this sort of research is very time consuming, what exactly do you want to know? I need more than "information" to look for you. Cheers, Rob
(Dear Abby) How about this, does Breechloading Shotguns 1860-1940 Vol. III R-Z have enough in it to warrant purchase in your opinion, taking in the fact that I have found pages on pages of information on Crescent on the internet. Not much on Townley though. Side note, this book along with vol I and II is the series I was talking about, just used the wrong terminology. John Lehmann
Dear Mr. Lehmann, Townley was a hardware wholesaler based in St Louis between about 1880 and 1930. At last report (1980s) it was still in business in Overland Park, KS. Sold Branded Shotguns many of which were made by Crescent. Abby
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RE: U.S. Rifle Model 1917 Base Shop Data 1942 - namgear68 (Ebay) Good day - I want to do a "Buy it Now" for the M1917 MG Base Shop manual but it says you have blocked me? Can you take a look and see if this is in error? I have 2737 feedbacks with no negatives or neutrals.Thank you, namgear68
Dear namgear68- Blacklist entrants usually are the result of a misunderstanding with a customer and are placed there so no future problems can bother us. All I can say is that we do sell on other sites, you could try that. Rob for CORNELLPUBS.
(Dear Rob) What other sites? (namgear68)
Dear nam... Ebay won't let me tell you directly CORNELLPUBS!
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RE: David T. Abercrombie 1933 Catalog. I have the this catalog it's title is "Camp Outfitter" would you have an interest is adding this to you collection? I'm in Eastman WI. Thanks for your time. Jerome
Dear Jerome, Your catalog sounds interesting. I assume by the title it is an Abercrombie descendant catalog after he left NY Sporting Goods. Yes I would be very interested to see it. If you would be kind enough to send it to Cornell Pubs, PO Box 214, Brighton, MI 48116 I would be most grateful. We will get it back promptly. Thanks, Rob
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Jim asked for data on reloading Brass shotshells other than 12 ga:
Dear Jim, I am not a reloader and I am very reluctant to recommend any sort of information about ammo because of the risk of saying something wrong. If I were you I would join the International Ammunition Association. Their forum will tell you all out anything you need to know and direct you to our publications that might help. Also Wolf Publications does Reloader Magazine and Black Powder Magazine through the NRA.They are the place to start to fine knowledgeable help. Best, Rob
Rob, I appreciate your helpfulness very much. I did a lot of reloading both metallic cartridges and shot shells both from the mid 70's through the later 80's. I quail hunted a lot then and probably reloaded more shot shells because of the quail hunting than anything else. I quit hunting quails because of leasing and no adequate habitat over which to hunt quails being available. I do still hunt deer, but that is about it.
BPI does have a new reloading guide for metallic shot shells, but their data is only for the 12 gauge, thus far, and only for using black powder or black powder substitutes. Most people are beginning to use the metallic or all brass shot shells for the "Cowboy Action Shooting" events. That sorta interests me and I have purchased a few boxes of the MagTech brass shot shells, but loading data for them is almost extant. And using Black Powder or its substitute is not an option for me, it is just something I am not interested in.
In the 60's when I knew those individuals, who have long since passed, who used all brass shot shells, for hunting & reloaded their own shells, I wish I had asked more question and learned what the could have taught me back then.
I am well aware of the NRA programs, having been a member since the early 70's and a life member since the latter 70's and am now a Patron (Life) Member, but your suggestions are still much appreciated.
I will look through your offering and see if anything has any potential information. Cheers, Jim
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Abby and Rob, Thanks for your great newsletter—I enjoy it every month.. I have ordered a number of things from you and have never been disappointed, just amazed that one could still obtain some of the older items at all! I don’t know how you put up with the stupid abuse from some folks. Keep going! Bob Burrows
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RE: Belding & Mull 1955 Reloading Manual/Catalog. (Dear Rob) Your table of contents is very detailed, but to contain all that information in only 136 pages, just how many pages are dedicated to actual loading data. Loading data for two cartridges I am interested in are: .22 Hornet & .38-55. Does the Belding & Mull Manual contain date for these two cartridges? Thank you, Jim
Dear Jim, I'm going to say no mainly because to read the catalog I would have to print it out and it has relatively little loading data as such- nothing like many other reloading publications we offer, it is mainly a how to manual. Unless there is a specific reason you are looking at B&M I would suggest one of the Ideal catalogs (we do them all from 1890s to 1955 or one of the later Lyman (Ideals) or perhaps wildcats like the Ackley handbooks. Rob Readers, can you offer any help here, I just don't know which reloading catalog might help him?
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(Dear Rob) Thank you for offering these vintage catalogs! I am looking for a copy of Abercrombie and Fitch that might list the Dodge and Krowl Ice Scooters. I know they were offered at the Manhattan store. I have restored one that was registered as built in 1905. Do you have anyway of searching your database and finding an issue that shows it? I searched your descriptions, but am hoping they are not inclusive? Thank you, Dave (soooey - Ebay)
Dear Dave, Sorry, I looked in the 04, 07 and 10 issues and see nothing under ice*** (just ice picks) in the index and nothing in the pictures with a very quick look. Rob
Rob, thank you for looking. Perhaps being built on Lone Island and sold through one store they never made the catalogs. Dave
Dear Dave, Well they could have been made anywhere, not just Long Island unless it says something about that on the unit? Or does it say "Lone"? If so, that is interesting. Anyway, I would like to find out more about it. Do you have a photo handy? We do a newsletter once a month and it goes out this afternoon. If you have a pic I would like to put it in to see if anyone knows about the scooter. We have 20,000 readers all over. Rob
(Dear Rob) Where can i read your newsletter? Dave
Hi Dave, Well that is a bit ticklish. I can't enter your name on the list because I don't have your email address and it wouldn't be right to tell you to go to our website where you can sign up. So, if you were forwarded a copy of the letter that has links you can follow or ask the guy who sent it to tell you about the website. Rob Mouat for CORNELLPUBS
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Hi, I recently obtained a copy of a Webley history from you and previously I have had items relating to Webley and BSA. I am currently writing a book where the Webley info you supplied was very very useful. I will be referencing Cornell in the book. Thank you again. best wishes Andrew Lound Birmingham UK (March 2016)
Dear Andrew, Thanks for your note. Please let us know when your book is ready and I'll be pleased to mention it in our newsletter. Cheers, Rob
(April 11, 1017) hello Rob, Another great newsletter from you. My book ‘RMS Titanic Made In the Midlands’ has now been released. In the chapter that refers to the guns supplied to the ship by Webley there is a pic of the MKIV naval pistol, as I got this pic from a catalogue you supplied Cornell Publications have been given an acknowledgement. Many thanks, Andrew
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Dear Abby, Good day, can you mail to indonasia and take c c as payment Peters Eden
Dear Peters, We can try. We get tracking only as far as departure from the US at Chicago and we don't know how Indonesian customs feel about our publications so we won't guarantee you will get the package but we can give it a shot. Cheers, Abby
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Dear Rob and Abby, Hello. I liked your video (April Newsletter available in the website-ed) about the window in the water. When we made police kits years ago, we included a spring-loaded punch that worked fine at shattering windows. I have one in my center console in my car, but it keeps falling in among the “necessary stuff” I keep in the console, and I figure I might not find it in the panic of plunging into the water.
Meanwhile, we got to thinking about our motorhome. It has one door on the right. What happens if we get in a wreck and roll over and land on the right side with the door in the ground? and the vehicle is on fire? So, last week I ordered six of the tools similar to the one you showed. I got two the strap around the visor and four that mount in brackets that can be screwed to somewhere in the car or motorhome.
PS: I loved the one where the guy shoots three hole into the target. I copied it to put into my monthly newsletter to our collection club. Regards, Michael Carrick
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Hi, Abby-- Dredging through some old boxes, I found an original small catalog for W. Glaser of Zurich. They were/are sorta like the Stoegers of Europe (I visited the shop back in 1954). This catalog is undated, but seems to be 1938-40. Has 18 numbered pages plus cover and plus inserted price list. Is a bit faded, but not torn or frazzled. I don't see it on your list-- if you can use it for reproducing, I'll send it. I won't need it back. Regards—Don Neal
Hi Don, How great to hear from you, we hope all is well. Yes please we would love to add to the Glaser collection and we appreciate your long time support, it is kind of you. Our post box is:
Cornell Publications PO Box 214, Brighton, MI 481146 Thanks so much, Abby
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Rob, My name is John Taylor, we have a mutual friend, Will Graves, who said you might be able to provide information on a pistol my father owns, which appears to be a version of the 1860 Colt revolver. I Have attached several pictures of this pistol, in hopes that you can help us identify the specific type and age of this weapon. Lastly, would you, or someone you know be able to provide an approximate value on something like this. Thank you, John Taylor
Dear John, I don't recall if I wrote back to you. The pictures you attached did not come through (they were probably too big- the files that is, at least they are on this computer, a different one than the one I first used in CT where we were visiting) but I can offer you some appraisal services or you can go to a bookstore and look at the standard catalog of firearms or the blue book. I dimly remember seeing one of your pictures when you sent them and the pistol might have been a colt pocket pistol 1849 model???
Firearms Appraisers see below
Cheers, Rob
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Abby, Received a HENRY and a Marlin Firearms catalog today. Better than I expected. Thank you so much. Dave
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Dear Abby, Besides Charter and Sam, Bob Brown who is one of my closest friends, who was 14 at the time, was also one of the founders. He did all of the photography and ended up as the editor. It morphed into The Gun Report which was acknowledged in the first issue of the latter. Sam and Charter are long gone, but Bob is still around. Joel Black
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 Dear Rob and Abby, After reading the April newsletter I feel you need some help, (free of charge), or you will never be able to afford that 50 foot diesel motor home to travel the country. First, do away with the free downloads, (people don't appreciate it. Charge $20 each but run a monthly "clearance" special for 95% off. This will allow you to cover the credit card fees and still make a 1-2% profit). Second, Rob stay out of things! I have noticed you are increasingly being mentioned more and more over the last few years. Abby built this business and it is not fair you jumping in to receive the accolades. Not solely Abby's doing? Hogwash! Without her bathing beauty pic showing those legs off sitting on that car you wouldn't have the addition on your house. And little do you know who, or how, REALLY paid those enormous law school tuition fees for your son! It is always the spouse to find out last but she did it with dignity Rob. Third, hire a good, really good, TV or motion picture comedy writer for the "Rants and Raves" section. You do realize it is the only thing all of us read anymore? Frankly, Abby, you have people petrified with the brash, gutter talk responses that people have read in "R & R." No one wants to get on your bad side, hence, R & R section isn't what it used to be and the volume is way, way less than years past. Ooops, gotta get back to work, employees are arriving and Thursdays are tradition around here for them to inquire when they will be getting a raise. I haven't even started writing my responses for why they should feel lucky to be working for me. Don't they realize I pay 7.65% of their wages into a retirement account? Like I started this free advice...............................people don't appreciate things! P.S. Reasons 4 thru 27 in the future. Hopefully you can stay solvent and afloat until then.
Well! I better let Abby answer this one (I wish people would sign their notes particularly when they are critical of me)! Rob
Dear mystery writer, let's see, gutter talk? I don't think so, being blunt and standing up to jerks doesn't require "gutter talk". About Rob, well OK, from now on I'll just use him to carry around the tons of paper and things we need that are heavy. He is also useful for fixing the equipment that breaks all the time and for negotiating with those suppliers who are constantly holding out their hands, but other than that I agree, I'll give up my retirement and my life and devote myself 100% to work, work, work. AFTER ALL WHAT ARE WOMEN FOR? Alright, I concede the writer was either joking, drunk or distracted. Write back with your name so I can learn which...
Oh, and our son is entering middle age, is the General Counsel of a hot software company, his wife is a doctor and they live in the East Bay, he doesn't need us to pay his tuition, thank God!
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Notes for New Readers (repeated each month)
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At the Cornellpubs website, you will find many gunmaker "master pages" listing all the catalog reprints of one brand. To the right of each "master page" are names of catalogs by merchants who carried that brand of firearms. For example, we reprint over 60 Remington factory gun catalogs but we also reprint over 160 gun catalogs from merchants that sold Remington firearms such as Sears or Abercrombie & Fitch or Spalding. Those are the listings on the right of the page. Using the merchant links, you can identify a catalog from just about any year that displays the Remington line and by looking at the individual page indexes you can figure out what models were made in what year without spending a dime. Of course we would be happy to sell you those catalogs too! Most major gunmakers have a "master page" and we are adding more all the time.
Many folks call me to give us an order over the telephone because they "don't like to use their credit cards on the internet". Well, every time you use your credit card at stores, banks, gas stations, restaurants or anywhere else, the transaction is recorded on the internet! The key is to trust the company to whom you are giving the information.
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Gun Model & Makers, Parts Suppliers & Appraisers, Downloads, Serial Numbers
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