BLACK RIFLE II - The M16 Into the 21st Century

This new book is a sequel to the perennially popular 1987 Collector Grade title The Black Rifle, which is now in its fourth printing.

Amazingly, considering the storms of controversy which surrounded the light rifle program in its early days, the M16 has gone on to become the longest-serving shoulder arm in US history, and the benchmark against which any new military rifle, American or otherwise, must now be compared.

Even more astonishingly, the M16 today is at the center of a thriving, multi-million-dollar industry involving numerous companies and military agencies who are designing and manufacturing drop-in upper receivers in various configurations and calibers, plus complex rail systems and other high-tech accessories, all based on the M16 ³platform², which thereby grows more firmly established with each passing day.

This book chronicles all the new third- and fourth-generation rifle and carbine models which have been introduced by Colt and Diemaco since The Black Rifle was originally published, and describes and depicts the myriad of enhanced sights and rails systems which help make the M16s of today the most versatile, modular and effective combat weapons in the world. It also includes a comprehensive survey of the Colt semi-automatic-only family of commercial and law enforcement products, in .222 Remington, 5.56mm (.223 Remington), 9mm and 7.62x39mm, and an in-depth Reference Compendium of all Colt military and civilian models and components.

The FAL Rifle
Deluxe Classic Edition, 1993

Our first purpose-printed, Library-quality upgrade of this material. Contains every word originally published in the 3-volume FAL Series, under the following titles:

North American FALs
NATO's Search for a Standard Rifle
By R Blake Stavens (1979)

The development of the now-defunct Canadian Arsenals Limited (CAL) inch-measurement C1 and C2 rifles (later modified to C1A1 and C2A1 configuration) and the short-lived US T48, as made by FN and two old-line US gun companies, (both also now defunct), High Standard and H&R. Notes on all models, accessories, ammunition.

UK & Commonwealth FALS
Volume Two of the FAL Series
by R Blake Stevens (1980)

The story of the L1A1, the "other" inch-measurement FAL, as developed jointly by Britian and Australia with Canadian Arsenals Limited (CAL) as overall Design Authority. Extensive coverage of UK/Belgian/Canadian intermediate cartridge developments. Illustrates and describes many interesting rifle variations and numerous accessories.

The Metric FAL-the Free World's Right Arm
by R Blake Stevens and Jean Van Rutten (1981)

From prototype No 1 (in 7.92x33mm kurz calibre) to the latest PARA, HBAR (FALO) and LAR, this is the complete story of the FAL rifle as manufactured (under the metric system) by Belgium's famous Fabrique Nationale Herstal (FN) and Fn's liscensed (Metric) producers around the world. Contains priceless archieval material on all FAL prototypes plus other experimentals, accessories, and cortridge development. The FAL Rifle concludes with the comprehensive Fal Series Index to all 3 volumes.

[Order] [Checkout]

US Rifle M14 - From John Garand to the M21

The definitive study of the last, true "lock, stock, and barrel" 'T' US battle rifle, US Rifle M14 spans the fateful postwar era of the decline of Army Ordnance as the arbiter of US small arms development. The story begins with an in-depth examination of wartime modifications to the M1 rifle (M1E1 - M1E14) and the original Garand-based ëTí series (T20, T20E1, T20E2; T22, T22E1, T22E2; and T27). Then the rest of the T series (T28; T31; T33; T35; T36; T37; T25; T47; T44, T44E1 - T44E6). The adoption of the T44E4 as the M14 in 1957; scopes, silencers, and folding stocks; the M14 in Vietnam. Now with more information on the latest USAMTU modifications which transform the M14 into the gilt-edge M21.

[Order] [Checkout]

The Black Rifle M16 Retrospective

A chilling study of small arms development and procurement in the post-Ordnance US small arms environment, wherein OSD 'whiz kids' arrogantly called the tune and shooting watermelons at a picnic passed for engineering development. Beginning with the Black Rifle's forebear the ArmaLite AR-10, through the small caliber/high velocity (SCHV) program at Aberdeen Proving Ground, the .22 Gustafson carbine, the .22/NATO T48 and the Springfield and Winchester .224 rifles, this is an in-depth examination of the many controversies surrounding the 5.56mm M16 'package' - where it came from; what it is; what it is not, and why.

[Order] [Checkout]