THE BROOMHANDLE PISTOL 1896-1936

Dallas; Taylor Publishing Co., 2000. 298pp. Brown leather like cloth with a matching slipcase. Footnotes. Bibliography. Photographs including a number in color. Illustrations. Pictorial endsheets. Page edges gilt. Silk place marker. First edition, LIMITED EDITION of 100. SIGNED by both authors. Fine in an equally nice publisher’s slipcase (no dust jacket issued). The authors, both knowledgeable collectors, have expanded on the pioneering works of Belford, Dunlap and Schroeder to present substantial new information on the “Broomhandle” Mauser. They present numerous previously unrecorded variants with photographs in many cases. Beginning with early history, the more standard, high production pistols form the basis of the book. However, the rarer variants are extensively examined and are compared and contrasted to high production guns which they either led up to or were derived from. The numerous and detailed photographs are extremely useful in identifying the various “Broomhandles.” In addition, sections are devoted to the rarities, foreign copies, accessories, pistol components and breakdown procedures. An extremely nice copy of a cornerstone work.