|
|
|
| |
 American Rifleman
October 2023
We were excited to see Rick Hacker mentioned us in his American Rifleman article celebrating 150 years of the Winchester 1873 rifle. The Winchester 1873 rifle was featured in the Winchester 1875 catalog we offer, but oddly, it isn’t in the Winchester 1873 catalog. It probably was introduced after the catalog went to press. We don’t have an 1874 version.
|
_____________________________________________
Other Neat Tools
The above implement kills weeds on an industrial scale. On a smaller scale, we have stopped using Roundup around the house and have replaced it with this tool which is available from Amazon:
There are several types available on Amazon and elsewhere They cost about $50 and work with propane tanks of all sizes from the little ones in the picture above to 20# and larger barbecue tanks. In addition to weed control, we’ve used the tool to melt rubber strips into cracks in the asphalt drive and to burn brush. I understand people have used the flame thrower to melt snow, but be careful around the house, the flame is mighty warm enough to melt your boots (like I did, Rob)!
|
|
|
|
|
October/November
2023 Newsletter
|
For 21 years our newsletter has gone to more than 25,000 Firearms Collectors, Enthusiasts, Historians and Professionals Worldwide. We now reprint and sell pdfs of over 6000 Vintage Gun Catalogs, Books and Manuals from the 1840s to the 2000s
Most Internet Browsers – Firefox, Edge, Opera etc – have decided to truncate, or cut off, the bottoms of long emails like this one. There is a tiny note at the bottom allowing you to retrieve the rest of the email. Rob and Abby
|
__________________________________________
A Pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An Optimist sees a light at the end of the tunnel
A Realist sees a freight train
The Train driver sees three idiots standing on the tracks
__________________________________________
World War II
1. The first German serviceman killed in World War II was killed by the Japanese (China, 1937), the first American serviceman killed was killed by the Russians (Finland 1940), the highest-ranking American killed was Lt. Gen. Lesley McNair, killed by the U.S. Army Air Corps (Eighth Air Force mistakenly bombed his position) – so much for allies. If you include Pearl Harbor, Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd was the highest ranking American killed by the enemy. He was killed on board the U.S.S. Arizona when the Japanese launched their surprise attack on December 7, 1941. 2. The youngest U.S. serviceman was 12-year-old Calvin Graham, USN. He was wounded and given a Dishonorable Discharge for lying about his age. (His benefits were later restored by act of Congress). 3. At the time of Pearl Harbor, the top U.S. Navy command was called CINCUS (pronounced “sink us”), the shoulder patch of the U.S. Army’s 45th Infantry Division was the Swastika, and Hitler’s private train was named “Amerika.” All three names were soon changed for PR purposes. 4. More U.S. servicemen died in the U.S. Army Air Corps than in the Marine Corps. While completing the required 25-30 missions your chance of being killed was 71 percent. 5. Generally speaking, there was no such thing as an average fighter pilot. You were either an ace or a target. For instance, Japanese ace Hiroyoshi Nishizawa shot down over 80 planes. He died while a passenger on a cargo plane. 6. It was a common practice on fighter planes to load every 5th round with a tracer round to aid in aiming. This was a mistake. Tracers had different ballistics so at long range if your tracers were hitting the target 80 percent of your rounds were missing. Worse yet, tracers instantly told your enemy he was under fire and from which direction. Worst of all was the practice of loading a string of tracers at the end of the belt to tell you that you were out of ammo. This was definitely not something you wanted to tell the enemy. Units that stopped using tracers saw their success rate nearly double and their loss rate go down. 7. When the allied armies reached the Rhine River in Germany, the first thing men did was urinate in it. This was pretty universal, from the lowest private to Winston Churchill (who made a big show of it) and Gen. George Patton (who had himself photographed in the act). 8. German Me-264 bombers were capable of bombing New York City, but it wasn’t worth the effort. 9. The German submarine U-120 was sunk by a malfunctioning toilet. 10. Among the first “Germans” captured at Normandy were several Koreans. They had been forced to fight for the Japanese Army until they were captured by the Russians and then forced to fight for the Russian Army until they were captured by the Germans and further forced to fight for the German Army until they were captured by the U.S. Army. 11. Following a massive naval bombardment, 35,000 U.S. and Canadian troops stormed ashore at Kiska, in the Aleutian Islands. Twenty-one troops were killed in the firefight. It would have been worse if there had been any Japanese soldiers on the island.
__________________________________________
An e-mail I received contains two stories: one about “Easy Eddie,” who was Al Capone’s lawyer who lived the high life of the Chicago mob, and the other about war hero Lt. Cmdr. Butch O’Hare, his son. They are great tales, but are they true?
__________________________________________
Each state shown in blue has a smaller population than Los Angeles County (in red)
__________________________________________
An Image Of GPS Tracking Of Multiple Wolves In Six Different Packs Around Voyageurs National Park
__________________________________________
Not long ago a merchant found a lot of monkeys that lived near a certain village. One day he came to the village saying he wanted to buy these monkeys. He announced that he would buy the monkeys at $100 each. The villagers thought that this man must be crazy. How can somebody buy stray monkeys at $100 each? Still some People caught some monkeys and gave it to this merchant and he gave $100 for each monkey. This news spread like wildfire and people caught monkeys and sold them to the merchant. After a few days, the merchant announced that he will buy monkeys at $200 each. The lazy villagers also ran around to catch the remaining monkeys. They sold the remaining monkeys at $200 each. The merchant then announced that he will buy monkeys for $500 each. The villagers start to lose sleep. They caught six or seven monkeys which was all that were left and got $500 each. The Villagers were waiting anxiously for the next announcement. Then the merchant announced that he is going on holiday for a week, but when he returns, he will buy monkeys at $1000 each! He also said that his employee will be in charge, and would take care of the monkeys he bought pending his return. The merchant went on holiday. The villagers were frantic and very sad because there were no more monkeys left for them to sell at $1000 each as was promised by the Merchant. Then the merchant’s employee contacted them and told them that he would secretly sell them some monkeys at $700 each. The news spread like wildfire. As the Merchant promised on his return that he would buy monkeys at $1000 each, they would achieve a $300 profit for each monkey. The next day the villagers queued up near the monkey cage. The employee sold all the monkeys at $700 each. The rich bought monkeys in large lots. The poor borrowed money from money lenders and bought the rest of the monkeys. The villagers took care of their monkeys and waited for the merchant to return. However nobody came! Then they ran to find the employee. However he was not to be found. The villagers then realized that they have been duped buying the useless stray monkeys at $700 each, and were now unable to sell them. This Monkey Business is now known as Bitcoin!
__________________________________________
Helpin Form the Futuer Leeders of America
Charles Mister, Jr., a school-board candidate in Everett, Wash., released an error-filled pledge vowing to “make our children future my priority.” What’s needed, he wrote, is “quality learning enviarments” where decisions are made by “techers and prants.”
__________________________________________
Top 30 Sellers during the last two years:
|
|
|
|
|
The two hunter cartoons were generated using Bing AI
|
|
Our new website is still under construction but the good news is that we are making steady progress thanks to Vicky Wu who has been diligently repairing the damage caused by the first “website designer”. The Keyword Search gives good results, Notable Manufacturers works and the Shop all 6000+… works but the alphabetizing is a bit off.
We are working on other search options and they will appear shortly. Meanwhile we lost all the invaluable Google rankings that, after over 20 years, had us appear first or near the top of Google searches. We will just have rebuild them.
If you don’t like the website please use Gunbroker (do an advanced search for “cornellpubs”), not eBay which costs a fortune in commissions for each sale!
|
|
Manufacture d’Armes des Pyrennes- Unique Mikros 6.35mm Pistol – May I ask if this manual has an explanation and assembly sequence for each part like the pictures I sent? Can I make my own mini pistol after reading this manual? How many pages in total? christophercolumbu (eBay)
What, can you make a gun from the manual, no you can’t? This is a manual for a gun you own, it shows how to take it apart and put it back together. Pages are listed in the ad. Rob for cornellpubs.
Can the manufactured gun fire bullets? christophercolumbu (eBay)
This is a manual for a pistol, not a kit to make a gun for $8.95!
****************************************************
|
|
********************************************************************************
I recently ordered your publication G&C Clyde and asked to be billed at a credit card. I received email stating that I had to use Paypal in order to effect payment. I do not deal with Paypal, so please cancel my order.
Hi Tracy, Since then it appears the $9.87 sale is complete and you bought a pdf, I must tell you that we make no refunds for PDF purchases for obvious reasons. Each of our 6000 items were individually coded with Paypal over 20 years ago, long before the turmoil over their unfair stance about guns (which they have recently softened). The cost to re-code each item would be enormous so we live with it. They do accept most credit cards, you don’t need an account with Paypal. Anyway, they accepted your credit card and the deal is done. In the future, you can buy print copies from us at Gunbroker or directly from Abby on the phone thereby bypassing PayPal. Cheers, Rob
********************************************************************************
Hi when my ordered come in mail? Dea Ann Jordan
Dea Ann, We sent you an email with the tracking information about your book. From what I see it will be delivered Friday. Best Abby
********************************************************************************
Just wanted to drop a note of thanks to you. I have been a customer over the years for various reprints and have been totally delighted! I have, I think, all the Joe Vorisek books and value them not only as terrific reference books, but thoroughly entertaining reading! I always look forward to your emails that are full of an amazing plethora of obscure facts and entertaining exchanges with customers. Please keep up this invaluable service and I wish you much future success! Thank you again. Bill
********************************************************************************
Abby & Rob, You two are saints for putting up with the BS from some customers. I can’t believe the issues people complain about. Keep up the good work and God bless. Ron
Thanks Ron, we needed that!
********************************************************************************
I recently purchased a bulletin from you entitled “AH Fox Guns : Chronology and Serial Numbers” Problem is that you have not listed my Serial number and Date and that is why I exclusively purchased it. My gun serial number 450,000 is a 12 ga. , kaitsky single trigger with beaver tail schnable forend ( all parts are appropriately serialized 450,000 I wanted the info on this particular gun which you did NOT provide! How about a refund???! Keith
Sure, Keith, we will refund your money. I assume you saw page 9 which discusses the 450,000 series of guns and found that information lacking. It does sound as if you have a very rare gun, perhaps the first of the series, good for you. Rob
No, no need to refund! You guys do a great job making such stuff available to us! Just a bit disappointed I could not find more on this shotgun. The action is a higher grade than an A grade( more indented like a D grade with the Germanic engraving of the later A grades. If you would like a few pictures of this gun ( if only to provide a description) I will send them to you for whatever use you wish. If nothing else, it will make your publication more complete! Keith
********************************************************************************
I don’t supose I am the first to bring up the point, but your oil disposal is not very ecological it contaminates the soil and although a small space it kills that area. The more often you doit the more dead soil you create. People used to think it was a good idea to dump it down a city street drain but that also contaminates the water supply someone may end up trying to drink.
Hello, See the bottom of the piece, it was from 1963… the point being how naive we were back then, I meant it as a joke like many other inserts in the newsletter. It was not intended as a suggestion for you to use today as, I think, most people know that. But, because you missed it, maybe someone else did too so, I’ll put your suggestion in the next newsletter. By the way, the oil would not remain in the hole. The way it is designed it would permeate to the water table and begin to contaminate that. Cheers, Rob
Thank you for your reply and taking time to explain, I guess I did miss the point. Thanks, Cheers, RAN
********************************************************************************
Hi my name is Stu Mairs, Today I received my order that I had placed with you on October 11th. It would appear that the order has been damaged by the US postal service and, as the delivery was made while I was out, I was not able to see the delivery man. I’m emailing you to see if there is any recourse in this case of damage. It was my intent to give this, ( otherwise), very nice looking book as a gift,,, but not in this condition. Please see the attached picture to understand the condition in which this book arrived. I would very much like to exchange this book for one in good condition. And I am willing to return this one at my expense of postage.
Hi Stu, I hope you got the replacement book we sent and with a little luck it is undamaged! Please let me know if there is anything else we can do. Oh, and please just toss the broken copy you have, no need to return it. Best, Abby
********************************************************************************
Dear Abby, I recently purchased this booklet from you and really enjoyed it. Do you have any similar items from the late 19th or early 20th century from firearm manufacturers? Short stories from customers describing their adventures with their firearms. Thanks for great service. Sincerely, Rick
Hi Richard, Most of the companies in the late 19th century used testimonials to help sell their guns. The fashion dropped off after the turn of the century but here are a few:
Savage 1900
Marlin 1885
Browning 1909
Winchester 1871
Sharps 1879-80
All are available on our website. Hope this helps. Best, Abby
********************************************************************************
Hi. Love the book. Excellent service. Three days from ordering the book to receiving it. Good reference book for anyone interested in the history of Savage pistols. Thanks again.
Kathryn
********************************************************************************
Colt c1960 AR-15 Automatic Mil Rifle Manual – would there be a price brake if I were to buy this colt manual an another colt manual 1972 AR15 SP1 manual, any price brake, thank you – ak47lord68 eBay
I’m sorry, we run a store at eBay and just can’t accommodate discounts too. Considering eBay commissions and charges we sell for as little as we can. Rob for cornellpubs
********************************************************************************
Disappointing that you do not now ship outside US.I have had good service from you in the past. W & J Davis (Birmingham) catalogue required to go with my engraved Davis 12g hammer gun. Darn it, Greame
Hello Graeme, I’m sorry we no longer ship to the UK or EU. We gave that up after each country decided they would have even small shippers collect their customs and import duties, maintain records and make payments to the foreign governments, something the two of us just can’t do. Ironically, the UK regulations, as near as I can tell, exempt publications. However, despite my best efforts I cannot breach the impenetrable documentation allowing access to the privilege. We do sell PDFs of the catalog you want. If you buy one of those, you can take the file to an office store and have them print and bind it for you. I hope that helps and, again, I am sorry.
Cheers, Rob
Madainn Mhath Rob, and thanks. What would we do without govt. servants and their myriad rules? I noticed the PDF option after I emailed .Old age and late hours! Yours Aye Graeme.
(Madainn Mhath is “Good Morning” in Scottish, Rob)
********************************************************************************
Rob, By the way love your website. It’s really great to be able to obtain the documents for these classic guns. I’m not sure why we are having problems with the downloads. We are using Spectrum with a 500mbs speed on Microsoft Edge. I keep getting the message “couldn’t download-network issue.” Using WeTransfer, the document downloaded in a matter of seconds. I might try Chrome next time and let you know the results. I generally do not have problems with downloading documents of this size or much larger. Hope this helps. Reach out if you want more information from my end. Dale
********************************************************************************
Hi Abby- I just received the replacement book (MP5 Operator’s Manual the PO smashed) & looks great! Much easier to read and reference. Thanks much for the quick response and fix. Sincerely, Mike
********************************************************************************
Cheers,
Rob and Abby
The End. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1937), the first American serviceman killed was killed by the Russians (Finland 1940), the highest-ranking American killed was Lt. Gen. Lesley McNair, killed by the U.S. Army Air Corps (Eighth Air Force mistakenly bombed his position) – so much for allies. If you include Pearl Harbor, Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd was the highest ranking American killed by the enemy. He was killed on board the U.S.S. Arizona when the Japanese launched their surprise attack on December 7, 1941.
The villagers thought that this man must be crazy. How can somebody buy stray monkeys at $100 each?
monkeys he bought pending his return. The merchant went on holiday.
–
stating that I had to use Paypal in order to effect payment. I do not deal with Paypal, so please cancel my order.
Hi when my ordered come in mail? Dea Ann Jordan
I recently purchased a bulletin from you entitled “AH Fox Guns : Chronology and Serial Numbers” Problem is that you have not listed my Serial number and Date and that is why I exclusively purchased it. My gun serial number 450,000 is a 12 ga. , kaitsky single trigger with beaver tail schnable forend ( all parts are appropriately serialized 450,000 I wanted the info on this particular gun which you did NOT provide! How about a refund???! Keith
contaminates the soil and although a small space it kills that area. The more often you doit the more dead soil you create. People used to think it was a good idea to dump it down a city street drain but that also contaminates the water supply someone may end up trying to drink.
was out, I was not able to see the delivery man. I’m emailing you to see if there is any recourse in this case of damage. It was my intent to give this, ( otherwise), very nice looking book as a gift,,, but not in this condition. Please see the attached picture to understand the condition in which this book arrived. I would very much like to exchange this book for one in good condition. And I am willing to return this one at my expense of postage. 
manual an another 
Hello Graeme, I’m sorry we no longer ship to the UK or EU. We gave that up after each country decided they would have even small shippers collect their customs and import duties, maintain records and make payments to the foreign governments, something the two of us just can’t do. Ironically, the UK regulations, as near as I can tell, exempt publications. However, despite my best efforts I cannot breach the impenetrable documentation allowing access to the privilege. We do sell PDFs of the catalog you want. If you buy one of those, you can take the file to an office store and have them print and bind it for you. I hope that helps and, again, I am sorry. 
500mbs speed on Microsoft Edge. I keep getting the message “couldn’t download-network issue.” Using WeTransfer, the document downloaded in a matter of seconds. I might try Chrome next time and let you know the results. I generally do not have problems with downloading documents of this size or much larger. Hope this helps. Reach out if you want more information from my end. Dale