For your consideration we would like to offer this rare
and hard to find U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920 by Edward Scott
Meadows Book!
This book was published in 1993 & it is over 30 YEARS OLD AND APPEARS LIKE
NEW!
Book is near mint and appears unused.
A must have for any serious collector of the U.S. Automatic Pistols.
This book includes detailed accounts of pistols submitted by
Colt, Savage, Luger, Bergmann, Webley, and others during the competitive trials
leading up to 1911.
Free shipping is also included!
U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920 Book Synopsis:
Edward S. Meadows’ first volume in his definitive multi‑part series is a deeply
researched historical and technical study of the earliest era of U.S. military
self‑loading pistols.
It documents the development, testing, procurement, and evolution of American
automatic handguns from the late 19th century through the adoption of the Colt
Model 1911.
What Makes the Book Significant:
Extensive archival research: Meadows’ work is widely regarded as one of the
most authoritative sources on early U.S. automatic pistol development.
Hundreds of photographs and technical illustrations: Similar to the later
volumes described in the search results, this volume is known for its visual
documentation.
Collector‑grade detail: Serial ranges, procurement records, contract
variations, and rare prototypes are covered with exceptional precision.
Core Themes:
Early U.S. experimentation with automatic pistols
Covers the Army and Navy’s first attempts to evaluate self‑loading handguns as
replacements for revolvers.
Trials of major early designs:
Includes detailed accounts of pistols submitted by Colt, Savage, Luger,
Bergmann, Webley, and others during the competitive trials leading up to 1911.
Development of the Colt automatic line:
Traces John Browning’s early prototypes, the Colt Models 1900, 1902, 1905, and
the incremental improvements that culminated in the Model 1911.
Ordnance testing, reports, and modifications:
Provides serial‑number data, production notes, mechanical analysis, and
documentation from military archives.
Accessories, ammunition, and accoutrements:
Examines early .45 ACP and .38 Auto ammunition, magazines, holsters, and
related equipment.
Overall:
The book serves as a comprehensive historical and technical reference for
collectors, historians, and firearms researchers interested in the origins of
U.S. military autoloading pistols and the long path that led to the adoption of
the iconic Colt Model 1911.