Which reference book (s)?

[jeremy69]

What are the best reference books for martial shotguns? Specifically interested in US stuff. Any suggestions as to best places to purchase the books too... Thanks!

[westgard]

well, a 'must have' is Bruce Canfield's "Combat Shotguns" book....

[mtrpdw]

"The World's Fighting Shotguns", 1978, by Thomas F. Swearengen, was the first comprehensive work on military & police shotguns (504 pages). It's a worthwhile reference.

"U.S. Winchester Trench & Riot Guns, and Other U.S. Combat Shotguns", by Joe Poyer, is another popular one, though with not as extensive or with as many photos as Swearengen's or Canfield's books.

As it was already mentioned, Bruce N. Canfield's, "Complete Guide to United States Military Combat Shotguns", is a very good reference, and includes info on how to identify faked/counterfeit trench/combat shotguns.

These books are usually available through amazon.com or ebay.

[trenchhawk]

Jeremy69, email me at hawkfa1945@yahoo.com. I have some books you might be interrested in.
Mike

[desentis]

I'd be interested in us attempting comprehensive list...

Canfield has an earlier book called "A collectors Guide to US Combat Shotguns" that has some duplicate information, but I end up flipping back and forth thru both.

I've got every book I could find on the subject and they don't take much space on the shelf!

It took a while to find Swearengen's book. It was a good read, but did not have much information I could really use.

I also found the 1988 Gun Digest (42nd Ed) that has a decent article on riot guns.

[trenchhawk]

Gun collector Digest 5th edision has a great article on the Stevens 77E used in Vietnam by Us troops and South Vietnam troops. Lots of info and pictures. I had another Gun Digest, I think it was 1989 had a green cover. In it was an article By a fellow name of Archer. Real good article with info and pictures.

[Tom Doniphon]

It's the 1988 Gun Digest 42nd Annual Edition that has an article by Eric Archer on WWII US Military shotguns. Eric also wrote the Stevens 77E article you referred to.