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Product Description
Product Description
"Modern Combat Pistols" provides a comprehensive account of the development of military and police semi-automatic pistols and their ammunition from 1945 to present day. It follows on from the same authors' critically acclaimed "Assault Rifle" [Crowood 2004].
About the Author
Maxim Popenker is a lieutenant [reserve] in the Russian armed forces. He is the creator and webmaster of the leading internet small arms resource, the 'Modern Firearms' website at www.worldguns.ru. Maxim is co-author of Assault Rifle with Anthony Williams. Anthony G Williams has a particular interest in the history of automatic weapons and their ammunition. He wrote the Flying Guns trilogy which describes the development of guns and ammunition from 1914 to present day. Anthony is co-author of Assault Rifle with Maxim Popenker.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
While this book is probably one of the best resources available to armchair armourers for what it contains, there are some things that it does not which would improve it.
The first section deals with the history and theory of and trends in handgun and ammuntion design, including practical application. This is very interesting and enlightening, overall. The second section encyclopedia covers a massive variety of post-war combat handguns, with brief but informative write-ups for each. Viewers of Popenker's very informative but grammatically suspect website can be assured that proper english is used throughout the book!
However, the book assumes that the only handguns worth considering are semi-automatics; I was surprised to find no revolvers, which, given their preponderence in police use seems lax. Also, no consideration is given to the fact that many handguns are used for combat, even if not designed for combat. Furthermore, while the history section mentions them extensively, the encyclopedia section does not include any guns from pre-1945 (unless they are still in production); true, it is a book on Modern Combat Pistols, but they would be useful for comparison purposes.
Overall, this is an excellent book and if you are interested in handguns I certainly recommend this, I just wish it included more.
The first section deals with the history and theory of and trends in handgun and ammuntion design, including practical application. This is very interesting and enlightening, overall. The second section encyclopedia covers a massive variety of post-war combat handguns, with brief but informative write-ups for each. Viewers of Popenker's very informative but grammatically suspect website can be assured that proper english is used throughout the book!
However, the book assumes that the only handguns worth considering are semi-automatics; I was surprised to find no revolvers, which, given their preponderence in police use seems lax. Also, no consideration is given to the fact that many handguns are used for combat, even if not designed for combat. Furthermore, while the history section mentions them extensively, the encyclopedia section does not include any guns from pre-1945 (unless they are still in production); true, it is a book on Modern Combat Pistols, but they would be useful for comparison purposes.
Overall, this is an excellent book and if you are interested in handguns I certainly recommend this, I just wish it included more.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Like the other books by Maxim Popenker and his collaborator, co-writer, and editor, Anthony G. Williams, Modern Combat Pistols is the best resource available for complete, accurate, and sensible information on its subject. There isn't anything better. These books are well and clearly written. The two writers exhibit a width and depth of knowledge of all aspects of military small arms that puts them into a higher category than almost anyone else writing today. Alex Doster
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Impressive - accurate, useful information and well written
30 May 2007
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Finally, an excellent reference book with original work, lots of identifying photos and an absence of reproduced catalogue pages. The book's content is consistent with the title and it is written and organized in a manner appropriate for a historical piece.
The author opens by defining frequently used terms, the book's structure and providing an overview; pistol versus revolver, military versus police applications, defense versus offensive weapons. This is followed by a synopsis of the development of pistols pre 1945, followed by an overview of pistol development trends post 1945. Good solid substantiated information, well illustrated and easy to follow. Pages 40 through 257, the section that follows, contains a country by country origin of each handgun; 26 countries are represented.
Country of origin coverage is not skimpy. As an example, over 50 pistols are represented in the U.S.A. section including specs, operation and field stripping information and photographs. Each company is covered in brief manufacturing and political framework, the government contracts that drove the innovation and products and a references to application. Special operations, standard military, federal agency and civilian law enforcement are referenced in context. The author did a great job of making the information interesting and logical in presentation.
There are six appendices in the book covering semi auto pistol design, the basics of sound moderators, modern pistol ammunition, conversion between metric and imperial systems, stopping power and sources. In order of listing; excellent coverage of the most often misused and misunderstood terms, better history and description than some books dedicated to the topic, good tech data not manufacturer listings, handy one page conversion table, surprisingly little value and out of context with the book. The index is not good, it is too little to be useful.
Negatives? The book does not contain firearms made primarily for the civilian market, but then there is no suggestion it would. So you won't find listings for Kel-Tec, Kahr or brands like Kimber and Springfield Armory represented. You will find S&W, Ruger, SIG and other labels frequently under contract with police departments. If you check Amazon you'll find a table of contents page and index you can see if the book's reach is long enough for your needs. In my estimation, the book is an excellent, professionally written text and a nice change of pace from some of the overpriced catalogue fodder that has recently made it to the book shelves.
The author opens by defining frequently used terms, the book's structure and providing an overview; pistol versus revolver, military versus police applications, defense versus offensive weapons. This is followed by a synopsis of the development of pistols pre 1945, followed by an overview of pistol development trends post 1945. Good solid substantiated information, well illustrated and easy to follow. Pages 40 through 257, the section that follows, contains a country by country origin of each handgun; 26 countries are represented.
Country of origin coverage is not skimpy. As an example, over 50 pistols are represented in the U.S.A. section including specs, operation and field stripping information and photographs. Each company is covered in brief manufacturing and political framework, the government contracts that drove the innovation and products and a references to application. Special operations, standard military, federal agency and civilian law enforcement are referenced in context. The author did a great job of making the information interesting and logical in presentation.
There are six appendices in the book covering semi auto pistol design, the basics of sound moderators, modern pistol ammunition, conversion between metric and imperial systems, stopping power and sources. In order of listing; excellent coverage of the most often misused and misunderstood terms, better history and description than some books dedicated to the topic, good tech data not manufacturer listings, handy one page conversion table, surprisingly little value and out of context with the book. The index is not good, it is too little to be useful.
Negatives? The book does not contain firearms made primarily for the civilian market, but then there is no suggestion it would. So you won't find listings for Kel-Tec, Kahr or brands like Kimber and Springfield Armory represented. You will find S&W, Ruger, SIG and other labels frequently under contract with police departments. If you check Amazon you'll find a table of contents page and index you can see if the book's reach is long enough for your needs. In my estimation, the book is an excellent, professionally written text and a nice change of pace from some of the overpriced catalogue fodder that has recently made it to the book shelves.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
a must have !
27 Aug 2007
Format:Hardcover
This book is one of the best in its kind with clear comments about the history of combat handguns of all major gun manufacturers / countries and it covers several types of rare guns far better than Jane's does. Lots of pictures and data covering lots of guns. I would recommend this book to every 'modern handguns aficionado' !
This guy knows what's up
8 Feb 2012
Format:Hardcover
This book is very detailed and has a lot of pictures(If you like pictures) accompanied by lots of text(if you don't like pictures), Maxim knows his stuff and due to his service in the Russian military has a lot of insight in the eastern weapons that many western authors do not, I did not know how out-of-date both Europe's and the U.S. military small arms actually are until I read this book and his book about assault rifles.
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