9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
I liked it..., 2002-07-17
I liked this book in that it gave me a basic knowledge of the M1903 rifle - that's what I was looking for. It didn't go as deep as Scott Duff did in his books on the Garand, but still a good beginner's book. I recommend it.
45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent introduction to the US Model 1903 Rifle., 2000-08-01
This is a fast and easy read, and much more enjoyable than the more "authoritative" texts on the subject, such as Lt. Col. Brophy's volume. Canfield narrows his focus to only the 1903 variants that actually served in training and combat in the US armed forces. This narrower view allows him to cover the subject in 160 pages.Canfield takes you step-by-step through the evolution of the Model 1903, with good close-up photographs showing design changes alongside of earlier or later models for comparison purposes.
There's a lot of great history in this book as well, with many excellent photographs of the 1903 in action, from World War One to the Korean War. Canfield includes a wonderful story about the demise of the early "rod bayonet" after President Theodore Roosevelt demonstrated its ineffectiveness by snapping it in two with one blow from his Krag rifle bayonet.
This is a great book for the entry-level collector, for the war history buff, or even someone who wants to find out more about that "old Springfield rifle" that was inherited from Father or Grandfather.