The Black Rifle: M16 Retrospective (Modern US Military Small Arms Series- Volume Three) Hardcover

The Heretic · Jan 11, 2023

I am going thru some of my collector grade books and deciding which to keep and which to sell.

There was a time when I loved to debate/post about various guns. I wanted the authoritative authors, not the junk paperbacks. Authors like Ezell (Smithsonian firearms curator and expert on military firearms history) and Blake Stevens (https://www.all4shooters.com/en/shooting/culture/robert-blake-stevens-passes-away/). I have several books (more like tomes) bythem and others. At one time it wasn't unusual for me to spend $1K or more at a gun show on these kinds of books.

I will post more ads for these as I got thru them - individual ads.

I will ask used prices, but these are generally in new condition, often with slip covers. This book is no exception.

The price is $195. This is a serious look at the history of the M16 with all kinds of facts and technical details/drawings/etc. - no fluff, just facts by people who knew what they were talking about.

I might take certain premium defensive ammo in trade - .223/5.56, 7.62x51, 9x19mm - but I am picky about what ammo I want.

If you want it shipped, I can do that, but these are generally heavy items and you pay shipping/insurance.

TQFan · Mar 16, 2023

I used to pick books like this up at gun shows in the 80's and 90's. I absolutely treasure them now.

The Heretic · Mar 13, 2025

TQFan said:
I used to pick books like this up at gun shows in the 80's and 90's. I absolutely treasure them now.

Yeah, there was a collector seller at the WAC shows back then who had the good stuff and knew it. I would sometimes spend $500 at his table. I have other books, many of them I have not read yet. Some I am keeping because they have excellent info on guns I own. Ezell died, so no more books from him, almost any book he was involved with was authoritative and informative, like an encyclopedia, especially on the history and development of firearms.