Reference Material

[Kevin Houlihan]

  I need some input on reference material.  I have the following books:
RCA I & II
Longrifle Articles Volume I & II
Pennsylvania Longrifles of Note
Longrifles of North Carolina.

  All are great reference books.  I'm looking at purchasing another book with some Christmas money.  Which of the following 2 books would you recommend I get next and why?
The Kentucky Rifle by Dillin  or
Thoughts of the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age by Kindig
Thanks,
Kevin

[Acer Saccharum]

Thoughts by Kindig.

[Tom Currie]

Vote #2 for Kindig's book

[Karl Kunkel]

Kindig - Along with the RCA volumes, 'Thoughts' is one of the most referenced books.

Stand-by for the upcoming "Masterpieces of the American Long Rifle, the Joe Kindig Jr Collection" to be released this May, coinciding with the show in Reading.

[Acer Saccharum]

Also check out the KRF's site:  http://kentuckyriflefoundation.org/

They have a suggested reference list.

Also, in their store, they have several publications, and hugely fabulous CD's of color photos of guns of various schools. http://kentuckyriflefoundation.org/krf-store/

[whitebear]

Kindig's book first then Dillon's.  Kindigs is almost the bible of rifle enthusiast.

[davebozell]

Kindig first, then Dillon.  The pictures are better and more detailed in Kindig, but Dillon includes a fair amount of interesting narrative.

[KLMoors]

If you are doing this to help you build, then I would recommend the KRA DVD's.

[Kevin Houlihan]

Thanks guys.  I think I'm going to get Kindig's book. I did get the KRA CD "Southern Rifles" for Christmas and agree that it will be a great reference.  I also have all 4 of the American Pioneer Videos "Contemporary Kentucky Rifles" which are also great.  I probably need to stop sitting around looking at pictures and start building again!
Thanks,
Kevin

[Pete G.]

It is an old one, but "The Kentucky Rifle" put out by the Historical Society of York County is another good one. Color photos are way, way better than the standard B&W of most books.

[Osprey]

Buy every one you can afford, you won't regret it.  If a gun you want to build is in 'Art and Evolution of the Longrifle' on the KRF site, get it, it's that good.  The individual school books are great too, it you can find them, anything by Whisker.  I've got the Maryland, Bedford and York books and pick them up at least once a week to dream and plan!  Books never get out of style or lose value...

[Dave B]

One of the great things about the new KRA CD's is the ability to zoom in on  details.  being able to clearly see the details of the piece where as with the books most photos wont let you see clean enough detail. For example on the side plate filing detail. I had for years though the area around the rear lock bolt had sharper bras contours but it was only the filing detail filled in with grunge the real out line of the plate was not aggressive in its outline at all.  The amount of work saved in inletting as well as the  resulting end being more historically correct.

[Mark Elliott]

Definitely the latest release of Kindig.   I wouldn't bother with Dillon's book.    The photos are bad and the information way out of date.    Perhaps if you got a first edition of Dillon, it might be worth it.   I understand the photos are better in the early editions.   

[J.Cundiff]

Definitely Kindig. I still need to get RCA II... but RCA I and Kindig have been awesome references.

[HIB]

Gentlemen,  The Kentucky Rifle Foundation truly appreciates all the plugs for their books and CD's.

As for Dillin or Kindig: Both of these books were published early and mid-20th Century.

Dillon's first edition is dated 1924. Following editions were printed 1946 and 1959. Shumway produced the 1959 edition. As pointed out by several others it contains good narative and text but photos not useful to a Contemporary Builder. I have found the story line to be very interesting and informative from a research aspect. However, expect some errors in attribution and speculation. If you intend to invest in Dillin find a copy that has been heavily used with copious notes.

Kindig's first edition is dated 1960. What most people don't realize is Kindig used the input of a number of his researcher friends as a base line for each segment of his book. Kindig would be the first to tell you "This is the basic story as I see it now. There are probably errors in here that I hope future research efforts will unravel and correct". Kindig states on page VII "Not all the following thoughts are necessarily fact.....they are conclusions....". It is with this in mind that an older edition with numerous notes and worn pages is more valuable, from a research aspect, than an 'just off the press' version. The earlier edition photos are better and larger than Dillin but still only offer limited opportunity to the Contemporary Builder. I have been told the press plates are starting to wear out which is another reason a Contemporary Builder should seek an earlier edition.

From a Contemporary Builders aspect there is no better book than the recently released book by Dave Hansen; An intimate look at the American Longrifle its Art and Evolution available thru the Kentucky Rifle Foundation.  Along with superb photography each rifle displayed is accompanied by 20 accurate dimensions. A builders dream come true.   Regards,  HIB

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I concur Henry.  I have poured over my copy, and enjoy the wonderfully clear and close up images of parts of rifles that until now, have been a bit of a mystery.  An example is Andrew Verner's great rifle.  In no other publication are there accurate and clear images of the incised carving at the wrist/comb transition.  I was intrigued when I compared my own interpretation to the read deal.  Another valuable feature for the builder, is the book's colour photography.  There can be no mistake about getting that stain colour just right, bearing in mind that these rifles have a couple of hundred years on us.