I have several of West’s books, the ones covering Stevens, Marlin and Winchester products.  The coverage is amazingly complete, when you figure that it was just one man doing the writing, publishing, sales and research (unless, of course, he knew a vast number of collectors that he didn’t credit, which seems unlikely).  Lots of pictures and catalog references, as well as short descriptions of the models and the people involved.  Pretty well written, too.

I find them to be valuable references.  The main issue for me was that they were always kind of pricey, whether purchased direct from West or found second-hand, and unlike a lot of gun books, generally don’t drop in price except on rare occasions at gun shows when someone doesn’t know what they have.  The self-published “look” of the books is obvious, like the Herter books, which went for pretty cheap, even when new.  Other gun books in West books’ price range tended to be more “finished,” large folio with coffee-table sized pages, expertly-taken color photos and other such stuff we’ve learned to expect.

I’m kind of curious about the man himself.  If he wrote any magazine articles, or anybody wrote any about him, I don’t recall reading them, and he doesn’t show up in any discussions, lists or photos of authors, collectors or exhibitors, like Sellers, Campbell, Grant, deHaas and the other authorities do.

Rebel wrote on Nov 5^th, 2018 at 2:19pm:
  I have not read any of West's books but I know about 
Bill West as do many others on this site. I knew Ed Mason whose Sevens collection West used to illustrate his book on Stevens. I don't know if he gave Ed credit or not. I thought West was a jerk. Make that a strange jerk.

Long range, I also knew Ed and had dealing with Bill. After Ed allowed his collection to be photographed and used in the book, and Eds wife fed him lunch each day he was there, He told Ed that the books were limited run so if he wanted one he could BUY A COPY!!! Oh and did you ever go anywhere with Ed when he drove?

I never knew Mr. West.  But I did buy and try to make use of his Stevens book, and that persuaded me not to "invest" in anything else he produced.  The really sad thing is that in quenching our thirst for knowledge, we historians/collectors/et al often wear our hopes on our sleeves and on our pocketbooks.  Worse yet, we also often fall for the same publishing tricks again, witness the fella with the sights and 'scopes books.

Bill Lawrence

Tom_Trevor assra life no.71 wrote on Nov 5^th, 2018 at 4:10pm:

Rebel wrote on Nov 5^th, 2018 at 3:25pm:


If you are lucky enough to have a copy of "Muzzle Flashes" by Ellis Lenz (1944), you can read his 5-page review of "How I became a Crack Shot".  I re-read it a couple of days ago, simply because I'm a Farrow fanatic.  Very interesting spin on Mr. Farrow.

waterman wrote on Nov 5^th, 2018 at 9:45pm:


Luck not necessary--you can buy a copy of the Wolfe reprint for under $5.  Short book, fast read, but fascinating look at how it was possible for a good shot to turn his marksmanship skills into a living...that is, before the media turned guns into objects of fear & loathing.