Review by Larry S. Sterett | Contributing Editor
AMERICAN GUNSMITHS 2nd Edition, by Frank M. Sellers. Published by Blue Book Publications, Inc., Dept. TGM, 8009 34th Avenue South, Suite 175, Minneapolis, MN 55425. Price: $29.95, plus postage. Available at most bookstores.
The late Frank Sellers was a collector, dealer and author. This 384-page softbound volume was one of his last projects. It is the culmination of more than a score of years of research since the first edition was published in 1983.
Following an informative Foreword, a How to Use This Book section by the editor, and an Introduction by the publisher, this gem presents more than 20,000 names, with addresses, dates, etc., of American gun makers,, patentees, gunsmiths, and related others from the mid-17th to the 20th century. The entries, from A & B to Zwierzynski, Herman, in alphabetical order, are arranged in a definite pattern. The name (specific person, trade name, initials, marking or stamping) appears first in bold print and upper case. The year of birth-death in parentheses follows, if known, for specific persons. (“unidentified” may follow a name, and it indicates a dual status; not known and not located.) If known, the place (location) and time span of the Name’s firearms-relevant activity is provided. One of the most important bits of information is just that: Relevant Information. The RI may contain some, none, or considerable information, including the following: firearm type, patents, limited personal or business information, business ownership, employment of or by a person or business, predecessor/successor businesses, familial relationships, and other miscellaneous related information.
The final bit of information for the listings is a bibliography code. (This volume features an excellent bibliography of books and periodicals at the end.) This code is always at the end of a listing and always in parenthesis. Thus, someone researching SPRINGER, ISAAC W., and noting (Hutslar) at the end, should turn to the Bibliography in the back, to find Donald A. Hutslar who was the author of Gunsmiths of Ohio, published in 1973. (Not every entry has a bibliography code.)
Researchers should find the volume saves them a bit of time. There are, for example, nearly four dozen listings for the name TAYLOR. Which Taylor is the correct one? Too, many different firms used the same name, such as the WESTERN ARMS COMPANY, at different times, and often without knowledge of the others located in different states.
This is a valuable reference text for any antique arms collector, dealer, or arms museum curator. (Except for a photo of the late author, Frank Sellers, there are no illustrations in this tome.) The heading on each of the directory pages lists the first and last entry to be found on that page. Some entries are rather brief, but others, such as those for BROWNING, JOHN MOSES and WESSON, DANIEL BAIRD, are extensive. Regardless, each provides a start for further research.
