Review by Charles Murray
AMERICAN GUN, by Chris Kyle with William Doyle and editorial contributions by Jim Defelice, forward and afterword by Taya Kyle, © 2013. Hardback published by HarperCollins and paperback published by William Morrow. Paperback list price $15.99. Also available in audio CD. Available at bookstores and online bookstores.
It would be a safe bet that most readers of TheGunMag know at least a little about Chris Kyle. We know about his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he became the most lethal sniper in US military history. Many have read his book, American Sniper, or seen Clint Eastwood’s movie by the same title. What might come as a surprise to some TGM readers is that Chris Kyle wrote a second book called American Gun. The subtitle of this book concisely tells what it is about: A History of the US in Ten Firearms. If you love guns, and if you are interested in our nation’s history, your will savor reading every page of this book.
Kyle selected 10 types of firearms for his book, spanning the period from the American Revolution to present day. The book is not about those guns so much as it is about the part they played in our country’s history. For example, the first chapter tells the story of how the American long rifle (aka Kentucky rifle or Pennsylvania rifle) and a Continental Army sergeant by the name of Timothy Murphy helped win the Battle of Saratoga. This battle was not only a critical victory for American morale, but it provided the incentive the French needed to provide military aid to the Americans.
Murphy’s boss was Daniel Morgan, a man who would become the commander at another important American victory, the Battle of Cowpens. Kyle describes in detail Morgan’s strategy, “one of the most brilliant battle plans in American history, a masterpiece of combined arms, fire, and movement that featured the American long rifle in a starring role.”
Kyle connects threads to different stories. One story he is particularly proud of is the fact that one of Morgan’s officers was Major Samuel Houston Sr., father of the famous Gen. Sam Houston who defeated Santa Anna to win Texas’ independence from Mexico. Houston Senior was Kyle’s seventh great-grandfather on his mother’s side. Kyle relates how Houston Junior’s tactics of drawing Santa Anna into the ideal location for the Battle of San Jacinto is similar to Morgan’s strategy of retreating until the time was right for the Battle of Cowpens. It’s details like this that make Kyle’s book unique and fascinating.
Kyle does not ignore the gun in his history lessons. He describes the long rifle’s characteristics, how it operated, how it compared to contemporary muskets, and the impact it had on strategies and tactics.
Each of the other nine chapters follows a similar pattern. The other nine firearms focus on the Spencer Repeater, the Colt Single-Action Army Revolver, the Winchester 1873 Rifle, the M1903 Springfield, the M1911 Pistol, the Thompson Submachine Gun, the M1 Garand, the .38 Special Police Revolver, and the M16 Rifle. Your favorite firearm might not be on this list of 10, but after reading the book you will appreciate why these 10 were chosen. In addition to his 10 main firearms, Kyle occasional delves into describing and comparing competing firearms.
All TGM readers are aware that firearms get bad press. Many people relate firearms with crime and murder. American Gun illustrates the good side of guns, and it does so in a very entertaining way. I recommend you read the book, have your family read the book, and then donate the book to a school library. If every young American read Kyle’s book, he would understand how important firearms have been in securing and preserving freedom in America.
