American Rifle: A Biography
by Alexander Rose
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Book Summary Information
Author: Alexander RoseEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-10-21
ISBN: 0553805177
Number of pages: 512
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Book Reviews of American Rifle: A Biography
Book Review: Delightful dollop of American history ...
Summary: 5 Stars
The transformation of the American rifle literally changed the course of history. Not all change comes easily nor intentionally. Men were continually tinkering with their weapons to make them more efficient. Christian Friedrich Schöenbein had been toying with the idea that treating cotton with nitric and sulfuric acids might give the bang needed to replace gunpowder with less bulk. When the wife was away, he apparently worked his experiment in their kitchen. After spilling some nitric acid, he mopped it up with the wife's apron and hid it near the stove to dry. Well, the resulting explosion a while later may not have thrilled her much or did much for her apron, but guncotton was a new and much welcomed propellant. It was not noted whether or not he purchased her a new apron.
Producing a rifle in early American was a lengthy and arduous task. Even the apprenticeship of eight years insured that what weapons were produced would end up in the hands of the wealthy. George Washington was so proud of his that it was painted into one of his portraits. Martha's money, he may have figured, was being well spent. The fascination with the rifle was and is continuous. The American Rifle Association is 125 years old, growing strong and a much feared political force to be reckoned with in this day and age. Dismayed that their troops couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, the association decided rather late in the game they had just better get a group together to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis." Alexander Rose, military historian and journalist, has written an absolutely amazing and comprehensive history of the AMERICAN RIFLE: A Biography. If there is anything at all to be known about the rifle, it's in this volume.
As someone who was unfamiliar with anything Alexander Rose had written prior to the American Rifle, I was unprepared, yet very pleasantly surprised, at the depth and delightful dollop of American history I found in its pages. The book was extremely well written and, as a huge fan of a decent index, was certainly not disappointed with his reference material (the complete bibliography is listed on the author's site). For one who is not very interested in weaponry at all, I found this to be a popcorn page turner. I popped a lot of popcorn and spent many evenings avidly reading some very interesting tidbits of American lore. The hardcover is a tad pricey, but then again if you want quality you simply have to pay for it
Deb Fowler (Roundtable Reviews)
Summary of American Rifle: A Biography
George Washington insisted that his portrait be painted with one. Daniel Boone created a legend with one. Abraham Lincoln shot them on the White House lawn. And Teddy Roosevelt had his specially customized.Now, in this first-of-its-kind book, historian Alexander Rose delivers a colorful, engrossing biography of an American icon: the rifle. Drawing on the words of soldiers, inventors, and presidents, based on extensive new research, and encompassing the Revolution to the present day, American Rifle is a balanced, wonderfully entertaining history of this most essential firearm and its place in American culture.
In the eighteenth century American soldiers discovered that they no longer had to fight in Europe?s time-honored way. With the evolution of the famed ?Kentucky? Rifle?a weapon slow to load but devastatingly accurate in the hands of a master?a new era of warfare dawned, heralding the birth of the American individualist in battle.
In this spirited narrative, Alexander Rose reveals the hidden connections between the rifle?s development and our nation?s history. We witness the high-stakes international competition to produce the most potent gunpowder . . . how the mysterious arts of metallurgy, gunsmithing, and mass production played vital roles in the creation of American economic supremacy . . . and the ways in which bitter infighting between rival arms makers shaped diplomacy and influenced the most momentous decisions in American history. And we learn why advances in rifle technology and ammunition triggered revolutions in military tactics, how ballistics tests?frequently bizarre?were secretly conducted, and which firearms determined the course of entire wars.
From physics to geopolitics, from frontiersmen to the birth of the National Rifle Association, from the battles of the Revolution to the war in Iraq, American Rifle is a must read for history buffs, gun collectors, soldiers?and anyone who seeks to understand the dynamic relationship between the rifle and this nation?s history.
Amazon Best of the Month, October 2008: Given the title, American Rifle is a book that many potential readers might dismiss without a thought. Don't do it: Alexander Rose's peculiar "biography" is not written for gun enthusiasts--though they'll certainly enjoy it--but for anyone interested American history from George Washington to the Wild West to Iraq. Drawing on original sources ranging from Samuel Colt to the soldiers who depend on the weapon the most, this book is an exhaustive history of the rifle's place in American culture, not only as an instrument of war, but also as a driver of technological innovation and advances in mass production that helped propel the United States into its role as both a military and economic superpower. Once you start, American Rifle will have to be pried from your cold, dead hands before you put it down. --Jon Foro
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