CHASSEPOT TO FAMAS, by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons fame, is a great addition to any home library. If you have any interest in French military rifles, this is pretty much your only source of information. While not necessarily something that needs to be read cover to cover, it is about as easy of a read as a reference book can be.
While working my last job at Old Steel Historical Firearms in Littleton, Colorado, we routinely had French rifles coming through the door. Previously, we had to rely on what little information we had on hand. After adding this book to the library, it quickly became something we referenced frequently.
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A few things really stand out about this book:
Imagery
If you purchased this book for no other reason than the pictures, it is worth it. The high-quality imagery that James Rupley provides within this book makes it worth the price tag alone. Almost every page is loaded with large color images.
Organization
If you’ve spent any amount of time in a firearms reference book, you know how much of a pain it can be to try and find something within an unorganized book. This book is laid out in chronological order of when each firearm was adopted. Spending some time in this book initially will familiarize you with the layout and make referencing it easy.
Readability
Despite being heavy on the history and development of each rifle, it is a very easy read and keeps you interested. Never in my life did I think I would be interested in variations of Berthier receiver markings…
As a gunsmith, this book gives me an easy reference to make sure I am replacing broken or worn parts with the correct variations for that model and year. While this may not be important to some customers, it makes all the difference in the world to those who do care. Plus, it may explain why the part you ordered for that model doesn’t quite fit right
Overall, this is an excellent read. Because of this book, I feel that if I ever have the urge to buy or appraise a French rifle, I can do so with the confidence of knowing whether it has been altered or not. This is THE source on French military rifles and should be on every serious collector or gunsmith’s shelf.
Find it here:
Chassepot to Famas: French Military Rifles 1866-2016 (Signature Edition)
Written by: Kurt Martonik
Kurt is a Gunsmith, Reloader, Hunter, and Outdoorsman. He grew up in Elk County, Pennsylvania, where he became obsessed with the world of firearms. Following high school, Kurt enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Boom Operator, where he eventually rose to the position of Instructor. After his military service, he attended the Colorado School of Trades(CST) in Lakewood, CO for gunsmithing. Following graduation, he accepted a job at C. Sharps Arms in Montana, where he worked as a full time stockmaker and gunsmith.