Hi guys, thanks for tuning in to another video book review on forgottenweapons.com
I'm Ian McCollum and the book that we are taking a look at today is the Dreyse
Military needle ignition system by Guy and Leonard A-R-West brothers out of the UK
This is the second in a trio of books that they are in the process of writing on
antique military firearms. The first one was on the Chassepot
We have a video about that book as well if you're interested
Now this one follows largely the same format as the Chassepot book. It is not just an academic
History, it's not just a collector's guide. It is also a shooters guide kind of wraps all three of these sorts of subjects together
so the book begins with
basically a military history of the use of the Dreyse, the Dreyse of course was first developed in 1841 and
Continued to see use amongst I think all the German states and principalities up until the franco-prussian war
So 1840s through 1870s is really the time period we're looking at here unlike the Chassepot the Dreyse went through some substantial
Mechanical reconfiguration during its lifespan. So there are a bunch of different varieties and to to the unaccustomed observer
You know picking up a random Dreyse and trying to identify what it is. Well, that's a really daunting task
There are a lot of variations things like rear sights
Changed, you know multiple times on each model
Plus there are a whole bunch of different models
So it can be a really challenging
Task to try and figure out anything about the Dreyse this is compounded by the fact that prior to the publication of this book
There's very little out there even on the internet if you don't read German
not a whole lot to work with so
Like I said this starts with like a military history of the use of the Dreyse
Which is fascinating to me, it goes into a fair amount of depth when the rifle was used properly when it wasn't
when it was pitted against muzzle loaders a lot of interesting detail about
both the gun and how it's, how people's view of it changed over time, then it goes through a whole section on
basically
Specifications and details explaining each major model of the gun and that's particularly valuable
So the whole book by the way is illustrated with a mixture of photographs and hand colored paintings
Which are really interesting done by the authors?
so
the this one this book has a bit more tabulated data in it than the Chassepot did which I like
It still doesn't have like major overarching tables of serial numbers and production dates
But I can understand that being very difficult information to get what it does have is a lot of detailed technical
Specifications on each individual model of the gun and that's really cool. So
After that, there is a there's quite a bit by the way of like side by side pictures of different features, you know
This is the model A this is the model B and how you can identify them
What the pros and cons were of each change in the overall pattern of the rifle?
after we get through that section there is a section on accessories and
ancillary stuff, so
training cartridges bayonets in particular
identifying unit markings
And then the West brothers are also avid shooters of these firearms. So there's a substantial amount of information in here about
how to actually load for these how you develop the cartridges how you build the cartridges
And then what how the guns handle their they shot? They went out and shot something like half a dozen different patterns of Gracie and
their impressions very significantly
You know from the early rifles to the little short barrel cavalry carbines to the Beck conversions
Which by the way that that system is also covered in here in some detail
So overall you're looking at about a hundred and sixty page book pretty heavily
Illustrated with a lot of information in it both for the historian and for the practical enthusiasts
I can't think of any reason not to recommend this book. It has a lot of good information
Doesn't hurt that it's the only source of this information, but it's well put together. It's I found it. Very interesting
You don't have to be a shooter to enjoy the book and you don't have to be a historian to enjoy the book
There's a little bit of something for everybody
So I have a link in the description text below to woodfield press or woodfield pub
Woodfield the publisher where you can pick up a copy it is sold out of the UK and it is 45 pounds as of this
Recording so a little bit on the pricey side perhaps for a paperback book
but I think the quality of the information that's certainly the time that went into it that the painting illustrations are really
Interesting to me.
I would have found a really good camera, but the paintings are very cool
they give it a unique character and
They're able to be done in a way that they can really show these specific details that the author's are trying to point out in
the illustrations anyway
Highly recommended great new book on the Dreyse hopefully you guys enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching