R L Wilson Books

Robert Lawrence Wilson (1939 - 2016) was an American consultant and author on firearms and engraving. Wilson was a keen big game hunter and starting in 1970, has been on nine African safaris. The first safari, in Zambia with Ian Manning, was undertaken as research for his book, 'Theodore Roosevelt: Outdoorsman'.

The Paterson Colt Book: Featuring The Dennis A Levett Collection by R L Wilson (2001) is a comprehensive technical history of the rarest of all Colt firearms.

R L Wilson: The Official Price Guide To Gun Collecting, 1st Edition by R L Wilson (1998)

R L Wilson: The Official Price Guide To Gun Collecting, 2nd Edition by R L Wilson (1999)

R L Wilson: The Official Price Guide To Gun Collecting, 3rd Edition by R L Wilson (2000)

Colt's Dates Of Manufacture 1837 To 1978 by R L Wilson (1985) is the most current book on Colt serial numbers available. A must for the Colt shooter, collector, historian, dealer or enthusiast.

Silk And Steel: Women At Arms by R L Wilson (2003) is the first comprehensive presentation on the subject of women and firearms. No object has had a greater impact on world history over the past 650 years than the firearm and women have been keen on the subject, as shooters, hunters, collectors, engravers and even gunmakers. From Queen Elizabeth I through her descendant Queen Elizabeth II, the numbers of aristocratic female arms enthusiasts, particularly shooters, have been impressive.

Steel Canvas: The Art Of American Arms by R L Wilson (1995) is a breathtaking panorama of extraordinary engravings and veneers on knives and firearms, from the 1700s to modern times. Features works of decorative art by Tiffany & Co and engravings by Gustave Young and A A White.

The Peacemakers: Arms And Adventure In The American West by R L Wilson (1992) is a pictorial celebration of weaponry and its users, from Lewis and Clark to mountain men, miners, outlaws, peace officers and cowboys. Depicts muzzle loaders, buffalo killers, cutlass pistols, Bowie knives, pocket pistols and Wells Fargo shotguns.

Colt: An American Legend by R L Wilson (1985) is a well-written text about the early Colts to the modern police, civilian and miliary weapons.

The World Of Beretta: An International Legend by R L Wilson (2000). Not only the oldest gunmaker in the world, but the oldest industrial firm in the world, Beretta launched its 475th anniversary with the lavish history presented here.

Evolution Of The Colt: Firearms From The Robert Q Sutherland Collection by R L Wilson (1967). This collection represents the principle Colt specimens, in sequence, from the percussion cap and ball era to the metallic cartridge era, thus covering a period from 1834 to date.

Colt Commemorative Firearms by R L Wilson (1969). The various Colt commemorative models from 1961 through to 1973 are listed, described and photographed in colour in this book.

The Art Of The Gun by R L Wilson & Robert M Lee (2002). Five volumes describe some of the most beautiful modern sporting firearms in the world.

Ruger & His Guns: A History Of The Man, The Company And Their Firearms by R L Wilson (1996) is the definitive history of William B Ruger (b.1916) and of the company, Sturm, Ruger & Co., that he fashioned into the world's premier firearms manufacturer.

Winchester: An American Legend by R L Wilson (1991) is the definitive and official history of Winchester arms and ammunition. Detailed and authoritative history of Winchester and its weapons, beginning with the Volcanic and the New Haven Arms Corporation, up to Winchester's present day incarnation as a division of the Olin Corporation.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West: An American Legend by R L Wilson (1998) offers a vibrant pictorial celebration of the colourful cast of characters of the original Wild West shows, who made the frontier come alive. Features in-depth coverage of the costumes, weaponry, rare cabinet card photographs and Buffalo Bill's Ammo Wagon.

The Arms Collection Of Colonel Colt by R L Wilson (1964) illustrates and describes the Colt guns that were privately kept by early American gunmaking genius, Samuel Colt, in his personal collection, now in the collections of the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford, CT. It also relates the story of Sam and Elizabeth Colt, their family, their lavish estate (called "Armsmear"), the arms factory, the Colt arms dating from 1836 and much more.

The Colt Heritage: The Official History Of Colt Firearms From 1836 To The Present by R L Wilson (1979) is a major work authorized by the Colt Company to tell the definitive and complete history of the Colt firearms from 1836 to present.

Samuel Colt Presents: A Loan Exhibition Of Presentation Percussion Colt Firearms by R L Wilson (1961). This book was produced to accompany a phenomenal exhibition of Colt percussion revolvers that were displayed in 1961. Most of these guns are engraved and cased with accessories and historically inscribed. Many were presentations from Samuel Colt himself or other Colt Company officials.

The Rampant Colt: The Story Of A Trademark by R L Wilson (1969) deals with the emblem of a rearing horse associated with the Colt firearms company, the origins and development of the trademark, and its use through the years. This includes advertising, trademarks, letterheads, gun markings, documents, medals and more that included the emblem. As such it is a study of Colt memorabilia.

The Deringer In America Volume One: The Percussion Period by R L Wilson (1985)

The Deringer In America Volume Two: The Cartridge Period by R L Wilson (1964). Philadelphia gunmaker Henry Deringer and his small-but-deadly pistol became known the world over in the decades just before and after the Civil War. John Wilkes Booth used a Deringer pistol to murder President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater in 1865. Scores of Deringer pistols are pictured and identified, not only those made by Henry Deringer himself but also his many competitors.

Paterson Colt Pistol Variations by R L Wilson (1979). The arms produced by Colt at the Paterson, New Jersey plant were the first successful revolving cylinder repeating pistols and the collecting of them has gained exceptional interest. This book provides a wealth of information to be found nowhere else and is a valuable library addition.

Fine Colts: The Dr Joseph A Murphy Collection by R L Wilson (1999) represents a comprehensive catalogue of what is said to be the finest collection of percussion Colt revolvers ever assembled, also collection of Colt conversions and cartridge models.

The Book Of Colt Firearms by R L Wilson (1971) is universally accepted as one of the finest firearms books ever published. This mammoth work tells the Colt story from 1832 to the present. A comprehensive study of Colonel Colt and his company. A necessary volume for the collector, the researcher, the historian, the curator, the shooter or hunter, the arms dealer or the interested layman.

Colt Pistols 1836 - 1976 by R L Wilson (1976) describes some of the finest cased, engraved, and/or historically significant Colt firearms in the world. All of the well-known Colt factory engravers are represented - Nimschke, Young, Helfricht, Glahn, Gough, Kornbrath, Herbert and White.

The Book Of Winchester Engraving by R L Wilson (1975). Over 700 Winchester longarms are detailed and pictured, plus examinations of the work of the numerous engravers themselves, spanning the period from before the Civil War until today.

The Colt Engraving Book by R L Wilson (1974) is a huge and comprehensive 2 volumes. A precise and accurate history of Colt engraving. Clearly detailed, each of the master engraver's works is explored in text and hundreds of colour and black and white photographs.

L D Nimschke: Firearms Engraver by R L Wilson (1992). L D Nimschke's record covers the second half of the 19th century - a golden era in the engraved decoration of firearms. Tremendously prolific, he was a highly skilled workmaster for over 100 different makers and manufacturers and was expert in all the contemporary engraving styles. His record is a veritable archive of gun engraving, 1850-1900. Represented are Nimschke-engraved firearms by Colt, Winchester, Remington, Sharps, Smith & Wesson, Ballard, Manhattan, Marlin, Merwin Hulbert & Co., Spencer, Starr, Tranter, Greener, Whitney and other American and European makers.

Winchester: The Golden Age Of American Gunmaking And The Winchester 1 Of 1000 by R L Wilson (1983). The 1873 rifles, 1 of 100 and 1 of 1000 plus the 1876 rifles, 1 of 100 and 1 of 1000. Also covering some of the modern 1 of 1000 Winchesters.

Antique Arms Annual by R L Wilson (1971). Sponsored by the Texas Gun Collectors' Association. A highly illustrated compendium of some of America's great 19th century firearms - many images and stories from high profile collections and auctions.

The Russian Colts by R L Wilson (1979) is the full story of the guns presented by Samuel Colt to the Czar and his family in the mid 1800s. Includes examples of the work of Gustave Young and of the finest in Colt quality firearms.

Theodore Roosevelt: Outdoorsman by R L Wilson (1971) is a fascinating biography written by one of America's foremost authorities on Winchester and Colt firearms. It covers not only Roosevelt's love of hunting and conservation but relates to the firearms he used and there is a particularly interesting section on the planning for his African trip and the American rifles he arranged for his great adventure.

Theodore Roosevelt: Hunter-Conservationist by R L Wilson (2010) is a Boone and Crockett Club book and is a sweeping view of the outdoor life of the rancher, explorer, soldier, statesman, author, 26th President of the United States - and hero to hunters and conservationists.

Related R L Wilson Books

Dennis Adler

Metallic Cartridge Conversions: The History Of The Guns And Modern Reproductions by Dennis Adler (Date Unknown). Introduction by Tom Selleck. Foreword by R L Wilson.

Elliot Bostwick Davis and George T M Shackelford

Things I Love: The Many Collections Of William I Koch by Elliot Bostwick Davis and George T M Shackelford (2005) with a contribution from R L Wilson. Koch's collection includes the pistol that shot Jesse James.

R L Wilson DVD

In The Blood is a film by George Butler of two hunting safaris separated by eighty years. The first, taken by Theodore Roosevelt in 1909, is captured through vintage footage and photography. The second is taken by Roosevelt's grandson in 1986, as he shoulder's the famed president's rifle and, accompanied by his young son, follows in the footsteps of elephants and crocodiles. R L Wilson was involved in the filming of this documentary. DVD 90 mins.