Flayderman’s Guide To Antique American Firearms…
And Their Values
By Norm Flayderman
(November 2008 Civil War News)

Illustrated, indexes, softcover, 800 pp., 2007 edition. Gun Digest Books, 700 East State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001, $39.99 plus shipping.

Reviewer: Dale E. Biever
Dale E. Biever received his M.Ed. in American history from Kutztown University. He is past vice president for administration and former member of the Board of Governors of the Company of Military Historians. A retired educa­tor, he was registrar at the Civil War Library and Museum in Philadelphia.

Review:
Norm Flayderman’s ninth American antique firearms guide is a must for the Civil War collector and historian. With over 4,000 individually priced guns and more than 1,800 photos it presents a major undertaking in the field of hand and shoulder pieces.

While the book covers almost all American antique arms there is a great amount of information on those of the Civil War and this is our area of concentration. The first few chapters deal with such topics as collecting, values and condition, restoration and fakes, and a seven-page bibliography. Do not gloss over this initial information since it can help refine your thoughts on collecting or research.

The most significant chapters for Civil War weapons are “Major American Manufacturers,” “American Percussion Pistols,” “American Military Longarms,” and “Confederate Firearms.” Chapters are divided into sections, each of which has an introduction to the weapons and gives a number of things to be aware of when dealing with specific pieces.

This is followed by a short bibliography for further information. There is then a black and white photo of the specific arm and related data which might include model information, lock identifications, grips, serial number spreads and conversions. The chapter on longarms not only shows full-length pictures but lock close-ups as well.

Values for each piece are listed at the end of their article and can run from good to excellent. When looking at values it is necessary to read Chapter II which covers that topic.

The chapter on Confederate firearms is of major importance. Flayderman’s work here is to be taken very seriously since he delves into the murky waters of what is “Confederate” and what can lie ahead for the uninformed.

The bibliography on Confederate guns should be consulted before one becomes seriously involved with these historic pieces.

In a few instances no photos are shown due to the lack of a marked specimen and no real value can be fixed because of the rarity. There are a number of “fair” values throughout the chapter since many of these weapons saw considerable field usage and were quite worn by the end of the war.

Flayderman’s Guide also covers a wide range of other subjects such as firearms from the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods, Kentuckies, shotguns and fowling pieces, and a chapter on such topics as whaling, Indian and alarm guns. A wonderful 16-page color section features some of the finest and most interesting arms you will see.

For easy access to specific weapons a “Major Manufacturers Index” and an “Alphabetical Index” are provided. This 2007 edition far surpasses any previous edition and should be on the desk of museum personnel, collectors and arms historians as the ultimate reference work in this field.