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Front Sight Post
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Revised Edition
A History and Collector's Guide to German Self-Loading Rifles of WWII
By Colonel W. Darrin Weaver, USA, (Ret.)
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Rough Forged Revised Edition is the revision of the author's 2000 text and 2020 Rough Forged, and covers the history and development of German self-loading rifles starting from the late 1800s, to World War One, the inter-war years, through to the Gewehr 41, Gewehr 43 and Karabiner 43 rifles, optics and accessories of World War II. When the Wehrmacht plunged into Poland in 1939, the individual German soldier found himself issued with weapons and equipment little different than his father had been given in the First World War. And, just as their fathers had done a generation before, German soldiers went off to war armed with a version of the venerable Mauser 98 rifle. Sure, it had been improved, shortened, lightened, the bolt handle bent down- but it remained a slow, outdated, bolt-action design, better suited to an age past. The United States and the Soviet Union were fielding large numbers of self-loading rifles on the eve of WWII, leading many collectors and historians to ask the same fundamental question. Why had Germany, a nation that designed and built some of the greatest airplanes, armored vehicles, artillery, and machine guns the world had ever seen, been so slow to the game when it came to self-loading rifles? And, why did it take the better part of four more years of bloody conflict before German troops began to receive sizeable numbers of semi-automatic rifles. The answers are complex, and explored in depth within this copiously illustrated two-volume set, that also includes markings, codes, production differences, telescope development history, rifle and optical accessories, with detailed appendices covering all of the major manufacturers' production codes and manufacturing variants. Rough Forged is the definitive study for all who collect and are interested in German World War Two self-loading rifles!
LIBRARY
A collection of a few of Front Sight Post Publishing's projects, articles, and book reviews
About Front Sight Post Publishing
President & CEO
Colonel W. Darrin Weaver (Ret.) MPA PA-C
Darrin raises cattle with his family in Central Texas, and serves as the CEO of Front Sight Post Publishing LLC. Darrin served an enlisted tour in the Berlin Brigade's 5/502nd Infantry. He was selected for Officer Candidate School and commissioned upon graduating from the University of Oklahoma as a Physician Assistant in 1994. He later earned a Masters from the University of Nebraska. He served with several armored, infantry and cavalry units to include Joint Task Force-6, left active duty in 1999, and continued service in the Veteran's Administration, and the Texas Army National Guard. Darrin served a tour in Iraq as a battalion medical officer, and flew MEDEVAC and CASEVAC missions in support of Multi-National Corps-Iraq and Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component operations.
Darrin has a keen interest in and has done extensive research on the German wartime economy, industrial practices, and production methodologies. His other published works include Hitler’s Garands: German Self-Loading Rifles of WWII (2000), Desperate Measures: Last-Ditch Weapons of the Nazi Volkssturm (2005), Mauser Pistolen (2008), Kunststoffe: A Collector’s Guide to German World War II Plastics and their Markings (2008), and An Encyclopedia of German Tradenames and Trademarks 1900-1945 (2010), as well as numerous articles in medical and firearms-related periodicals. Darrin is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the National Rifle Association.
Chief Creative Officer & Art Director
Sam Franks
Sam has been a full-time, commercial product photographer and designer in Waco, Texas for over 20 years. Sam’s work has been published in numerous books & magazines, such as Cowboys & Indians, and Texas Monthly.
As a brand, product, and and lifestyle photographer, he has worked for several national brands including: Junk Gypsy, Old Gringo Boots, Lane Boots, Leota’s, and Bohlin.
His prestigious work and easy-to-work-with attitude has attracted clientele from coast to coast and as far as Canada, but he keeps his feet and roots firmly planted in Central Texas. When he’s not working, you’ll find this collector of tattoos and Shiner Beer enthusiast checking out live music somewhere under the Texas stars with his best gal.
Chief Marketing Officer & Web Presence Director
Jason Weaver
Jason is a Human Capital Management consulting people leader by trade, and Darrin's younger brother. When Jason is not coaching and leading professional speakers in his day job for a major international software company, he maintains the Front Sight Post Publishing website, social media channels, and email accounts. In addition, he performs promotions, directs marketing efforts, and consults with Darrin on upcoming projects.
Jason is a proud father and husband, and a huge Pacific Northwest sports fan and European soccer enthusiast (Come On You Spurs!). Travel is his favorite past time, and considers London his spiritual home.
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