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Posted: 7/11/2017 7:01:10 PM EDT
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Just got my copy of Vol.2 and it's just as good as Vol.1. Forgotten Weapons described Vol.1 as a cross between coffee table book and history book, the same description fits the second volume. Great pictures with a few tidbits of history but nothing super detailed. I enjoyed flipping through it and look forward to reading it. Lots of AR porn from early M4s to Diemaco to piston ARs to the SR-25.
Anybody else order a copy? |
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I was super excited for this book, and Ive got a lot of respect for LAV, but I feel a little disappointed, honestly.
Its a weird mishmash of a book, halfway between a real reference like Bartocci'a Black Rifle II and a coffee table book. And not really either one in the end (although definitely closer to a coffee table book than a reference). The photography is great but there are only a handful of rifles featured. Lots on KAC rifles like the SR25 (to be expected because Larry is a fan and the KAC museum and the Knight family are a main resource for the book), but it felt to me like they made some weird choices and there are some big gaps in terms of what's covered and what isnt. For example, there's almost nothing about non-556 ARs like the 6.8SPC, and little on the 300BLK (couple photos of a Colt 300 BLK prototype), but an awful LOT of info and photos of Canadian AR variants. Just some eccentric choices IMO. I personally would've loved to see more about SPRs (there is coverage of the Mod 1 but not the Mod 0 or Mod H); more on some early GWOT M4 carbine variants and accessories (ARMS rails anyone?), maybe coverage of the Barrett 6.8 SPC or the Honey Badger or the Sig MCX? And if you're going to cover the HK 416 in such depth, why have photos of an early plain Jane model when he probably could've gotten access to one of the rifles on the bin Laden raid or a rifle set up like the Tier One units are using now (Remington or Geissele rail, etc.) Theres also a surprising amount of LAV editorializing: he loves KAC, HK, BCM and Aimpoint. He's down on non-556 AR calibers, and EOTechs. I was a bit disappointed. Again the photos were great, but it felt like it was trying to be both a reference resource and a coffee table book, and it wound up being not great at either. Your mileage may vary... |
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I'm still thinking about buying the first one.
I have THE BLACK RIFLE I and II, the collector grade AR10 book, etc. Probably need to get them too. I like THE BLACK RIFLE I the best, followed by Evans AR10 book. THE BLACK RIFLE II was a bit disappointing [shrug] |
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I love the photography of the first guide but, I found the choices in it a bit lacking too. He seemingly goes out of his way to chronicle the history of the AR10 leading up to the AR15 prototype but, seems to disregard some of the most important prototype AR10s. Some that haven't really been photographed in detail... well, ever. Lots of missed opportunities with a collection as vast as Knights. I was expecting more.
That said, what I got in Vol 1. was fantastic. There are some great up close pictures of quite a few interesting weapons. I doubt I'll pick up Vol. 2 though. |
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