Books on Indian War, Spanish American War, Civil War, Cavalary and Saddles

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The great wars of American history have left collectors of today a fascinating hobby that now can rely on excellent books and reprinted manuals from these historic periods. Whether the early periods of the Revolutionary War and Mexican War or the later, better known periods of the War Between the States - Civil War, the Indian War, the Spanish American War or World War One, many books are available to help the collector identify the items he finds. Cavalry, Infantry, Artillery, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, they all left their unique collectables - from the saddles they rode to the belt buckles they wore. A good book will help you understand the value and history of your collection and enjoy it much, much more.

Books: Books by R.S. Dorsey
Books: Civil War Era
Indian War Era (Current)
Books: Spanish-American War Era
Books: WWI Era
Books: Cavalry
Books: Saddles and Leather

Sales Policy

Collectors' Library offers reprints and books to retail and wholesale buyers.
Retail:
Shipping cost for Book Rate, insured and sent via USPS is $7.00 per bound book. For reprints, the cost is $3.50 for the first and $2.00 for each subsequent book. Prepayment is always required. Sorry, no returns on books except for printing or binding defects.
Dealer:
Books marked with * are sold at 40% discount in lots of 10, plus shipping. Books not so marked are carried as a convience to our collector clients and should be purchased in quantity from their publishers. 50% discounts are offered on orders of 100+ books with *.
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We will attempt to comply with special packing or modes of shipment requirements but these must be pre-paid and provide for full insurance on the order.
Wholesale Discounts:
40% off on most of our titles in lots of 10 titles.
50% discounts are offered on orders of 100 books or more.
Shipping charges extra on wholesale orders.

Current Category: Indian War Era

There are 35 books listed in this category.

1877 Ordnance & Ordnance Stores.
The official descriptive catalogue of all classes of ordnance stores then in inventory and in active use on the frontier. A treasure trove of equipment from knapsacks to saddler's tools. A previously unpublished catalogue. 106 pages.
$14.00
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AMERICAN MILITARY AND NAVAL BELTS, 1812-1902, by R. Stephen Dorsey
With introduction by Norm Flayderman, this massive work is the NEW key reference on Sword Belts, Waist Belts, Sabre Belts, Shoulder Belts and Cartridge Belts (looped and non-looped). At over 460 pages, this 8.5x 11 inch book offers over 840 photos (primarily in colour) and original period drawings. In addition, this work offers the first, comprehensive research on the Anson Mills Woven Cartridge Belts: the man, the company and its personalities, the belt-related patents and the government contracts from 1880 through 1902. This book is a "must" for all accoutrements collectors, military historians and museums. Hardbound, colour, lithocover.
$60.00*
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BRIDLE BITS OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY, 1776-1945 by Kenneth L. McPheeters & R. Stephen Dorsey
The primary reference book on the fascinating study of American military bridle bits through our history. Taken from its parent study, The American Military Saddle, 1776-1945, The Bridle Bits book is an affordable, handy reference for all collectors and the last word on the subject. Beautifully illustrated with nearly 100 original photos and drawings. Deeply-researched from army regulations and reports, government contracts and field correspondence. Dimensions, construction materials and periods of use. 88 pages, softbound.*
$16.00*
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Broadside-Directions and Nomenclature for Chafee-Reece Magizine Rifle
Disassembly, assembly and full parts listing.
$2.00
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Broadside-Directions for Use of Springfield Headless Cartridge Shell Extractor, 1877

$2.00
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Broadside-Directions on Remington Breech-Loading Pistol Model 1871
Disassembly, assembling and use.
$2.00
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Broadside-Headless Shell Extractor Model 1882

$2.00
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Civil War Ordnance Price List 1865
1865 Ordnance and Ordnance Stores. Price List and Classification of the Union inventory at the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the Indian War. 64 pages. Never before reprinted.
$14.00
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Description & Rules for 1866 Springfield Rifle Musket
Covers the Second Allin Conversion Model 1866 Rifle Musket, tools and cartridge.
$6.00
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Description and Rules for Springfield Rifle, Carbine and Army Revolvers, 1874.
Covers the Trapdoor Rifle and Carbine, the Colt M1873 Revolver and the S&W Schofield Revolver. 53 pages, illustrated. Covers the guns, tools, cartridges and ballistics. A key collectors' manual.
$10.00
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Description and Rules for the Management of the Remington Navy Rifle, Model 1870.
18 pages, illustrated. Covers the gun, bayonet, appendages, spare parts, cartridge and ballistics.
$6.00
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Description and Rules for the Springfield Breech-Loading Rifle Musket, Model 1868.
20 Page, illustrated manual. The gun, appendages, cartridge and ballistics.
$6.00
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Description and Rules for the Springfield Rifle, Carbine and Army Revolvers, 1898
(Weapons as above.) 69 pages, illustrated. Covers the guns, tools, cartridges and ballistics. A key collectors' manual.
$9.00
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Description and Rules for the Ward Burton Rifle Musket of 1871.
16 pages, illustrated. Covers the gun, toll, cartridge and ballistics.
$6.00
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Directions for Fitting Infantry Equipments U.S. Army 1872
8 pages, illustrations of the brace system as well as the Hagner Cartridge Boxes No. 1 and No. 2. A key accoutrement reference book
$5.00
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Directions for using the Schofield Combination Screw Driver
Exact copy of the directions for the S&W Schofield revolver combination tool. Six pages. Illustrated
$3.00
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GUN TOOLS: by James Shaffer and R. Stephen Dorsey Vol. I
Over 600 photos and over 400 pages in each volume. No duplications between the two. U.S. and foreign, U.S. and Confederate, from the era of the wheellock to the Warsaw Pact. Cover ball screws, wipers, mainstream vices, rods and thongs, oilers, combination tools, jags, wrenches, tompions, tool sets, brush and pick sets, and much more. *
$30.00*
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GUN TOOLS: by James Shaffer and R. Stephen Dorsey Vol. II
Over 600 photos and over 400 pages in each volume. No duplications between the two. U.S. and foreign, U.S. and Confederate, from the era of the wheellock to the Warsaw Pact. Cover ball screws, wipers, mainstream vices, rods and thongs, oilers, combination tools, jags, wrenches, tompions, tool sets, brush and pick sets, and much more. *
$30.00*
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GUNS OF THE WESTERN INDIAN WAR, by R. Stephen Dorsey.
For the first time under one cover, the full story of the guns and ammunitions that made western history in the turbulent period of 1867-1890. This beautiful, profusely illustrated book has 216 photos and 218 pages. Material contained includes. Guns of the cavalry and infantry, captured and surrendered Indian guns. Ordnance reports on Indian guns. Winchesters and Sharps; rifles used by the cavalry; archaeological evidence of the Battle of Little Bighorn and more. This book is a key reference for the collector and historian on the martial arms of the Frontier and authentic Indian guns.*
$30.00*
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INDIAN WAR CARTRIDGE POUCHES, BOXES & CARBINE BOOTS, by R. Stephen Dorsey.
With over 260 photos, detailed descriptions and historical commentary; this book is the key reference work on the subject. Included are Civil War reissues, experimental pieces, field conversions and all of the regulation pieces of the exciting 1867-1890 period. All of the familiar designers are covered; McKeever, Hagner, Dyer, Butler, Roberts, Frazier and many, many more.*
$28.00*
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Infantry Equipment 1874 Ordnance Memo No. 19. (Palmer Brace System and McKeever Boxes.)
71 pages, showing Early Indian War haversack, McKeever Cartridge Boxes, 1873 Trowel Bayonet, Canteen, Metcalfe Cartridge Blocks in use on Trapdoor Rifle, etc. Key reference book.
$5.00
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Lee Arms Co. Magazine Rifle Manual/ Catalogue

$6.00
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Ordnance Board Summaries of 1863, 1868, 1870.
Covering Ordnance, Cavalry equipments, small arms, powder, ammunition, etc. A key collector's reference.
$15.00
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Ordnance Memo No. 13, 1872
19 pages covering Infantry and Cavalry equipment changes, key collector's reference for the early Indian War period.
$5.00
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Ordnance Memo No. 18, Cavalry Equipments 1874
Over 128 pages, well illustrated. The key Early Indian War Manual of Cavalry equipment. A key collector's reference book.
$15.00
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Ordnance Memo No. 21, Indian War Ammunition, 1878
The official, illustrated army ordnance manual on all army small arms ammunition, fuses, etc. 128 pages of text and 25 full page line drawings of the government ammunition of the Indian War: pistol, rifle, and carbine rounds; ammunition boxes, ammunition crates and markins; ammunition gauge sets; operations of production; types of priming; fuses and much more. Handsome red cover with gold embossed seal, like the original.
$15.00
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Ordnance Memo No. 29, Cavalry Equipment 1881/1885
44 pages, well illustrated. The key Early Indian War manual of Cavalry equipment. A key collectors' book.
$8.00
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Rules for the Inspection of Army Revolvers and Gatling Guns, Springfield Armory, 1875
28 pages, illustrated. Detailed inspection and operating information.
$9.00
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Sharps Rifle Co. Firearms and Ammunition Catalog, 1879
40 pages, illustrated. Guns and ammunition.
$7.00
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THE AMERICAN MILITARY SADDLE, 1776-1945, R Stephen Dorsey & Kenneth L. McPheeters
With over 400 pages, this is the most complete coverage of the subject ever written on the American Military Saddle. Nearly 1000 actual photos and official drawings, from the major public and private collections in the U.S. and Great Britain. In depth research on each subject. Chronologically arranged for easy use. 25 years in the making, this fine research work is now the key reference on the subject - for collectors, historians, researchers and museums. Including: saddles, saddlebags, cantle bags, saddle trees, saddle cloths, shabraques, saddle blankets, bridle bits, saddle valises, stirrups, pommel pockets, saddler and farrier tools, care and conservation.*
$67.00*
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THE AMERICAN MILITARY SPUR by R. Stephen Dorsey
For the first time - the complete history of the U.S. military spur, based on hard research and filled with insights by one of the masters of Ordnance development and Cavalry history. Profusely illustrated and packed with information in construction materials, dimensions and markings, terminology. Government purchases and manufacture; enlisted vs. officers1 spurs; commercial production and look alike spurs. For the collector and historian who require facts in a fast, easy-to-use format, this is THE book on the subject. 97 pages, softbound.*
$18.00*
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The Army Firearms Manual for the Arms Trials of 1871
Springfield, Remington and Sharps - guns and ammunition. Fully illustrated.
$5.00
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The Development and Manufacture of the .50/70 Government Cartridge, 1868
Illustrated.
$5.00
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The Development of The Mills Woven Cartridge Belt 1877-1956
Softbound, 72 page booklet published by The Mills Equipment Company Limited, London, England (who took over the company after the turn of the century). Illustrated showing later Mills equipment and soldiers wearing it. This publication has been out of print for a long time and these remaining few are all I currently have. For a more complete history of the Mills Co. in the US and its belts, patents, etc, I suggest AMERICAN MILITARY AND NAVAL BELTS, 1812-1902, also available on this website.
$15
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The Production of U.S. Army Leather
Published for the first time, this excellent, official Ordnance Department report describes the entire subject of the production of leather for the army. Beginning with the materials used, this excellent technical report covers the types of leather manufactured, equipment and processes, pros and cons, hides and tanning materials, leather coloration, shows tools used and provides a technical glossary. It is believed that this is the first and only time the Ordnance Department published this information. 34 pages packed with information that covers the leathers used by the army from the time of the dragoons through the Spanish American War.
$9.00
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RSD Militaria | 541.937.3348
Please see the Ordering Page before contacting me.

Copyright 2010 Stephen Dorsey