How applicable/relavent is the book Mauser Bolt Rifles by Olson in today's world? Found a copy today.
This is a Third Edition, Fifth Printing. Picked it up for $10.00 OTD.MBR was in print for 40+ years, and each edition (there were 3) and each printing (there were 16) is different. As you might expect, the last few printings by Brownell's are the most up to date. I believe that Brownell's may still own the book, but I'm not 100% sure. In any case, it has not been updated or reprinted in 10 years or so since Mr. Olson died.
Although there are some books which are better on some focused subjects (e.g,. markings, German Gew 98's, Chinese Mausers, etc), no other book covers the breadth of the story, the early Mauser history, the patents, sporting and military Mausers, etc, as well as Olson. His first edition even rightly includes the Arisakas, the Enfield M1917 and the Springfield M1903 as Mausers. There is a great deal of techncial and historical Mauser data in MBR that can be found nowhere else. Just be sure and don't waste your money on an old edition.
Most other Mauser books written since MBR was published assume that you have read and understood the basics found in Olson.
Regards,
John
Lorne, if your meeting with Lud was prior to 1977, he was talking about Datig for sure because the Brownell book (3rd edition) came out for the first time that year. Lud never received a penny from Datig for publishing the Mauser book. During the years I talked with him, Lud was very pleased with Brownell. They had a good working relationship, and they incorporated all Lud's subsequent requested changes with each new printing. Lud did not have anything nice to say about Datig.During our conversation Brownells came up, don't remember his exact words but he was very un-happy with them, indicating they more or less screwed him over money.
Nicely put, Jack! I met Lud years ago in Bud Waite's office at NRA. After talking for an hour or more, he excused himself and went and found Lud who joined us. That's when I met him. After leaving the office, I felt I'd known both of them for years and that they were old friends.We all should have his book! It is indeed somewhat like the bible in that each time you read it a new truth will jump out........
By the time you get them to the US (from Austria), all three of them together are going to run $500-$600. They are well worth it. Basically the price of a single collectible Mauser....I believe all three are available in English.How much is a set of Strorz's books going for now? Are they still in print?.....in English? Jim