Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire My big cartridge book — a reminder

Twenty years after I published it, I still get inquiries about my book Designing and Forming CUSTOM CARTRIDGES for Rifles and Handguns.

Sorry, guys — I don't have any (except my one desk copy, which of course isn't for sale). Haven't had any for sale since the late 1990s. Frankly, I'm continually surprised that anyone would want it!



Here's where you can get an authorized reprint, an exact replica of the original, for $59.98 — 3¢ more than the 1995 retail price for the original.

http://www.huntingtons.com/store/product.php?productid=19665&cat=23&page=1

Order item number K-4999.

The catalog blurb has two errors —
• The cartridge drawings (with precisely accurate dimensions) are 1½x scale, not ½x.
• There are 608 pages (front matter i–xii + text pages 1–596), not just 596 pages. 12 + 596 = 608
(The book also has an error or two that I know of, but let's not talk about that, shall we?)

When you leaf through it, you'll notice that I had to omit an unfortunate lot of classic wildcats. Had to. Right from the get-go, I resolved that I wouldn't include any cartridge that I couldn't get documentable dimensions for. No hear-say dimensions for me! Unless I could get published industry maximums, designers' specs, or specimens that I could mike, my book wouldn't include those grand old wildcats, no matter how popular or historical they may be.

Several years ago, I gave Huntington Die Specialties the original films and sole reprint rights as a memorial to my friend the late Fred Huntington, founder of RCBS. Since then, his son “Buzz,” also a very special friend, has also died. So now my book is a very special memorial to both good friends.

(And I don't get a penny, in either royalties or a reprint fee!)

Got mine setting on the shelf right in front of me a great reference Ken and mucho appreciation for the effort involved!

Mike

And that is a shame. I have one of the reprints, and it is a nice, high quality book. It is also autographed by the Author, which makes it priceless in my opinion. miles

Cool Ken. Some cases sure do tax A person's skills.

I didn't know Buzz past away . Bob Post was a good friend of my father in laws. I spoke to a rcbs specialist a few months ago. I think he had 35 years in, a d knew Bob enough to know he is a card.

Allen

Standing offer to anyone who buys my book — from Huntington's or anywhere else —

Bring it to me, and I'll sign it for you. (Just for as long as I can remember who I am!)

(Then you can't return it for a refund!)

I bought a copy about a six months ago Ken, and I'd love to have your signature on it. Would you be willing to do this by mail? I'd pack the book in two boxes, with the interior box pre-labeled and postage-paid for return to me. If your willing PM me with your address and I'll send it to you.

Box 28 (USPS)
17 Church Street in town (UPS, FedEx)
Quemado, NM 87829

Much druther you bring it, e g to the Campfire rendezvous in a lovely campground near here 24–26 July — an unmatched chance to hobnob, feast, shoot, and camp with several crème de la crème of the Campfire.

I really wish I could attend Ken, the rendezvous sounds like big fun. Unfortunately, I just don't see it happening this year. My calendar is already packed for the next 4-5 months, and most of July is already spoken for. I am retiring in November ... so maybe next year we can meet in person!

I do appreciate your willingness to sign it by mail though. I'll try to ship the book to you next week, I'll have a couple days at home between trips I have scheduled to DC and FL.

Don't give-up! Not all is lost!

You're too late for the east Texas rendezvous
at APDDSN0864's this month, and too far away
for an easy trip to Quemado. But there's sure
to be another grand rendezvous at Ed's next
year. Try to work that one into your Spring
2016 schedule. Look for Ed to announce it here
next winter. Someone at this year's will post
pix of the 2015 goings-on. Look for 'em to see
what such a gathering is like.

I can't make it (wish I could!), but you can
count on having a great time there with most of
the same guys who're regulars at Quemado.

(We Howells spent most of the 1940s in Kentucky
— Wheelwright, Versailles, Morehead, Newport —
1940–1947 — sixth grade to high-school junior.)