2 Burning Questions

emike123

emike123

Established Users
I've been thinking about these questions for a week or so and am sure some of you can shed some light on them.

What was the name of McKee and Mason's first published bullet "book"? I think it may have been a softcover, greenish manuscript more than a book, and I understand it had pictures of some bullets not in the subsequent books, Civil War Projectiles and Civil War Projectiles II.

How many serious Civil War bullet collectors do folks think are out there? By "serious" I mean more than the guy who bought a souvenir Minie ball out of a vending machine in Dunfries, VA (where I got my first one). I guess they probably would have had to have a certain number of types in a collection, but another way to get at a number would be those that have bought at least one bullet reference book.

Mike
 
Hello Mike,
I'll let others venture guesses as to the numbers of SERIOUS CW bullet collectors except to opine that it might well be less than 1000.

As to the first MM book, I have a very worn (falling apart, actually) copy which I ordered from Reid Mckee back in 1966 (the copyright year). The title is CIVIL WAR PROJECTILES: A Battlefield Collection. Yes there are a few specimens in it which did not show up in their later books. One which comes to mind in what some collectors' call a .54 NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST ENFIELD.
Gary
 
The cerlox bound Civil War Projectiles: A Battlefield Collection is not the one I am looking for nor is the most recent reprint, Civil War Projectiles II: Small Arms and Field Artillery with supplement. I have heard there is a green covered one that may have a rarity index for the different bullet types. Apparently it also has some bullet types not shown in the current issue. Does anyone know more about this version, like the actual title or publisher or copyright date?

There seems to be a gap between 1966 when the first one of theirs came out and 1980 when the first printing of the CW Projectiles II was done so I'd guess it is from roughly the 1970s?
 
M&M

emike,

I have a 1971 dated limited edition (number 97 of 500) "Civil War Projectiles - Small Arms & Field Artillery" that has a green cover and a "scarcity" level for the bullets and cartridges shown. It also has more examples of carved and flattened bullets and several nice additions like artillery range charts and some very old illustrations of various bullet designs. The one I have is signed by Mac Mason and I got it from ABE books online.

Is that the one you are looking for?

TomH
(enjoying our first snow in G'Burg ... finally!!!!)
 
I just scrounged around Dean's office and found copy # 96 of 500 "Civil War Projectiles: Small Arms & Field Artillery." It's got a green cover and has an October 1971 copyright.
 
Thanks Tom & Jim. Looks like there are 498 of them still out there for me, unless Thomas Publications can re-issue it in which case you have your first customer.

I did a search for the 1971 edition but did not find one via the internet. I did find a copy of the orgiginal 1966 McKee & Mason book, Civil War Bullets: A Battlefield Collection

I already have this one, but thought someone else might be interested in the original one. The listing is unclear but I eMailed the bookseller and found it to be the first one. They are, however, saying it is a photocopy which may be uncool (for a couple of reasons) or it may be wrong because the original was a softcover cerlox bound one and this seller does not seem to be "all there." Anyway, if anyone is interested, it is only $15 at:

http://www.alibris.com/search/detail.cf ... =6&qsort=r

...and if anybody sees a spare 1971 edition, please let me know.
 
My 'green copy' is #20 of 500. It's for sale to RICH YANKEES for the fair price of $1000.00. :) In EXCELLENT condition, except for the tape holding the spine together and a few other incidental things not really worth mentioning. :lol:
 
What's the price to a not so rich transplanted Yankee who had a couple Southern male ancestors die defending Charleston? :wink:

That makes 4 of 500 accounted for because my internet search did turn up another in a Tennessee library. Wonder if they'll take a nice new and improved CW Projectiles II in exchange???
 
Sorry Mike,
You are 'tainted'. Some may say that you have deserted. :) Might have to up the price $10.00 for the likes of you! :eek:
Your Pard,
Gary
 
Got one! A bit more than $10, but I'm happy to have it. In fact I think I'll snuggle up to thoroughly read through it right after this post :lol:

The guy I got it from has the first cerlox bound McKee and Mason (Battlefield Collection one referenced above) as well as Stanley Phillips Bullet book for $49 each. I have them both already, although I know I paid more for the M&M one and my Phillips is not in as good shape, but if any of you want one or both, eMail me privately & I'll give you the guy's contact info.
 
UGGH!

You might be from the South (so you say) but you well and truly learn fast up in the North!

Grumpy in Mississippi,
Your Pard,
Gary
 
Gentlemen,

If I may hazard my limited information. The inside cover of the dust jacket of my Publisher's Press edition of Civil War Projectiles II has the following paragraphs:
" Finally, in 1966, the two men completed a small spiral?bound work titled Civil War Projectiles. It was the first serious publication on the subject and was the culmination of years of collecting and study by the two pioneering authors.
The first printing was limited to five hundred copies, which, the authors were pleasantly surprised to discover, sold very quickly. They were also flooded with information about and specimens of even more bullets from an enthusiastic and cooperative collecting community.
Five years later they published the first edition of Civil War Projectiles II: Small Arms & Field Artillery, which improved dramatically upon their initial effort. Again, this volume sold out and was reprinted with a supplement in 1980 by Moss Publications. In the late 1980s yet another printing was published, and it too sold out in a few short years."
This would lead me to believe, perhaps mistakenly, that 1971(Five years later" 1966) was the date of the first of the
Civil War Projectiles II and the first edition with the Supplement was the Moss Publication edition in 1980.
I know someone said they a 1971 edition of the original and perhaps in support of this is the following information which I found at the following website: http://www.collectorsnet.com/uncledv/cwpb.htm
"469)Civil War Projectiles, by W. Reid McKee and M.E. Mason, Jr., 202 pages, 1971. An excellent reference work on small arms and field artillery projectiles. Includes a section on bullet molds. Very well illustrated........................................................$45
470)Civil War Projectiles II, by Reid McKee and M.E. Mason, Jr., 203 pages, 1971. A hard to find reference book with diameters, illustrations, photos and descriptions of all types of small arms and field artillery projectiles..................................$75"
This seems to show that an edition of the original and the II edition published in 1971. I'm not sure that is correct, but if someone is interested in obtaining an original edition can contact this website and find out.
 
The Cerlox bound softcover M&M from 1966 is Civil War Projectiles: A Battlefield Collection. The first hardcover (green) one was Civil War Projectiles: Small Arms & Field Artillery published in 1971. It was followed by Civil War Projectiles II: Small Arms and Field Artillery. The final hardcover issue was Civil War Projectiles II: Small Arms and Field Artillery with Supplement. This was reprinted a couple of times but is the one you can still buy new today. Steve Sylvia, publisher of the North South Traders Civil War magazine, acquired the rights to it and had it reprinted.

If anyone wants the 1966 version, I saw one in the attic of a shop about a month ago and only told one guy about it. He may or may not have bought it for about $50 which is less than I paid for the one I have. I got my green 1971 version from him, and it seems I was fortunate to have gotten it as they are hard to come by. This same guy also had the Stanley Phillips bullet book in his attic if anyone wants to truly plumb the most esoteric niches of the hobby. :wink:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top