Originally published in 1935, Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers is a treatise on handguns of the early twentieth century. Written by Major Julian S. Hatcher, an expert on the subject of firearms of all sorts, readers will gain invaluable insight into everything to do with handheld firearms of the 1930s. In his introduction, Hatcher emphasizes that he has made an earnest effort to make this book accessible for both novices and experts. Novices who know nothing whatsoever about firearms and their use can easily learn from this book, while experts will find a technical reference book where “the results of many experiments with pistols and revolvers and their ammunition are tabulated in convenient form.” Covering such subjects as the different methods of shooting and using hand firearms; their mechanism, care and repair; their interior and exterior ballistics; the peculiar suitability of the different kinds for various purposes; the relative effectiveness or stopping power of the various calibers and types of gun and ammunition; and many more, this book is an immense store of knowledge on early handguns. Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for hunters and firearms enthusiasts. We publish books about shotguns, rifles, handguns, target shooting, gun collecting, self-defense, archery, ammunition, knives, gunsmithing, gun repair, and wilderness survival. We publish books on deer hunting, big game hunting, small game hunting, wing shooting, turkey hunting, deer stands, duck blinds, bowhunting, wing shooting, hunting dogs, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

2012 Reprint of 1935 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. This is a classic in the field of identifying firearms and ammunition used in criminal activity. Major Hatcher was a very experienced US Army ordnance officer and a rifle shooter of some distinction. He had also served in a variety of assignments that involved the design, manufacturing and testing of ammunition and firearms. This book by Hatcher received excellent reviews and was quickly adopted by many firearms examiners throughout the United States. Hatcher is also credited with several technical books and articles relating to military firearms, ballistics, and auto loading weapons. His premier works are "Hatcher's Notebook" and "Book of the Garand," along with "Pistols and Revolvers and Their Uses" and "Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers." In the latter work he introduced the Hatcher Scale, probably the first attempt to determine the stopping power of a handgun round by a formula. He was also a pioneer in the forensic identification of firearms and their ammunition. Hatcher retired from the United States Army as a Major General. Afterward, he served as Technical Editor of the National Rifle Association's "American Rifleman" magazine.

In the early transition from the long-lived flintlock system, handgun development closely paralleled that of the long arms. With the advent of the revolving pistols, however; came patents that created monopolies in revolver production and the through-bored cylinder necessary for self-contained metallic cartridges. The caplock revolvers took on a separate evolution and remained state of the art long after the widespread appearance of cartridge firing rifles and shotguns. They rode in the holsters of of explorers and adventurers across the world and granted safe conduct in the back-alleys of the Industrial West right up until the last quarter of the 19th Century. Handguns possess a mystique distinctly different from that of other firearms. They are tools of personal empowerment-chosen by their owners to provide independence and freedom of movement. In the ambitious, optimistic early years of western industrial civilization they were the emblem of liberty and equality and the bane of repressive governments and social movements. Largely because of the traditions that emerged in the time of the caplock pistols and revolvers, they remain so in the early years of the 21st Century.