New Releases by Steve Helsley

Ernest Hemingway is a mythic writer and alpha male. As a hunter and conservationist, he drew greatly from the strong example of Theodore Roosevelt, and he much enjoyed teaching newcomers to shoot and hunt. Including short excerpts from Hemingway''s works, these stories of his guns and rifles tell us as much about him as a lifelong, expert hunter and shooter and as a man.

This third installment in the popular series of practical books about guns and shooting is aimed at women of all ages—the fastest-growing segment of the sport—and it couldn’t come at a better time. America and firearms literally grew up together, but today guns are often simply linked to crime and violence; gun control has become a polarizing political issue; and misinformation about firearms is spreading. Now three experts have tackled the subject in a series of books that explores the realities of guns and shooting and sets the record straight about some common misconceptions. On the heels of The Gun Book for Boys and The Gun Book for Parents, The Gun Book for Girls is for girls (and women) interested in guns and shooting but who have little or no background in firearms. Through example and anecdote, the book emphasizes safety and proper usage, and it defines terms and provides hands-on advice about using and maintaining guns. It also covers firearms, shooting methods, clothing and accessories for women, profiles females who shoot and who work in the gun trade, and discusses the issues around guns for self-defense (a topic of special interest to women). Like the other two titles, this book is non-political and written in an easy-to-understand conversational tone. Each book is thoroughly illustrated, and content is presented in easily managed portions that can be read in series or singly, all backed up with an index.

The second of a three-volume series, this book is aimed at parents whose children have read The Gun Book for Boys and want to get started shooting. It is a straightforward treatment of the “adult” concerns about firearms and shooting, from safety and legal issues to costs, potential pitfalls and benefits. It answers questions such as how to buy a gun and store it safely, where to shoot, and how to assess a child’s behavior with guns. For background and additional information, it is recommended that parents read The Gun Book for Boys as well.

"Whether you were a sportsman, civil servant, subaltern, or tea planter, you wanted a good rifle if you were headed out to the colonies. From the height of British imperialism in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries through its demise in Asia, Africa, and beyond in the twentieth, John Rigby & Co., an elite cadre of gunmakers working at the heart of Britain''s empire, crafted some of the finest sporting rifles and guns ever made." Thus begins this fascinating story of John Rigby & Co., which details the legendary exploits of famous Rigby owners Jim Corbett, W.D.M. Bell, Field Marshall Mannerheim, and others. Rigby''s story is the story of colonial adventure, of the world''s most famous big-game hunters and their rifles. In Rigby: A Grand Tradition, authors Calabi, Helsley, and Sanger bring Rigby owners Jim Corbett, W.D.M. Bell, Field Marshal Mannerheim, the Maharana of Udaipur, and others to life in rich detail. Extensively illustrated and including a thorough treatment of the development of the technology behind Rigby rifles and ammunition, this book provides substantial insight into the people, adventures, and rifles behind big game hunting in the early 20th century.