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“Harpers Ferry is situated at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers offering a view that Thomas Jefferson deemed worthy of a trip across the Atlantic. In the first decade of the Nineteenth Century, it became an industrial town the site of one of two National Armories for the fledgling United States. In this book Rick Hudak tells the story of the armory’s early designs, production and its first superintendent, Joseph Perkin.

“Any field of collecting is frequently a quagmire of modifications and repairs mixed with fraud and deceit from which guns are not immune. Gun collecting requires a vast depth of knowledge that takes years to develop on an individual basis. This book provides a foundation of knowledge and contains thoughtful and informative advice on collecting, identifying and restoration.

“Harpers Ferry is a place of beauty which has borne witness to much history. The M 1803 rifle and the M 1805 pistol represent the pinnacle of design and production in the first part of the 19th Century. With this book, Rick Hudak has documented the story of these unique weapons and has demonstrated that he is a passionate and dedicated researcher. This book is a required addition to the library for anyone with an interest in early American military weapons, specifically the guns of Harpers Ferry.”

~ Stuart E Brown III

Very well written and the depth of knowledge and research, photos included is amazing. Congratulations on writing a book that fills an age old void in the history of the great U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.