The two existing Vickers Guides by Larry Vickers and James Rupley have become some of my favorite reference books on the AR and 1911. Now, they are joined by a second volume on the AR-15 family.
Vickers Guide: AR-15 (Volume 2) is a premium quality, collector’s grade, coffee table reference book. All books contain the following features:
-352 pages
-13″ wide by 11″ tall (approx.)
-Commercial quality, section sewn style binding which allows the book to lay open flat
-Full color prints on premium quality photo paper stock
-Foil stamped, Tan (“FDE”) linen hardcover
-Full color protective dust jacket
-Ribbon page marker
There are going to be some great historical examples in this volume like this gangster grip with light activation switch.
In addition to the above Standard Edition, two premium versions of the book are available:
Signature Version
Hand signed by Larry Vickers
Limited Edition Premium Version (Limited to 250 Books)
Personal Message Hand Written and Signed by Larry Vickers
Limited Edition Slip Case (x of 250)
Limited Edition Numbered Signature (x of 250)
Limited 19×13″ Color Print of Delta SR-25 (Operation Anaconda) Signed by Larry Vickers (x of 250)
Last year’s Vickers Guide 1911 was such a great success that author Larry Vickers and Photographer James Rupley have followed it up with the AR-15 Volume 1. It combines high resolution color photography with accompanying historical commentary by Larry Vickers, Reed Knight, and other subject matter experts.
Richly illustrated, this volume will give you access to rare, collectible guns that have never been seen publicly before. Take for example, the Armalite AR-15 Serial Number 000001 seen on the cover.
This first Volume covers the AR-15 predecessors (AR-10 and earlier); features the first AR-15s ever produced (the first Armalite prototype; Armalite Serial Numbers 000001, 000002, 000003, 000004; Colt’s pre-production prototype Serial Number 000000; Colt’s first production Model 601 Serial Number 000100) and continues on through Vietnam, Panama and Somalia.
Author Larry Vickers had this to say,
Myself and my co-author James Rupley are very pleased on how well received the VickersGuide 1911 book was from our customers. However we felt that we could tweak the formula and approach just a bit to optimize the VickersGuide AR-15 volume one and two.
We are very excited with the result and I feel the AR-15 books will serve as a template for any future editions that we do. The rare AR style weapons in the first volume are sure to please any firearms enthusiast regardless if you own one AR-15 or one hundred.
They’ve just opened pre-ordering today, of Vickers Guide AR-15 Volume 1, with delivery just in time for the Black Rifle’s 60th Anniversary.
Although it’s the same price, size and general format as the 1911 book, they are offering Standard, Signature and Limited Edition versions. The Limited Edition is limited to 250 Books and includes a personalized message from LAV. Each book is numbered x of 250, with a limited edition book slipcase, and a signed and numbered print of Armalite AR-15 Serial Number 000001. 1911 Limited Edition Book customers will be able to have the same book number as long as they order before December 1.
Here’s a basic description of this book.
Born in 1957 in a small workshop in Hollywood, California and rushed into service for testing and assessment during war in Vietnam, the AR-15 has proven to be the most adaptable and longest lasting of all standard U.S. service rifles. Still in use today in the U.S. and around the world in the form of the M16, M4 and other variants, the AR-15 has defied attempts to replace it.
In this first volume of Vickers Guide: AR-15, Larry Vickers – renown special operations combat veteran, firearms instructor and small arms expert – revisits the earliest days of the AR-15, providing details of the rifles that influenced it as well as highlighting the features which were without precedent. Due to the longevity of the AR-15, many features and details of the earliest rifles have been lost to today’s enthusiasts, and it is therefore with great pride that we re-introduce these rifles and their beauty in form and function.
Featuring over 70 rifles, Vickers Guide: AR-15 (Volume 1) gives the reader a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into some of the rarest and most historically unique rifles in the AR family. Through visits to private collections, Colt’s Manufacturing Company and the Institute of Military Technology at Knight’s Armament, Vickers Guide is able to present firearms that have simply never been available for view by the general public. Additionally, expert insight by C. Reed Knight, Jr., art by acclaimed military painter James Dietz, and replica builds with historical commentary by subject matter specialists make this Vickers Guide sequel a must-have for any serious firearms enthusiast.
Vickers Guide: AR-15 presents this highly curated collection of firearms in the AR family in never before seen detail on larger than life, wide format, full color prints in a linen covered hardback. Vickers Guide: AR-15 is the next best thing to having these exceptional collector’s grade rifles in your own personal collection.
Their access is amazing. I’m told Vickers did some value estimations of the rifles featured in the book, and the conservative estimates came out to a combined value of around $1.75 million.
Take a gander at this video preview of the book’s content.
If all this wasnt enough, their work isn’t finished. Volume 2 will release in Spring 2017 and continues the story of the AR-15 through to current day.
Order yours before they’re gone. I procrastinated in getting a 1911 Vickers Guide and almost missed out.
