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The US Army WWII Shotgun Handbook
The US Army WWII Shotgun Handbook
Shotguns, All Types - War Department Technical Manual, 1942 (TM 9-285) - Full Size Edition
Paperback Book
Carlile Military Library Historical
Available Now
THE CLASSIC COMBAT SHOTGUN MANUAL
- Giant 8.5" x 11" format. Enlarged from the original 1942 War Department Technical Manual.
- Digitally remastered for optimal clarity of this historical military document.
- 260+ pages - complete & unabridged.
- Essential reference for every classic combat shotgun owner and enthusiast.
- "Batteries last hours, books last decades. Get the print edition!"
Feared by the enemy and trusted by the U.S. military for its simplicity, reliability and devastating effect, the 12-gauge combat shotgun has remained a favorite since its introduction to the trenches of World War One.
This 1942 War Department technical manual - digitally-remastered and enlarged for this new, full-size 8.5"x11" edition — provides the classic shotgun owner and enthusiast with a full, comprehensively-illustrated guide to the operation, maintenance and repair of these weapons, including identification, disassembly, assembly, cleaning, lubrication, and ammunition. It covers a variety of shotguns in use by U.S. forces during WWII, including:
- WINCHESTER SHOTGUN, MODEL 1897
- WINCHESTER SHOTGUN, MODEL 1912
- STEVENS SHOTGUN, MODEL 620A, 520 & 620
- ITHACA SHOTGUN, MODEL 37
- REMINGTON SHOTGUN, MODEL 10
- REMINGTON SHOTGUN, MODEL 31
- REMINGTON SHOTGUN, MODEL 11 & SPORTSMAN
- SAVAGE SHOTGUN, MODEL 720
This book is a digitally remastered reproduction of a historical military document. Every effort has been made to curate, enhance and present this material with the greatest possible clarity and quality.
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Published in the U.S.A. by CARLILE MEDIA.
Information purposes only.
ISBN/SKU: 1091729948
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Before You Buy
Q: Who is this book for?
A: This handbook is a strong choice for collectors, military historians, gunsmiths, armorers, owners of classic American shotguns, reenactors, and readers interested in the weapons used by U.S. forces during World War II.
Q: What does the handbook cover?
A: It covers the identification, operation, disassembly, assembly, inspection, cleaning, lubrication, maintenance, repair, and ammunition of the principal shotguns used by U.S. forces during World War II.
Q: Which shotgun models are included?
A: The manual covers a broad range of military shotguns, including the Winchester Models 1897 and 1912, Stevens 520, 620, and 620A, Ithaca Model 37, Remington Models 10, 11, and 31, the Remington Sportsman, and the Savage Model 720.
Q: Is this mainly a historical reference or a practical technical manual?
A: It is both. The book is historically valuable because it reproduces the 1942 War Department technical manual, but the original purpose was practical: to help military personnel understand, maintain, and repair the shotguns then in service.
Q: What makes this useful to collectors?
A: Collectors can use the manual to understand how these shotguns were configured, operated, maintained, and supported during wartime service. The model-specific technical information and illustrations also provide valuable context that is difficult to get from a general history of military firearms.
Q: Is this useful if I own one of these classic shotguns?
A: Yes. Owners can use the manual as a detailed historical reference for understanding the construction, field stripping, maintenance, and original military servicing procedures associated with their particular model. Because these are vintage firearms, any actual repair or safety-critical work should still take account of the individual gun's age and condition.
Q: Is this a modern shotgun manual?
A: No. This is a digitally remastered reproduction of War Department Technical Manual TM 9-285 from 1942. Its value lies precisely in preserving the original wartime technical material rather than updating it into a modern commercial guide.
Q: Does the book include illustrations?
A: Yes. The original manual is extensively illustrated, with diagrams and technical images supporting identification, disassembly, assembly, maintenance, and repair. These are particularly useful when comparing the different shotgun models covered.
Q: What makes this edition different from a scan of the original manual?
A: The historical document has been digitally remastered and enlarged for clearer modern reproduction. That makes the original text and illustrations substantially easier to read and study while preserving the complete, unabridged manual.
Q: Why choose the full-size edition?
A: This edition runs to more than 260 pages in a full 8.5 × 11-inch format. The larger page size is especially valuable for a technical manual containing detailed diagrams, parts information, and model-specific instructions, making it much more practical for serious study and repeated reference.
Publication Details & Specifications
| Format | Paperback |
|---|---|
| Series | Carlile Military Library |
| Official designation | TM 9-285 |
| Original manual | War Department Technical Manual, 1942 |
| Edition | Full-size, digitally remastered edition |
| Print length | 263 pages |
| Dimensions | 8.5 × 0.6 × 11 inches |
| Item weight | 1.37 pounds |
| Language | English |
| Publication date | March 31, 2019 |
| ISBN-10 | 1091729948 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1091729940 |
| Content | Complete and unabridged |
| Illustrations | Comprehensively illustrated throughout |
| Coverage | Identification, disassembly, assembly, cleaning, lubrication, ammunition, operation, maintenance, and repair of U.S. military shotguns |
| Shotguns covered | Winchester Models 1897 and 1912; Stevens Models 620A, 520 and 620; Ithaca Model 37; Remington Models 10, 31, 11 and Sportsman; Savage Model 720 |
| Historical period | World War II |
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