The Birth of the Automatic Pistol

Whether you are a historian, a firearms collector, or a mechanical enthusiast, The Birth of the Automatic Pistol by Nelson McKeeby offers a definitive look at the technological revolution that redefined personal sidearms.

As the nineteenth century drew to a close, the world of firearms stood on the brink of a radical transformation. For centuries, black powder-with its heavy smoke and corrosive residue-had limited handguns to revolvers and multi-barrel designs. But with the 1884 introduction of smokeless "Poudre B," the era of the self-loading pistol was born.

In this comprehensive volume, McKeeby explores the critical convergence of propellant chemistry, advanced metallurgy, and precision machining that made the automatic pistol possible. From the early toggle-locks of Hugo Borchardt to the legendary short-recoil systems perfected by John Moses Browning, this book traces the evolution of handgun mechanics through the golden age of design.

Richly detailed and meticulously researched, The Birth of the Automatic Pistol is the essential guide to the mechanical breakthroughs that ended the reign of the revolver and shaped the modern combat handgun.