The Vickers Guide series of firearm reference books was launched in 2015 with the release of Vickers Guide: 1911. Since that time, Vickers Guide has released eight new titles and has become the gold standard for reference books, merging the insight of genuine subject matter experts with true-to-life photography of a highly curated selection of firearms of historic significance.

In the years since the 2015 release of Vickers Guide: 1911, we have photographed many additional interesting firearms from throughout the life of the 1911 that, in order to better tell the story of the 1911 pistol, needed to be incorporated into a Second Edition the book. Accompanying these newly photographed pistols, we have added hundreds of additional images and a considerable amount of new commentary. In fact, there is so much additional content for this Second Edition of the 1911 book, we are splitting it into two separate volumes – each being larger than the original First Edition.

This Second Volume of Vickers Guide: 1911, Second Edition focuses on the “custom” 1911 pistols – those pistols that have been modified by extremely skilled craftsmen to increase both the performance and aesthetics of the original 1911 design. We highlight some of the most well-known and sought-after pistolsmiths of their day: Armand Swenson, Jim Hoag, Richard Heinie, Jim Clark, Steve Nastoff, Jim Garthwaite, Wayne Novak, Jim Boland, Paul Liebenberg, Pete Single, John Harrison, and authors Jason Burton and Larry Vickers. Also highlighted are custom builds by renown shops King’s Gun Works, Pachmayr, Wilson Combat, and Springfield Armory Custom Shop.

In addition to highlighting the work of these masters of the art of custom 1911 pistols, we also have the privilege to showcase pistols from the personal collections of renown firearms instructor Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch, champion competitive shooter Rob Leatham, master holster maker Milt Sparks, grip maker John Van Zyck of VZ Grips, and book authors Larry Vickers, Ken Hackathorn, and Jason Burton. To wrap up the book, this Second Volume also features a significant section on “semi-custom” and rare production 1911 pistols. Once the reader has absorbed the information in this book, he or she will have a new appreciation and understanding of the 1911 pistol, and the performance and aesthetic heights to which it can be elevated.

Featuring over 60 pistols, Vickers Guide: 1911 (Volume 2), Second Edition gives the reader a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into some of the rarest and most significant 1911 pistols produced throughout its long and distinguished history. In the process, Larry Vickers and James Rupley have teamed up with renowned firearms instructor Ken Hackathorn and custom 1911 builder Jason Burton of Heirloom Precision, as well as a number of other subject matter experts, whose cumulative insights allow for an extraordinary, and unparalleled, presentation.

Vickers Guide: 1911 (Volume 2), Second Edition presents this highly curated collection of firearms in never-before-seen detail on larger than life, wide format, full color prints in a premium hardback form. Vickers Guide: 1911 is the next best thing to having these exceptional collector’s grade firearms in your own personal collection.