I recently had the opportunity to meet Gun Digest author Patrick Sweeney at the 2011 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. Sweeney was at the Gun Digest booth to sign copies of his new book, 1911: The First 100 Years.
One of the things that strikes you about the man, despite his impressive list of credentials and publishing credits, is what a genuinely nice guy he is — truly down-to-earth. It's a refreshing thing to meet someone who is confident enough in his knowledge that he doesn't feel the need to machine gun you into the ground with an over-zealous ego. In fact, I can say without any reservation whatsoever, that while I met lots of interesting folks at the show, meeting Sweeney was a personal high point.
As I wrote not long ago in the Tactical and Military Arms Blog, Sweeney's new book on the 1911 invoked thoughts about my own dad and the 1911 he carried in WWII. Well, both our fathers carried 1911s in the war. And at the show, I got to speak with Sweeney more about the role his dad played in the war — a real treat!
The book signing — as part of Gun Digest’s salute to the 100 year anniversary of the Model 1911 pistol — took place on Thursday (1/20) and Friday (1/21) from 9:30-10:30 am at the Gun Digest SHOT Show booth #11720.
A limited quantity of copies of 1911: The First 100 Years were available at the Gun Digest booth for the signing. To read an excerpt from the book, click here
In the year 1911, the history of firearms changed forever with the adoption of the greatest pistol ever designed, the Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 — known today simply as the 1911. Now, in one fascinating, fully-illustrated hard cover volume, authority Patrick Sweeney celebrates the 100th anniversary of the greatest fighting handgun ever designed, John M. Brownings legendary 1911 .45.
Lavishly illustrated with photographs collected from around the world, 1911: The First 100 Years is a fitting centennial tribute to a pistol that is today more popular than ever.
Patrick Sweeney is the author of many of Gun Digest books' best-selling titles, including Gun Digest Book of the 1911, Vols. I & II; Gun Digest Big Fat Book of the .45 ACP, Gun Digest Book of the AR-15, Gun Digest Book of the AK and SKS, Gun Digest Book of the Glock and Gunsmithing: Pistols and Revolvers, among other titles. A master gunsmith, Patrick is also Handguns Editor for Guns & Ammo magazine.
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