Headstamp Publishing Announces New Cold War Battle Rifles Book
Headstamp Publishing will publish a new book focused on the classic big-bore battle rifles of the Cold War. Written by Ian McCollum and James Rupley the book will cover all of the major rifles developed and issued during the period, including: the FN FAL, M14, HK G3 and the AR-10 but also some of the less well known Battle Rifles such as the French MAS49/56, Danish LAR, and the Stgw. 57.
Announcing the book Headstamp explained:
“The Battle Rifle is a class of infantry rifles inextricably linked to the NATO forces of Cold War-era Europe. After the Second World War, almost all Western powers moved to “full-power”, magazine-fed, typically select-fire rifles for infantry use, in the face of the Eastern bloc which adopted rifles chambered for “intermediate” cartridges instead. For several decades, these heavy hitting Battle Rifles were predominant in NATO forces, evidenced by iconic designs like the FAL and G3. Though the anticipated climactic battles between NATO and the Warsaw Pact on the German plains never happened, these rifles did see combat outside of Europe in the world’s scattered revolutions and bush wars.”
The book is the latest in a series of large-format books focused on historic small arms. It continues McCollum and Rupley’s series, which has already covered many of the firearms of World War Two. Like the earlier books in the series, Small Arms of the Cold War: Battle Rifles of NATO will blend historical context and commentary provided by McCollum and the gorgeous, detailed photography of James Rupley.
There are 4 versions of the book available:
- Standard Edition
- Signature Edition (signed by author, Ian McCollum)
- Slipcase Edition (includes commemorative slipcase)
- SIGNED Slipcase Edition (book is signed and includes commemorative slipcase)
Prices for the new book start at $125.00 for the standard edition and range up to $215.00 for the signed slipcase edition.
It’s an exciting prospect to have a new book that tackles NATO’s battle rifles as there hasn’t been a book published on the subject for quite some time. The new 460 page book is available for pre-order now, with shipping estimated to start in November 2025 (just in time for Christmas) find out more at www.headstamppublishing.com/cold-war-battle
Managing Editor: TheFirearmBlog.com & Overt Defense.com. Matt is a British historian specialising in small arms development and military history. He has written several books and for a variety of publications in both the US and UK. Matt is also runs The Armourer's Bench, a video series on historically significant small arms. Here on TFB he covers product and current military small arms news. Reach Matt at: matt@thefirearmblog.com
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