[Arditi]

Ciao Gents,
Myself and my co-author are finishing up our two volume set on Japanese militaria this week. It will be sent to the printers this week.
In about a week I will start a volume on the Carcano. It will be picture intensive to help the collector identify the various models, makers and variations. It will also be period-photo intensive as the earlier volumes have been. Help will come from collectors in Italy that were helpful in providing information and photos for my earlier Italian Militaria book that was released last May. A reloading section is also being planned for the book from a respected collector/shooter.
The Japanese volumes were a real collecting-community involved project. Because of this joint effort items were brought out and paged that would not normally see the light of day. I would also put forward to the Italian collecting community that we are open and anxious to page some interesting Carcani and Italian related militaria within the book. All items pictured will be given full on page owner acknowlegment on page. Also, the finished page will be shown to the contributor to allow owner critique before printing. Attention on the acknowlegement page will also be made.
I hope to be finished by the Christmas season and I think it is doable. We will see. This book will not supplant Riepke, Hobbs nor the other fine writers of Carcani, but I hope it will be another resource for the collector, shooter, wargamer, modelor, historian and generalist to pull from.
Italian WWII Military history is my passion and the others that will be involved are passionate as well in their respective fields. I look forward to keeping all posted as we start. All offers of item and photo help is appreciated and will be respected.
Feel free to contact me here or at my email address at: arditi(at)suddenlink.net
Ciao, Russ(Arditi)

[Arditi]

Ciao Gents,
Just an update. The Carcano book is moving along well and I am still projecting December or thereabouts. Steve is coming up with some cool stuff that is eye-opening for me as well. Open invitation to anyone that has interesting accoutremonts or interesting information or rifles to picture. I am particularly interested in canvas ammo pouches and cleaning kits and accoutremonts! On page recognition will be given for all help. If interested let me know.
In Friendly Scholarship, Russ(Arditi)

[Arditi]

Hi Gents,
The book moves along well. We are over 300 pages finished and have another 50-100 pages to go. We are hoping to be finished by the end of December, but perhaps a bit longer and then we edit. It's looking good and a lot of information is being seen in the English language for the first time. This book has had world wide help from Comando Supremo, WAF, Gunboards members and many others.
I'll keep all interested posted.
Best, Russ

[Arditi]

http://[img]http://http://[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/861/websitefrontcoverpage1.jpg/][IMG]http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/540/websitefrontcoverpage1.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/img] Cover of the new book. Out shortly I believe.

[Arditi]

Ciao Gents,
Just an update. The book is finished, just needs a heavy editing and three rifle pics from Italy and a couple of chapter headers. Steve and I will edit the book and will post when we start printing. Outstanding help from Johnny Sheehan, Paolo Marzetti, Luca Balducci, my co-author, Don Voigt, folks from Gunboards and Comando Supremo, WAF, and many many others around the world I have failed to mention here. You are all acknowledged within the book. Exciting for me as I am primarily an Italian collector who dabbles in other areas. Bringing the story of the Italian battle-rifle and her unsung heroes is an honor for me.
Best to all, Russ