Founded in 1994
Brighton, MI
World’s Largest Old Gun Catalog & Manual Reprinter
- 1994 started Abby Books
resellers of old books and publishers of antique weapon catalogs - started with reprint of the 1955 Bannerman Catalog
– granted permission from the Bannerman family to reprint it - Abby and Rob Mouat
- reprint over 6,000 old gun catalogs, books and manuals
Cornell Publications
P.O. Box 214
Brighton, MI 48116
810-225-3075
cornellpubs.com
About Cornell Publications
Cornell Publications is a Brighton, Michigan, publisher that reprints old firearms catalogs, owner’s manuals, government and military manuals, and reference books. Its catalog of more than 6,000 titles spans roughly the 1850s to about 2000 and includes material originally issued by manufacturers, gunsmiths, dealers, and armed forces. Collections are organized by era and by specialty, including reloading, British and European arms, telescopes and optics, ammunition, government publications, and mail-order catalogs.
For gun owners, collectors, and restorers, these reprints are often the most practical way to see original factory specifications, period pricing, ballistic data, powder loads, and factory recommendations for older firearms. That information helps with provenance research, accurate restoration, and understanding how a given rifle, shotgun, or revolver was marketed and used in its own time. The company states plainly that its reprints are not meant to pass as original ephemera and that quality reflects the condition of the source copies, which are replaced when better originals turn up. As of 2026 the business remains active and sells its reprints through its own website.
Key Facts
- 1994: Founded as Abby Books by Abby and Rob Mouat, according to the profile above.
- First major project: a reprint of a Bannerman catalog, made with permission of the Bannerman family.
- Coverage: publications dating from the 1850s to around 2000, more than 150 years of firearms development.
- Catalog size: more than 6,000 different arms catalogs, books, magazines, and manuals.
- 2026: Still active, selling reprints through cornellpubs.com.
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Sources
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