Field Guides
The collector's knowledge base
Maker histories, identifying marks, cartridge origins and the stories that make an object worth understanding. Published references and clearly labeled personal collection notes form a growing research library.
Expanded November 6, 2026. Start with a field guide, follow a cartridge's history, or learn about the Civilian Marksmanship Program below.
The FN-49 Field Reference
Every military contract of Fabrique Nationale's Model 1949 — Egypt, Luxembourg, Venezuela, Argentina, Indonesia, Belgian Congo, and more — with receiver crests, calibers, serial-number dating, stock variations, and Liège proof mark locations.
Read the guide →
The M1911 Field Reference
Military makers plus commercial and custom histories: Standard Manufacturing, Dan Wesson, Wilson, Ed Brown, Les Baer and more. Includes the owner's 10mm collection note, historical chamberings, serial references and CMP resources.
Read the guide →
The M1 Garand Field Reference
Manufacturers, serials, barrel dates, cartouches and rebuild history, now with the Navy's MK 2 MOD 0 and MOD 1 7.62 NATO variants, cartridge origins, and CMP research links.
Read the guide →The bicycle reference library
Three branches. Equal standing.
Old School BMX, Mountain Biking and Road Biking sit alongside one another, with company directories, historical context, collecting checklists and credited research.
Old School BMX
Hutch, Thruster, Profile, Redline and Mongoose. Five company collecting guides, with original-era and reissue distinctions.
Read the BMX guides → 02 / OFF ROADMountain Biking
Mountain-bike history, cross-country and downhill, and a directory of Specialized, Intense, Cannondale and Trek.
Explore mountain biking → 03 / ROADRoad Biking
Cannondale, Trek and Specialized, plus Litespeed, Moots, Seven, Lynskey and Merlin in a dedicated titanium directory.
Explore road bikes & titanium →Cross-reference · Origins & lineage
Follow the cartridge's history
A searchable reference connecting the M1911, Garand and FN-49 guides to the origins of their service, commercial, target and specialist cartridges. Each entry names its documentary source and distinguishes production chamberings from trials or derivatives.
Meet the Civilian Marksmanship Program
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a federally chartered nonprofit supporting firearms safety, marksmanship education, competitions and youth programs. Its official history connects the present corporation, established in 1996, to the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice created in 1903 (CMP mission and history).
Collectors can also learn from CMP's published research, including The 7.62MM Garand, which discusses Navy variants, markings and authentication challenges. These independent field guides are not affiliated with or endorsed by CMP, and are not firearm sales listings.
How this knowledge base grows
Published research is linked at the point of use. Personal observations are labeled as owner-reported, unresolved questions remain visible, and an early serial number is not presented as a proven production-order claim.
The initial core covers the FN-49, M1911 and M1 Garand; additional subjects will be added as their research is completed. If there's a reference you wish existed, suggest a subject rather than treating an unlisted guide as already published.
Reference URLs: open or select to copy (2)
If a reference cannot open inside an app, expand this list and select its full address.
https://thecmp.org/about/https://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/762Garand.pdf