WINCHESTER: An American Legend, by R. L. Wilson, Random House, 404 pages, $65.

The flyleaf inscription begins like many another book but continues: “AND with apologies to Christopher and Stephen — this is why Dad couldn’t take you fishing.”

R. L. Wilson, author, Colt Firearms’ official historian since 1959, free-lance consultant to the U.S. Historical Society, Cowboy Hall of Fame, Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, sacrificed much compiling “Winchester: An American Legend.”

Wilson’s introduction tells the reader that the history of nations is measured in their arms, attesting to the part arms have played in the wealth of nations.

The book spreads before the reader the history of Winchester — and America — since 1849, before it was called Winchester and when it produced the Volcanic Rifle and the famous Henry rimfire .44 lever-action, which came too late for real duty in the Civil War.

Many of the book’s illustrations are full-page productions. Working with Wilson on this project was photographer G. Allan Brown, whose images reveal intimate understanding of blued steel and fine wood.

The book also tells about the people who used the company’s products. President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid hunter and shooter, used Winchester rifles and praised their handling and ballistics.

President Abraham Lincoln, who was fascinated with firearms, and was a “competent shooter,” was presented a Henry rifle with a rosewood stock and a gold-plated receiver, fully engraved with his name.

Ernest Hemingway loved guns and took many Winchesters with him on hunting safaris. One of his favorites, a .22 pump, is shown in the book with a description provided by Mary Hemingway.

There are pictures of Texas Rangers, Indian scouts, Teddy Roosevelt, lawmen and badmen, each with his Winchester. Billy the Kid stares out from one page, Winchester ’73 carbine at his side, one or two years before Sheriff Pat Garrett shot him. There are Buffalo Bill, Pearl Heart, even John Wayne, an American hero in his own right, who inspired the design of a special Winchester for one of his movies.

Photographs show details of finish from the common field grade to the most ornate, engraved and gold-filled presentation pieces. Every nuance of the gunmaker’s and engraver’s art is explained: the art of Nimschke, a famed 19th century engraver whose work has greatly enhanced the value of collector pieces, and Ulrich, a protege of Nimschke.

Following the text and color photographs are appendices with more information, including Winchester promotional materials, posters, bullet boards displaying ammo products of various periods, patches, accessories and knives. Few people are aware that Winchester once made tools, rollerskates, a meat grinder, even flashlight batteries.

There are tables where commercial symbols for ammunition and game selector guides, velocities in feet-per-second, energy in foot-pounds, and trajectories are provided.

Anyone interested in Winchester rifles or American history should have “Winchester: an American Legend.” Anyone interested in fine photography of difficult steel and wood subjects should have the book; it is not just about guns, but about America and her artwork in an age when even our dark and brooding factories produced beauty that remains unsurpassed today.

For we who live in an age of mass production, there is R.L. Wilson to show us what was America. R.L. Wilson lost many fishing days with his family but for those of us who love guns and the outdoors, he has saved a part of America.