Hatcher’s Book of the Garand is the definitive chronicle of the rifle General George S. Patton called “the greatest battle implement ever devised.”

Major General Julian S. Hatcher follows the evolution of the M1 Garand from the first semiautomatic hunting rifles to the devastating U.S. infantry weapon of WWII. It’s a battle royal of weapons design, with dozens of unforeseen problems sending inventors back to the drawing board and a scandal-hungry media waiting to discredit the guns favored by the military. Garand’s fierce competition includes such legendary companies and inventors as Winchester, Colt, Johnson, Thompson, and the author himself. Hatcher follows the rigorous target and field tests that each gun underwent, leading to numerous revisions and the eventual adoption of Garand’s rugged rifle. It is a difficult struggle lasting over a decade and a half, and a vital and unsung part of the war effort. In addition to the story of the Garand, Hatcher offers detailed explanations for cleaning, repairing, and firing this historic rifle. The Book of the Garand is an indispensable part of any gun enthusiast’s library.

Julian Sommerville Hatcher (June 26, 1888 December 4, 1963), was a noted firearms expert and author of the early twentieth century. He is credited with several technical books and articles relating to military firearms, ballistics, and autoloading weapons. His premier works are Hatcher's Notebook and Book of the Garand, along with Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers and Pistols and Revolvers and Their Uses. He was also a pioneer in the forensic identification of firearms and their ammunition. Hatcher retired from the United States Army as a Major General. Afterward, he served as Technical Editor of the National Rifle Association's American Rifleman magazine.

Hatcher was born in Hayfield, Virginia and graduated with honors from Annapolis in 1909 [he voluntarily transferred from the Navy to the Army's coast artillery]. He married Eleanor Dashiell and together, they had three children. Chief of the Small Arms Division in the Ordnance Department and the Assistant Commandant of the Ordnance School before and at the beginning of World War II, he worked closely with Springfield Armory as an engineering trouble-shooter in resolving early production issues associated with the early iterations of the M1 Garand Rifle.