If you’re looking for a new firearms book, but you’re tired of the same-old photos of American World War II firepower or 20th-century sporting arms, then perhaps this new title from Safar Publishing will offer an interesting alternative. This summer, Safar will print a new book on a 40-years-ago conflict titled Soviet Weapons of the Afghan War.

Gun Books @ TFB:

• Wild Arms Introduces “Flame Assault Shoulder Weapon: M202A1 Flash” Book
• Heckler & Koch Vickers Guide Book Now Shipping
• NEW BOOK: “Modern Advancements In Long Range Shooting: Volume III” by Bryan Litz

What you’re getting is summed up in the title. Before America and its allies put boots on the ground in Afghanistan as part of the War on Terror, the Soviet Union had its own adventures in that country. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979 following the Spetsnaz-led Operation Storm-333, which assassinated Afghan leader Hafizullah Amin.

Following that operation, Soviet troops poured into the country for a 10-year war against the Islamist rebel factions of the Afghan mujahideen, and their allies. The mujahideen were heavily funded and armed by the United States, and used a variety of firepower that included weapons left over from World War II and other previous conflicts, along with more modern equipment from the U.S. For their part, the Soviets used the latest Russian equipment—and that’s what this book is about.

The new book has professional photos of the RPG-16, folding-stock RPKS-74, APB silenced pistol and other weapons, some of them quite rare. It’s not just a dry spec sheet; there are full-spread photos showing the weapons in detail, and Soviet Weapons of the Afghan War talks about the equipment’s performance in the theater. According to the blurb on Kickstarter:

Soviet Weapons of the Afghan War” is a meticulously researched and visually captivating book that dives deep into the arsenal that played a pivotal role in the conflict. Unlike other books on firearms, we are not focusing on the characteristic tables and manufacturing details, but instead we write about the practical use of the weapons. A substantial amount of effort was devoted to the examination of memoirs and conducting interviews with veterans in pursuit of the completion of this publication.

As we just told you, the book is currently up on Kickstarter; it will be printed and shipped after the Kickstarter campaign ends, and since the campaign has far outstripped its fundraising goals, it hopefully shouldn’t be much of a wait. It’s going to be approximately 525 pages long, 11×11 inches in size, and the lowest-priced Kickstarter support option is $90 USD. Pay more, and you can opt for added content or other perks. See more photos and details here, or at Safar Publishing here.