Was there ever such a thing as a Buntline Special (12-inch barrel Colt)? If so, do any exist? In this country, they seem to exist only in men’s...

Storyteller of the Native American
Howard Terpning was in his 50s before becoming affectionately known as the “storyteller of the Native American,” an honor he holds close to his...

Elkhorn Ranch
Many True West readers live in snow country, and perhaps you’re one of them. Chances are as you look up from these pages and out the window, the...

Eating His Weight in Democrats
It was one of the most outrageous quotes of the Old West about one of the most barbaric crimes. In 1883, a 34-year-old tracker named Alferd Packer...

Trail Ride Couture
Riding the open range or a mountain trail on an organized trail ride may be as close to the Old West as a greenhorn can get. But look closely and...

Paying Tribute to the Man in Black
This article was supposed to be all about singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell—from his arrival in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1972 to his new CD, Fate’s...

It Ain’t Really Him! . . . Or is it?
When we see an Old West photograph in a book or magazine, can we believe the subject is who or what it is said to be? At one time, I believed...

Dodging Fakes
"You’ve seen more Old West autograph forgeries in the last three years than in the previous 20 years combined.” It’s a pretty stunning statement,...

Four Rivers Cultural Center
At the turn of the 20th century, Oregon presented opportunities that gripped its culturally diverse newcomers. Upon seeing the soft rolling plains...

Gun that Killed Jesse James Sets Record
Step aside Black Jack Ketchum, Bob Ford’s Smith & Wesson has hit your target. On November 9-10, 2003, Little John’s Auction Service’s firearms...

Ambush at Guadalupe Pass
August 12, 1881 The Clanton Camp: Innocent Cowboys or “a Viper’s Nest” of Outlaws? A group of some 25 American cowboys has been raiding in Northern...

Man Afraid of His Wife
Cherokee novelist Robert J. Conley is perhaps best known for busting stereotypes in traditional Western fiction. What may be surprising, however, is...