The single best and most economical arm for hunting and defense in the Wild West was the double-barreled shotgun. At the sign of trouble, the...
King of the Scatterguns
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Shooting from the Hip
The Mountain Man’s Ace in the Hole!
In the discussion of firearms of the fur trade era, handguns are usually given a back seat and are seldom mentioned in any detail. In reality,...
Five or Six?
Did frontiersmen of the Old West fully load their single-actions or did they leave an empty chamber under the hammer? Experienced shooters realize...
Spencer’s West
After the Civil War, savvy frontiersmen chose the Spencer repeating carbine. At the conclusion of the Civil War, the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company...
Rebel Yankees: The McCulloch Colts
When we think of Confederate revolvers we generally envision six guns like Leech & Rigdon, Spiller & Burr or the revolvers of the Dance...
Firearm Conundrums
A few questions puzzle nimrods and veteran shooters alike. Single Action, Double Action? One of the many enigmas to newcomers in the Western gun...
The Hawken Rifle Turns 200
Just as the Colt revolver and the Winchester rifle are icons of the post-Civil War West, one gun symbolizes the era of the fur trade. ...
Texas and the Paterson Colt
One hundred and eighty years ago, Samuel Colt’s revolutionary handgun broke trail for the Lone Star State and has been associated with Texas ever...
The 1873 Trapdoor Springfield—One Model, Many Changes
Despite the prominence of repeating rifles of the late 19th century, the U.S. Cavalry largely relied on this single-shot carbine to bring an end to...
Remington’s New Model Army Revolver
Rugged and accurate, this six-shooter was a mainstay of the Civil War and the American Frontier during the cap-and-ball era. What today’s firearms...
Colt Cylinder Scenes: History or Promotion?
More than just decoration, these roller-die-engravings were shrewdly added by Sam Colt to his revolvers to boost sales. Colonel Samuel Colt...
All Tacked Up
Using brass or iron furniture tacks was one of American Indians’ favorite ways of dressing up their firearms. Decorations on firearms and...