Although the Civil War was primarily fought east of the Mississippi River, a number of battles did take place in the West. This is also true of...
Boots and Saddles
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Firearms
Shootin’ Shot
More than any six-gun or rifle, the shotgun could easily be called the “gun that won the West!” Despite the acclaim given to the six-guns and rifles...
The Other Six-Gun
In sheer numbers alone, the Remington 1861 New Model Army revolver’s record of service is impressive. The U.S. Ordnance Department purchased 115,563...
Colt Revolver Cylinder Scenes
Have you ever wondered what the roll-engraved cylinder scenes on the old percussion Colts depict? Some were added solely for the sake of decoration...
1881 Marlin Rifle
While the 1873 Winchester is often called the “gun that won the West,” this rifle certainly didn’t win it by itself. There were plenty of other good...
Nerves of Steel
While much has been written about Westerners’ “tricked-out” guns, a cursory review of the hardware documented to these Old West gunmen reveals that...
Nerves of Steel
While much has been written about Westerners’ “tricked-out” guns, a cursory review of the hardware documented to these Old West gunmen reveals that...
One Handsome Gun
One of the most accurate arms used during the Mexican War of 1846-48 and the California gold rush was the U.S. Model 1841 Rifle, more commonly...
Long-Guns of the Gunfighters
For anyone who rode the gunpowder trail, a six-shooter wasn’t the only weapon in his arsenal. A gunfighter often had only one pull of the trigger to...
Patton’s Peacemaker Blazes Again
At the dawn of the age of automatic pistols, young Lt. George S. Patton relied on reverse technology when he used his famed ivory-stocked, 1873...
Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition
After famed arms inventor and manufacturer Samuel Colt passed away in 1862, his widow Elizabeth wanted to build a memorial to him and their three...
Hidalgo’s Hardware
In 2002, I worked on one of the hot new films of the season—Hidalgo, to be released in March 2004. This action packed Western is based on the legend...