Morphy and Rock Island prove collectors still love the classic American firearms. Samuel Colt patented his first revolver in 1835,...
Best of the West 2022: True Westerner of the Year
Riding - and Writing - for the Brand! Phil Spangenberger If you have ever spoken to Phil Spangenberger about the Old West, historical firearms,...
Mr. Authenticity
Many fans of Westerns, especially the True West maniacs, are guilty of picking them apart for the anachronisms all too often found in such...
The Metallic Cartridge
Linen or paper wrapped cartridges had been around for a long time and had obvious problems. The percussion ignition system didn’t place the primer...
Own a Gunfighter’s Favorite!
Thanks to replicas, you can have a spitting-image, working copy of some of the Old West’s most colorful shootists’ famous guns. Talk about...
Rattlesnakes, Renegades and UFOs
Were Wayne Brazel—involved in the killing of Pat Garrett—and Mac Brazel—involved in the 1947 Roswell UFO incident—related? True West Maniac...
Origins of Gunpowder
Black Powder was invented by the Chinese in the 9th century. They concocted a mix of charcoal, potassium nitrate and sulfur. Charcoal and sulfur...
The 1841 “Mississippi” Rifle
This handsomely rugged 1840s muzzleloader was prized by frontiersmen and military riflemen alike and helped phase out the smoothbore musket. ...
Lancaster Rifles
The Lancaster rifle, manufactured in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania are the best-known of all the American long rifles. It was the first commonly...
Leather Cartridge Belts and Corrosion
A question came in the other day from a True West Magazine reader. “I've noticed that my leaving a cartridge in a leather gunbelt for an extended...
Winchester Dominates at the Rock Island Auction
The annual Western firearms auction was a success for all. Rock Island Auction Company's February event was a "personal best" for the auction house....
Top 12 Guns that Tamed the Wild West
True West considers these the most significant workhorses of the frontier. “The Gun That Won the West!” “Which gun was that?” you may ask,...