John Horton Slaughter typified the 19th century rawhide-tough breed who settled and tamed the wild Southwest border country. He was born in 1841 in...
John Slaughter – Part 1
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Texas Rangers
Captain of All Rangers for Life
Texas Ranger Jim Gillett writes himself into fame. Jim Gillett was just 20 years old when he decided to join the Texas Rangers in...
One Ranger, One Riot
Ten Texas Rangers who never stood down Now riding into their third century, one of the nation’s oldest law enforcement agencies carries a...
The Legendary Texas Rangers
The Lone Star lawmen have been a favorite of editors and readers of True West for seven decades. In 1953, the year True West magazine...
At the Peak of His Powers
Texas Ranger June Peak helped bring down Sam Bass. Relatively speaking, Junius “June” Peak spent few years in law enforcement. But he accomplished a...
Action Jackson
The day I met a living legend On February 25, 2006, I got to have breakfast with a living legend. Joaquin Jackson, Texas Ranger and...
On Patrol
Five Texas Rangers of Company A, (l.-r) Howard Cragg, Ira Heard, Sam Chessir, J. B. Brooks and Lloyd David, were mounted and ready for action at the...
From Tennessee to Texas
Following David Crockett to the Alamo is a heritage trip of a lifetime. In 1835, David Crockett was a noted author who had spent much of the...
Best of the West 2023: Firearms
1873 - Year of the Gun 2023 is a special year for several iconic Old West guns, as well as True West magazine, and Firearms Editor Phil...
A Tall Tale of Two Women: Part 2 – Cynthia Ann Parker
Cynthia Ann Parker was born to Silas and Lucinda Parker (nee Duty) in Crawford County, Illinois. She was born about 1824. In about 1834, they...
The Myth of Frank Hamer
The legendary lawman’s first killing never happened. The story goes that legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer killed his first man when he was just...
The 1847 Walker Colt
Despite the popularity of the Colt revolver among Texans, Colt's company failed in 1842. Realizing the revolver needed more durability for use on...