Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2021 i Guns of the Old West

Not only did Winchester offer an extensive list of Model 1912 variations, but within those variations was also a wide choice of barrel lengths. Following are the options Winchester made available. 12 GAUGE: Plain barrels—26-, 28-, 30- and 32-inch—were first listed in 1914. Matted barrels—on special order only—were first listed in 1914. Solid raised matted 26-, 28-, 30- and 32-inch rib barrels were first listed in 1914. And 30-inch ventilated rib barrels were first listed in 1919. 16 GAUGE: Plain barrel, 26-inch was first listed in 1914, and a 28-inch first listed about 1927. A 30-inch was authorized on November 24, 1930. Matted barrels—special order only—were first listed in 1914. Solid raised matted 26-inch rib barrels were first listed in 1914, and 28-inch about 1927. A 30-inch was authorized on…

SOMETIMES IT’S OKAY TO STRAY A BIT from the original blueprints. A multitude of single-action revolvers have been patterned after the Single Action Army since Colt first introduced it in 1873, some more and some less true to the original design. Apart from the large-frame single-actions I use strictly for hunting, I pre- prefer my Model P-style revolvers to stay fairly close to the real deal, especially when it comes to their dimensions. After all, we’re talking about a handgun design that, despite approaching 150 years in age, still points gun more naturally than just about any handgun ever produced produced. At the same time, I have to admit that I’m always attracted to a model that is more distinct, something special that stands out from the crowd. I think…

The 2011 move to Remington’s plant left much Marlin machinery and many of its people behind. Early Ilion-built Marlins cycled as if lubed by sand. The Marlin faithful whined about poor fit and finish. “North Haven’s tooling was largely from another era,” an engineer told me, admitting too, “We knew little about making lever rifles.” But Remington persevered, and tweaked cosmetics. The Dark Series boasted Picatinny rails, XS sights, threaded muzzles, black-painted stocks and oversized levers wrapped in parachute cord. Custom Shop Marlins with fine walnut, silky actions and Skinner sights emerged in limited numbers from Dakota Arms, a 2007 inductee into Remington’s family. In 2015 The Freedom Group became Remington Outdoor Company. In September 2020, a U.S. bankruptcy court approved the sale of what was left of Remington’s…

The Buck 124 Frontiersman, part of the company's 2021 Legacy Collection, is crafted with Crelicam genuine ebony handles. The rich woodgrains can be found in natural ebony and make each handle unique. The famous straight-back bowie blade is 420HC steel, while the guard and pommel are aluminum. The blade is 6¼ inches long, overall length is 11¾ inches and weight is 13.3 ounces. It comes with a black leather sheath. With a limited production run in 2021, it is a great add-on for any Cowboy Action Shooter. Visit buckknives.com. —Linas Cernauskas…

SHORT-BARRELED HANDGUNS have always been the preferred ordnance for fighting in close confines. A number of lawmen, gunslingers, outlaws, gamblers and businessmen in the Old West era were more than aware of this, and many had survived practical applications. During that time, Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company took special orders for their revolvers, and some buyers seemed to prefer short barrels. In 1882, Colt shipped out a regular-production Single Action Army (SAA) revolver that had a 2½-inch barrel with no ejector rod affixed to said barrel, as was usually the case. More of these revolvers were made, with additional barrel lengths including 3 and 3½ inches. These SAA variations were given no particular moniker, but came to be called Sheriff’s, Storekeeper’s or Shopkeeper’s models. Making a full-sized handgun more…

Some READERS WILL FIND IT INTERESTING THAT A “replica” firearms company actually dates back to 1889. Rossi is definitely not one of the new kids in town. The Brazilian company is probably best known for making their version of Winchester’s famous Model 1892 in various configurations, but they also make several rimfire rifles, a single-shot .410 shotgun and a revolver carbine in .45 Colt/.410. I bought my first Rossi more than 25 years ago, a short-barreled saddle-ring carbine with a big loop lever, à la John Wayne and Chuck Connors. And yes, I did practice cocking it one-handed the way they did—only when it was unloaded, I might add. It was chambered in .357 Magnum, and if my memory is correct it had a puma’s head on the receiver. Like…

WITH AMMO AS HARD TO GET AS IT IS JUST NOW, it’s a good time for Old West shooting enthusiasts to take a look at some of the exceptional CO 2 -powered BB guns now available, many of which you’ve already seen in these pages. A visit to the Pyramyd Air website will give you the full scope of your options. Pyramyd Air is the worldwide retail division of American-based Air Venturi. Most consumers will be familiar with Pyramyd Air’s 70-page print catalogs, which are the wish books of airgun enthusiasts. Airguns aren’t a sideline for Air Venturi. The company is fully dedicated to the hobby, and you can probably get a master’s-level education from their web-based Air Gun Academy, which has more than 125 free educational videos and product…

We’d need the 1,200-gallon diesel reserve. The 52-footer drank a gallon a mile, and rounding Prince of Wales is a 400-mile trip. “Alaska has 40,000 miles of coast ” said Mark Gala, “more than the Lower 48 ” We anchored in a cove with forest and tidal flats drenched by 18 feet of rain each year. The skiff brought us up a creek. We moored with a long line, mindful of huge tidal swings. Bear trails threaded thick, waist-high grass. Suddenly Mark crouched. “Bears!” he hissed. On hands and knees, we scurried across water and deadfalls. The breeze swung. Both bears galloped for cover. Kneeling, I cheeked the Marlin .30-30, and fired as the boar paused. The 170-grain flat-nose struck audibly. In dusk’s fading light, we hurried to find blood.…

Interestingly, OF ALL THE VARIOUS COLT handguns manufactured, little is known of the development of their third-most-produced percussion revolver, the Model 1860 Army. Suffice it to say that being the astute businessman that Col. Samuel Colt was—and considering his close relationship with the military hierarchy—it’s obvious that he understood the faults some Army officers found with his guns. Those who liked the heavy .44 Dragoon Colt were pleased with that arm’s ability to deliver a powerful punch, though they were less than enamored with its excessive weight and bulk. On the other hand, those who preferred the 1851 Navy’s light weight, good balance and ease of handling desired more power than that six-gun’s .36-caliber load could offer. Charles W. Pate, author of the excellent study, The Colt Model 1860 Army…