Gslingers - Summer 2016
Gslingers - Summer 2016
Gslingers - Summer 2016
From the Editors of World of Firepower | Gunslingers | Firearms of the Old West | Summer 2016
63
7 25274 01506 1
Engaged Media Inc.
GS-1605-2-3-INSPIRE.qxp 3/6/16 10:34 PM Page 2
FRONT SIGHT
Along
for the
Ride
T
his working dog gets a rare break to take
a free ride. Now, its time to set aside your
work, and come along for the ride as we
go back to the days of the Old West to
explore the era, the people and their guns.
Summer 2016
On the Cover:
8 LESSONS FROM LENSEIGNE
Cowboy Mounted Shooting
sensation Kenda Lenseigne
discusses the fastest shooting
sport on four legs.
By Mike Searson
Special Sections:
18 NEW SHOOTIN IRONS 50 The Wire
This years hot rearms include deluxe commemoratives A boon to business and the bane of the bad men,
and new takes on some Old West favorites. the creation of the coast-to-coast telegraph system
By Steven Paul Barlow was a hard-fought step to civilizing the West.
By John McQuaid
36 Desperate Journeys
Attacks and terrible weather were only some of the
challenges stagecoaches faced.
By Stratten Waldt
42 Steam-Powered Progress
From scaling the Rockies to battling train robbers,
establishing the railroad was a monumental task.
By John McQuaid
Features: Departments:
62 THE FIRST GUNFIGHTERS GUNS 2 First Shot
The Colt Navy and the Colt Army revolvers changed
the face of combat forever.
By Bob Campbell 6 Editorial
70 THE GREATEST HANDGUN OF THE FRONTIER
The Colt Single Action Army continued to be effective
131 Closing
years after more advanced designs were introduced.
By Bob Campbell
86 HOLSTER EVOLUTION
As revolvers became handier, new holster designs
allowed for secure and easily accessible carry.
By Bob Campbell
94 PREVALENT IN POCKETS
Small top-break revolvers were favorites for portable
protection.
By Mike Searson
Editorial
EDITORIAL
CONTRIBUTORS
Bob Campbell, John McQuaid, Mike Searson,
Stratten Waldt
I appreciate tradition as much as covered wagon or perhaps a stage-
anyone. Occasionally, Ill try to step coach. In any case, were seeing ADVERTISING
Spiro Demetriadi Publisher, Outdoor Group
back to look at the big picture, to more lever-action and single-shot Gabe Frimmel Ad Sales Director
view the present with some sort of rifle designs updated for todays (714) 200-1930
gfrimmel@engagedmediainc.com
historical perspective. shooters, featuring materials like Casey Clifford Senior Account Executive
When it comes to Old West stainless steel, updated sights, (714) 200-1982
Mark Pack Senior Account Executive
firearms, especially, it can be scope rails and other provisions for (714) 200-1939
fascinating to hold an original mounting optics. Henry Repeating Charles Dorr Account Executive
(714) 200-1931
firearm and ponder the history of Arms is one company that comes John Cabral Advertising Design
the piece. I like to imagine what to mind; Uberti is looking to this Gennifer Merriday Advertising Traffic Coordinator
Kristan Beckman Advertising Traffic Coordinator
adventures its owners might have market, as well, introducing its 1885
had, and how they might have High Wall single-shot with a shorter DIRECT MARKETING GROUP
John Bartulin (866) 866-5146 ext. 2746
depended on that gun to get them barrel and scope rail. Neil Medalla (866)866-5146 ext. 2780
through safely. With a replica, too, Some of the older designs are
OPERATIONS
there can be an added appreciation even sporting laminate and, dare we Subroto Mallick Business Analytic Manager
you dont get with todays rearms. say it, synthetic stocks. Robert Short IT Manager
Harsh Srivastava Newsstand and Circulation Analyst
Wyatt Earp carried one just like So while I love historically Shailesh Khandelwal Subscriptions Manager
this, you might think. Or, Wild Bill accurate replicas, I believe many Alex Mendoza Administrative Assistant
Jeno Torres Administrative Assistant
Hickok was deadly accurate with a old gun designs have a value for Victoria Van Vlear Intern Program Manager
gun like this. todays shooters far beyond their Arvind Sidhu Prepress Manager
Historically accurate replica mere historical significance. Yes, EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE
rearms can be important to there are legitimate roles for the 22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, Ste. 200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887
(714) 939-9991 Fax: (800) 249-7761
reenactors, cowboy-action shooters modern black guns you see every-
www.engagedmediamags.com
or those who just want one as close where, and in other gun magazines www.facebook.com/eembybeckett
Companies like Ruger and hip. Dont cry heresy if one of those
Freedom Arms have made modern guns is made of stainless steel.
single-action revolvers for years,
geared toward those who want Steven Paul Barlow, Editor
ENGAGED MEDIA INC.
updated versions of the old designs
Nick Singh President
for hunting. Celia Merriday HR and Office Management
Gus Alonzo Circulation/Marketing Director
More companies are jumping on
Jason Mulroney Director of Content
the bandwagonthough, because Pinaki Bhattacharya Vertical Manager
Philip Trinkle Newsstand Sales Director
were talking Old West-style guns,
maybe the bandwagon would be a
This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that information
presented is from various sources from which there can be no warranty or responsi-
bility by Engaged Media Inc., as to the legality, completeness or technical accuracy.
SAFETY NOTE: Always wear ear and eye protection when shooting firearms.
(Images shown are for marketing purposes only and are not intended as safe firearm handling examples.)
GS-1605-8-17-MOUNTED.CX.qxp 3/8/16 11:49 PM Page 8
Lessons
from Lenseigne
Cowboy Mounted Shooting Sensation
Kenda Lenseigne Discusses the Fastest
Shooting Sport On Four Legs
I
BY
-- MIKE SEARSON
Photo by Scoop
Gunslingers: What is involved partnership with the horse, so they depending on temperament, take
with the training of a horse for will work for you instead of doing to the sport immediately, where
mounted shooting, beyond their own thing. others require more time. I look at
acclimating them to the noise? breeding, conformation and tem-
Gunslingers: Will any horse make perament as three basic qualities
Kenda: Training shooting horses for a good mount, or is it some- when selecting a mounted-shoot-
includes countless hours of thing on the individual level of ing horse.
pattern work to get the horses to the animal? After that, starting the horse
be responsive and efficient in their properly on gunre, and then train-
turns. As its technically a team Kenda: Each horse is individual, ing it to become an athlete and
sport, its important to build a just like people. Some horses, partner is key.
Kenda: Any competition, in any same level of partnership with my from launching a new Kenda
discipline, is a constantly evolving new mare. signature line of SAA revolvers that
skillset. There are so many factors will be competition-ready out of
that go into competitive shooting, Gunslingers: You are sponsored the box.
and just when you think youre on by Uberti/Benelli. Are your I am confident that the new
top, something can happen at any revolvers off the shelf models guns will revolutionize the sport,
given time and humble you. Thats or are they built specially for you? as they will come with a short-
the fun part, and the part that Do you make further refinements stroke action, which provides
continues to charge my batteries. after you get them? the entire job in half the time, and
My latest challenge is that I low and wide hammer spur for
am on a new horse this year. My Kenda: I signed on with Uberti last easier one-handed pull.
horse partner of 10 years had a year, as we are working on giving A big challenge of our sport is
career-ending accident last spring, the brand a fresh new look, so to getting that hammer cocked back
so I am working on achieving that speak. We are a few months away with one hand while moving at
35MPH, especially if the targets years ago and I feel that it works
are close together. just right for me. THE WILD WEST
SHOW CONNECTION
Cowboy Mounted
Gunslingers: I notice you use a Gunslingers: Obviously, you Shooting, or Western mounted
birds head-grip frame. Does the were an accomplished rider from shooting, got its start in the
early to mid-1990s as a way to
birds head give you better leverage the start, but this is a shooting combine the skill at arms of
Cowboy Action Shooting with
for cocking the hammer one-handed sport, so what do you feel is your
an equestrian sport; however,
while riding, or does it simply t your strongest attribute as a shooter? it harkens back to shooting
exhibitions held at Wild West
hand better? shows over 100 years ago.
Kenda: Given the fact that I have At the close of the 19th
century, shooters would shoot
Kenda: The birds head is a great fit been riding so long, I feel that my glass balls while riding at full
gallop; modern competitors use
for my hand. As grips are a personal ability to pilot my horse to get the
blank ammunition and re at
preference, unique to each user, most out of my pattern work is my balloons for the sake of safety.
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Shootin
IRON
F
ew things can stir up your enthusiasm about
putting rounds down range like a new gun
with Old West style. This year, there are
specially engraved commemorative models
for collectors, such as this Navy Arms/Winchester 1873
that celebrates the centennial of the Buffalo Bill Center
of the West museums. Also new this year are rugged,
all-weather guns for hunters, and historically accurate
replicas for competitors and those who appreciate
Western traditions.
NEW GUNS
The Model 1866 was the rst rie to carry the Winchester name. Now, 150 years
later, the company is introducing this highly engraved commemorative Model 1866.
Winchesters Model 94 became popular for its use of the .30-30 cartridge, which used
smokeless powder. Winchester chose this iconic design as one of ve to offer in a special
commemorative edition celebrating the companys 150th anniversary.
150th ANNIVERSARY
Winchester Celebrates 150 Years with Special
Edition Releases of Some of its Classic Firearms
In 2016, Winchester Repeating Herman, Conrad and John Ulrich, in the deep-relief scroll engraving and
Arms is looking back 150 years to 19th century. gold embellishments.
1866the year it introduced the rst The rifle also features a Grade The 24-inch barrel is also a full-
rie to bear the Winchester name. V/VI oil-finished, walnut straight octagon configuration and has a gold
In recognition of this milestone, the stock and a highly polished, 24-inch barrel band. The suggested retail
company is introducing ve commem- full-octagon barrel. Sights include a price is also $3,330.
orative ries in 2016, three of which blade front and a ladder-style rear. The third gun is the Commemora-
will be of special interest to those who The tang is also drilled and tapped tive Model 94 in .30-30 Winchester.
for installation of an optional tang- It too features a 24-inch, full-octagon
appreciate guns of the Old West.
mounted rear sight. The MSRP of the barrel. The sights are the traditional
Except for the caliber (.44-40),
Model 66 is $3,330. semi-buckhorn rear and a Marble
the Commemorative Model 1866
The 150th Commemorative Arms, gold-bead front sight. The stock
Yellow Boy lever-action rifle
Model 1873 is a special-issue model and forearm will have cut, spade-style
is a faithful rendition of the first
of the gun that won the West. The checkering. The MSRP is $2,670.
Winchester. However, this rifle also
gun will be offered in its original The other Winchester commemo-
features some very special touches.
.44-40 chambering. It also features ratives for 2016 will include a Model
The polished brass receiver is embel-
an oil-finished walnut stock, and a 70 bolt-action rifle and a Model 101
lished with an engraving reminiscent
silver nitride-finished receiver with over/under shotgun.
of that done by renowned brothers,
EXCELLENT CHOICES
Henry Repeating Arms Continues to Expand its
Rimre and Centerre Lever-Action Offerings
The new All-Weather lever guns color case-hardened, steel-framed Silver is a pistol-caliber rifle with a
from Henry Repeating Arms are sure ries with 20-inch and 22-inch barrels, 20-inch octagon barrel. The gun
to please those looking for hard-use respectively, for a suggested $995. features nickel plating over an
hunting arms. The metal is hard- For $1450, new engraved models with aluminum-bronze receiver.
chrome-plated, but is finished with wildlife themes are available. If you want an original-style
low gloss, so it wont spook game. Among the companys pistol- Henry, its now offered in a deluxe,
The .30-30 model ($850) features a caliber firearms are the Big Boy Steel, engraved model with brass receiver for
20-inch barrel and straight-grip, with blued steel receivers in .44 $2495, and a color case-hardened
specially coated hardwood stock. Magnum, .45 Colt and .38 Special/.357 steel receiver for $2750; both are
The .45-70 model ($950) features an Magnum; these feature 20-inch barrels. chambered in .44-40.
18.43-inch barrel and a pistol-grip Henry also offers a carbine version Henry is also introducing its
coated hardwood stock. with a 16.5-inch barrel and big-loop Freemasons Tribute Rie in .22 caliber
Also in .30-30 and .45-70 are lever ($850). For $990, the Big Boy for a suggested $1020.
The Henry Big Boy Steel is available in pistol calibers with options
of a straight-stock, 20-inch barrel (shown), or with a 16.5-inch
barrel and big-loop lever.
NEW GUNS
TOP REPLICAS
Ubertis New Guns for 2016 Offer Something
for Competitors, Collectors and Hunters
This year, Uberti is introducing an .44-40 and .357 calibers, in barrel will run at $719, with the .22 going
1873 Cattleman II single-action revolver lengths of 4.75, 5.5 and 7.5 inches. Its for $609.
with an innovative retractable ring pin. available in all steel for a suggested For hunters, Uberti will produce
The ring pin is on the hammer, but it is price of $559, or with a brass trigger the 1885 High Wall Big Game in
free oating. This allows the shooter to guard and back strap for $549. .45-70 calibers, with a 22-inch round
safely carry the revolver with all six For competitors, Uberti offers barrel and checkered walnut stock. It
chambers loaded, without the fear of the new Short Stroke SASS and short- will have standard iron sights, but will
an inadvertent blow to the hammer barreled (3.5) CMS Pro models with also come equipped with a Picatinny
causing an accidental discharge. low-prole hammers featuring shorter rail for mounting optics. The MSRP
When the hammer is fully travel for faster shooting. The Short will be $1119.
cocked, and the trigger is pulled, the Stroke CMS KL Pro is a special Kenda For something a bit fancier, Uberti
sear engages the firing pin, locking it Lenseigne edition, named for the offers an engraved, 150th anniversary
in the forward position to allow the Cowboy Mounted Shooting World Model 1866 Yellow Boy flat-side
gun to fire. The revolver features a Champion. For practice, theres a short rie with a 20-inch barrel in .45
color case-hardened frame and CMS 12-shot, .22LR model for Colt. It will be offered at a suggested
walnut grips, and is available in .45, low-cost training. The centerfires retail price of $1778.
NEW GUNS
SENSATIONAL SHOOTERS
Navy Arms Adds New Models to its
Lineup of Special Old West Firearms
Capitalizing on its recent success include a display case. Only 200 of the Navy Arms will also offer a
with its Model 1873 rifle, Navy Arms hand-engraved exhibition models will Model 1892 pistol-caliber carbine to
has announced the introduction of be made. The MSRP will be $7995, be available in ones choice of .44
several new models that are sure to while the presentation model will be Magnum or .45 Colt. These will
be special. The company is taking machine engraved and sell for $3500. feature a Grade I American walnut
orders now for its exhibition and Also new from Navy Arms will be straight stock, 20-inch octagon
presentation-grade Centennial Model its Lightning Deluxe pump-action rie barrel and color case-hardened
1873 rifles, which will commemorate in .45 Colt or .357 Magnum. Available frame. A coyote killer version in
the 100th anniversary of the Buffalo with either a 20-inch or 24-inch .44 Magnum with pistol-grip stock
Bill Center of the West, which the octagon barrel, the ries will feature will also be offered. The MSRP will
Wyoming-based museums will be bone-charcoal, color case-hardened be $2500.
celebrating in 2017. receivers with Nitre Blue screws. A For black-powder enthusiasts
The rie (shown on pages 18 and special coil-spring-powered extractor and reenactors, Navy Arms is
19) will start as a newly manufactured will ensure reliable functioning. Iron introducing its versions of the Parker-
Winchester 1873 in .44-40, and will be sights are provided, but the tang is also Hale Whitworth .451-caliber rifle and
highly engraved and embellished. Each drilled and tapped for installation of an the Skirmisher Model Smith .50-
will feature a 24.25-inch octagon barrel, optional Marble Arms tang-mounted caliber Carbine. The MSRP on each
color case-hardened receivers and will peep sight. The MSRP will be $2500. will be $1500.
Cimarrons Eliminator 8 is an
1873-style single-action revolver
with an octagon barrel.
NEW GUNS
A TAKE-ANYWHERE .22
Chiappas New Kodiak Cub, Lever-Action Takedown
is a Portable, All-Weather Rimre Carbine
For those putting together a survival pack or wanting to portability of this little gun, it is offered as a takedown
hunt small gameeven for those who just want peace of model. It quickly breaks down to a mere 25 inches to make it
mindChiappas new Kodiak Cub All-Weather LA322 might easy to put in a pack.
just be the rearm for you. This little lever-action in .22LR The gun also comes with a hooded front sight and a
features a matte, hard-chromed nish on the receiver, bolt, rear leaf sight thats adjustable for elevation. A 38-inch
hammer, barrel, lever and magazine tube, making it a truly dovetail on the receiver accepts scope rings, and the
all-weather rearm. receiver is also drilled and tapped for optional scope bases.
The stock has Chiappas soft touch coating for a It has a capacity of 15 rounds and weighs about 5.5 pounds.
comfortable, non-slip grip in all conditions. To increase the The MSRP is $809.
CONTACTS
Winchester
winchesterguns.com
Uberti
uberti.com
Navy Arms
navyarms.com
Chiappa Firearms
chiapparearms.com
TAMING
of theWest
Image by Universal Images Group/Getty Images
T
he taming of the West wasnt
accomplished so much with
the Winchester rifle or the
Bowie knife as it was with
advances in communication and
transportation, as depicted in this
1880s illustration from the Illinois
Central Railroad.
In this special section, we look at how
the Pony Express, stagecoaches and
the establishment of transcontinental
railroad and telegraph systems all played
a part in making the West accessible.
Image by MPI/Getty
Ride Fast,
Ride Hard
Across Miles of Hostile Territory and Rugged Terrain,
Pony Express Riders Risked Death to Deliver Mail
BY STRATTEN WALDT
O
n April 13, 1860, at And he had done it in
exactly 5:45 PM, a only 10 days.
rider made his way One of the most remark-
into downtown able stories to come out of
Sacramento, Calif.; he was the Old West is that of the
accompanied by tremen- Pony Express. Although it
dous fanfare, including only existed for 19 months
bands playing, bells ringing between April 1860 and
and flags waving. He bore a October 1861it was the
letter of congratulation rst great line of communi-
from President James cation between the U.S.
Buchanan to Governor John coasts. Unlike some of the
Downey of California. This other stories of the time,
rider was the first of the like those of many
Pony Express to complete gunslingers, the story of
the journey from St. Joseph, the Pony Express needs
Mo. to Sacramento. no embellishment.
This painting, showing a Pony Express rider trying to outrun an Indian attack, is indicative of some of the dangers faced by the riders. (Image by Ed Vebell/Getty)
PONY EXPRESS BY
THE NUMBERS
were pre-existing overland stage distances, which was not accom- 21 The number of horses Cody used to
operations that the company plished cheaply. make his trip
could utilize, but there was no Compounding this, the Pony 19 The number of months the Pony
such infrastructure out west. Express was never widely used by Express was in business
LASTING LEGACY
In spite of its shortcomings,
the Pony Express was an amazing
innovationnot only for its time,
but for any time. Until the
invention of the telegraph made
the firm obsolete, it pushed
the limits of human and animal
endurance, accomplishing feats
once said to be impossible.
Even though it operated for
less than two years, the Pony
Express still holds a place in our
imagination. We are still capti-
vated by the image of the lone,
unarmed mailman racing across
the frontier to deliver parcels in
record time.
Before the invention of the
telegraph, the Pony Express was
one of the threads that bound the
Billy Johnson was just one of about 80 riders employed by the Pony Express. (Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty) East and West. It lasted only a short
while, but it has left an indelible
On June 16, 1860, about 10 most people were still unwilling to mark on American history. GNSL
weeks after the Pony Express had pay such a sum. The owners had
begun operations, Congress hoped to gain a protable contract THE PONY EXPRESS
passed a bill that would subsidize with the Federal Government, but TIMELINE
the creation of a transcontinental this never came to pass.
1859 The Leavenworth & Pikes Peak
telegraph line. Finally, the outbreak On October 21, 1861, the Pony Express Company is formed to get mail
from St. Joseph to Sacramento.
of the Civil War in April 1861 further Express was officially terminated,
damaged business. With a major though it was not until November April 13, 1860 The rst run between
St. Joseph and Sacramento is completed;
war brewing, fewer businesses that the last letters completed the rst letter is delivered.
were interested in sending their transcontinental journey.
May to July, 1860 The Paiute Indian
expensive mail across the country. The endeavor led to the near War spells trouble for the Pony Express as
stations are attacked, employees are killed
The initial cost of Pony nancial ruin of its three founders. and horses are lost.
Express mail was prohibitively Russell and Waddell died within a
June 16, 1860 Congress passes a bill to
expensive. From the outset, the decade of its failure, and never fund the transcontinental telegraph
system, which will make the Pony
cost to send one ounce of postage wrote a word about it. Majors
Express obsolete.
across the country was ve dollars, survived long after, but he did not
April 12, 1861 The Civil War begins.
roughly $130 today. Although the compose his life story until nearly
cost dropped to as low as one the end of the 19th century. When October 21, 1861 The Pony Express
ceases operations.
dollar before operations ceased, he did, much of it was ghostwritten
Desperate
Attacks and Terrible Weather Were Only Some of the
Challenges Faced by Stagecoaches
BY STRATTEN WALDT
I
n the best of times, it Many stagecoach services
was a dangerous, bone- operated in the Old West,
jarring profession. In the and their owners constantly
worst, it could be fatal. fought over passengers,
That was the rough-and- freight and, most important,
tumble life of a stagecoach government contracts.
driver. Drivers often overcame It has become a dening
terrible weather and pitted part of the history of the Old
dirt trails. Coaches became West. Wells Fargo, a company
stuck, disabled and some- with its origins in both banking
times overturned. Horses and freight, still uses the
often came up lame. There stagecoach as its symbol.
was also the real danger of But the history of the
attacks from both bandits stagecoach doesnt begin
and American Indians. in America.
Journeys
Peter Barritt/robertharding/Getty
Stagecoaches sometimes covered great distances through remote areas where railroads didnt reach. This photo of a stagecoach passing through Monument Valley, Ariz.,
was taken in 1905. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty)
RIDING SHOTGUN
The phrase riding shotgun comes
from the term shotgun messenger
a private express messenger and guard
who oversaw valuable private shipments.
This individual was employed to protect
shipments deemed more important
than mail or passengers, including cash
or bullion, and to provide an armed
response to bandits. As their title
suggests, shotgun messengers would
often carry sawed-off shotguns; however,
they also commonly used ries.
The term did not actually enter
popular usage until 1905, when it
appeared in The Sunset Trail by Alfred
Henry Lewis. It became commonplace
to hear the term in Old West films,
including the 1939 classic Stagecoach.
By the 1950s, it was almost an
obligatory term in U.S. Westerns.
Stagecoach travel in the Old West Today, it is more commonly used to
could be an adventure, as depicted
in this painting of a stagecoach claim the passenger seat in a car.
eeing from an attack. (Image by
DEA Picture Library/Getty)
wore out. Even though the Pony Spinsters fair and forty, maids in youthful charms,
U.S. Mail contracts were Express is often credited with Suddenly are cast into their neighbors arms;
Children shoot like squirrels darting through a cage
especially protable for being the first fast Missouri- Isnt it delightful, riding in a stage?
stagecoach companies, and to-California mail service, Feet are interlacing, heads severely bumped,
the competition for these this is not necessarily true. Friend and foe together get their noses thumped;
Dresses act as carpetslisten to the sage;
was erce. In fact, without In September of 1858, the "Life is but a journey taken in a stage.
these government contracts, Overland Mail Company
From: Six Horses by Captain William Banning & George
it would have been unlikely began a twice weekly mail Hugh Banning (1928)
Steam-Powered
PROGRESS From Scaling the Rockies to
Battling Train Robbers,
Establishing the Railroad
was a Monumental Task
BY JOHN MCQUAID
B
uilding the countrys First
Transcontinental Railroad was
a colossal task, requiring the sweat,
blood and intense labor of thousands
of men, who worked under harsh conditions
and often died as a result. Mountains that got
in the way were chipped to size with pick and
shovel, or blasted with dynamite, forging
pathways to the West Coast.
The rail line, covering 1,776 miles and
connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts,
was constructed between 1863 and 1869. Men
from all walks of life worked on the railroad,
including former slaves who had become
free men after the Civil War ended. Several
thousand Chinese immigrants also tirelessly
labored through the back-breaking work
of laying track.
Many Native American tribes East establish an invaluable link to from east to west was no longer
were angered by the white mans the Wild West. such a long, difficult journey. Those
ever-growing expansion into tribal Consumer goods, professional who never would have dared to
territories. Railroad workers services and mail could be carried venture west before the railroad,
also had to deal with attacks by at much faster speeds via the no longer found the journey so
American Indian Braves trying to railroad than by horse-drawn daunting. The Wild West didnt
stop the loss of their ancestral wagons. For the faint of heart, seem so wild anymore.
lands to western expansion. trains offered a safer, more
Once the railroad was comfortable way to explore the BOOM TOWNS
completed, train robbers became untamed American West. Several boom towns sprung
a new concern. These were With the Transcontinental up in the West during the expan-
volatile and exciting times in Railroad came new townscenters sion of the railroad. Depots were
Americas history. of commerce. Midwestern rail placed about 20 miles apart to
yards became distribution hubs provide trains with needed water
BRIDGING THE GAP for rugged cowboys bringing their and coal. Telegraph stations were
The invention of the steam- cattle to satisfy customers on the also located at train depots.
driven locomotive, and the estab- East Coast eager for fresh beef. The railroad expansion required
lishment of the Transcontinental As the rail lines expanded, the tons of timber to lay track, and
Railroad, helped America in the West seemed to shrink. Getting water to power the steam engines.
GUNS OF THE
RAILROAD COPS
The Pinkerton detectives carried
various rearms while protecting the
Transcontinental Railroad. In 1874,
Pinkerton detectives Louis Lull and John
Boyle ran into the Younger Gang in
Roscoe, Mo. Detective Lull carried a
British-made, Trantor .43-caliber pistol
with a 5 78-inch barrel, and a concealed
No. 2 Smith & Wesson revolver. At the
end of the gunght, John Younger and
Louis Lull were both dead.
Another preferred rearm of the
Pinkerton Detectives was the .31-caliber
small-frame dragoon with a ve-shot
cylinder. It was concealable and proved
effective in a shootout conned to a
train car.
Popular arms for lawmen of the
day ranged from Colt and Remington
revolvers, Henry carbines and the
Winchester lever-actions rifles that
followed. It was even reported that
Allan Pinkerton carried a sawed-off
double-barrel shotgun.
Omaha Station (Nebraska) of the Union Pacic in 1870.
(Photo by Hulton Archives/Getty)
Therefore, rail lines needed to be during their down time, which The buildings were often made
located relatively close to sources created opportunities for entre- of nothing more than wood or
of water, coal and timber. The preneurs to help them squander canvas, and were often temporary
discovery of coal, gold, silver and their hard-earned coins. structures that could be packed up
gems would often dictate where It was Samuel Bowles, editor of and moved to follow the railroad
rail lines would branch off. the Springeld, Mass., newspaper as it advanced. Living conditions
The Republican, who rst used were less than sanitary.
HELL ON WHEELS the term Hell on Wheels after he Trainloads of migrant workers
Whenever towns sprang up observed the railroad town of North came to these towns looking to land
overnight, there was bound to be Platte, Neb. The town consisted of jobs laying track and working the cut.
trouble. Lawlessness and anarchy gambling houses, saloons, brothels Large amounts of money changed
ran rampant through these rail- and dance hallsall of which hands in these often lawless towns,
road-driven urban areas. Railroad served to entertain railroad workers, creating an environment where
workers needed a way to let loose miners and traders. criminals could cash in on robbing
Ready for the rails, a path is cleared for the laying of tracks during construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.
(Photo by Omikron/Getty)
trains and railroad men. Justice was marksman, known to be fearless. train-robbing career in history.
likely meted out through the barrel He joined brothers Tom and Sam One of the most famous train
of a smoking peacemaker or the Ketchum in what became known as robbers was Jesse James, who had
bloody edge of a bowie knife. the Ketchum Gang, notorious for formerly served for the Confederate
robbing trains in New Mexico. Army during the Civil War. He was
ROBBERY ON THE RAILS In 1898, Kilpatrick joined trained in guerrilla warfare and had
The railroad had its problems, another band of outlaws, known experience disrupting trains.
too, with outlaws trying to make a as the Wild Bunch. The gang James first train robbery took
quick buck. One of the most noto- consisted of leader Butch Cassidy, place on July 21, 1873, in Adair,
rious train robbers of the Old West Harry Longabaugh (The Iowa. Dressed in Ku Klux Klan
was Ben Kilpatrick. Sundance Kid), Harvey Logan, garb, he and his gang derailed a
Standing at 6 feet 2 inches George Curry, William Carver, Elza Rock Island train by loosening
tall, Kilpatrick earned the name, Lay and Bob Meeks. The Wild a section of track and yanking it
The Tall Texan. He was a deadly Bunch had the most successful away as the train approached.
The Wild Bunch, shown in 1901: (Standing, left) William Carver and Harvey Logan (Kid Curry). Seated (from left) are Harry Longabaugh (The Sundance Kid); Ben Kilpatrick
(The Tall Texan); Robert Leroy Parker (Butch Cassidy). All of these notorious train robbers were eventually shot and killed. (Photo by Print Collector/Getty)
This resulted in the death of the Men like Jesse James and some of the most notorious out-
trains engineer. James and his Ben Kilpatrick made it necessary laws of the Old West.
brother Frank then robbed the for the railroad companies to The agency was formed
train at gunpoint, making off with equip trains with armed men who by Allan Pinkerton, who had been
about $3,000. would protect passengers and born in Glasgow, Scotland and
On January 31, 1874, James valuable cargo. immigrated to America in 1842.
robbed another train in Missouri. He worked as a barrel maker, a
Jesse and his gang rode into Gads LAWMEN ON THE RAILS deputy sheriff and a special
Hill wearing Ku Klux Klan masks; The Pinkerton Detective agent for the U.S. Post Office.
they stopped the train by lighting Agency was subsequently hired Around 1850, Pinkerton
a bonre near the station platform, to protect railroad interests. formed Pinkertons National
and forcing one gang member to Pinkerton detectives were Detective Agency. The motto of
stand on the tracks holding a red responsible for bringing down his agency was, We never sleep.
signal lamp.
As the train neared the station, RAILROADS IN THE OUTLAWS SIGHTS
1850 Pinkerton National Detective Agency founded; eventually hired to track
the conductor jumped off to inves-
down train robbers
tigate. He was taken prisoner, and
October 6, 1866 Reno gang commits rst peacetime robbery of a moving train in the U.S.
the train was switched to a siding. December 11, 1868 Last four members of the Reno gang are lynched
The Jesse James Gang boarded the May 10, 1869 The First Transcontinental Railroad in the U.S. is completed
train, raided the mail express car, July 21, 1873 Jesse James robs train in Iowa, his rst since the Civil War
and then robbed the passengers of June 2, 1899 The Wild Bunch, with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, rob their last train
their valuables.
To drive this point home, the down the tracks, helped to shrink towns that sprang up along
agencys symbol featured an the West. The railroad made it the Transcontinental Railroad.
unblinking eye. possible to haul multitudes of Train-robbing outlaws murdered
Pinkertons agents provided people and goods across the citizens and lawmen assigned to
President-elect Abraham Lincoln continental United States. protect the rail lines.
protection as he traveled to But this innovation came at a Trains carved a bloody path
Washington, D.C., to be sworn in. steep price. through the American Frontier,
He also served under Union Men died laying track. and laid the groundwork for
General George McClellan as People were murdered in the bringing civilization to the Wild
Chief of Intelligence during the lawless wood-and-canvas boom West. GNSL
Civil War.
Eventually, Pinkerton agents
were hired to protect trains, which HE NEVER CAUGHT JESSE
The Pinkerton Agency became famous for its pursuit of train robbers like Butch
often carried large quantities of Cassidys Wild Bunch, The Younger Gang and the Dalton Brothersbut Pinkerton was never
able to capture Jesse James.
cash and gold, brought on by a The Pinkertons were hired on by the Adams Express Company to capture the James
booming western economy. The Gang after they robbed a train in Gads Hill, Mo. Pinkerton sent Detective Joe Whicher to Clay
County to investigate. Detective Whicher went to the James homestead against the advice
sparsely populated West gave of a former sheriff and was found murdered the next day.
outlaws plenty of places to stop In January of 1875, Allan Pinkerton sent detectives, accompanied by sympathetic
locals, to the James homestead, which resulted in a botched raid. Jesse and Frank James
trains in remote areas. were not captured, and tragedy struck when an incendiary device malfunctioned and
exploded in the house. Jesses eight-year-old half-brother, Archie, was killed, and his
mother, Zerelda, was injured.
CIVILIZATION AT A PRICE Pinkerton suffered extreme criticism for the raid at the James farm, causing him to
give up on the case. Pinkerton died in 1884, just two years after Jesse James was shot in
Theres no doubt the steam- the back by Robert Ford. Pinkertons sons, William and Robert, took over the agency,
belching locomotive, chugging which continued with successful growth.
THE WIRE A Boon to Business and the Bane of the Bad Men, the
Creation of the Coast-To-Coast Telegraph System Was
a Hard-Fought Step to Civilizing the West
S
BY JOHN MCQUAID
TAKING THE LONG WAY Telegraph workers put up these hard-working men got the
The telegraph systems anywhere between three to eight job done.
rst obstacles were the endless miles of line per day. But Mother
stretches of rugged terrain that had Nature didnt always cooperate. SOURCING TIMBER
to be crossed through the Great Rain storms, high winds and The Great Plains werent a
Plains and over the towering Rocky extreme temperatures made it very good source of timber, which
and Sierra Nevada mountain difficult for men to dig holes, drop was needed to make telegraph
ranges. Remember, the transconti- in telegraph poles and string poles. Procuring the telegraph
nental railroad had not been built at telegraph wire. poles for the route would involve
this time. Suppliesglass insulators Installing telegraph poles in hauling timber in wagons from
and telegraph wirehad to be a blistering-hot desert certainly Carson City, Nev., to Salt Lake
shipped the long way to the West hampered work crews; neverthe- City; the journey was 600 miles
Coast, and then, moved by horse- less, the prospect of spending a in length.
drawn freight wagons to the bone-chilling winter in the wilder- James Street, representing the
construction crews working their ness spurred the men to complete Overland Telegraph Company,
way east. Provisioning the workers the job all the more quickly. It solved the problem by forging an
was also a major concern. was a daunting challenge, but agreement with Brigham Young to
UNWELCOME CHANGE
The invention of the telegraph
wasnt welcomed by everyone in
the Westnamely by notorious
outlaw Jesse James. During the
Civil War, he conducted guerrilla
operations under the leadership
Samuel Morses single-wire telegraph system was used to send messages using his Morse Code. (Image by Stock
of William Quantrill. Montage/Getty)
His Bushwhackers attacked telegraph. His telegraph lines ran That same evening, Overlands
quickly and viciously, going after from Omaha, Neb., to Salt Lake president, Horace Carpentier, sent
Union supply wagons, camps and City. Meanwhile, James Gamble message to President Abraham
trains. They burned bridges and worked on the western end, super- Lincoln announcing the comple-
also cut telegraph lines. vising the installation of lines from tion of the telegraph to California.
Later, outlaw Joe Walker San Francisco to Salt Lake City.
teamed up with Butch Cassidy and The Pacic Telegraph Company PUT TO PRACTICE
Elza Lay for the Castle Gate robbery. finished the eastern portion of The invention of the telegraph
While Cassidy and Lay were robbing the line on October 18, 1861. The allowed speedy communication
the mine office, Walker was busy western section wasnt as long, over hundreds of miles. If a U.S.
cutting the telegraph lines near but covered rougher terrain. Marshall or Pinkerton detective
Helper, Utah, so that authorities The Overland Telegraph obtained intelligence on a wanted
couldnt raise an alarm. Company took on this task, gang of outlaws, he could go to the
Native Americans would also completing it on October 24, 1861. nearest telegraph station, transmit
cause disturbances, sometimes
rustling cattle intended to feed
A WISE BUSINESS DECISION
work crews. At times, crews were The Overland Telegraph Company decided to play it smart and meet with the Native
American tribes whose land the telegraph lines crossed. They hired Native American
murdered, and isolated stations
workers, mainly to herd stock, and often paid them in clothing and supplies, which
were terrorized. seemed to satisfy them.
The Native American workers were happy to stay away from the telegraph lines
following an incident where a worker with bare hands and feet received an electrical shock
COAST-TO-COAST COMMUNICATION while helping another worker handle copper line.
By and large, it did not appear that Native Americans regularly damaged the
Western Union General Agent telegraph lines. There are, however, exceptions. For example, Sweetwater Station was
attacked by Sioux warriors, leading to a fight that lasted several days.
Edward Creighton supervised the
When the Sioux initially attacked, the telegraph operator promptly notied the
labor force that worked on the nearest fort for military assistance. The Sioux cut the telegraph lines after the message was
sent, in an attempt to stop Sweetwater Station from obtaining assistance.
eastern end of the transcontinental
Old West
HORSEPO W
A Look at How One Animal
Changed Life in the Old West
O WER
M
BY STRATTEN WALDT
Photo by Peopleimages.com/Getty
The horse was such a part of everyday life in the West that
it was even used for entertainment and sport, such as in
rodeo competitions. (Photo by H. Armstrong
Roberts/Getty)
The company broke up the nearly coach became the de facto form
The dragoons would play a possible to ship cattle directly The image of the cowboy,
key role in every conict with from the range to the slaughter however, survived with the
Native Americans after the Civil house. As millions began to creation of various rodeo shows.
War, as settlers encroached more settle in the territories, fences It is this image, more than any
and more on what had long been restricted grazing land, bit by bit, other, that is associated with the
tribal land. These conicts did not until the heyday of the cowboy idea of America.
end until 1924. came to a close. The horse was present in
The role of the horse in every- every aspect of frontier life, from
FROM HORSEPOWER day life was further diminished the glamorous to the mundane.
TO MOTOR POWER with the widespread adoption of It was used to fight wars, to move
Less glamorous, perhaps, personal automobiles. They were mail and to move people. And
but as important as any of its faster, more reliable, required less when Wild West shows became
other uses, the horse was a key maintenance in many ways, and popular, it was used to entertain.
form of daily transportation they could go further distances The horse defined the history of
for many people. Before the without stopping. the West itself. GNSL
invention of the automobile, it
was difficult to travel almost
any distance in a reasonable
THE COWBOYS ESSENTIAL HORSES
amount of time. For a country For cowboys, horses were the only things that allowed them to do their jobs. In the early
with an abundance of land, the 19th century, pioneers heading west relied on the Colonial Hill Quarter Horse, which was
known to be a hardy and willing animal. When these horses were bred with feral mustangs
horse was the only solution. and various breeds used by local tribes, the resulting crossbreeds showed a natural instinct
for working with cattle, as well as a high level of endurance.
By the early 20th century,
From 1866 to 1888, more than nine million head of cattle, driven by more than 40,000
technological advances had cowboys, would make their way from Texas to the rail yards of Kansas, according to Martin
W. Sandler in Galloping Across the U.S.A.: Horses in American Life.
reduced the Wests dependence They would leave from these railyards to feed a growing nationand the rest of the
on horses. The development world. In its heyday, the beef industry was so large that more than 1.3 million miles were
dedicated to cattle raising44 percent of all the land in the United States. It was the horse
of additional branching rail that allowed the cowboys to handle this daunting task.
networks in the 1880s made it
The First
GUNFIGHTERS
C
olts revolver changed
the world of rearms.
Sam Colts genius
gave us a powerful,
reliable and portable repeating
rearm. Many believe that
Colts revolver made the
westward movement possible,
and safer for American
soldiers, drovers and settlers.
A man alone was a formidable This modern replica of the
Colt Navy is well balanced
adversary if armed with a and accurate.
THE EARLY COLTS than with any other handgun ever revolver with a ve-shot cylinder in
The Colt did not quite hit in common use. The answer to .31 caliber, the Baby Dragoon was
the ground running, and it went the problem was the Colt Walker Colts rst pocket pistol. Colt was
through various renditions before .44-caliber revolver and, later, the turning toward the standard of
becoming the reliable handgun it scaled down Colt Dragoon. pocket, belt and holster pistols,
would eventually be known as. Robust, powerful and accu- widely adopted later. Colt now had
The rst Colt, the Paterson, rate well beyond 100 yards, the a hideout revolver and a revolver
was not as robust as later revolvers. .44-caliber Colt Dragoon was a useful for mounted men to carry in
The .36-caliber ball was effective tremendous revolver. These pommel holstersbut the belt
in close-range combat, as it revolvers were not handguns you pistol was yet to come.
expanded when it struck an wished to carry on your belt, but
adversary (particularly if striking they did the job. They were well COLT 1851 NAVY
bone). The soft-lead ball was suited for deliberate re at long In 1851, Colt introduced the
far less effective at ranges past range, but not for rapid handling fastest-handling, most balanced
50 yards. at a personal-defense range. and, some say, loveliest Colt yet
Since ghting Indians and In 1849, Colt brought out produced. The Colt 1851 Navy
mounted bandits was common at another revolver that proved handgun, known thereafter as the
the time, long-range effect was immensely popular as a hideout: Navy Colt, was light, fast to action
more important with the rst Colt the Colt Baby Dragoon. A miniature and hit hard at close range.
The Colt Navy was perfectly balanced and This could be dangerous, and could put
possessed a natural point few revolvers the revolver out of action at the worst
could claim. It could be carried in the pants, possible time. Finally, the cylinder was
in a tightly woven sash or a cavalry holster. capped with a percussion cap for ignition,
The Colt Navy featured a loading lever thus earning these handguns the name,
mounted under the barrel. To load the cap and ball revolvers.
revolver, the action was rst placed at half To sight the revolver, a simple front
cock. Powder was poured into the cylinders bead was supplied. The rear sight con-
one at a time; then, the lever was used to sisted of a notch in the hammer. While
seat a ball. rudimentary, the sights were superior to
To seal the chamber, a type of wad those of most pistols of the day. The
would be placed under the ball, or some revolvers typically fired several inches to a
kind of grease was used. This prevented foot high at combat ranges of 15 yards.
ash res, which occurred when the re With this sight regulation, the handgun
from one chamber ignited the black could be counted effective at ranges of
powder charge in the next chamber. approximately 100 yards.
STARTER KIT IS
RECCOMMENDED
Firing replica revolvers is fun, but must be
done safely. One of the best investments
is the Rydon Corporation Revolver Starter
Kit. Available for either .36 or .44-caliber
revolvers, these kits include a powder
ask, balls, wads and a nipple wrench.
This kit is highly recommended for rst-
time shooters. Rydon also offers a special
xture that allows a cylinder to be loaded
with six balls at a time. Wild Bill Hickok
never had it so easy.
It was gured that a handgun at the lower body. Pyrodex powder and Hornady balls.
should be useful in shooting an The Colt Navy may arguably Both Pietta and Uberti offer good-
enemys horse, and it was no mean be called the rst gunghters gun. quality replicas of the original Colt
feat to hit a horse at 100 yards with For black-powder fans, the Colt Navy revolvers.
the Colt revolver. At closer range, Navy is a joy to re and use: Recoil The handle ts most hands,
sighting was accomplished using is light, there is plenty of smoke, and the natural point is as good as
only the front sight, and by aiming and it is economical to use with the old shooters claimed. The
Colt Navy had one shortcoming,
however, and that was power.
At longer ranges, the .36 ball was
ineffective. At short range, against
Indian war horses, the Colt Navy
was less than ideal.
.36 Navy
Charge Velocity
20 grains 650 fps
25 grains 1050 fps
.44 Army
Charge Velocity
25 grains 670 fps
30 grains 790 fps
35 grains 897 fps
40 grains 944 fps
The Greatest
of the Frontier
T
he Colt Single Action Army
revolver has long been the
strong right hand of good
men and the Devils right
hand of the bad. The Colt has been
involved in many Western gunghts,
but there is much more to the story.
When exploring dangerous
spots in the Middle East prior to
World War I (and prior to being
called, Lawrence of Arabia), T.E.
Lawrence packed a Colt SAA.
It saved his life more than once.
Douglas MacArthur put the him and a friend for two weeks. do everything right, own the best
Colt SAA to good use in Mexico in at As a child, I enjoyed Western gear and still lose.
least three separate gunghts; as movies and novels. But only when I It was a harsh world. The Colt
late as 1952, the Colt SAA was still began studying Western history SAA can be regarded as the most
the Generals favorite handgun. and period journals did I nd a aw memorable and capable handgun
Elmer Keith, the Dean of American in the land depicted. As exciting of the period, and is not a handgun
Handgunners, often experimented as the West was, the land and the to be taken lightly today. The
and hunted with the Colt. He wrote people were rugged, harsh and Colts reputation was such that it
of his camp being destroyed, and unforgiving. The tools, accouter- transcended generational, national
most of his gear getting lost, during ments and gear of the drovers, and cultural lines. The hardy and
an extended foray into the moun- workers, miners and explorers had reliable Colt was preferred by
tains. A Colt Single Action Army fed to be reliable. However, one could Western lawmen, British officers
The Army wanted a double-action, duty. Fortunately, many were kept The war stretched on until
swing-out-cylinder revolver and felt in storage, along with a good the final decisive battle at Bud
the .38 would get the job done. supply of ammunition. Most of Bagask in 1913. The arrival of the
However, the .38 emphatically did the revolvers had their barrels Springfield .30-06 rifle offered an
not get the job done, and good shortened from 7 to 5 inches, advantage, while the Winchester
men died after putting a cylinder of and were recrowned before they 1897 shotgun was a tremendous
.38s into dedicated adversaries. were sent to the Pacific; new front harrow. Also used were double-
After ghting our own aboriginal sights were also added. action, .45-caliber revolvers and
warriors for hundreds of years, it General John Pershing said of privately purchased Smith &
can be said the Army should have the Moros, They are absolutely Wesson .44 revolvers.
known better. fearless, and once committed to The Colt 1911 .45 automatic,
At this point, the Colt Single combat, they count death as a designed as a result of action in
Action Army was called back to mere incident. the Philippines, arrived in the later
THE
Wild
BUNCH
SEARCH
A Classic Western Movie Inspires
a Passionate Hunt for the Guns
Showcased on the Silver Screen The Wild Bunch only
managed to get away
with washers in the
moviebut the guns
used are now worth a
stful of dollars.
N
ot long ago, I watched
the classic cinematic
western The Wild Bunch
(1969)again.
The movie made quite an
impression on me as a youngster.
Perhaps my interest in cowboy
guns and shooting began there.
Watching this inspired me. After
some thought, I decided that
every rearm in my home did not
have to be assigned a particular
job or chore; therefore, I thought
it would be good to have a Wild
Bunch collection.
THE SEARCH STARTS HERE It is easy to pay several thousand rule book, and while I gave due
The collection Id amass would dollars for an authentic version, consideration to their rules, I did
include a period-authentic 1911 .45, so I decided that a good-quality not exactly abide by every single
a good lever-action rie and a replica would be just fine, fitting dot and dash. These rearms were
short-barrel shotgun. (By short with the rest of the firearms, primarily intended for my own
barrel, I mean the riot gun length as well. enjoyment, but one day, I hope to
of 18 to 20 inches.) As many of you know, the shoot in the real competition.
Not wanting to make some- Single Action Shooting Society Meanwhile, I am busting caps on
thing easy too difficult, I rst looked not only sanctions Cowboy my own and with my family.
over my own collection of 1911 Action Shooting events, but also
handguns, all of which were 1911A1 Wild Bunch Action Shooting THE WILD BUNCH .45
handgunsthis is what we call the competitions, in which Wild Cimarron of Fredericksburg,
1911 today. The pre-World War I Bunch-style firearms are used. Texas, is well known for offering
1911 was a little different, however. I studied the competitions quality cowboy guns and period
For most of the hunt, the author was more concerned with nding movie-correct, rather than CAS-correct, rearms.
However, it isnt all about what The Henry rie has a charm high-quality, period-correct repro-
was in the movie. CAS/Wild Bunch unequaled by any other. The maga- duction sling from ssrearms.com,
match rules mandate use of a rie zine is loaded by locking the spring- which I added to the kit.
made between 1860 and 1899, in a loaded indent into the end of the
caliber of .40 or more. This was my magazine tube (after twisting the THE SHOTGUN
chance to jump on a rie I had cover to one side), and then loading The Wild Bunch ensemble
desired for some time. Ubertis 10 .44-40 cartridges. After the rie is would not be complete without a
replica of the Henry rie is a beau- loaded, the loading tab moves to shotgun. And what else would one
tiful combination of wood, steel, the rear as the rie is red. use but the Winchester 1897
brass and craftsmanship. Feeding, extraction and shotgun? Designed by John Moses
The rie is a lever action with ejection are smooth, and the rie is Browning, the Winchester 97 was
an under-the-barrel, tubular maga- surprisingly accurate. Using the an improvement over the Model
zine, and is the rst of the breed. Black Hills cowboy-action load, 93. The Winchester 97 features a
Very successful, the Henry rie led three-shot groups of two to 2.5 robust and reliable design, with
to the creation of the Winchester inches were common at 50 yards. much to recommend.
1866. Originally chambered in the The balance of the octagon barrel Using an exposed hammer
.44 Henry, the modern Uberti is is excellent, though different from and slide action, the 97 will fire
chambered for the .44-40 WCF later ries. with every shuck of the action,
cartridge. (Caution: Use only The Uberti Henry is my official as there is no disconnectthe
cowboy-action loads; this action Wild Bunch rie. Smooth, accurate hammer simply rides down with
cannot take heavy loads, unlike the and a joy to own, the Henry is a great the bolt. This can make for inter-
Winchester 1892 rie.) Wild Bunch gun. I was lucky to nd a esting range practice.
The 97 was used heavily in modern dual-operating rod shot- controllable, and these loads
the West, but also at war. The guns are smoother and more exhibit a highly efficient pattern
Winchester 12-gauge shotgun was practical, but, then again, this is to about 15 yards.
the most trusted stopper during the the Wild Bunch shotgun.
Philippine campaign. It was used in With practice, the old ALMOST COMPLETE
Mexico, in World War I, World War II Winchester is brilliantly fast. My collection of three working
and, nally, in Vietnam. Frankly, I have never handled a Wild Bunch firearms has been a
The Winchester has been shotgun with better balance. As complete joy to gather, and firing
used in cinema, in epics as diverse Wild Bunch matches require bird- them more so. Now, I just need a
as The Wild Bunch to Captain shot of size No. 6 or smaller, I ran well-worn Single Action Army to
America. It is an iconic shotgun a good quantity of Fiocchi bird- complete the set.
with much appeal. shot through the Winchester. Now, let me see if my favorite
While reproductions of the 97 After 50 shells, I was having too movie is on this weekend. GNSL
exist, I was able to obtain an much fun.
original model, in good condition, The trigger may be held CONTACT
for a fair price. I had the barrel down, and the shotgun will fire Cimarron
cimarron-rearms.com
shortened to 18.5 inches, and the every time the bolt is racked Uberti
uberti.com
result is a shotgun that is fast- unlike modern shotguns. Firing it Traditions
tradtionsrearms.com
handling and well-balanced. that way is fun, if not accurate. Rocking K Saddlery
rockingksaddlery.com
Today, I would not be reluctant to I also fired a few of Fiocchis World War Supply
worldwarsupply.com
use this shotgun as a house gun high-quality, reduced-power Circle Bar T Leatherworks
circlebar-t.com
or defense gun. Truth be told, the buckshot loads. The shotgun is
Holster
Evolution
As Revolvers Became Handier, New Holster Designs
Allowed for Secure and Easily Accessible Carry
I
n the Old West, holsters were a diverse lot. One could
nd belt holsters, pocket holsters, shoulder holsters,
leather-lined pocket holsters, vest-pocket holsters,
cross-draw holsters, holsters suspended from a swivel,
holsters tucked into a boot and holsters that attached
to suspenders.
Movie and cinema depictions have shown a
different type of holster, and while some have strived for
authenticity, others have not. The Hollywood holster is a
form all its own. My research is extensive and ongoing;
cabalistic footnotes cover the men that sweated pearls
over these holsters.
BEFORE BELT HOLSTERS Their effective ranges were just carried a pair of revolvers and a
Even if not an expert, the study beyond those of the saber. This type smaller knife.
of holsters can be fascinating. of holster was in use until after the The Colt Paterson revolver
The basics of holster history and Civil War. However, a period report became more important than the
broad design trends are discernible. mentions well-known Westerner saber or the rie in fast-paced
The precursor to the modern John Slaughter using a pommel mounted engagements. At the
holster belt was the sword belt. holster much later. time, ries had been carried in
For the most part, intlock and The invention of reliable slings, while the saber was carried
caplock pistols of the smaller repeating rearmsparticularly on a belt. New means were later
variety were carried in the pocket the revolverended the age of developed to not only deploy the
or stuck in a tightly woven sash. steel. A relatively compact revolver revolver, but also protect its load of
Military horse pistols were could take the place of the saber. powder and the percussion caps
carried in pommel holsters, which As rearms became more reliable, that ignited the powder.
generally carried a matched pair of edged weapons became smaller. The observation must be
handguns on each side of the Many ghting men, who once made that certain holsters were
saddle. In this case, handguns were carried the Bowie knife to back up associated with time periods and
drawn and red on horseback. their single-shot horse pistol, now eras rather than with specic arms.
The magnicently large Colt was worn on the left hip and cross-
Walker was a difficult rearm to drawn. The pistol was drawn with ACCOMMODATING
SPARE AMMO
holster. It remained a pommel- a twisted wrist and brought for- Research indicates that holster
holster rearm. ward in the Cavalry draw. belts followed military designs until well
after the Civil War. A great change came
During the Civil War, mounted with the buffalo hunter. These men
BELT-HOLSTER EVOLUTION soldiers carried a brace of three,
needed belts that carried cartridges.
With the advent of the cartridge-firing
The Colt 1851 Navy was one four or even more revolvers. These handgun, designs emerged that allowed
spare ammunition to be carried on the
of the rst truly handy revolvers. were worn in the belt, in holsters belt. Some were made to carry shotgun
A very important revolver, the Colt and in pommel holsters; some shells, rifle cartridges and pistol
cartridges, as well.
Navy combined fast handling and were carried in saddle bags. This continued in modern times
(well into the 1970s), with peace officers
modest weight with good power. After the full-ap cavalry
carrying up to 24 spare cartridges in belt
Arguably the rst gunghters gun, holster, there seems to have been loops. For example, New Jersey State
Patrol officers once carried staggered
the Colt Navy remained popular little development. This holster rows of cartridges above a drop holster
for decades. covered the cylinder, which was for the .38 Special revolver.
The Westerner certainly carried
During the Civil War, most the intent, but the draw angle and spare ammunition on his belt. There
might have been a few rie cartridges
Cavalry pistols were worn on the speed of the draw were given
mixed with the revolver cartridges.
right hip, butt forward. The saber seemingly little consideration.
Unlike the Hollywood they were not used by civilians. automatic, still existdefinitely an
Buscadero design, a high-riding The military holster would ride low, excellent design that was ahead
holster would not have flapped as it was designed to stay out of of its time.)
around the users lower body. the way of the rie. (Some beauti- Some working holsters fea-
Tie-downs existed for military fully made thigh holsters, made tured a hammer thong for secu-
holsters, but evidence suggests circa 1916 for the Webley .455 rity. As holsters progressed in
Prevalent in
POCKETS
Small Top-Break Revolvers Were
Favorites for Portable Protection
94 GUNSLINGERS I SUMMER 2016
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W
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY MIKE SEARSON
Short-barreled revolvers,
such as this Third Model Safety
Automatic Hammerless 32
from Iver Johnson, were called
Bicycle Guns.
HOW THEY WORK loading gate where rounds or occur at a microscopic level in
Top-break revolvers have a empty brass cases are loaded and the latch, which will eventually
hinged frame located below and unloaded one at a time. weaken over time.
forward of the cylinder. The lock is The downside of a top-break Luckily, these old revolvers
located at the base of the rear revolver is the design is substan- were designed with low-pressure,
sight, above and rearward of tially weaker than a solid-frame black-powder rounds in mind.
the cylinder. revolver and cannot handle high-
Raising the lock and pushing pressure rounds. SMITH & WESSON
the barrel downward gives access In order to function properly, First developed by Smith &
to the rear of the cylinder for these revolvers have a little play Wesson, and released as their
loading and unloading. Many top- in the top latch. Therefore, every Second Model, or Model 2, in
break revolvers use an extractor in time a top-break revolver is fired, 1876, the original version was a
conjunction with this movement, compression of the metal will single-action, five-shot revolver
which pushes the cartridges or
empty brass rearward, so they
OFFICIAL USE
may fall from the cylinder or be
Smith & Wessons rst model single-action, top-break revolver in 38 S&W was adopted by
removed by hand. the city of Baltimore, and remained in service as late as 1917. These revolvers are marked Balto
City Police.
New rounds can be loaded into The third model, or variant of the Smith & Wesson Double Action Model 2 in 38 S&W,
the cylinder, and subsequently, the proved popular with police departments of the era and was used by many. Some departments
had their markings applied at the factory, such as the Baltimore Police Department (Balto or
barrel is rotated upward to lock BPD); Fall River, Mass., Police Department (FRP"); Cleveland Police Department (CPD);
and the Peruvian Military, which displayed the countrys crest.
closed and be ready to re.
The American Express Co. purchased several hundred for their guards; these are marked
This action allows the revolver AM.EX. Co. on the back strap.
Approximately 100 third models of the Safety Hammerless 38 revolver were sent to the
to be loaded more quickly than U.S. Army for possible adoption in the late 19th century. These revolvers are marked US on the
solid-frame revolvers, like the Colt side plate, and are worth many times the value of even the most pristine top-break revolver of
the time period.
Single Action Army, which use a
TOP-BREAKS IN HISTORY
Colonel Rex Applegate carried a 2-inch
Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless in
a shoulder holster; he used it to defend
himself from a machete-wielding
assailant while in Mexico in the 1940s.
chambered in 38 S&W. The com- in 38 S&W; but, a smaller version
Leon Czolgosz used an Iver Johnson
pany made over 220,000 of these was offered in another new caliber Safety Automatic to assassinate
revolvers between 1876 and 1911. at the time: 32 S&W. President William McKinley in 1901
with a shot to the stomach. Despite the
The first version sports a In 1887, Smith & Wesson small caliber, the president died eight
days later, as the result of an infection
full-length under lug, and is com- offered a newer version that incor-
that had spread from the wound.
monly known today as the Baby porated a grip safety known as
Russian, due to its similarity to The New Departure or The Safety In 1912, Floyd Allen used a Smith &
Wesson Perfected revolver in a daring
the companys iconic and much Hammerless, and unofficially, escape from the Carroll County
Courthouse in Hillsville, Va., on March
larger Model 3, made for the the Lemon Squeezer. This safety 14, 1912, in which ve people were killed
Russian military. measure was added to address and seven were wounded.
IVER JOHNSON
Smith & Wessons success inspired a
slew of imitators, such as Forehand & The ultimate top break: S&W
Wadsworth, Hopkins & Allen, Osgood Perfected Model with top and
side latch for the belt and
Revolvers, Manhattan Firearms, Meriden suspenders kind of shooter.
than the price of the revolver meaning an ATF Form 4473 is determined by the serial number of
stripping it of its collector value. required for a local purchase; the revolver in question. With other
the revolvers can only be legally manufacturers, it is a complete
DATING THE TOP-BREAKS shipped to the holder of an FFL or crap-shoot: many of them have
For revolvers manufactured a Curio & Relic license (03 FFL). long been out of business, or have
after 1898 but prior to 1966, the When it comes to Smith & missing or poorly kept records. It
antique firearm definition does Wesson, the company kept metic- is safe to say, if a barrel sports a
not apply; these top-breaks are ulous records as to when each patent date of later than 1898, it is
classified as curios or relics, model was manufactured, which is not an antique. GNSL
Seeking
Other Singles
Single Action Revolvers Are Still Great
Choices Today
102 GUNSLINGERS I SUMMER 2016
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O
utdated, obsolete, old-fashioned
these are some of the terms
used to describe single-action
revolvers, mostly by those
who have limited their experiences with
firearms to plastic-framed semi-autos with
high-capacity magazines.
But modern single-action revolvers
continue to be effective, useful and popular,
and they are a good choice for a number of
tasks where a handgun is appropriate.
THE SINGLE-ACTION HERITAGE though, is that most modern me address their shortcomings:
While there are replicas of single-actions have some sort of First, theres the capacity issue.
many old single-action designs on transfer-bar safety that allows you Most single-actions have a six-
the market, most modern single- to carry the gun safely with all round cylinder. Some pocket
action revolvers descend from the chambers loaded. The original revolvers, such as the rimfire guns
Colt Single Action Army (the single-action design featured a from North American Arms, and
Model P of 1873) and the later xed ring pin on the hammer. An some revolvers that chamber
Colt Flattop Target Model of 1890, inadvertent blow to the hammer large cartridges, such as the
which featured an adjustable could cause the ring pin to strike Freedom Arms Model 83 in .454
rear sight and a replaceable the cartridge primer, causing an Casull, have a capacity of just ve.
front blade. accidental discharge. For this This alone wouldnt be much
Modern single-actions most reason, it was recommended to of a disadvantage, except single-
often have adjustable sights, and carry such guns with the hammer actions are slower to reload than
many feature beefed up frames that lowered over an empty chamber. both double-action revolvers with
allow them to handle powerful swing-out cylinders and semi-auto
hunting cartridges. Many are also SOME LIMITATIONS pistols with detachable magazines.
available in stainless steel to make Before you get the idea that Most modern single-actions
them more corrosion resistant. Im advocating the use of single- must be loaded, one cartridge at
One of the biggest differences, actions over all other handguns, let a time, through the loading gate;
In a defensive
situation, I would opt
for my Ruger Vaquero
in .45 Colt ... over a
tiny .380 auto
the empties must also be removed, are available. For those after big aeld with shotshells loaded in the
one at a time, by punching them out game, single-actions have been rst two chambers, followed by a
with the spring-loaded ejector rod. chambered for powerful car- couple of lead semiwadcutters,
tridges, such as: .41 Magnum, .44 followed by some factory-loaded
MORE PLUSES THAN MINUSES Magnum, .45 Colt +P, .454 Casull, semi-jacketed hollow points.
Law enforcement and military .480 Ruger, .475 Linebaugh and Single-actions are more
units cant overlook such draw- .500 Wyoming Express. streamlined, often weighing less
backs when there are better options Single-actions are reliable with than double-actions of the same
for combat sidearms. But dont a wide variety of ammo. Theyre not caliber. Their grips are smaller
believe for a minute that single- nicky about bullet conguration or great for those with average to
actions are only good for Cowboy cartridges varying in overall length. small handscompared to the
Action Shooting competitions. Ive often carried single-actions large grips on many double-action
For hunters, single-action
revolvers are a logical choice. SCOPED SINGLE-ACTIONS
The Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 Magnum is a gun Ive owned for years. Its very
They are accurate and easy to accurate, but Ive always wondered how well it would shoot if my old eyes could see better
shoot with their short, single- at longer distances. With this in mind, I went out and bought a second one: a Hunter model
with integral grooves for mounting the included Ruger scope rings.
action trigger pulls. They point That scoped Super Blackhawk Hunter has become one of my favorite single-actions
naturally, most have good sights, for hunting. Mounting the scope was easy with the Ruger system. Special adaptors are
available for other single-actions that dont have integral rails or other provisions to mount
and they are available in a variety scopes. Edge Custom, Inc. is one company that makes scope mounts for a number of
revolversmost of which dont involve gunsmithing.
of barrel lengths. Longer barrels Keep in mind, the scope you choose must be an intermediate or extended eye-relief
provide a better sight radius, and model; this way, you can sight through the scope when your revolver is extended at
arms length.
help to get more velocity out of a Scopes do make handguns heavier and more unwieldly. Bandolier-style holsters are
chosen cartridge. often a better bet for carrying them. Every slight jitter and shake seems amplified when
shooting a scoped handgun, but shooting from a resta tree branch, shooting stick, etc.
For small-game hunters, rim- is recommended anyway.
re models in .22LR and .22 WMR
ADVANTAGES OF
SINGLE-ACTIONS
1. Many shoot powerful cartridges useful
to hunters.
2. Reliable and not nicky about ammo
selection.
3. Easy to remove cylinder for cleaning,
maintenance and inspection.
4. Tend to point naturally.
5. Grip conguration allows for better
recoil management.
6. Excellent for beginners who learn
deliberate, disciplined shooting, as they
must manually cock the hammer for
each shot.
Modern single-action
revolvers continue to be
effective, useful and
popular, and they are a
good choice for a number
of tasks where a handgun
is appropriate.
manage the recoil of stout loads. my ability to reload it quickly, As most civilian defensive
They make excellent eld and more concerned about my shootings usually result in very
guns. When Im wandering the ability to make accurate hits. few rounds fired, mental attitude
woods, not concerned about Because I spend a lot of time in and composure under pressure
concealment, its a single-action remote areas, defensive shooting are more important than the
revolver that I often choose. With distances could be longer than number of bullets in your gun.
the right loads, Im ready to bag statistical averages; I need to know The need to manually cock
small game for the cook pot; I can get hits at distance. a single-action for each shot is
dispatch varmints and rabid If I was still a uniformed a training issue. With practice,
animals; hunt deer or bear; or police officer, admittedly, I would its no longer an issue. Watch
defend myself against most favor carrying something such cowboy-action shooters and
realistic threatsnot those found as a Glock 21 service pistol in see how quickly they engage
in Hollywood fantasies. .45 ACP. But lets be honest here: multiple targets.
The cylinder of a single-action The average pistol-permit
is easily removed for cleaning holder isnt carrying a Glock 21. SINGLE-ACTION OPTIONS
and inspection. Many opt for convenience, and There are many good choices
choose to carry subcompact .380 if a modern single-action revolver
SINGLE-ACTIONS FOR DEFENSE autos. In a defensive situation, is in your future.
When I carry a single-action I would opt for my Ruger Vaquero
revolver, I dont feel vulnerable or in .45 Colt (which shoots NORTH AMERICAN ARMS
handicapped. With a defensive well) over a tiny .380 auto Among pocket guns, there are
arm, Im less concerned about the (which also wouldnt have a few more concealable than the
number of bullets in the gun or high capacity). North American Arms revolvers.
SOURCES
North American Arms
northamericanarms.com
Sturm, Ruger & Co.
ruger.com
Freedom Arms
freedomarms.com
Magnum Research
magnumresearch.com
Edge Custom, Inc. (Scope
Mounts)
edgecustom.com
Even their Vaquero, developed I have been a big fan of the delicate balance between
with cowboy-action shooters Ruger revolvers for many years, tradition and innovation.
in mind, features modern and I own several of their Every once in a while, Im
updates like a transfer-bar single-actions. They are well- tempted to get rid of all my
safety and coil-spring ring built, durable and offer a good other handguns and just
mechanism. value for the cost. collect single-action revolvers.
The Single Six is available I probably wont go to that
in a convertible model, with two AFFINITY FOR SINGLES extreme, but if I did, I have no
cylinders: one for .22LR and one Single-action revolvers doubt Id still have the tools
for .22WMR. The Blackhawk is arent going away any time necessary to meet all of my
also available as a two-cylinder soon, especially if companies handgun needs. In the mean-
convertible in .357/9mm or .45 like these continue to offer time, Ill continue to seek other
Colt/.45 ACP. great new models that maintain singles. GNSL
Revolver
Revival
Cimarrons Replica of the
Smith & Wesson Schoeld
Might Be Better than
the Original
S
choeld Kid, that's what they
call me.
Why, you from Schoeld?
No, it's on account of my
Schoeld Model Smith & Wesson pistol.
Those lines in the opening scene of 1992s
Unforgiven, starring Clint Eastwood, made
the Smith & Wesson Model 3 Schoeld
immensely popular for a new generation
of fans.
With rare original models selling in the
thousands (when they can even be found),
shooters had to turn to replica manufacturers in
order to whet their appetites for one. I recently
sampled a model courtesy of Cimarron Firearms,
and it proved why these revolvers have become
so popular with shooters.
Cimarron's reproduction
Schoeld dwarfs the Colt SAA.
THE REPLICA SCHOFIELD culprit. Smith & Wesson dropped his personal collection to use as
With the retirement and sub- the models as a Performance samples. Harvey specied how he
sequent renishing of the original Center offering in 2002, after a wanted frames forged, marked
Schoeld revolvers ruining inherent mere two years of production. and case-hardened to put his
military collectability (original non- Thankfully, Cimarron Firearms, imported revolvers a cut above
nickel-plated Schoeld revolvers which has a unique role in the the competition.
are rarer than hens teeth), the replica firearms world, decided to
quest for a reasonably priced bring this old revolver to the masses THE WELLS FARGO
CONNECTION
shooter for a reenactor, or even by way of Uberti Firearms in Italy. When Wells Fargo purchased surplus
a lm-property master, lies in Company CEO, Mike Harvey, Schoeld revolvers for their agents, each
one was hand-inspected by an armorer,
modern reproductions. found himself dissatised with and re-stamped WELLS FARGO & CO.
next to the serial numbers.
Smith & Wesson tried reviving imported replica firearms made in
In the 1970s, these particular
the revolver at the turn of the 21st Italy, and went to Uberti directly Schoeld revolvers became popular with
collectors. Sadly, a cottage industry
century, but the revolvers were not with instructions on how he of forgers faked the logo onto other
big sellers. Price may have been a wanted his revolvers built. surplus Schofield revolvers, as well as
foreign-made counterfeit copies.
factor, but the use of the shorter 45 Putting his money where his It is estimated that there are more
falsied Wells Fargo Schoeld revolvers
S&W, over the more affordable and mouth was, Harvey sent the Italian
than real ones.
available 45 Colt, was likely the real arms maker antique rearms from
When initial complaints of pattern we all know and love, and carried like a Colt Single Action
Schoeld replicas reported locks even the stocks seemed perfect, Army, with the hammer over an
blowing open while ringdue to bearing the cartouche military- empty chamber. For those not
the higher pressure of smokeless- inspector markings that would be accustomed to hammer-mounted
powder loads used in Cowboy found on the grips of a genuine ring pins, the revolver must be
Action ShootingHarvey investi- Schoeld. Most importantly, it was kept at half cock to break open the
gated and, subsequently, had the chambered in the 45 Colt round. cylinder for loading and unloading
angle of the latches recut on his I could not wait to get his one the revolverotherwise, the pin can
Model 3 replicas. to the range, and rolled out with break. However, it must be lowered
several boxes of 45 Colt courtesy onto the empty chamber, as the
THE TEST GUN of Freedom Munitions. cylinder will spin if the hammer is
Under extremely short notice The rst thing you notice is the left at half cock, putting the shooter
and while he was out of the country, heft and size of the revolver. It is, by into the danger zone with regard to
Cimarrons Jamie Wayt overnighted no means, in the class of a Walker live ammunition.
a Schoeld to us in order to conduct Colt or Smith & Wesson 500, but it Despite the beefed-up top
this review. dwarfs the Colt Single Action Army strap and barrel, this handgun is
True to their business model, Revolver. The Cimarron reproduc- not intended for hot loads of 45
the Cimarron Schoeld looked as if tion is slightly larger and heavier Colt that might work well in a
it had rolled off a Smith & Wesson than the original, accommodating Thompson Center single-shot or
assembly line in 1875. the 45 Colt and making for a safer Ruger Blackhawk.
The blue was gorgeous, the shooting experience. By the same token, going to
color case-hardened lock and There is no transfer bar in the the opposite end of the scale,
hammer had that beautiful swirl Schoeld replica, so it must be with authentic black powder or an
Cimarron's reproduction
Schoeld is all business
and surprisingly accurate.
A FIRST-CLASS REPLICA
From the improved angle cut of the lock to this
rearms accuracy and ability to chamber the 45
Colt round, its clear Cimarron and Uberti built the
revolver that Smith & Wesson and Major Schoeld
should have made over 140 years ago.
SOURCES
Cimarron Firearms One of the advantages of the Schoeld was that six rounds
cimarron-rearms.com could be loaded all at once, as opposed to the Single Action
Army, which loads one at a time.
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ZZZIDFHERRNFRPZRUOGRIUHSRZHU
Anything
On Earth
Turnbulls Take on the Revered Model
1886 Results in a Versatile Rie
Suitable for Hunting Any Game
Photo Courtesy of Turnbull
A
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW
FROM PRAIRIE DOGS After a well-placed shot with the action. There were a variety of .475
TO ELEPHANTS .475 Turnbull, you wont have to do bullets available, and ultimately,
Doug Turnbull has certainly much tracking to nd your animal. the .475 Turnbull was created.
used his rie/cartridge combination The .475 Turnbull is basically a
all around the world to take a wide THE CARTRIDGE 50-110 casing, shortened by .200
range of game. As he reasons, its What was the motivation for inches and then necked down to
not over-doing it to go deer hunting creating the .475? Turnbull wanted accept the .475 bullet. The overall
with a rie thats capable of taking a gun that could do it all. His com- cartridge length is 2.75 inches.
down an elephant. pany was doing a lot of custom Turnbull worked with Barnes
According to Turnbull, the work on Winchesters, and building Bullets, which developed a 400-
big, heavy, slow-moving bullet one that red his own cartridge grain version of its TSX (Triple
actually destroys less meat than seemed a logical progression. Shock Expanding) bullet for this
many smaller bullets traveling at The company didnt want to cartridge. On impact, the bullet
a higher velocity. The big bullet worry about running out of case expands with four petals opening
has also proven to be very capacity, but kept in mind the car- to .90 caliber. Solid bullets are
effective at anchoring game. tridge had to fit in the Model 1886 also available.
THE TIME-TESTED
WINCHESTER 1886
The Winchester 1886 was a landmark
firearm. It was the first Winchester
designed by legendary designer John
Moses Browning. It did away with
the old toggle-link actions of earlier
Winchesters, in favor of a much stronger
locking-block action.
It also allowed for the use of more
powerful black-powder cartridges,
including the .45-70, 45-90 and 50-110.
The action was strong enough to make
the transition to the smokeless powder
era, when it was chambered for the .33
WCF in 1903.
The rie was in regular production
from 1886 to 1935, when Winchester
replaced it with the updated Model 71,
which was chambered in .348 Winchester.
The action has proven strong enough for
use as a base platform for custom ries,
and eventually, the Turnbull .475.
The 400-grain load produces accurate and powerful enough to It comes down to how well
a muzzle velocity of about 2,050 penetrate deeply and take big you can shoot with iron sights,
FPS from a 26-inch barrel for more game at much greater distances says Turnbull, who has personally
than 4,100 foot pounds of energy. but remember, this is an open- used the Model 1886 to take an elk
The cartridge is Sporting Arms sighted rearm. at just under 300 yards.
and Ammunition Manufacturers'
Institute (SAAMI) approved,
and has been loaded by Cor-Bon
TURNBULLS VARIATIONS
and Grizzly Cartridges in the past. The Turnbull Model 1886 is available with a full-octagon barrel, in lengths of 26, 28
Hornady and RCBS both offer and 32 inches. The magazine capacity on a 26-inch version is eight cartridges. The rie is
not a lightweight: Depending on barrel length and the wood used for the stock, it weighs
reloading dies for the .475 Turnbull. in the 10- to 12-pound range.
One can order the reloading Prices on these ries vary greatly, depending on select features and embellishments
on the nished product. A base model costs in the neighborhood of $4,700; meanwhile,
dies, brass and bullets directly some takedown models with deluxe wood and engravings, platinum barrel bands, and a
leather-covered recoil pad can go as high as $12,000. Aside from the .475 Turnbull, you
from Turnbull. can also get one of these Model 1886 ries, chambered in .50 Alaskan.
The Model 1886 isnt the only rie that res the .475 Turnbull. Turnbull teamed with
Sturm, Ruger & Co. to produce a Ruger No.1, single-shot rie in .475 Ruger. The rie is made
TRADITIONAL OPEN SIGHTS by Ruger, but the color case-hardening is still made at Turnbull.
The Model 1886 in .475 The Ruger No. 1 rie features a 26-inch barrel and has an overall length of 42 inches.
It weighs approximately nine pounds, and comes with iron sights and a set of Ruger scope
Turnbull is capable of shooting rings. A mercury-lled recoil reducer in the stock is also available. The price of the Ruger
No. 1 is about $2,000.
about -inch at 100 yards. The
rifle/cartridge combination is
heritage; hunting with it means to hunt deer-sized animals. But remember, this isnt your
connecting to the traditions of the The Turnbull Model 1866 average rie. Its a rie that can
America of a more adventurous costs considerably more than your easily replace any three or four that
time. It is powerful and accurate average hunting rifle$4,700 for are currently in your safe. It really is
enough to reliably take on any big- a standard model to more than the rie of a lifetime. GNSL
game animal; yet its recoil is man- $12,000 for a highly engraved and
ageable enough that it can be used embellished takedown model.
SOURCES
Turnbull Restoration &
Manufacturing Co.
6680 State Route 5 and 20
Bloomeld, NY 14469
(585) 412-2970
turnbullmfg.com
Grizzly Cartridge Company
(503) 556-3006
grizzlycartridge.com
The receivers of the Model 1886
ries are color case-hardened at
Barnes Bullets
the Turnbull factory, making each (435) 856-1000
a one-of-a-kind rearm. barnesbullets.com
Double-Barrel
Blaster
Cimarrons Doc Holliday Side-By-Side Can Do It All
T
he shotgun has always been a When those hammers are cocked, devas-
do-everything, close-range tating blasts from the two big barrels are
rearm. With small shot, you can not long away.
shoot birds on the y and rabbits When we think of the Old West, this is
on the run. Load it with slugs, and the kind of shotgun that comes to mind
the shotgun becomes capable of taking more than any other, with its short barrels
big game. and compact overall length. Whether its
As a defensive weapon, the shotgun has the guard riding shotgun atop a stage-
an awesome and intimidating reputation. coach, a deputy guarding a prisoner or a
Just the sight of a man with a shotgun has sheriff dispersing an angry mob, the double-
been known to give the boldest of bad men barrel shotgun is a critical part of the image.
the shivers. This particular shotgun is named the
Cimarron Firearms offers its Doc Doc Holliday, because it was reported
Holliday double-barrel 12-gauge model that Virgil Earp handed such a shotgun to
with the wonderful old rabbit ears the Holliday, who carried it and used it at the
external hammers that must be cocked infamous Gunght at the O.K. Corral.
before ring. Theres no mistaking when Its actually manufactured by Pedersoli
things are getting serious with this shotgun. in Italy and imported by Cimarron.
The gun has a manual recoil pad to catch on clothing. and to the target beyond.
safetyit isnt automatically The rib between the barrels is Additionally, the shotguns
engaged upon closing the action. slightly curved; this creates a compact size makes it very handy
All things considered, this type of trough that serves as a speedy for both close-quarter defensive
firearm is one of the safest that runway, leading the eye past the purposes and when hunting in
you can own because the hammers single brass-bead front sight thick cover.
must be manually cocked, and
you wouldnt do that until youre
ready to fire.
Those rebounding hammers,
SHOOTING RESULTS
I did all of my ring with the Cimarron Doc Holliday shotgun standing, off hand. This
when in the down position, are isnt a target rie, so I didnt see much point in shooting from the bench. I wanted to test it
as Id use it.
away from the firing pins, so even The barrels proved to be well-regulated at realistic distances; there wasnt a
a blow to those hammers wont noticeable difference in the point of impact with either barrel at 15 or 25 yards.
I red the shotgun at 15 yards with Remington Game Loads in No. 6 shot. Despite not
cause an accidental discharge. being tightly choked, the shot pattern was condensed enough to make this a worthy
companion on small-game hunts.
At a glance, you can confirm that
Next, I fired some Federal Tactical 00 Buckshot loads at 15 yards. In the past, this
the hammers are down and your has always proved to be a tight shooting load, and I wasnt disappointed this time.
Firing two shots at 15 yards kept the total of 18 pellets within a pattern of 10.5 inches.
safety is on. This gun would have a devastating effect in a close-range defense scenario.
The shotguns role has always been as a versatile firearm; so, I fired slugs through
this one, as well, fully knowing that this usually isnt the task where youd normally pick
HANDLING QUALITIES a side-by-side. I fired Remington Slugger 2 -inch, 1-ounce rifled slugs and Federal
Power-Shok 1-ounce, hollowpoint rifled slugs at 25 yards.
The Doc Holliday shotgun
Neither man nor beast would want to face this Cimarron Doc Holliday shotgun.
is well-balanced and naturally After ring a couple of practice rounds to get used to it, the shotgun shot pretty much
to point of aim, and kept ve slugs into a 3 -inch group, again from standing, off hand.
comes to the shoulder, in line In the dense woods where I hunt, that translates to venison in the freezer.
with the target. There is no rubber
While handling the Old West-styled Cimarron Doc Holliday shotgun, the author felt it was only appropriate, if not mandatory, to wear a cowboy hat. (Photo by Gary Barlow)
This shotgun handles and shoots well and, like all doubles,
offers a quick follow-up shot
The exposed rabbit ear The trigger pull on each of the considered an all-afternoon plinker.
hammers are large and easily two triggers was clean, with little Early in my law-enforcement career,
cocked, either singly or at the same or no travel, but it was a bit on the
time, with the sweep of a thumb. heavy side. I measured the pull of
Should you need to lower the the front trigger at 6.5 pounds, and SPECIFICATIONS
Model: Cimarron SH906
hammers, their size and shape the rear trigger at 5.5 pounds. As it Doc Holliday shotgun
Manufacturer: Pedersoli of Italy for
lend themselves to doing it safely, turned out, the triggers were not at
Cimarron Firearms
and with less chance of fumbling all a detriment when it came to Type: Double-barrel shotgun with
exposed hammers, dual triggers
than other types of rearms. ring the shotgun. Gauge: 12 gauge, 2 -inch chambers
Pushing the top lever to the Barrel length: 20 inches
Overall length: 37 inches
right unlocks the break-open action. SHOOTING HOLLIDAYS SHOTGUN Finish: Color case-hardened side plates,
blued barrels
Tilting the barrels down proved to No matter who you are, I dont
Stock: Walnut
be smooth but a bit stiff, which I think a short-barreled 12 gauge MSRP: $1,605
attribute to the test gun being new. with no recoil pad will ever be
SOURCES
Cimarron Firearms
Shooting slugs off hand at 25 yards, the author managed a respectable 3.75-inch group, making this shotgun cimarron-rearms.com
capable of downing bigger quarry with authority.
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PARTING SHOT
Defending
the Herd
T
hose in the Old West
had to have their ries
ready and their wits
about them to handle
any unexpected situation. Its
Image by Universal History Archive/Getty
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