On the cover are three gun rigs that are unmistakable from any others—icons from an era when Westerns ruled the airwaves and the silver screen. TV shows and movies were a great influence on America’s youth in the post-WWII era, and most of us who enjoy reading Guns of the Old West grew up on John Wayne Westerns and watching The Lone Ranger, Gunsmoke, Maverick, Bonanza and so many others that an entire generation (and a generation that grew up on reruns, too) can still relate to the characters. History played a great role in the creation of many early TV and movie Westerns, and it is with history in mind that much of this issue is focused on famous original guns and the men who carried them, including Buffalo Bill Cody and his rare Bullard repeating rifle, as chronicled by author Frank Jardim. Dr. Steven C. Small examines the equally rare Springfield Trapdoor pistols developed after the Civil War for General William T. Sherman, and Cody Firearms Museum Associate Curator Ashley Hlebinsky reveals the story behind the great Winchester and Colt manufacturing wars of the 1870s. Our resident Western haberdasher Phil Spangenberger explains the popularity of buckskins in the Old West, and Mike Beliveau tests Uberti’s .44-40 Henry rifle. You’ll also get the inside story on the latest Western guns, including Pedersoli’s Doc Holliday .38, Taylor’s new Outlaw laser-engraved sixguns, Ruger’s .357 Magnum Bisley Vaquero and the Air Venturi John Wayne Peacemaker air pistol. So turn that stud around and head toward the campfire—we’ve got some words for you. Look Inside »
Chiappa 1892 Von Dutch Mare’s Leg
As a television hero’s gun, the cut-down Winchester Model 1892 used on Wanted: Dead or Alive was without question the most unusual and… Look Inside »
Montie Montana the Rodeo Trick Rider
Usually, when you’re just a kid, being stuck in school on a beautiful spring day doesn’t seem like the perfect way to sit… Look Inside »
Anderson’s Big Iron .44 Replica
Andy Anderson, master Hollywood fast-draw holster-maker, stood 6 feet 4 inches tall and had correspondingly large hands. He had trouble with his gun… Look Inside »
Taylor’s & Co. Bisley .44-40
Back in the day, Colt was very attuned to customers’ needs, and the company entertained special orders from single revolvers to crate loads.… Look Inside »
Classic Old West Spurs
Nothing is more symbolic of the cowboy than his spurs. The cowman’s spurs rated among his most important pieces of equipment, and, as… Look Inside »
The 7mm Pinfire Guardian American Model 1878
In the time between cap-and-ball revolvers and modern self-contained ammunition as we know it, there were a few innovations, and the pinfire bridged… Look Inside »
3 Confederate Handguns of the Old West
Confederate arms hold a special place among Civil War collectors both for their rarity and the romanticism that still surrounds the men that… Look Inside »
Cassie Waters: Businesswoman of the Old West
The clichéd “Old West” conjures memories of cowboys, Indians, gunfights and dance-hall girls. While these stereotypes are predominantly the product of western folklore,… Look Inside »
The New Pedersoli Ithaca Double Handgun
The new Pedersoli Ithaca double pistol is an historic design with a lineage well beyond Ithaca itself that dates back to late 19th… Look Inside »