A Shotgunners Primer

A Shotgunners Primer

Sometimes I forget how long I’ve been prowling this earth. And sometimes I forget that only a few people, like me, have been shooting shotguns for more than 70 years. As a result, I tend to get preoccupied with the fine points. The esoterica. I’ve said many times that...
The Illustrated Gun

The Illustrated Gun

From exquisitely decorated pistols to firearms adorned with precious materials, the world of fine firearms has provided ample opportunity for artistic expression throughout the centuries. In the past, every royal palace in Europe featured a cabinet d’arms  displaying...
22-Caliber Christmas

22-Caliber Christmas

Could there be anything more American than a boy receiving his first 22-caliber rifle on Christmas morning? Ah, the excitement, the early awakening before the rest of the household. The faint rustling of paper downstairs—was it the dog rummaging through the wrappings...
P.O. Ackley: Man of Sharp Shoulders

P.O. Ackley: Man of Sharp Shoulders

“That’s gone. It sold right away. Sorry.” I had phoned on an ad for a rebarreled Mauser. He did sound genuinely sorry. My reply—“Oh,”—must have had an authentic ring, too. I truly was crushed. “You wouldn’t want a Springfield, would you?” As if he owed me something....
On The Nose

On The Nose

Once merely a bullet’s front end, the tip has become an engineering project. Here’s why.