From the very first part of my sixgunning life I fell in love with single actions in general, and Colt Single Actions in particular.

Among avid single action revolver shooters there is a sub-genre of handguns well respected but often misunderstood. Those are the Colt Conversions of cap &...

The single action sixgun is a survivor. The popularity of Cowboy Action Shooting created a great demand for traditional single actions.

In 1917 both the Colt and Smith & Wesson factories had large bore revolvers in their line-up. Colt’s was the New Service, which was being offered in bore...

There is one handgun in my racks, however, that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling every time it’s in my hands. It was made by the now-defunct United States...

A good sixgunsmith is an artist; and every artist signs his work either deliberately or creatively. There are at least a dozen gunsmiths whose work I...

Before the Colt Peacemaker? Before the Colt Peacemaker there was a whole boatload of other Colt single action revolvers.

The Colt Detective Special was introduced in 1927 (some sources say 1928) at the suggestion of the legendary “Fitz” (J.H. Fitzgerald).

Some handguns were just downright wonderful. They were put together better, finished prettier and shot more accurately than most of their contemporaries —...

The .44 Special was my first true sixgun love and as I have gotten older I find myself returning to it more and more. Ben Forkin certainly helped fuel my...

If you're like me, you may have accumulated a decent enough collection of guns before you realize — aw, hell — you don't love all of them equally. Not...

The British have never been ones to march in lockstep with the rest of the world, and a little evidence of that is their choice of handguns in World War II.

All in all the Taurus Gauchos are pretty decent single actions. They shot well, handled well, and are a combination of both traditional and modern.

Then as now, the .357 Blackhawk is two sixguns depending upon one’s perspective. First, a Blackhawk, or any other Ruger for that matter, can be purchased...

Sometimes when we can’t find what we’re looking for we have to have the aid of a good gunsmith. I sent a 7 1⁄2" .44 Special off to David Clements to...

The brand of snubby you carry may be less important than its configuration. You want to have a gun that is built and shaped for your particular needs.

In a hands-on scuffle, a short barrel could do you some favors, especially in a bar in the Old West. In this First Look, Nic Lenze shows you the...

In 1851, just nine years after the Hayes Big Fight, Samuel Colt showcased the Navy Colt at the Crystal Palace Exposition in London.

In the mid-summer of 2020, I spotted a very fine-looking SAA with its 5 ½" barrel clearly stamped .38 Colt. By its serial number, the Colt dated to 1899,...

Though likely gone forever, New Frontiers seem to be readily available at gun shows, and the really good news is they are not regarded as highly by...

It wouldn’t be fair to say Ruger was built on the single action, but it wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate either.

Taylor’s & Company launched the TC9 Series of 9mm pistols which includes four reproduction models of the 1873 Cattleman revolver.

Hitting four rams out of five shots was becoming regular. The 5.5” Ruger Bisley mid-frame flat top was impressive with its accuracy potential.

A Perfect Packin’ Pistol — Beater Gun style.

One or both of these double action Ruger .44 Magnums are sure to find favor with those who wander off the beaten path; or even those who simply like to...

In 1836 Sam Colt came up with the first truly practical and workable revolver, the Colt Paterson. This revolver was a five-shot affair with a revolving...

When I decided I wanted a custom .45 Colt single-action sixgun for heavier loads, a Ruger New Model was sent off to Jim Stroh. He was recognized by his...

The handguns I wish I’d never bought.

Have you ever wondered if porting your barrel will affect your bullet's velocity? Find out if it does with Roy Huntington, two revolvers, and his trusty...

The New Service was introduced in 1898, ten years after Colts first swing-out cylinder Army and Navy models. It was basically a large frame version of the...

Over the years I’ve tested dozens of .45 autos, but never subjected any older revolvers to a formal test. The logical conclusion is to construct a test...

Why is it a shooter will leave a brand new gun in the box and make a bee-line for the nearest pistolsmith to “make it better?”

Once you get into the world of defensive use of force, you discover things aren’t the way they looked from the outside.

In conjunction with Heritage Mfg., Davidson’s exclusive Barkeep Roses has a 2” barrel and features a bird’s-head grip engraved with roses and vines.

I have been privileged to know most of the world’s greatest sixgunsmiths, and especially to experience their work. Andy Horvath belongs to be elite circle...

Out of the quest for effective man-stopping revolvers came some of the most fascinating revolvers ever made, the .577s.

With such a long career it’s easy to categorize John Wayne’s Western films in many ways. One of the easiest divisions is made by looking at the Colt...

Being keen on .44s the SDM gun was a special project done by a special guy. The gun shoots great and if you find yourself in need of your own version of a...

The craving and cutting of steel by human hands with handheld tools is always something that has intrigued me.

With all the grand handguns currently offered, why would anyone want to spend the money to build a custom sixgun?

Hamilton is as responsible as anyone for bringing custom revolvers to a high art form. In fact many of his creations would be right at home in an art museum.

Handgunner shamelessly endorses the concept of handguns as a “high art” form. From the mundane to the staggering, you’ve seen it on our pages and will...

Tom Beaudette leads Trapper’s Guns, not to be confused with Trapper Guns — quite prominent in the 1970s and 1980s and operated by Lin “Trapper”...

I’m going to detail why I like the .44 S&W Russian. At least I like it in this one particular revolver.

The Single-Six was Sturm, Ruger’s first revolver after successfully introducing their .22 semiauto pistol four years earlier.

We take a departure from the endless supply of polymer handguns in today's First Look. Join Roy Huntington as he shows you around a beautiful custom...

I suspect Ruger had an inkling of the pending home run about to be hit when they released the price-point Wrangler SA .22 revolver. In one, well-thought-out...

For this review, we're looking back to a time when revolvers were king. Watch as Nic Lenze shares his thoughts on the beautiful Model No. 3 Schofield from...

There’s no denying a sixgunners propensity for wheelguns. The very name states it. The diehards cling to their thumb-cockers while the more progressives...

Nic Lenze sends some major .44-40 lead downrange on this week's First Look. Take a look at the classic 7" Model No. 3 Schofield from Cimarron Firearms.

In regards to the criterion by which revolvers and their cartridges are judged, the .44 Special can’t do a single thing many others do just as well — or...

Join us for another First Look with Special Projects Editor Roy Huntington. He takes some shots with the new Rock Island Armory AL3.1 — a six-shot .357...

In this First Look, Special Projects Editor Roy Huntington takes a look at the Armscor AL22M — an eight-shot .22 Magnum revolver.

In my personal opinion, the most practical Colt SAAs are the Shorties. I have three right now: the “Sheriff’s Model” mentioned above, a .45 with a 3...

The folks responsible for producing BFR revolvers offer the shooter options to build their own custom revolver. BFR, by the way, stands for Biggest Finest...

RIAC Premier Firearms Auctions are held three times per year and offer collectors a special chance to bid on more than 2,000 rare, historic and unusual gun...

Lipsey’s S&W 642 Deluxe Airweight .38 Special personifies the perfect packing pistol for persons who perpetually carry concealed.

In 2017, I was privileged to spend the better part of a week with the revolver grip guru, the late Roy Fishpaw. I knew I liked him already, but I think I...

When the .357 SuperMag from Dan Wesson first appeared on the scene, more than one wildcatter was waiting with reamers in hand to do one thing: Turn it into...

Special Assignments Editor Roy Huntington has a First Look at the Nighthawk Custom/Korth Mongoose that combines engineering excellence and artistic style to...

Recently a fellow asked me when I became interested in guns. My reply was … I was born with it.

One of the oldest names in the gun industry and maker of some of the most famous firearms in the world, Webley & Scott is now operating in India and...

Last week, I shared the story of assisting an older gentleman interested in a multi-purpose .357 Magnum revolver — and boy, did I strike a chord! I...

Historically, revolvers have proven to be one of the most versatile types of firearms. Simple, rugged and effective, revolvers continue to be a popular...

Your revolver's grips will determine a number of crucial features - from the speed of your follow-up shot to the amount of recoil you feel. We look back at...

With inventory low at most brick-and-mortar retailers, firearm seekers are having to turn to online dealers like GunBroker.com to find guns. Publishing...

As the resident reprobate writing for FMG Publications, I’ll admit it’s changed me. I was happy being the stock-box kind of gun guy — then it happened!

Premier manufacturers of fine firearms, Nighthawk Custom and Germany’s Korth Arms partnered in 2016 to bring a new level of revolvers to the American...

Lipsey’s, a large Ruger distributor, is proud to announce the release of their blued SP101 half-lug 3" revolver, making this 5-shot .357 Magnum

Recently on an Internet website a fellow asked me, “Do you have a barbeque Colt?” I replied, “Um, No, I don’t think so.”

Are you a wheelgunner? While upgrades and accessories are not quite as readily available as parts and gear for modular semi-automatic handguns, there are...

Of course, I was extremely naïve to bring a gun to university and perhaps more so, to a philosophy class. The world, my world, has changed a lot since then.

A modern version of a tried and true gun/load combination, Elmer Keith's .41 Magnum scratches the nostalgic itch we all get from time to time and is as...

Occasionally I run across someone discussing their ultimate “Grail” gun. I often wondered what factors other handgunners considered in their criteria.

Sam Colt started it all. In 1836 his Colt Paterson became the first truly workable revolver. Chambered in both .36 and .40, it was a smallish, somewhat...

Since I was from Kentucky, I had been taught any problem that could not be solved by a bigger hammer could be solved by a big gun, and well, I had a big...

I’ve always believed you should dance with the one that brought you. Strangely, I never felt the least bit under-gunned armed with my Smith & Wesson Model 66.

I honestly, really, completely wanted to dislike this gun. I mean, just look at it. It’s everything silly you can think up. It looks like a hose nozzle...

It amazes me how many shooters — young and old — talk about their .44 Specials or .44 Magnums without having a clue as to their ancestry.

If we don’t know where we’ve been, it’s harder to tell where we’re going. In 2020 Colt re-introduced their top-of-the-line Python revolver.

But, having started altering the gun, I also caught “the bug” in the process. In search of more suggestions, I went to the best resource for handguns...

It’s easy to casually toss terms like “elegance” or “grace” into a conversation. “A Bentley’s innate elegance showcases a classic British...

Recently I got my greedy little mitts on a stunning pair of special-edition mini-revolvers. Dubbed Anti Venoms, they’re the result of a partnership...

It was a time when everyone was enamored with the .44 Magnum S&W Model 29, the Dirty Harry gun for which so many would add their names to waiting lists,...

Okay, they’re not as “pretty” as the regular derringers from Bond Arms, but they have the same high-quality materials and the same careful fitting inside.

I initially had some misgivings about altering the gun, as the 624 was an elegant and rare revolver in its original configuration, but I wanted to make it...

Ruger’s release of the new TALO exclusive, the CarryHawk, is proof of their ability to please the masses by understanding their customer base.

A buddy of mine had this old Taurus .38 Special that fit the bill and the price was right, so I bought it. It lived in the closet for a while, out of sight,...

Back in the 1990s, Milt and Karen Morrison were visiting us and after supper I pulled out a few sixguns. I had the idea of coming up with a different kind...

I came into possession of my blued 6” Smith & Wesson Model 14 K-38 Target Masterpiece .38 Special revolver in November 1986. I hadn’t planned anything...

Today we think of .38 Special mostly as a self-defense round for snub nose revolvers, But, before .500, .480, .475 and .460 revolvers, before .357, .41 and...

There’s no easier way to dress up your sixgun than putting on fancy stocks. A proper grip is the foundation to good shooting and doing the work yourself...

Pole barn rats beware!

I'm actually a Ruger revolver lover at heart. You can also see my custom Speed vice-Six I built because I couldn't stand not having a 3" round butt...

It was circa-1955. Bullseye shooting, where you stood on your hind legs and shot one-handed is king. Cops’ holsters are filled with either a Colt or S&W...

Finding a Colt Buntline from first year production still with its original albeit nearly destroyed box definitely tripped my trigger.

I’ve loved revolvers from the very first day I laid hands on a Colt .38 Detective Special. Little did I know that one day in the near future I would find,...

I found a homeless Airweight Bodyguard at a local pawn shop and arranged a payment schedule to make it mine on a rookie’s salary. In the humid North...

One question often arising from handloaders has to do with the use of short brass and long chambers. Cartridges like the .38 Special in .357 Magnum and .44...

I arrived in Vietnam in March of 1968 and received a letter from my father, a combat veteran of both WWII and Korea, telling me he was sending a gift. A...

In 2018, a total of 664,835 revolvers were produced — 99.8% by 10 firearm manufacturers. We review the ATF Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Report...

Essentially a classic 856 small-frame model with some enhancements, the Defender stands out with the VZ grips and 3" barrel.

With my writing career nearing 50 years (full time since 1981) with over 2,000 printed features and columns I’m bound to have made mistakes.

The greatest sixgunsmiths who ever lived are alive and practicing their art today.

Since their inception, and later introduction to the U.S. market in 1968, Taurus has led the way in affordable, reliable firearms.

Got your attention I’ll bet, but we’re not talking about “that” left here. Left-handed people in many ways are better off today than in the past.

A neat little revolver, using full-moon clips, and chambered for the .380 Auto cartridge? At this point, a gun-cynic might ask why?

A perusal of revolvers developed around the world in the last 150 years cannot help but give you some insight about the human mind.

Let’s think about the .38-40 and the .41 Long Colt. Two totally different cartridges. The first is a tapered or bottleneck cartridge beginning life in the...

In the spring of 1984 I was preparing to fly to Southern California to participate in my very first End Of Trail cowboy action match. I had only one misgiving.

The first pocket-sized, 5-shot .38 Special arrived in 1950 when it was unveiled as the Smith & Wesson Chief’s Special at a national gathering of chiefs of...

As with all boys from time immemorial, the young lad was curious while at the same time somewhat bored with nothing to do. Going into his father’s office...

In these pages I’ve previously made it clear I am not the .45 Colt’s greatest fan. That said, there is one area where it shines above all other revolver...

It had been a long hot summer, in fact the last of three painful summers. Summers are meant for shooting, camping, hiking, outdoor activities with the family.

I gotta be me.” That’s good. We all should do that. Don’t just say it — do it! But know your “do it” attitude might not be someone else’s cup...

Well, the new .44 Magnum is now arriving regularly at local dealers both in the original S&W .44 Magnum and the Ruger Blackhawk.

In December 1996 I was invited to participate in a unique class conducted at Thunder Ranch, then located in Texas.

Several years (decades?) ago I coined the phrase Perfect Packin’ Pistol, or as it has come to be known by many readers, PPP.

There was a time when elephants roamed North America. Mastodons had tusks up to 15' in length and were found in Africa, Europe and both North and South...

A while back I wrote a piece titled “The .44 Special Ain’t So Special”. Some might be surprised I received as many “atta-boys” for that piece as I...

The mighty X-frame revolvers and the gorgeous handguns of their Performance Center notwithstanding, the single most popular handgun Smith & Wesson makes...

In the 1950s I discovered Elmer Keith and his writings, which often covered customized sixguns. He had about a half-dozen highly customized .44 Special...

So I shot the gun at the normal combat range of seven yards,” reads all too many lines, in all too many gun articles I see.

Every now and again, a tool comes along that will revolutionize a process, however obscure or seemingly unimportant.

The elements of style can be mystifying. Just as there are billions of people in the world, we might safely say there are billions of ideas of what...

How do I carry the revolver? Most often in a pants pocket, but I do use a holster. Here's why ...

The last place to learn safe gun handling is at the movies or the TV screen and it’s a rare film that ever depicts recoil in any shape or fashion....

Yeah, I know, we all have one or more of them, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In experienced hands — and I mean near-expert hands — they are...

Here’s a holster quiz for ya, trivia fans: Back in 1978, the late great Elmer Keith described somebody’s leather as “… the most comfortable holster...

The concept of bigbore, snub-nosed revolvers isn’t new. In fact it’s just about as old as revolvers themselves.

Like the proverbial Phoenix rising from the ashes, I’m seeing more and more fine old Colt revolvers coming out of drawers, gun cabinets, estates and other...

There’s a reason Karla Van Horne’s cowboy shooting alias is “Purdy Gear,” it’s because she makes, well … purdy gear.

Skeeter Skelton’s earliest articles appeared in the pages of our sister publication, GUNS, in the late 1950s when he was still known as Charles A....

What’s the best-ever big-bore revolver cartridge? I’m not talking about something chambered in a bazooka-length revolver fitted with a bipod.

The era of The American gunfighter of fact and legend didn’t begin until 1850. That was when Samuel Colt introduced his first “Belt Pistol” meaning...

What would the state of the sixgunning world be without dreamers? Those who looked at what was and saw what could be.

An exclusive look at the first engraved new-production Colt Python, beautifully hand scroll-engraved by Dale Bass of Tyler Gun Works.

Shooters buy firearms for many reasons including self-defense, hunting, target shooting and just plain old plinking.

Handguns are purchased for a variety of reasons, with self-defense and general outdoor use right at the top.

Just days away from the 2020 SHOT Show, we can't help but drool thinking about all the new guns we'll get to shoot, handle and see throughout the week.

Priced at workingman wages since their inception over 70 years ago, Ruger has provided us with a slew of rugged and reliable guns.

As a guy who makes his living evaluating and writing about guns, I get a lot of “What’s the best …” questions from folks.

We like shotguns and rifles for home defense, but we really like handguns, too. Full-size handguns are legit options for home defense, but so are...

Four Colt revolvers were recently added to the California “certified for sale” roster approved by the state’s Department of Justice.

Several years ago, I was at a local gun show helping my shooting buddies offload a bunch of guns from departed friends. There were some pricey items, but at...

It’s confession time. For many years I’ve neglected the .357 Magnum. When hunting big game with straight-walled pistol cartridges, I generally reach for...

A few months ago I stumbled across a couple of S&W 657 models in .41 Mag. One was a 6.5" version while the other wore a 7.5" barrel.

The term PPC has several historical variations on a theme. Practical Pistol Course, Police Practical Course and Police Pistol Combat are all cited.

Colt Patent Firearms had an 8-year head start when it came to solid-frame revolvers with swing-out cylinders.

Colt dropped the single action from production prior to World War II and announced it would never be produced again.

Back in 1973 a friend and I got it in our heads we should take a couple saddle horses and my trusty steed “Duke” as a pack horse and head south.

Small and light S&W J-frames are perfect for everyday carry. Frames come in both steel and aluminum, exposed and hammerless versions.

The shooting community welcomes all of the over eight million first-time gun owners that we gained over the last two years. How should you welcome a new...

Russian Model 1895 7.62mm Nagant revolver

Our goal was to simply find out the dynamic range of these classic, handy guns. What we learned stunned some of us, wasn’t surprising to many — but the...

For better or worse, due to the popularity of today’s poly-framed, striker-fired semi-auto’s, the 9mm is the most popular centerfire handgun cartridge...

The twenty-two rimfire is undoubtedly the most fired cartridge in existence. Even during these torrid times of ammo drought, it maintains its popularity for...