Ruger's Time Machine
Whether gumshoe detective or guncrank writer, the words “revolver” and “reliable” are synonymous to these probing guys. There’s a reason some guns...
99
Wrangler Vs....
In about 1969 I was 15 “going on 16” as we used to say. I had a hopeless case of the “gun crazies” and had been suffering from the syndrome since I...
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Fussing With A Fitz
Sometimes you just have to get out of your comfort zone. I work on a lot of 1911’s every year. So when I got a call from Mark Mason of Downers Grove,...
160
One Eye — Or Two?
Should I shoot with one eye open — or two? The short answer is two. Most shooters, most of the time, are better off with both eyes open. Most of the top...
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Ruger's .22...
In 1956 I was straight out of high school and purchased my first handgun, a Ruger .22 Single-Six for $63.25. At the time I was working for $0.90 an hour so...
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Preferences,...
The advice you get when trying to choose a new gun may come from a father, brother, sister, uncle, cousin, co-worker, magazine article, online forum, or...
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Revolver Trappings
Arevolver’s strength lies in its simplicity, but these must-have accessories will profoundly improve performance. From grip, to reloading, to cleaning, to...
25
Mag-na-port's...
Mag-na-port’s craftsmanship and the Maori’s penchant for aggressive fighting against their enemies has resulted in this eye-catching S&W Model 69 .44...
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The "I"s Have It
As we’ve been told so often, there’s no “I” in team. But you do need it to spell words like interesting and iconic.
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Pre-War Perfection
I sort of stumbled onto this .38 Special Colt Officers Model a couple of years ago. I did a favor for a friend and he asked if I wanted “Something in a...
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.45 Colt...
While loving the simplicity of the strong and reliable single-action thumb-cocker, I’m savvy enough to appreciate its swinging sidekick — the...
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The SAA's Most...
Research has shown the Colt SAA (Single Action Army) has been chambered for about 30 cartridges ranging from .22 to .476 Eley during its on-again/off-again...
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Make Mine A Bisley
Although I lack the aristocratic blue blood of a high society well doer, I do enjoy the grip-frame named after the quaint village of Bisley, England.
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The 3rd...
In the fall of 1976 when reading an article by writer Skeeter Skelton, I got both good news and bad news. The bad news was Colt had quietly discontinued...
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Handguns For...
Nope, this isn’t about guns for hunting dinosaurs although it seems like some of the revolvers and single shot handguns floating about nowadays could...
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Rifle-Barreled...
Someday. We all have a list of things we are going to do someday. Sometimes the list is short and sometimes the list is long.
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Handguns Of...
Some folks hold the Webley Mk VI .455 revolver in near reverence. I’m not one of them. To me it’s big, clunky, ugly, underpowered and worst of all I...
14
Almost... A DQ...
Last summer for the first time in my life I thought I might have to use a gun to defend myself.
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Colt's Last...
We’re going to lump the last three Colt cap and ball revolvers together in one article because they were simply modifications and adaptations of...
39
Handguns Of WWII...
Perhaps the British could claim at least a small amount of credit for the advent of Smith & Wesson’s Model 1917 .45 Auto revolver.
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First Favorites...
As always, I had to have one — you know the feeling! I needed the ultimate hunting handgun, one fitting my needs perfectly, and yet having the ability to...
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The 1860 Army .44
For about a decade Samuel Colt was quiet as far as introducing new revolver models. Obviously they were using all their factory’s production capacity just...
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The Speedloader...
When the Colt Paterson revolver burst onto the scene in 1836, the game changed forever. With five chambers of .36 caliber ball at the shooter’s disposal,
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Belt Pistol
By the late 1840s America’s westward migration was in full swing, spurred along a great deal by the California gold rush of 1849. People by the thousands...
18
The Babies
As early as 1848 Samuel Colt realized the military market was going to be finite. After all, the U.S. Army was a relatively small organization and those...
25
Handguns Of...
When Britain jumped into World War I and dragged Canada along, as usual their military outfits were woefully short of weapons. In those days the United...
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The Legacy of...
The wide array of sixguns we have today comes from the vision of three men, namely Sam Colt, Daniel Wesson and Bill Ruger. Both Colt and Wesson were gone by...
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The Dragoons
As pointed out in Part One of this series, in U.S. Army parlance of the 1840s/1850s the word Dragoon referred to horse mounted troops. It’s also the term...
32
So you carry a...
Some weeks ago a friend, Detective Dick Peters, and I, watched a made-for-TV movie one night at my place. It was called ''A Small Killing" and starred...
10
Handguns Of...
Without a doubt the U.S. Army’s adoption of Model 1917 .45 ACP revolvers was a “make-do” situation. And also without a doubt it “made-do” very...
2
Revolvers And...
In the “old” days almost everyone had a “wheel gun” sitting in the sock drawer at home, carried in a leather holster — or sometimes just shoved...
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Handguns Of...
A statement I’ll make about the British Enfield No. 2 Mk I .38 revolver is one I’m not willing to make about any other British weapons of World War II....
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The Long Vs. The...
Short vs. long action refers to the arc swung by the hammer when cocked and fired.
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Ruger’s Wrangler
When word trickled out about Ruger’s new Wrangler, the Internet was abuzz as naysayers were gearing up with ludicrous Ned Ludd worries. Turns out these...
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Garza's Custom...
Which is more important, good sights or a good trigger? At least for me, I can get by much better with good sights and a poor trigger than I can the other...
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Ruger’s Blued...
Ruger’s been at it yet again and it’s why we love them so much! Using their SP-101 platform this time, they released a powerful-punching wheelgun using...
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Taurus Tracker...
Whether you need the raw power of a .357 magnum for your heavy-handed chores, or desire something a little more subtle, for light-duty paper punching, like...
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Speedloading...
Thumbing (electronically) through the July/August 1982 issue of American Handgunner, the editor's note at the end of the "Speedloading Handguns Takes Skill"...
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The Virtually...
Smith & Wesson’s J-frame -- what many consider the quintessential snub-nose revolver -- is virtually unsnubbable. That is, you can’t fault it for...
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Performance...
Who doesn’t love a J-Frame? Not doing so is as un-American as skipping over a John Wayne movie while channel surfing.
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What I Carry: A...
I’ve almost always been the guy who carries a full-size handgun for CCW. I was willing to forego comfort for capability, wanting to make sure I had a gun...
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Living Archive:...
If you prefer a flat handgun that is easier to conceal and carries more rounds than a revolver, you have only to take your pick from the large array of 9mm...
15
5.11 Small Kit...
While you’re creating an all-around survival kit list, I'll bet it numbers more than 10 items. Probably at least 20. So think of what you’ll put all...
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NAA's Ranger II
After many years of making their beautiful little updated version of the solid-frame spur-trigger revolver, they decided to try something different.
26
S&W Model 460XVR
There’s no doubt, most Americans like things big — really big. We like big trucks with big tires and big motors. Big boats, big homes, big farms, you...
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Dan Wesson Turns 50
Dan Wesson, great-grandson of the original Daniel B. Wesson, had a different idea. Not only was he part of the original Wesson family he also served many...
6
The Best Handgun...
Most rifle shooters seem to prefer a trigger with a crisp, virtually motionless single stage break. Ideally, the shooter gradually increases pressure on the...
1
Old School Cool
Coolness is definitely in the eye of the beholder. There are many firearms that have been labeled cool, however it all depends on individual taste. I have...
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Muzzle Velocity...
Just how much muzzle velocity is lost as we shorten a barrel? Most shooters respond with 50 fps per inch. Is this actually true? When working on an article...
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My Backcountry...
We all know that guy ... the one who has a backpack or satchel or some kind of bag always with him. And it’s always packed with exactly the right piece of...
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Red Dot...
There’s no doubt about it, kids love electronics and my daughter Samantha was proof of it…
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The Women's...
Women face several challenges when it comes to concealed carry. The most significant challenge is the simple fact, despite the growing number of women...
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Weighing Your...
At Portsmouth lies the Mary Rose. What’s left of her. Launched in 1511, she sank 34 years later battling the French navy in the Solent, between England...
30
Shooting For The...
Whoever at Smith & Wesson was responsible for inventing the little pieces of spring steel commonly called “half-moon clips” should have received...
42
Lipsey's Ruger...
Friend and fellow shootist Jason Cloessner of Lipsey’s, a major Ruger distributor, certainly understands the concept of the “Perfect Packin’ Pistol”...
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Behind Enemy...
It might be surprising to some in more recent generations there was a time when many of our celebrities and entertainers were more than just carnival...
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Is The .41 Dead?
I sometimes ponder why some cartridges climb the ladder of public acceptance while others struggle. For most of my adult life I ignored the .41 Magnum and I...
30
Let Mag-Na-Port...
Last year, after passing through Detroit, things start looking “normal” as bait shops, gun shops and outdoor centers start popping up along the road....
40
Turnbull Bisley...
When you get down to it, sixgunners are about as different as a carton of eggs. Sure, we have thicker shells, but the majority of us are throwbacks from...
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How To Avoid A...
After four decades of some pretty serious handgun hunting, I’ve become a distinguished master at missing. I’ve missed just about every possible way,...
2
Peacemaker Specials
The 1880s was arguably the peak of the Victorian era art form. During this period, craftsmen — more artisans than not — performed inordinately ornate...
46
Throat-Choke Is...
I love Ruger revolvers, especially those chambered in .45 Colt. Built tough and able to withstand pressures most other guns can’t, doesn’t mean...
146
Revolver Extras
Whenever I hear someone say, “Oh, revolvers? They’re dead …” I always think of the hundreds of letters I get from you wanting more about them.
26
Guns At Auction
So you have a little dough stashed away the old lady doesn’t know about, and might come in handy at an upcoming auction. Over the decades, the first...
21
Esthetics In...
Esthetics — also correctly written as aesthetics — are words defined as “the laws and principles determining the beauty in nature, art, taste, etc.”...
42
Single Actions...
From 1836 through the Mexican-American War, the War Between the States, the great migration West and even up to the World War I era, the single-action...
351
Old Guns New...
At the age of 34, I don’t consider myself particularly young anymore, but to the best of my knowledge it does make me one of the younger contributors...
52
Colt...
Colt Conversion revolvers have a confusing story, branching off in several directions. First off, what is a so-called Colt conversion? In common parlance...
60
Freedom Arms...
Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz. Oh what a relief it is!” Anyone over the age of 40 will probably remember the catchy little tune sung by Speedy Alka Seltzer way...
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Close Encounter...
Hunting with a handgun can certainly spice up your outdoor experience. The variety of circumstances you may stumble onto in the field is always uncertain...
34
The “New”...
What did I mean about the “first time?” The .45 Colt’s first term of service was 1873 to 1892. The revolvers had 71/2" barrels and the issue loads as...
51
Cross-Country...
Without question, the humble cast bullet is my obsession in the shooting world. Molten lead alloy, poured into a particular mold, forming the shape we...
28
Lipsey’s...
Lipsey’s released the all-stainless steel single-seven in 2014, chambered for the powerful .327 Federal, the mightiest of the .32-caliber world.
34
Something Old,...
I dare say anyone who’s experienced the pleasure of popping primers has some sorta’ semblance of a rootin’, tootin’, shootin’ “cowboy” in...
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World War 1 Handguns
When Woodrow Wilson’s administration declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, the American military was woefully unprepared. Regarding handguns, American...
45
.44 Wadcutters
The .44 Russian was a very popular target shooting cartridge and around 1900 a man by the name of Himmelwright designed a better bullet for target shooting.
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The Magical Model 12
I’ve always been enamored — is it okay to be enamored? — with the Model 12. If you’re not up to speed, it’s a K-Frame S&W with an aluminum alloy...
102
Return Of The...
Bill Jordan, Marine combat veteran and Border Patrol Chief Inspector when he retired in 1965, was directly responsible for the Smith & Wesson .357 Combat...
104
Webley MKV1 .455
The Webley MKVI certainly fits the criteria British ordnance people evidently set for their service revolvers: big, ugly, underpowered and top break. I...
6
.45 Wadcutters...
The original .45 Colt bullet profile is known as a truncated cone or round nosed flat point (RNFP). It basically started in the early 1870s as a round-nosed...
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The .41 Magnum
Sometimes things just don’t happen the way they should. The .38 Spl. arrived around the turn of the 20th century, and then 35 years later was lengthened...
559
Ruger GP100...
Those dastardly demons at Ruger’s R&D (Research & Development) are at it again. Just when we think we have any semblance of catching up with their latest...
83
S&W’s Model...
Compared to many concealed carry guns in today’s market, Smith & Wesson’s Model 360 carries half as many rounds — 5 — and costs almost twice as...
43
Pleasant...
The .44 Magnum arrived in late 1955 with most examples not arriving in gun shops until 1956. At the time Elmer Keith said recoil wasn’t bad and wouldn’t...
461
Revolver Redo
Other than making them go bang a few times for fun, it dawned on me I had never actually targeted one of the old break-top revolvers. Their reputations run...
68
Tyler Gun Works...
An old barn sits in the northern panhandle of Texas, near the small town of Friona, the cheeseburger capital of the Lone Star state. Today, 18-wheelers and...
39
Classic S&W N-Frames
When S&W introduced the 1950 Models with the new short action and improved rear sight they not only made them in .44 Special but also chambered them for .45...
485
Carry 'Em With Six!
For more than a century, savvy sixgunners went by the “load one, skip one, cock and lower the hammer on an empty” rule.
214
A Rifle-Round...
When the United States military adopted the .223 as its standard cartridge, thousands upon thousands of rounds of .30 Carbine surplus ammo were offered to...
60
The Muzzle...
About a year or so ago I had the crew from the Cylinder & Slide shop here at the old homestead for a week-long “How to rebuild a S&W K-Frame revolver into...
58
"Load/Accuracy...
At times readers ask me, “Why doesn’t Handgunner have many load or group charts?” My response is, “Because we think they are next to worthless.”...
41
Lipsey’s...
Innovation is a wonderful thing, just so long as we don’t forget our past. Many are overlooking the old guys, even considering them obsolete.
76
Fact Or Fiction?
When I was a cop I used to carry a couple of $100 bills in my wallet when I had range duty.
35
Documenting Your...
I began documenting my firearms collection for insurance reasons, but quickly realized it was not only important to document the monetary value of the guns...
42
Handguns What's...
Just when you thought it’d all been done we discover nope, there’s more to come! Here’s just a few to tease, tempt and otherwise give you the...
17
Return Of The...
In 1935 Smith & Wesson lengthened the .38 Spl. and introduced the original .357 Mag. revolver, which is now known as the Model 27. Built on the N-Frame, the...
146
Tyler Gun Works
Bobby Tyler of Tyler Gun Works is a paradox of sorts. He’s old school cool in he believes in the founding principles of hard work, sweat and putting out a...
27
Harpers Ferry...
What does the name “Harpers Ferry” mean to you? For gun fans and history buffs, it’s tied to a proud tradition of gun making. Fast forward to the 21st...
20
The Odd Couple
One perk of being a gun’riter is there’s a never-ending array of things to write about. While many choose to be on the “cutting edge,” I look...
28
The Snake...
In the early part of the 20th Century, Colt had the large frame New Service, the Medium frame Official Police and the small frame Police Positive. All the...
79
Explosive Charges
Anybody with an Internet connection and the capacity to type can publish any manner of outlandish foolishness these days. Urban legends pique curiosity,...
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S&W's Model 986 9mm
When His Editorship suggested I do some work with a Smith & Wesson Performance Center gun I was eager to jump on the ship. This was until I found out the...
27
The First...
The Paterson, the Walker and the various Dragoons were all great improvements over the single-shot pistols in use before Sam Colt arrived on the scene,...
49
Almost Right:...
In regards to handguns, the British often don’t get things right. Well, they usually don’t get things right. Oh, heck, they almost never get things...
11
Charter Arms'...
Charter Arms has been going to the dogs for over half a century. In the mid-1960’s Charter Arms combined dogs and the .44 Special when they brought out...
30
Pistol-Caliber...
His Editorship always encourages we writers to “think outside the box.” How’s this then: some thoughts about carbines firing handgun cartridges? There...
1
Nighthawk Custom...
A classic since its introduction in the year 1935, it’s known in Europe as the GP for Grande Puissance and in the USA by the English translation, High...
168
Ruger's Brawny...
Like any self-respecting handgunner, I was excited when the news broke Ruger would be introducing two new revolvers. After finding one of these wheelguns...
96
North American...
North American Arms (NAA), the folks famous for their mini pocket-pistol revolvers chambered in .22 LR/.22 Mag., have come up with another handy idea....
15
Little Bighorn...
His Editorship, Roy, emailed me concerning a forthcoming auction item he had seen advertised. It is listed as the only completely intact Colt SAA .45...
23
Ruger’s SR1911...
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1911 in 2011, Ruger brought out their first version of the 1911. It was a full-sized, stainless steel .45 with...
53
A Full-Service...
Within every legendary handgun company there are individual product lines, generally centered around a specific application, or in modern Tacti-Speak, a...
110
Turnbull's Ruger...
In the November, 1949 issue of the American Rifleman, Major General J. S. Hatcher wrote a “Dope Bag” article on the new “.22 Ruger Pistol.” He said,...
38
Go Fancy —...
My dreams — good or bad — are vivid. Late in 2015 I had to undergo open heart surgery. Still under the effects of anesthesia a night or two after the...
46
Single-Action...
The Colt Single Action Army which was produced from 1873 until the end of 1940 is now known to collectors as the 1st Generation. During this time nearly...
81
Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time in America every handgun was made from steel. Oh sure some few had bits of brass here or there and of course all had stocks (today called...
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Ankle Carry:...
"Having a gun” is, indeed, a good idea if you need one. People who carry guns for defense (or even sometimes because they have to, like cops), often...
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Robar's Revolver...
As a pistol instructor and range safety officer, I see a lot of new shooters signing up for basic pistol classes. This surge in students is due partly to my...
83
Big Bore Revolvers
It’s fascinating to watch trends in the firearm culture. On a recent trip to the range I found several younger shooters — most everyone is younger than...
57
Selecting &...
Handgun grips can be crafted from a myriad of materials such as ivory, ram’s horn, stag, plain or fancy woods and a whole gamut of synthetics from micarta...
254
Blackpowder 101
Ken Wegman, a Handgunner reader, asked about using black powder and substitutes in modern pistols, comparing their characteristics in velocity, energy,...
132
Manipulation...
With age comes decreased mobility and strength, which in turn means fewer options in terms of avoiding or resisting criminal aggression. Sometimes, just at...
23
The 3RD Gen....
Colt SAA’s of the 3rd Generation are great!” “Colt SAA’s of the 3rd Generation are Lousy.” It may be a conundrum, but both statements are true.
28
The First Big...
The first Walkers had been built in someone else’s factory on someone else’s machinery and with someone else in charge. Now Colt had his own factory,...
93
BFR Upgrades
When you hear the term “built like a tank” it usually conjures up an image. In revolver circles, the Magnum Research BFR series can certainly be...
11
.38 Wadcutters...
I’m probably the last person to notice, but .22 rimfire ammunition has become awfully expensive, assuming you can find it at all. How could I not have...
26
Civilian Vs....
Mostly true. Let’s start in 1847 when the US Army first adopted a revolver for issuance to their horse-mounted troops, then called Dragoons. The first was...
20
Heavy Defensive...
Buffalo Bore has long been known for producing heavy hunting rounds for leverguns and big bore sixguns. Over the past few years, the line has been expanded...
134
The Guns Of...
Born October 6, 1851 on Mill Creek in Austin County, Texas, William Preston Longley was always large for his age. He stood six feet tall when he killed his...
5
The Service...
American cops today carry mostly striker-fired duty pistols or hammer-fired SIG or HK double actions, and unless they’ve been customized they always seem...
12
9mm Revolvers
As I was packing up three 9mm revolvers to head down to my shooting range, a visiting friend asked, “Why would anyone want a revolver in 9mm?” I...
78
The Hower...
Last Summer I drove the two-hour drive from Oklahoma to Kansas to visit my independent 91-year-old dad. With him in tow we arrived at my aunt and uncle’s...
20
Snub-Nosed S&W's
When someone says snub-nosed Smith & Wessons to us ancient sorts, my mental image is of a 5-shot, .38 Special J-Frame with a 2" barrel. Prime examples are...
89
Historic Holsters
I’ve never seen a leather holster which was not interesting. A teenager in the 1950’s, I was captivated by the new adult TV westerns. My fascination...
64