The Haunted Winchester House Lore The Winchester house is a place that needs no introduction. Its unusual design and folklore surrounding it have captured the public’s attention for over 100 years, and the world-famous Winchester rifle is at the heart of this story. Winchester Company Fame The Winchester company became famous by being one…
Legendary Trick Shooters After the Wild West Trick shooting is where exhibition shooting meets showmanship—whether that means using unorthodox targets, performing outrageous feats, or just exuding a stage persona that would normally be reserved for a performer rather than a firearms instructor. It’s a profession that has mostly disappeared with the Old West, but the…
The Firearms of Modern Hollywood Over the last two decades, there has been a rising trend in modern Hollywood blockbusters; action films are bigger than ever. With the ever-growing popularity of franchises such as the Marvel franchise, the DC Comics franchise, the Bourne Trilogy, and the Taken movies, and combining them with several excellent films…
21st Century Action Heroes and Their Firearms It’s difficult to say exactly when stories of vigilante justice became part of the cultural zeitgeist. As early as the 13th century, the legend of Robin Hood told stories of justice in an unjust world, and broadcast radio brought heroes like Zorro and the Lone Rangers into homes…
The 70s and 80s: Firearms of the Anti-Hero and Action Stars Guns really took center stage in 1970s-80s action movies. Often, they were upgraded from the more realistic models mentioned in books to bigger, flashier, more powerful models. For example, in Death Wish (1974), a .32S&W kit gun became a large frame .44 Magnum. The…
50s & 60s: Firearms During a Cinematic Era This month I want to dive into the important role that firearms played in the cinematic era of the 1950s and 60s. The birth of gritty westerns, countless war movies, and TV shows filled the living rooms of America. TV shows like the Lone Ranger, Rawhide, and…
Dueling in the Old West: The Art of the Quick Draw Although “pistols at twenty paces at high noon” are the staple of Western movies and novels, the reality of American dueling is altogether very different. The History of Duels The culture of duels originated as an East Coast phenomenon, mainly cosplaying the culture of…
Famous Gunslingers and Their Weapons in the Wild West We all have fond memories of playing Cowboys and Indians as children, but when it comes to the real-life thing, it was quite different than the lighthearted childhood game we reminisce on. The Wild West during the 19th century involved large open deserts and prairies, which…
The Evolution of Firearms in the Wild West This month I want to talk about America’s trek west and how it jumpstarted the evolution of firearms as we know them today. Early Expansion West When our early ancestors and settlers made it to the new world, they brought with them flintlock rifles and pistols. The…
Famous Female Gunslingers of the Old West Ask anyone to name a famous female gunslinger from America’s Old West, and you’re very likely to hear ‘Annie Oakley’ before you even take your next breath. Her notoriety is well deserved, and her achievements are more than well-documented. As a star attraction in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West…