Author Topic: Guns and the Gunfighters (Read 1483 times)

Capt Hamp Cox · « **on:** August 17, 2003, 01:34:29 PM »

Recently purchased a used out of print book that has a weallth of information (224 pages) and photos (400+ b & W) on a multitude of "name brand" old west lawmen, outlaws, and gunfighters (and some of more recent vintage)and their firearms. It is Guns and the Gunfighters, by the editors of Guns a & Ammo, originally published in 1975, and subsequently republished in 1982. By the time I paid the freight, it ended up costing me just shy of $20 (ordered through Amazon.com), but I'm well satisfied and highly recommend it. The book's contents are listed below.

CONTENTS

JAMES BUTLER HICKOK By Jim Dunham
BONNIE AND CLYDE By H. Gordon Frost
JOAQUIN MURIETTA By Lee Silva
SERGEANT ALVIN C. YORK By Konrad F Schreier, Jr
THOMAS H. RYNNING By Phil Spangenberger
NED CHRISTIE By Clyde Good
WINSTON CHURCHILL By Garry James
THE JAMES/YOUNGER GANG By Ron Terrell
DALLAS STOUDENMIRE By H. Gordon Frost
HECK THOMAS By Ron Terrell
THE PINKERTONS By Burt Miller
BILLY THE KID By E. S. Mann
JOHN WESLEY HARDIN By John Lachuk
GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER Staff Report
JOHN DILLINGER By Lisle Reedstrom
FRONTIER GUN LEATHER By Phil Spangenberger
BLACK BART By Lee Silva
DOC HOLLIDAY By E. Dixon Larson
SIX-GUN TRICKERY By Jim Dunham
ARIZONA RANGERS By Burt Miller
BELLE STARR By Mary Elizabeth Good
THE DALTON-DOOLIN GANG By Ron Terrell
TEXAS RANGERS By Burt Miller
INTERVIEW WITH AN OLD TEXAS RANGER By Lee Silva
PAT GARRETT By Robert E. McNellis
HENRY STARR By Lee Adelsbach
JOHN SLAUGHTER By Allen Erwin
MELVIN PURVIS By Rick Fines
THE WILD BUNCH By Clair Rees
EYEWITNESS TO SIX-GUN LAW By Elmer Keith
JOHN HENRY SELMAN By Harlon Carter
TOM HORN By E. Dixon Larson
CHARLES A. SIRINGO By Konrad F Schreier,.Jr
FACES WEST-A Gallery of Gunfighters

Shooting Impressions

COLT 1851 NAVY REVOLVER By Phil Spangenberger
MODEL 1911.45 AUTO PISTOL By Jim Woods
COLT 3rd MODEL DRAGOON By Phil Spangenberger
MISSISSIPPI RIFLE By Phil Spangenberger
MODEL 1917 U.S. ENFIELD RIFLE By Garry James
COLT.45 PEACEMAKER By Phil Spangenberger
MODEL 1896 MAUSER PISTOL By Garry James
PERCUSSION POCKET PISTOLS By Garry James
MERWIN AND HULBERT POCKET REVOLVER By Phil Spangenberger
SMITH & WESSON'S SCHOFIELD AND RUSSIAN REVOLVERS
By Phil Spangenberger
A PAIR OF.32s FROM THE'20s By Jim Woods
DOUBLE 12-GAUGE PERCUSSION SHOTGUN By Garry James
THE WINCHESTER'95 By Jim Woods
MODEL 1875 REMINGTON REVOLVER By Garry James
A TRIO OF.44 LEVER GUNS By Jim Woods
1874 SHARPS BUFFALO GUN By Phil Spangenberger
THOMPSON MACHINE GUN Staff Report

Cheyenne · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2003, 03:56:49 AM »

Yup, I have a hard cover copy of that book and it is very interesting and has good reference material in it.

Sadly, most of the articles were compiled from G&A magazines and put into the book, like they do with their "Annuals".....what's sad is you don't see articles like these anymore, unless they are using a plastic-titanium-super lightweight pocket gun that shoots a zillion times.

Had a long conversation once with Phil Spangenberger, and an even longer one with Gary James about this. This was when gary took over as editor for G&A.....they were at first aghast when told I will thumb through the rag-mag at the newstand to scan for any interesting or truely new information, instead of a rehash, then satisfied it contains nothing of interst, put it back and not buy it. Unfortunately, usually the only time I found something worth reading, it was a side bar type article and not worth the price of the magazine to retain for a reference.

At the end of our conversation, Gary agreed with me!

Capt Hamp Cox · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2003, 09:10:56 AM »

What's starting to limit my newstand purchaces of gun related magazines is the cost, which has escalated considerably in recent years, and then finding well more than half of the contents to be advertisements. With a large percentage of the remainder being full-page photos, in some instances actual text content represents 25 percent or less of the entire publication. Seems to me that what little usable information is actually provided is way overpriced.

Holiday · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2003, 02:39:59 PM »

Personally, the only gun rag I buy is "Shooting Times". It seems to have the most interesting articles. Mike Venturino and Sheriff Jim Wilson have good columns and are my favorite reads in this magazine. Unfortunately, even this magazine is starting to get repetitive and loose its glamour. As to G&A, I won't even pick it up anymore. The last few have been boring, to say the least. Also, I have seen this magazine print some wrong information in the past. Some of the writers loke to give their opinions as "facts". I have found many errors in this magazine over the years.

Capt Hamp Cox · « **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2003, 06:49:23 AM »

Agree with our Moderator on the merits of Shooting Times. I also subscribe to Wolfe Publishing's two mags, Rifle, and Reloading, both of which generally contain very useful and/or interesting articles.

Holiday · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2003, 07:11:30 AM »

Capt, I've heard some good things about those magazines but have nerer tried them. On your recomendation, I may have to check them out.