Sporting Notes

Among the rifles that would be banned under the latest proposal is the inoffensive Ruger No. 1 single-shot. Why? Because it can “readily” be rebarreled to the entirely too powerful .460 Weatherby. This is, of course, hogwash.

Politics and the Art of the Ludicrous

The other day, I took the car in for a new windshield.  The shop was…
Thirty-fives, old and new, from left: .35 Remington (introduced in 1906), .358 Winchester (1955) and .358 Norma Magnum (1959). The author admires them all.

Who Would Have Thought?

As I write this, the annual SHOT Show is taking place in Las Vegas, and…
Beauty and the Beast: Sandy is wearing the Bridger, which she thinks is ideal for many things, but not trap shooting (too dark), while the Beast is wearing the Sentinel. The clear lenses work very well in medium light, but the nose-piece tends to intrude on his vision. The author would love to see both styles offered with amber lenses.

Through a Glass, Darkly (II)

Last month, I wrote a piece lamenting the disappearance of the Bausch & Lomb “Ray-Ban…
Stevens Model 52, built on the older No. 44 action, with the newer Model 45. Both are chambered in the .28-30-120. It’s a lovely cartridge to shoot, but presents many problems in reloading.

New Year, New Rifle

About a year ago, a friend of mine handed me a brand-new, unopened, bag of…
The Savage 99 Model E, mated with the company’s legendary .250-3000, is a match made in heaven for the kind of whitetail hunting found in eastern North America.

Perfection in Hunting Rifles

When it comes to hunting rifles, compromises rarely work.  Okay, certainly they can work well…
Oldies, goodies, but no longer made: Bausch & Lomb’s iconic aviator shooting glasses with wrap-around ear pieces and AmberMatic lenses that change tint with changes in the light. Zeiss’s SCOPZ glasses had adjustable bridges and wrap-around stems, which held them firmly as high on the face as you wanted. Unfortunately, to get three or four different color lenses, you had to buy three or four pairs of glasses at $215 a pop. Ouch.

Through Glasses — Darkly

Nothing focuses the mind like the prospect of being hanged, and nothing focuses the mind…
Oldies but goodies: Gene Hill in original paper and hardcover form (with leather, even!) and a Purdey hammer pigeon gun.

Fads & Fashion

It was never my privilege to know Gene Hill, but Michael McIntosh did, and I…
"Wild and Fair," edited by Thomas McIntyre, Safari Press, 2008.

Anthological Musings

"Wild and Fair" is still available, new and used, for not much money.  I found…

Kwaheri, Tommy Mac

Tom McIntyre died last week (Nov. 3) at his home in Sheridan, Wyoming.  He was…
Arrieta y Cia. round-action sidelock built on a 16-gauge frame. A gorgeous gun, undoubtedly, but it was not quite there.

Perils & Pitfalls

What follows is a brief cautionary tale about the ordering of the shotgun of one’s…
One part of the French walnut stock on the E.M. Reilly, circa 1895, probably made for Reilly by P. Webley in Birmingham. Photos cannot do it justice. It was restored by Edwin von Atzigen.

New & Used

Here’s a choice for you:  A new, custom-built shotgun, tailored to your every arcane specification…
Colt Woodsman
Colt Woodsman Match Target, circa 1950, with floral-tooled holster by H.H. Heiser and magazine pouch by S.D. “Tio Sam” Myers.

Into Leather

Leather is one of three living materials that are essential to the creation of fine…