Terry Wieland

"HMS Ulysses," a novel by Alistair MacLean, was published in 1955. It gives a vivid and detailed — if horrifying — picture of the Murmansk Convoys.

Abandon Ship!

I found myself immersed in the history of the Murmansk Convoys. These were the Anglo-American shipments…
The classic S&W Model 60, a trusty old carry gun that still does the job. How many of these lurk in bedside drawers?
The classic S&W Model 60, a trusty old carry gun that still does the job. How many of these lurk in bedside drawers?

Lessons From History

It was the summer of 1940, the Germans were threatening to invade, and things looked…
The two Robert Conquest classics are must-reads for anyone wishing to understand the relationship between Ukraine and Russia. As for Mein Kampf, everyone should read it. You can be sure Vladimir Putin has.

Adolf, Josef, and Vladimir

When I was 15 years old, my cousin married a girl of Ukrainian descent, and…
shooting
Rarer than hen’s teeth, boxes of factory .256 Winchester Magnum ammunition are collectors’ items. Neat little cartridge, though, huh?

Yet Another Boyhood Dream

Every time I write about finally acquiring something I first desired a half-century ago, I…
A good day in North Dakota in 2012. At least, Leon looks content, and the Charles Lancaster did its job well. North and South Dakota are proud of their pheasant populations — but the future looks grim.

History Explains Everything

It appears this will be yet another mediocre pheasant year in South Dakota, which means…
This J. Braddell & Son combination gun from the 1870s is a marvel of good taste and a testament to the skill of the anonymous Birmingham craftsmen who created it.

Ruminations of a Scroll Guy

Would that I had a dollar for every time someone has picked up a gun…
H.J. Hussey pigeon gun from around 1912, restocked in 2008. H.J. himself was a noted pigeon shooter, gambler, and all-around rogue, but his “best” guns were truly best.

Understanding Pigeon Guns

As a teenager, poring longingly over the Browning catalogue, I was puzzled. Why, I wondered,…
Stevens Model 47 “Modern Range,” built on the 44½ (NOT the older 44) action.

Wins and Losses

Anyone with an ounce of humanity would sympathize with the evaluators of guns and compilers…
This iconic (and archaic) engraving of an old-time trap shooter appeared on the frame of the famous Ithaca 4E, almost from start to finish.

Revisiting the King of Trap Guns

Trap guns, especially old trap guns, have a magic all their own. They are to…
The Starr carbine.

Paper Trails

Every so often, it’s good to delve into the past and see how things used…
The .264 Winchester Magnum from 1958 (left) compared with the .26 Nosler, 55 years later.

Twisted History

Way back in 1988, I bought a Parker-Hale chambered for the venerable 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser,…
The frame of the Reilly, out of the Varsol and freshly scrubbed, its engraving inviting admiration.

Recalled to Life

In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens tells of a doctor who, having been…