Landed in Cody, Wyoming, for a newspaper rendezvous. I tacked a day on at the back end so I can explore a bit, and I’ll post on that later. Tonight we dine at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, and the staff is keeping the museum open for us for three hours past closing. Pretty cool. I am particularly excited to see the special exhibit Alfred … [Read more...] about A Rendezvous In Rendezvous Country

“Bowie Knives the size of claymores...”  * A fifth of whiskey and a bowie knifeJust enough liquor to cut it up nice. Monk scouted up the latest episode from Blood Meridian: The Night Does Not End, which focuses on the Bowie Knife — its origins and its appearance among the “weapons of every description” packed by the Glanton Gang. I tell the … [Read more...] about A Fifth Of Whiskey & A Bowie Knife

When we think of frontier revolvers, we tend to think Colt Single-Actions or maybe the Remington, like the one famously wielded by American scout Frederick Russell Burnham. But there was another revolver on the scene, a very good one indeed: The Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian Contract Revolver, aka the Russian .44, produced starting in 1872. … [Read more...] about Firearms Of The Frontier Partisans — ‘An Elegant And Stylish Way To Die’

My Sporting Classics Magazine arrived in the mail on Monday (hat tip to Rick Schwertfeger). Usually, I just drop whatever I’m doing and plunge in. Had to hold off a bit so I could record The Fall of Pancho Villa. Flipping through the magazine pages, my eye was instantly caught by the image of a beauty of a double rifle. To my delight, it … [Read more...] about Firearms Of The Frontier Partisans — Blixen Rifle

A few weeks back I recounted Clan Cornelius’s Astoria raid, and I made mention of an aspect of the operation that remained classified. That’s because I wanted this particular piece of plunder in hand before I crowed about it. I didn’t expect it to take SIX WEEKS to get it done — but that’s Oregon for ya in the year of 2023. Here’s the … [Read more...] about Call Me ‘Many Hoops’

From the Stuff That Works File: I never intended to become a walking billboard for 5.11 Tactical, but, well... here we are. Thing is, if you like to bang around hard in the outdoors, you’d be hard-pressed to find better-designed or more durable gear. The first item of theirs that I picked up was a push-pack — a modern-day possibles bag that is … [Read more...] about Working The Trapline — Ramblers & Spooks

Andy Hedges has one of the best job descriptions around. He calls himself a Cowboy Songster. The “songster” tradition dates back to the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, sort of a “modern” iteration of the minstrel trade. Black and White musicians alike shared a repertoire of story songs and ballads like Frankie & Johnny. The songster … [Read more...] about Roll On, Cowboys

Spencer Dutton and his ravishing (and ravished) fiancé Alexandra look to be leaving Africa for Montana after Episode 4 of 1923.  I shall miss the Africa storyline, and its magnificent landscapes, but, well... a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, and Spencer is needed at the Yellowstone. Nevertheless, dreams of Africa are always welcome … [Read more...] about The Ghost & The Darkness In Walnut And Steel