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
A Fifth Of Whiskey & A Bowie Knife
“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
Firearms Of The Frontier Partisans — ‘An Elegant And Stylish Way To Die’
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’
Working The Trapline — Ruckin’ & Ramblin’; Viking Adventure; A Dark Wind
Here’s a cool thing. DMR books has published the fourth volume in its collection of pulp stories of Swain the Viking by Arthur D. Howden Smith. Smith was a prolific writer for the flagship pulp magazine Adventure. He was certainly an influence on Robert E. Howard. This fourth volume features an introduction by our own Frontier Partisan … [Read more...] about Working The Trapline — Ruckin’ & Ramblin’; Viking Adventure; A Dark Wind
Firearms Of The Frontier Partisans — Blixen Rifle
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
Call Me ‘Many Hoops’
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’
Working The Trapline — Ramblers & Spooks
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
Roll On, Cowboys
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
The Ghost & The Darkness In Walnut And Steel
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
Wheellocks & Stone Projectile Points
Native hunters used stone projectile points 16,000 years ago on what is now Nez Perce land in Idaho. The points resemble points found in Japan. How cool is this? CORVALLIS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State University archaeologists have uncovered projectile points in Idaho that are thousands of years older than any previously found in the Americas, … [Read more...] about Wheellocks & Stone Projectile Points
