“The experienced mountaineer is never without his rifle, even in camp. Ongoing from lodge to lodge to visit his comrades, he takes it with him. On seating himself in a lodge, he lays it beside him, ready to be snatched up: when he goes out he takes it up… as a citizen would his walking staff. His rifle is his constant friend and protector.”
— Washington Irving
I follow a feller on Facebook name of Cade Cole. He’s what I guess you’d call an influencer, a term I heartily dislike, but can’t avoid. He’s a hunter and guide in Wyoming, and a student of the Art of the Rifle. He’s all about the practicalities of wielding a rifle in the field, encouraging riflemen to truly know their weapon, training regularly in field positions rather than off the bench. He’s a big proponent of the Scout Rifle. I enjoy and appreciate his content, and it got me thinking about the Frontier Partisan’s relationship with the rifle.
I know a fair number of people who train consistently with their firearms — and others who bring the rifle out once a year to check zero before hunting season. Most of the serious trainers aren’t hunters, and most of the hunters aren’t serious trainers. That’s… interesting.
The Frontier Partisan, be he Long Hunter, Mountain Man or old Africa hand, had exactly the kind of relationship with his rifle that Irving described. The rifle was the key to survival in the Wild.
Jordan Sillars of MeatEater wrote about John Colter, known as the first Mountain Man, in relation to the utmost effort to preserve the rifle at all costs:
John Colter wasn’t about to lose his gun.
The now-famous mountain man was travelling on the Lewis and Clark Expedition in May of 1806 when his horse slipped and fell during a difficult, deep-snow trek over the Bitterroot Mountains in the Idaho panhandle. Man and horse fell into a stream, where they were washed for a “considerable distance” by the icy, rushing water, according to historian Burton Harris.
Colter sustained no serious injuries, but he lost his blanket to the stream because he refused to let go of his rifle. As Harris explains, “At this stage, a gun was of far more value than a blanket, even though it was early spring in the mountains.”
This devotion to the rifle was key to Daniel Day-Lewis’ depiction of Nathaniel Poe in Last of the Mohicans. The actor famously carried “Killdeer” with him everywhere during the filming — including bringing it to Christmas dinner.
U.S. Army officer Randolph B. Marcy, author of the emigrant guidebook The Prairie Traveler, would have heartily approved:
“Every man who goes into the Indian country should be armed with a rifle and revolver, and he should never, either in camp or out of it, lose sight of them. When not on the march, they should be placed in such a position that they can be seized at an instant’s warning; and when moving about outside the camp, the revolver should invariably be worn in the belt, as the person does not know at what moment he may have use for it. A great diversity of opinion obtains regarding the kind of rifle that is the most efficient and best adapted to Indian warfare, and the questions perhaps as yet very far from being settled to the satisfaction of all.
The late, great African hunter Harry Selby is closely identified with his favorite rifle — a John L. Rigby .416 bolt action rifle.
He told hunting writer Joe Coogan:
“I was delighted to find the rifle inherently accurate from the first shot, and quickly discovered that the .416 Rigby pushing a 400 grain bullet was effective out to 300 yards or more when finishing a wounded animal. For close work in thick brush on dangerous game, I found the .416 Rigby to be even more effective…
“After using the .416 Rigby on two safaris, I never looked back on my rifle preference…”
“I owe my life to its reliability and its precise and simple engineering and manufacture. It has been my right hand at nearly every tight corner in which I have found myself when hunting big game as a professional hunter … . In short, it did me proud for 40 years. No other [rifle] that I owned gave me such confidence and results. God bless Westley Richards for that.”
The WR .470 Nitro in a modern incarnation.
Legendary elephant hunter Wally Johnson relied on a very plain Winchester Model 70 .375 H&H:
“I consider, and always will consider, the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum as ‘the only gun.’”
I particularly love that rifle because it just exudes “work horse” vibes:
For we moderns, EDC (everyday carry) mostly translates to a concealed carry pistol — usually a polymer-framed 9mm. What Quixotic Mainer delightfully calls “Tactical Tupperware.” That is the realistic choice for the modern day Frontier Partisan, and I do not disparage it. However… I am glad that my life circumstances generally allow me to keep a rifle at least near to hand, and get out multiple times a week to work with my “friend and protector.” For the Frontier Partisan, this is The Way.
Gotta keep that rifle close — even when courting.
*Art by Alfred Jacob Miller.
deuce says
As Jefferson said: “A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 19, 1785
JimC says
One of my favorite quotes from the founding generation.
Quixotic Mainer says
Let never a man stir on his road a step without his weapons, for unsure is the knowing when need shall arise- Havamal
JimC says
Aye!
Alan Isherwood says
“Placing my pistols by my side, with my rifle butt for a pillow, and its barrel as a bed-fellow, I sought
repose with none of that apprehension which even the most stout-hearted traveller knows before the start. “
-Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton
Russ Lucas says
A fine marksman is with a second rate rifle is far more effective than the reverse.
Jeff Cooper
JimC says
These quotes are wonderful — keep em coming!
Padre says
“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.”
– Han Solo, frontier teamster and occasional outlaw
(Please enjoy the irony of the profession of this commenter.)
JimC says
Hah! Padre, you are delightful.
Greg Austin Walker says
:Do you feel lucky, punk? Well do you!” – Dirty Harry.
Matthew says
A gun is a tool, Marian. No better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel, or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it.” – Shane
Paul Cantin says
I also follow Cade Cole on Instagram. Like his thoughts on rifles and hunting. I’m a huge fan of carbines and short barreled slug guns.
Great post.
Travis Slusser says
“The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles.”
-Col. Jeff Cooper
JimC says
Excellent.
Ugly Hombre says
If you need to shoot!- shoot! Don’t talk!
Tuco el ugly..
Brian H. says
I think the trainer-tac shooters have been heavily influenced by the GWOT. Modern optics and new long range cartridges have made the good majority of rifle hunting pretty easy for anyone who can get a couple miles from the road and find game. Trad bow hunting or unscoped muzzleloading might be the closest thing to Frontier Fitness.