I think that you would have to been living under a pretty big rock to not have a life that was affected by COVID-19, either directly or indirectly. For many people, COVID was the defining event in their life, all things being either “pre-COVID” or “post-COVID. As we look upon the whole COVID epidemic from the position of hindsight, several things become very clear. ...Read More >

There is probably nothing more satisfying to the lover of old firearms than when a vintage firearm is restored back to usefulness. I say this as a rifleman, who believes that careful restoration does not affect the overall worth of a firearm, but enhances it. I know there are collectors who will be aghast at such a statement, but I firmly believe that firearms are functional art forms and when they cease to function as they were intended, then they are simply conversation pieces. I like to shoot my rifles and take care of them rather than watch them slowly rust away in a collection. But that’s just me. ...Read More >

I was very careful to keep the drill bit aligned with the axis of the existing hole. I did not want to end up with oval, oblong, or egg-shaped holes while enlarging the hole. Running the drill at a relatively slow speed kept the bit from grabbing and resulted in a nice, clean hole. After completing seven holes, I held the pepper shaker lid up to the shop light to look for burrs. The new holes were uniform and round and would allow the black pepper to pass through with less resistance resulting in a bit spicier meal. ...Read More >

Looking back along the line of the original Colts, the Model 1849 Pocket revolvers have quite a history. Colt’s .31 Baby Dragoon was designed in late 1847. The .31-caliber Baby Dragoon had the square-backed trigger guard that was like the trigger guard on the Colt Walker and the first issue of the Dragoon, giving it a “look” that makes it stand out among other Colt pocket models. Another pocket revolver should be mentioned is the version of the Baby Dragoon that was ordered with a rounded trigger guard by the Wells Fargo company. That gun is referred to today as the “Wells Fargo Model,” although it is rather doubtful that Colt ever gave it such a name. In 1849, those pocket revolvers were updated and improved by adding the loading lever. There were, however, some other options and the original 1849 revolvers were made with barrels from 3 to 6 inches in length. ...Read More >