130 Year Old Winchester Rifle Found in Great Basin National Park
The Winchester Repeating Rifle Model 1873 was so prevalent on the American frontier – with nearly 3/4 of a million produced between 1873 and 1916 – that it was dubbed The Gun that Won the West. One particular 1873 was also The Gun that was Lost in the West.
Workers in Nevada’s Great Basin National Park found the rifle propped against a tree last November and have been working to track down its origins. Although severely weathered after having been exposed to the elements, the rifle appears to be in relatively good condition with the serial number and other barrel markings readable. Those markings were used to help trace the rifle back to its 1882 date of manufacter, according to records held at the Cody Firearms Museum’s Center for the West in Cody, Wyoming.
It is unclear exactly how long the rifle has been waiting to be discovered in Great Basin NP or why it was left there. Researchers continue to hunt for clues to find out whether it was left there by a forgetful real life Old West cowboy or perhaps in more recent decades by a hunter who may have lost track of the lever-action rifle during a pit stop.
Although the date of manufacture was tracked down, there do not appear to be any records of who purchased the rifle or from which warehouse it was shipped. According to the park’s Facebook page, more than 25,000 such rifles were produced that year with a price tag of $25, lowered that year from the original price of $50. The historic firearm will be preserved the condition in which was found – including weathered wood and rusted metal – to become part of the display commemorating the park’s 30th year in 2016.
Check out more photos below from the US National Park Service: Continue reading
Armed Citizen: Pawn store customer fells armed robber
A man entered Cash America Pawn in Indianapolis, Ind. pulled a hood over his head, drew a gun, and attempted to rob the store. A customer responded by drawing a gun and shooting the criminal, killing him.
Following an investigation, police revealed that the deceased robber was a suspect in other robberies. (WISH, Indianapolis, Ind. 11/18/14)
See more stories of how responsible owners have used their firearms to protect themselves at NRA-ILA Armed Citizen.
What Will We See at SHOT Show 2015?
It is hard to believe, but SHOT Show 2015 is less than four days away. The eagerly anticipated Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show is the largest show of its kind, featuring more than 1,600 exhibitors and drawing tens of thousands of industry-member attendees as they seek out the next trend setting products and services in the shooting industry. Simply put, this is the show to find out about new firearms and gear product launches.
As usual, GunLink will be covering the show again this year – from the SHOT Show Range Day before the official show opening to the 170,000 square feet of show floor exhibit space. There will no doubt be many great product unveiled this year and GunLink will be covering them live during the show and continuing coverage after the show closes.
So, what can we expect to see from SHOT this year?
Heckler & Koch is rolling out several new updates to the handgun and long gun categories, including new HK45 Cerakote colors, the brand new USP9 Tactical, and the now-shipping MR556A1 rifle – a semi-auto version of the HK416. Range day attendees will also have a chance to get their hands on the new striker-fired VP9 pistol.
Charter Arms adds another model to its Pitbull line of rimless cartridge revolvers. The stable will now include a .45 ACP model in addition to the existing 9mm and .40 S&W models. IWI US will be showing off their $1200-range UZI Pro pistols, one of which features a now-ubiquitous arm brace.
A perennial hot topic is what new products Glock will unveil at SHOT. Rumors of a single-stack 9mm pistol have been Continue reading
Is Pretending to Open Carry a Viable Self Defense Option?
Talking the Talk, Not Walking The Walk
An interesting new product idea was recently brought to our attention. The goal of Perceived Carry Decoys (PCD) is to give the perception that the person wearing it is openly carrying a firearm “without the stigma or concerns associated with owning a gun.”
The device itself is essentially a fake pistol molded into a paddle holster. Although the product photos appear to be stock photos of the SG21 and WP22 holsters directly from the Fobus website, it does sound like there are prototypes out there and the website claims that the product will be unveiled at the 2015 Miami Small Business Expo starting tomorrow and the idea taken before the Shark Tank folks.
But let’s back up a minute. Is this product even a good idea? First off, what kind of adult (and the website does say that you must be 18 to order) wants to pretend to open carry a gun? If you want to protect yourself or your family but a firearm isn’t for you, you are probably better off with a baton, a can of Fox Labs spray, or the more politically-correct cell phone and rape whistle.
I am not adverse to open carry and I have done so in several states both before and after getting a concealed carry license – although, for the most part, I find the benefits of carrying concealed to far outweigh those of open carry. OC serves a purpose, but that purpose isn’t to make a scene and draw attention to yourself. There are valid arguments for and against open carry which do not need to be hashed out again here. However, I think that there is a fundamental flaw in some of the reasoning presented on the PCD website:
The whole purpose of open carry is to give off the “don’t mess with me” persona. The whole purpose of Perceived Carry Decoys is to give off the appearance that you too are ready for anyone, anywhere.
No. That isn’t the whole purpose of open carry. Maybe that is a small side effect of open carry but the generally agreed upon benefits include faster access to the weapon, less likelihood of snagging on a garment, more comfortable carry, not having to buy bigger pants, ability to carry without the time and money investment of a getting a license (in some states), etc.
There are a number of downsides to open carry as well, as any OC opponent will be quick to point out. It has the potential to put a bullseye on you for the bad guys (like the so-called shoot me first vests) and, in many places, it will get you lots of unwanted attention from law enforcement, security guards, store clerks, zealous anti-gunners, and other busy bodies. How does it go when something goes south and the cops tell you to slowly put your gun on the ground?
And what about when Joe Street-Thug decides that you are next in line for his mischief making? News flash: bad guys, especially the particularly dangerous ones – are often not afraid of some schmo with a gun. If they don’t just shoot you immediately to remove you as a threat, how does it play out when they try to take the gun or force you to give it to them? How do you use a piece of gun-and-holster shaped rubber to protect your family from real world evil?
Maybe the PCD is something that you have to get your hands on to see how good it is. Maybe there is some big upside to it that I am just missing. Or maybe I just don’t understand the mindset of someone so worried about “the stigma or concerns associated with owning a gun.” It just seems like very little good but a lot of bad could come from pretending to have a gun when you don’t.
Although the site claims that they are only taking pre-orders at this time and no price is listed, perhaps a better make-believe “I have a gun” routine would be to flash a concealed carry badge on your belt or a chain around your neck. Imagine the epic crime-deterrent power of a CCW badge and a fake gun!
How Many People Really Carry Concealed?
Estimated numbers compiled by NSSF indicate that more people than ever are carrying a concealed weapon these days. Not surprisingly (and despite anti-gun rhetoric to the contrary), crime has not increased commensurately with with the greater number of “guns on the street.”
While nationwide CCW is estimated to be around 4%, some states are estimated to have 10% or more of the population packing (good job, Iowa and South Dakota), with several others following closely. See the chart below for a full state-by-state breakdown.
Reasons for the increased number of concealed carriers are many and varied. As depicted in the map above, many states have moved from having no concealed carry or restrictive “may issue” CCW regulations to being “shall issue” states. Even unlikely states like Illinois have joined the concealed carry crowd. This relaxation of carry restrictions allows more people to get carry permits, which may help to remove the perceived stigma of carrying a firearm, which snowballs into even greater numbers as citizens view a firearm as a viable way to protect themselves and their loved ones. Greater reciprocity and even the ability to take CCW training online make it even easier for law abiding individuals to get a permit.
Do you or someone you know carry a concealed firearm? Share your story and experiences below in the comments section.
Fact: Total concealed carry permits in the U.S. increased approximately 29 percent from an estimated 6.9 million in 2010 to an estimated 9.0 million in 2012.
Armed Citizen: Owner defends shop from pair of intruders
The owner of a mechanic shop in Birmingham, Ala. was sleeping at his business after repeated burglary attempts, when a pair of criminals jumped a fence and came onto the property. The owner retrieved a gun, shot one intruder then slapped the other, causing both to flee. The wounded burglar was captured while seeking medical treatment at a local hospital. (Alabama.com, Alabama, 12/02/14)
See more stories of how responsible owners have used their firearms to protect themselves at NRA-ILA Armed Citizen.
