This Week in Firearms History:
April 23: Lost Dog Awareness Day; In 1516 the German Beer Purity Law goes into effect; In 1941 the Greek Army surrenders to the NAZIs; In 1991 the USSR grants satellite republics the right to secede.
April 24: In 1184 B.C. the Greeks enter Troy via the Trojan Horse; In 1877 Russia Declares War on the Ottoman Empire; In 1898 Spain declares war on US over Cuba; In 1997 Eugene Stoner dies
April 25: In 1507 the word America is 1st used on a map; In 1857 Winchester forms New Haven Arms after buying out Smith & Wesson; In 1898 US declares war on Spain. In 1945 the Red Army captures Berlin.
April 26: In 1607 Jamestown expedition makes 1st landfall; In 1865 John Wilkes Booth is killed by soldiers; In 1952 Gunsmoke debuts on TV; in 2013 trick shooter Tom Knapp dies.
April 27: In 1773 Britain passes Tea Act against the colonies; In 1822 Ulysses S Grant is born; In 1861 West Virginia secedes from Virginia, joining the North; In 1945 Mussolini is captured.
April 28: In 1789 The Mutiny on the Bounty; In 1916 Daniel B Wesson II is born; In 1917 John Pederson files for patent for "Pederson device"; In 1945 Benito Mussolini is executed.
April 29: In 1862 New Orleans falls to Union troops; In 1975 Saigon falls, ending the Vietnam War; in 1992 The LA Riots aka Roof Korean Day.
Gun of the Week: Ruger Blackhawk
The Ruger Blackhawk owes its existence to Hollywood. It was the Western movies that built the post WWII market for single action revolvers.
At the time of its conception, the Colt Single Action Army was no longer in production and Bill Ruger saw an opportunity.The original Blackhawk, introduced in 1955, was a copy of the Colt SAA, with adjustable sights and better internal lockwork. Originally chambered in .357 Magnum, it has since been chambered in dozens of cartridges and even sold as a "convertible model" containing two cylinders for different cartridges with similar diameters (like 45 Colt & 45 ACP or .357 & 9mm Luger).
In 1972 Ruger introduced the New Model Blackhawk that included a transfer bar safety, which allowed for carrying a fully loaded cylinder.
In 1993 Ruger introduced a fixed sight version, like a Colt SAA, built on the 44 Blackhawk frame, called the Vaquero.
Ruger continues to sell the Blackhawk and Vaquero.
Cartridge of the Week: 32 ACP
The .32 ACP is just one of many cartridges developed in collaboration with John Moses Browning for use in his pistols he designed for Colt. This one was his first.
Developed in 1899 for the Colt model 1903 Pocket Hammerless, it is known as the 32 ACP, 32 Automatic and in Europe as the 7.65 Browning, 7.65 Browning Short or the 7.65 x 17mm. It was the cartridge that replaced the 25 ACP in 007's pistol and also, as legend has it, the cartridge that took Hitler's life.Gun Quote of the Week:
"You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path. Plutarch warned, "The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits."
- Ronald Wilson Reagan, from A Time for Choosing, October 27th, 1964
Bubba Gun of the Week:
Another also ran from our 1st Annual Golden Poop Awards was this "Toilet AKM" submitted by Enos Jefferson Davis Combs of Fifty-Six, Arkansas
Gun Sticker of the Week:
This week's gun sticker pays homage to what was once America's favorite mouse, buy them here
Gun T-shirt of the Week:
This weeks t-shirt is from the Pew Pew Jew, buy it here
