Fudd Friday: The State Of The Lever-Action Union

Above, my 1962 Winchester 94. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever since I bought my 1962 Winchester 94 .30-30 lever-action rifle in 2019, I've noticed a big resurgence in the popularity of lever-actions of all makes. Sometimes, I wonder if I was a catalyst to this trend. Gun makers have introduced new lever-actions.

Others have taken notice and The Firearms Blog posted an article yesterday in their Fudd Friday series about the "State of the Lever Action Union". 

They begin it with:

America is a land of four distinct firearm archetypes: Big-bore handguns, pump-action shotguns, AR-pattern rifles and lever-action rifles. But out of all those Big Four, lever-actions might be the most American of all, due to their association with a generation of Wild West frontier life and then another three generations of sporting use. Far from the decline that we observed over the 1990s and early 2000s, lever-actions are back, in a big way. And while there are good reasons for that to happen, a true revival of this segment to its dominance does seem to be as distant as ever.

To read more, go here.

Gun Shows Ain't What They Used To Be

Above, the 2019 Gallup Gun Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A post at the Gun Owners of New Mexico Facebook page brought to mind a topic I've noticed over the past few years.

In years past, going to a gun show was a fun past time where bargains could be easily found. My favorite gun show was the Great Western Gun Show that started out at the Great Western Exhibit Center in the City of Commerce, California in the 70s and early 80s. I started going to it with my parents.

When the exhibit center closed and demolished, the gun show moved to the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona. Even after the move, I went there and found a lot of bargains.

These days, gun show dealers seemed to have lost the "priced to sell" way of doing business. I found that almost everything of any interest to me have been overpriced. One can find better deals at a mom & pop gun store or online currently. I saw a lot of nice stuff at the Winchester Collectors Association gun show in Cody, Wyoming last year, but they were overpriced. Dealers seem to have gotten greedy.

If dealers would sell at reasonable prices, it would benefit the buyer and the dealers would have less merchandise to pack up and lug out after the show ended. I found that overpricing at gun shows is not just confined to California or Wyoming. The same is true in New Mexico as well. I attended a couple of gun shows in Gallup and, again, bargains were hard to find. Maybe that's why the last Gallup Gun Shows were sparsely attended.

How I miss the good ol' days!

Hunting Cartridges That STILL Dominate the Woods!

5 Classic Hunting Cartridges That STILL Dominate the Woods! video from FirePower.

Summary:

Are modern hunting cartridges really better, or are these 5 classic hunting cartridges still some of the smartest choices for deer hunting? From thick Eastern hardwood forests to open Western mule deer country, these legendary rounds continue to prove why experienced hunters refuse to give them up.

In this FirePower episode, we're counting down five classic hunting cartridges that still deliver dependable real-world performance. Forget the marketing hype surrounding extreme velocity, expensive magnums, and the latest ballistic trends. We're looking at what actually matters in the field: manageable recoil, bullet performance, practical hunting distances, rifle handling, and ammunition availability.

 

Highway Mess On Interstate 40

Above, it took me over an hour to reach Jerry's Cafe yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's been some road work about ten miles west of Jamestown on Interstate 40 on the westbound side.

For the past three days, I've been seeing vehicles backed up at a standstill in those lanes. I kept watch yesterday to see how the westbound lanes were moving. From home, they seemed to be going normally.

At 1:00, I decided to head in to Gallup for my usual Friday dinner at Jerry's Cafe. Well, I got on the freeway and it moved okay until I got to Iyanbito exit, then it was a standstill. 

It traffic was barely crawling from that point on. I saw vehicles (cars, tractor trailers) exiting at Iyanbito to take Route 66 in. Apparently, those people were unaware that there is also major bridge roadwork on Route 66 at the road to Red Rock Park. Route 66 is closed at that point. They would have to turn around and get back on Interstate 40 at the McGaffey exit several miles back. We effectively have no alternative route to Gallup. 

It took me about an hour to reach the first Gallup exit. It was a good thing that I left home 45 minutes earlier as I arrived at Jerry's Cafe about 2:15. I've been reading that on average it take an hour, sometimes two hours, to get to Gallup. Whoever planned this was totally incompetent!

Hopefully, the road will be okay this morning as we have to go to Grandpa's Grill in Gallup for our usual breakfast. I was told that there no roadwork will take place on Saturday. 

Fingers crossed!

Happy Halloween!

 

Above, Lou Costello and Glenn Strange in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. Universal Pictures.

Rifles: Even Legends Have Flaws

Even Legends Have Flaws — 5 Hunting Rifles Under Scrutiny video from Rifle Zone 360.

Summary:

Are these overrated hunting rifles really worth their legendary reputations? We revisit five classic hunting rifles, from Remington 700 problems to collector prices and reliability concerns that deserve a closer look.

Some rifles earned their fame through decades of trusted service. Others carry expectations that don't always match their real-world value.

Featuring the Weatherby Mark V, Winchester Model 70 Pre-64, Remington 742 Woodsmaster, Winchester Model 94 Post-64, and Remington Model 700.Which of these five American classics do you think is the most overrated? Share your thoughts below!

What Makes An RV Comfortable For A Long Stay?

Above, Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka, Kansas in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I read a new article in RV Life on long stays in an RV, I was trying to think of what campground or RV park I stayed at was the longest. 

I thought maybe it was Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka, Kansas back in 2016. I had to stay there as I blew out two tires and their replacements cost me, and with Veterans Day coming up on the following Monday, I had little cash to proceed on the road. I had to wait until Tuesday to make a bank transfer and withdraw cash. 

It turned out to be only three nights. It was, and still is, the nicest RV park I ever stayed at and under $40/night. I have never stayed in the motorhome for a long period, four nights at most, I think.

The article on maintaining comfort during extended stays in a recreational vehicle begins with:

An RV that works perfectly for a few weekends a year can feel very different after a month or two of everyday use. Storage fills up. Counter space matters more. The seat that seemed comfortable during a walkthrough becomes your lumpy living-room chair. Climate control, battery capacity, water systems, and Internet access stop being conveniences and become part of the daily routine.

For RVers planning to spend a month or longer on the road, Jack Albert, Northeast Market Director for Service and Parts for Blue Compass RV, recommends looking beyond floorplan appeal and focusing on the systems and features that will be used every day. 

 To read more, go here.

"Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein"

The most beloved horror/comedy movie ever has to be Universal's 1948 classic, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. As tomorrow is Halloween, this post is most appropriate for the occasion.

Here, the comics meet with the studios classic monsters. It was the last appearance of the monsters (their swan song). 

The monsters were: Bela Lugosi as Dracula, Lon Chaney Jr. as the Wolf Man and Glenn Strange as Frankenstein's Monster. There is also as "cameo" (although you couldn't see him) by the Invisible Man voiced by Vincent Price. Each played their roles straight.

My mom told me that when the movie was released, she and a girlfriend saw it in Inglewood, California in a theater. I am guessing that it was either the Academy Theater or it could have been the Fifth Avenue Theater. Both were located in the city. My mom would have been fifteen years old at the time. 

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein was a regular Halloween movie on KNXT's (later KCBS) on the 4:00 Early Show movie in Los Angeles. This used to get kids definitely in the mood to go out trick or treating later. 

Here's the late David J. Skal hosting a featurette of making of the movie:

A bit of trivia: Bobby Barber and Frank Ferguson both appeared in the Adventures of Superman and were in this movie.

Standard Time Begins Sunday

The clocks roll back one hour on Sunday morning at 2:00 when Daylight Savings Time ends and Standard Time begins. 

Since Congress hasn't changed the time change law, it is "business as usual" this year. The bill passed the House, but it is bottled up in the Senate. 

So, don't forget to change your clocks!

7 Best Brush Gun Calibers for 2026

7 Best Brush Gun Calibers for 2026 — The Oldest One Wins video from FirePower.

Summary:

What are the 7 best brush gun calibers for 2026? Is the legendary .30-30 Winchester still the king of thick woods hunting, or have modern cartridges like the .350 Legend and .308 Winchester finally taken its crown?

When you're hunting whitetail deer in dense timber, more velocity and more power don't always mean better results. The wrong rifle setup can cost you the opportunity you've waited all season for.

In this FirePower breakdown, we rank seven legendary hunting cartridges and examine what really matters in thick woods: recoil, bullet performance, rifle handling, ammunition availability, and practical hunting versatility.

From the powerful .45-70 Government to the forgotten .300 Savage and .35 Remington, every cartridge has strengths, weaknesses, and a story worth telling.

*THE 7 BRUSH GUN CARTRIDGES RANKED:*

#7 — .30-06 Springfield: Incredible power, but is it more than most timber hunters need?

#6 — .300 Savage: A forgotten lever-action classic with a frustrating ammunition problem.

#5 — .308 Winchester: The all-around hunting legend facing a surprising challenge.

#4 — .45-70 Government: Massive close-range capability with serious recoil trade-offs.

#3 — .35 Remington: The old-school deer woods favorite that deserves more attention.

#2 — .350 Legend: Modern engineering, mild recoil, and a genuine challenge to the classics.

#1 — .30-30 Winchester: Why this 130-year-old cartridge still earns our top spot.

We also discuss common brush gun myths, bullet construction, traditional lever-action rifles, and how Michigan's 2026 hunting regulation changes affect the straight-wall cartridge debate.

Whether you hunt whitetail deer in Pennsylvania hardwoods, feral hogs in Southern swamps, or black bear in Northern forests, choosing the right cartridge means understanding your hunting conditions, not just chasing impressive ballistic numbers.

The Indian and the Buffalo

I just had to share this:

**An Indian walks into a café with a shotgun in one hand and pulling a male buffalo with the other. He says to the waiter:**

**"Want coffee."**

**The waiter says, "Sure, Chief. Coming right up."**

**He gets the Indian a tall mug of coffee . . .**

**The Indian drinks the coffee down in one gulp, turns and blasts the buffalo with the shotgun, causing parts of the animal to splatter everywhere and then just walks out.**

**The next morning the Indian returns.**

**He has his shotgun in one hand, pulling another male buffalo with the other.**

**He walks up to the counter and says to the waiter:**

**"Want coffee."**

**The waiter says, "Whoa, Tonto!**

**We're still cleaning up your mess from yesterday. What was all that about, anyway?"**

**The Indian smiles and proudly says,**

**"Training for a position in United States Congress . . . Come in, drink coffee, shoot the bull, leave mess for others to clean up, disappear for rest of day."**

Jeep Drive

Since nice sunny days have been a rarity in the Four Corners region, I had the opportunity yesterday afternoon to take a Jeep drive. I saw other community residents out with their ATVs and side-by-sides during the day.

I headed on Six Mile Canyon Road to the entrance to Six Mile Canyon marked with a corral and national forest signage.

One culvert along Six Mile Canyon Road was full of mud, but other vehicles made a good pathway through the muck so I was able to proceed through.

One of the signs at the entrance to Six Mile Canyon (just beyond the corral) provided a notice that the canyon will be closed to vehicles starting December 15 to March 31. So we have a month and a half to be able to drive in Six Mile Canyon. 

When I stopped at the signs, I took a couple of photos:

Above, the Jeep in front of the national forest signs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the sign (at bottom far right) states when vehicles are verboten in the canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I had a much enjoyable drive than the people stuck in stopped traffic (at the same time) westbound on Interstate 40 . Apparently, construction caused the tie-up at the road to Red Rock Park near Gallup. 

Passages

Three entertainment greats have passed away this week. Here's my take on each.

Walter Koenig. Best known as Ensign Pavel Chekov in the original cast of Star Trek, both the television series of the 1960s and the movies of Star Trek. I used to see him at a bank in Sherman Oaks where I worked in the 1990s. He was 90.

Susan Staint James. She was a favorite actress in the NBC Mystery Movie revolving movie, McMillan & Wife with Rock Hudson. Her personality really made that show a joy to watch. She was 80.

Donnie Iris. Whenever I hear his son, "Ah, Leah", it brings me back to 1980. He performed almost right up to his death. His last concert was September 28 and he had to sing sitting in a chair due to the pain he endured from bladder cancer. He was 83. 

Each will be fondly remembered by fans. 

Wright Leather Works Overstock Sale

A few years ago, I bought a Predator holster for my Ruger P95 from Wright Leather Works. It is a high-quality product and I heartily recommend them.

I just received an email from them and they are having a sale on overstock and blems. If you are in need of a holster for your hogleg, you may want to check this out. 

Here's the email:

 

SHOP GUN LEATHER ABOUT CONTACT October 2026 OVERSTOCK replenished and ready to ship! Armand,   Great Leather. Great Savings.​  Find your next holster for less in our Overstock & Blems selection. Some have a minor cosmetic blemish. Others were simply made for the wrong hand. Each one is fully functional, safe, and built with the quality you expect from Wright Leather Works. These holsters are sold “as is,” giving you a chance to save without sacrificing function. Browse the selection and find the right fit for your carry. ​ Need a holster sooner?​  Overstock may be your answer. These orders normally ship within a week, so you can get quality gun leather without the usual wait. Overstock & Blems Shop now EDC Holster Kit - Predator Pancake™ $275.00 Shop now Predator™ Pancake Holster $135.00 Shop now Marshal™ OWB Holster $135.00 Shop now Cruiser® IWB Clip Holster $135.00 Shop now Banshee™ IWB Holster $145.00 Shop now Old World Gun Belt $85.00 Shop now SHOP ALL GUN LEATHER

Offers and discounts in this email are not valid to be combined or used with any other offer. Any in stock items ordered with not stock items, will be shipped when the not stock items are fulfilled. .