The Plot To Steal Lincoln's Remains

Above, Abraham Lincoln's tomb in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Did you know that the mortal remains of President Abraham Lincoln are sealed in a steel cage covered in concrete ten feet down?

Yes, this is true. There was a plot to steal Lincoln's coffin and hold it for ransom. The plot was foiled and Robert Lincoln, the eldest son of the president, ordered that the coffin be reburied ten feet down inside a steel cage and covered in concrete.

Above, Abraham Lincoln was re-buried ten feet below and a
 few feet behind the sarcophagus. Photo by Armand Vaquer. 

The Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, Illinois at Oak Ridge Cemetery is free to the public to visit. I went there in 2016 when I went to Metropolis, Illinois to attend Noel Neill's memorial service. 

The National Park Service posted the story of the foiled plot and it begins with:

In the fall of 1876, just 11 years after his assassination, there was a plot to steal President Lincoln’s remains from Oak Ridge Cemetery and hold them ransom in the Indiana Dunes.

That October, a prominent engraver for Chicago counterfeiters named Benjamin Boyd was jailed at the nearby Joliet penitentiary. An Irish-American crime boss by the name of Jame "Big Jim" Kinealy relied on Boyd for his business and devised a plan for his release. Kinealy's scheme called for Lincoln’s body to be stolen from his tomb in Springfield, Illinois. The thieves would then take the President's remains over 200 miles to Indiana’s sand dune country. There, Lincoln’s remains would be hidden while the shifting sands would cover the grave-robbers' tracks. After the remains were hidden away, Boyd, the imprisoned engraver, would ransom them for his release, full pardon, and $200,000 (over $5.5 million today).

Above, yours truly at Lincoln's tomb in 2016.

American Heritage posted a detailed account of the attempted theft of Lincoln's coffin. To read it, go here.

To read the NPS story of the plot, go here.

Toru Ohira, the Japanese Voice of George Reeves and Darth Vader

Today would have been the 97th birthday of voice actor Toru Ohira. 

From Dennis Hayes: 

On this date September 29, 1929 Tōru Ōhira (大平 透) was born in Tokyo, Japan.

Ōhira was a Japanese narrator and voice actor (seiyu) from the Tokyo Metropolitan area. He is a representative of Ōhira Production.

One of his most known roles is the dub voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars on the home video releases. He is also known for his many narration roles, most notably in the Super Sentai series.

He was a very influential figure in the dubbing industry during the Sousei period.

After graduating from Tokyo Metropolitan University Jōnan Senior High School (in which he was also the supervisor of the school's volleyball team), he went on to graduate from the Meiji University Department of Political Science and Economics. In 1954, he joined the Nippon Broadcasting System, in which he became an announcer and producer. In 1955, with the opening of the Tokyo Broadcasting System, he enlisted in its theatrical company. He left the company in 1958 to become a voice artist.

His breakthrough performance was the dubbing voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars series. He reprised this role for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and a crossover appearance in Soulcalibur IV- notable because the game was originally in Japanese, meaning that Ōhira was Vader's "original" voice in the game, unlike with the films. In addition, he is usually cast in either astringent villain roles or gag characters.

The first dubbed television show in Japan was "Adventures of Superman", which began broadcasting in 1956 with Tōru Ōhira voicing George Reeves (Clark Kent/Superman). Television had made a strong impression on the Japanese from Emperor Hirohito down. About 99 percent of Japanese TV shows were American, including the Emperor's favorite, "Superman." Emperor Hirohito even sent George Reeves a fan letter.

Ōhira was also the voice of Marlon Brando (Jor-El) in "Superman: The Movie" (1978) when it was released in Japan.

He would have been 97 years old today.

Happy Birthday Tōru !

Top 7 Hunting Rifles Veteran Hunters Keep

Top 7 Hunting Rifles Veteran Hunters Keep in Their Collections — 2026 video from Scoper 360°.

Summary:

Which heritage hunting rifles belong in your collection first, and which ones can wait? We're ranking seven classic American rifles—not by collector value or auction price, but by what a working hunter actually needs to own first. Starting with practical ownership sequence: the Winchester Model 70 pre-1964, Remington Model 700, Marlin 336 lever-action, Browning Superposed shotgun, Savage 99, Ruger No. 1, and best hunting rifles for priority.

This ranking reflects real hunting priorities. We break down the claw extractor reliability of controlled-round-feed systems, compare modern rifle design versus heritage craftsmanship, and explore which rifles demand mastery before others. Whether you're building a serious rifle collection, hunting in brushy terrain, or pursuing long-range precision, we reveal which platform teaches you what excellence means—and which models work as backup tools instead of foundations.

Hard To Find Firearms In Famous Configuration

Above, my 1962 Winchester 94 .30-30 cal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With new gun prices rising into the stratosphere, many people are resorting to buying "tried and true" used guns. Many of these people are serious collector who want that iconic gun in configuration that made those guns famous in the first place.

The Avid Outdoorsman listed 20 of these guns that are getting harder to find on the used gun market. I have two that made the list.

They begin with:

Anybody can find “a” version of a popular gun. What’s getting tougher is finding the version everybody actually remembers—the one with the right barrel length, the right sights, the right stock, the right finish, and the right little details that made it iconic in the first place. Walk into a shop today and you’ll see plenty of close-enough models, “tribute” runs, and updated variants with rails, optics cuts, and modern coatings.

That’s not automatically bad. But if you grew up with certain rifles and handguns in your head—what they looked like in a deer camp rack, behind a truck seat, or on a hip in an old holster—then you already know the sting of trying to replace one and realizing the famous configuration is the one that’s thinned out.

To read more, go here. 

Newsom Signs 10 Anti-Gun Laws

California Gov. Gavin Newsom never met a gun control bill he didn't like. This is especially true in this legislative session.

Newsom received and signed 10 gun control laws that the Democrat supermajority in the state legislature sent him. I am sure glad I moved out of Commiefornia eight and a half years ago!

According to Guns.com:

As he meanders towards higher office in government, California's Gavin Newsom signed every piece of gun-control legislation on his desk last week and took a victory lap.

Newsom, the former mayor of San Francisco and one of the most high-profile Democrats to watch in the 2028 presidential election cycle, signed no less than 10 pieces of legislation on Saturday. 

To read more and see what each bill signed into law is going to do, go here. 

FIREARMS THAT WERE DESIGNED MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS AGO

Above, the Ruger 10/22 is one listed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There are plenty of new guns that are being introduced to the buying public constantly. 

To some, guns designed over 50 years ago are preferred over the latest craze in firearms. The Avid Outdoorsman lists 20 of them.

They begin with:

Every year the gun world rolls out another “new and improved” something. New coatings, new cuts, new optics plates, new marketing words. Then you go back to the safe and grab an old standby that’s been doing the job since before you were born, and it just works. No drama. No learning curve. No weird proprietary parts you can’t find.

When I say “never been improved on,” I’m not saying nobody ever made a nicer version with better sights or a better trigger. I’m saying the original idea was so right that the “improvements” mostly turn into preferences. These are the guns that still show up in deer camps, behind truck seats, in duty holsters, and on range benches for one simple reason: they keep earning their keep.

To read more, go here. 

Skip These 5 Guns — Stockpile These 5 Survival Guns Instead

Skip These 5 Guns — Stockpile These 5 Survival Guns Instead video from All About Survival.

Summary:

When preparing for a total supply chain collapse, choosing the best survival guns will literally mean the difference between life and death. Many modern firearms aggressively marketed as prepper essentials are actually dangerous gimmicks with fatal points of failure that will lock up when you need them most. We expose five catastrophic platforms you must avoid at all costs, and reveal the absolute gold-standard, battle-tested firearms you should stockpile instead. Do not let your safety rely on an expensive paperweight when the grid goes down.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always follow fundamental firearm safety rules and adhere to all local, state, and federal laws regarding the purchase, ownership, and handling of firearms.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.

To start off the week and finish the month of September, we have David Peel and the Lower East Side with their song, "I Like Marijuana" from their 1968 album, Have A Marijuana. I remember hearing this album back around 1969-70 on a friend's 8-Track tape while we cruised in Hollywood or Topanga Canyon.

From Wikipedia:

Formed to support David Peel in 1967, the Lower East Side Band originally consisted of Harold C. Black and Billy Joe White. They soon became popular enough in New York City's then thriving downtown counterculture that they were signed to Elektra Records in 1968. With the addition of Larry Adam and George Cori to the line-up, the band recorded with David Peel on the Have a Marijuana album conceptualized by Danny Fields as a collection of drinking songs for pot smokers.

How To Accurately Measure A Gun Barrel's Length

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun barrels came in 26
to 30 inches with some at 32 inches. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's something that I haven't given any thought to. I generally relied on the gun's specs in the advertisement or the gun's owner's manual.

That is: How to accurately measure a gun barrel's length?  

The NRA's American Rifleman website answers that question for measuring.

This is the recommended method (except revolvers), here's what they said:

Rather than debating your math and measurements, I think that I can clarify your questions by referring to the recommended methods used by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Institute (SAAMI) and the ATF. Both use a standard method for measuring barrels in firearms with chambers manufactured as an integral part of the barrel. The procedure is easy to follow.

When performing this procedure, safety is of the highest concern. Remove any and all ammunition from the work area to mitigate the possibility of a mistake. Once the gun is verified clear and empty, close the action as though it were ready to be fired.

Insert a wooden dowel, cleaning rod or other suitable object into the muzzle end of the barrel until it comes to a rest against the breech face where the firing pin protrudes through when firing. Once the dowel is resting firmly against the breech face, mark it at the muzzle with a magic marker or similar marking medium. Next withdraw the dowel and measure the distance between the mark on the dowel and the end that was resting against the breech face.

That measurement is considered the industry standard for pistols, rifles, shotguns or any other type of firearm having a chamber integral with the barrel (Revolvers are treated differently because they have multiple chambers not integral with the barrel).

To read more (especially for revolvers), go here.

California Forcing 16-Year-Olds To Use Booster Seats

The Looney Left Report

The Democrat supermajority in Commiefornia has done some crazy things but this is one of the most craziest things ever. This sounds like something out of the Babylon Bee, but it isn't.

They passed a law that forces 16-year-olds to ride in booster seats in vehicles. 

According to a post by Christina Aguayo News in Facebook:

California is about to make 16-year-olds ride in booster seats under a bill passed by the democrat supermajority.

It is set to take effect January 1, 2027. 

The measure,.that Newsom signed into law (AB 435) says that  children, ages 8 to 16, have to pass a 'Five step test" that includes:

1) The child has to sit all the way back,

2)  Knees bent over the seat edge, 

3)   Shoulder belt across the middle of the chest and shoulder - not the neck.

4)  Lap belt low on the thighs, and 

5)  Hold that pose the whole trip. 

Miss one step and the law says they still need a booster. 

First-offense tickets start at a $100 base fine and routinely land closer to $500 with assessments, plus a DMV point.​

Why does the supermajoriy Democrat state that preaches freedom and democracy.... have the most laws and restrictions? 

LEVER-ACTION RIFLES THAT HAVE BEEN IN FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS

Above, yours truly with the Winchester 94. Photo by Larry Lucier.

A lot of families have handed down things to younger generations, this includes firearms.

My grandfather and father handed down to me rifles, shotguns and pistols. However, no lever-action rifles were included in the bunch. I bought my lever-action pre-64 (made in 1962) Winchester 94 seven years ago. I haven't decided on who will get my gun collection when I head to the great beyond. 

The Avid Outdoorsman posted an article on 20 lever-actions that have been in families for generations and are never going anywhere.

They begin it with:

Every family has that one rifle that never gets traded. It might have a thin spot in the blueing where a saddle scabbard rubbed it for 20 seasons. It might wear an old leather sling that smells like gun oil and wet wool. You can buy newer, lighter, more accurate rifles all day long, but these lever guns stick around because they work, they carry right, and they’re tied to memories you can’t replace. Firearms& Weapons

None of these are “perfect.” Some have quirky safeties, some kick harder than they should, and some aren’t getting cheaper. But if you’ve ever watched an uncle quietly slide one out of a soft case like it’s a family photo album, you already get it. Here are 20 lever-action rifles I keep seeing in racks, cabins, and pickup gun racks that aren’t going anywhere.

To read the full article, go here. 

Yesterday At Grandpa's Grill

Yesterday, we had our usual Saturday coffee/breakfast at Grandpa's Grill in Gallup, New Mexico.

The day started out beautiful. It was clear with a few clouds.

The Lucier brothers couldn't attend as both Greg and Larry came down with head colds. But Bob Weekes, Victor Gomez and Roger Slape and I attended. 

Here's our group yesterday:

Above, left to right, yours truly, Bob Weekes, Victor Gomez and Roger Slape.

Google A.I. Picked Up Deb Haaland Label

A couple of days ago, I came up with the nickname, "Princess Running Chicken", for New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland. This was due to her refusal to debate her Republican opponent, former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull. 

This is a pattern that started during the primary campaign. Either she is scared to debate (she's not the brightest bulb on the marquee and is inarticulate), feels entitled to the office or is taking part in a Democrat strategy of candidates refusing debates (New Mexico U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan is also refusing to debate his GOP opponent) or all combined. 

Yesterday, for the fun of it, I Googled Princess Running Chicken and found that Google's A.I. Overview feature picked it up.

Here it is:

Others have come up with nicknames. One of them is "Ducking Deb". 

It seems that her refusal to debate is backfiring on Haaland. People have posted that they have changed their vote to Hull due to her refusal, citing, "No debate, no vote!" 

This campaign is getting more interesting by the day.

The Idaho State Gun

Above, the Winchester 94 is one of the guns on the Idaho ballot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This has to be one of the most crucial midterm elections in our nation's history. The voters will decide on the various candidates and state measures.

But, the election is shaping up to be a fun one, particularly in the state of Idaho. Voters there will vote on an advisory measure on what should be named as the official state gun.

The Gem State Chronicle wrote:

Idahoans will have a lot of choices on our ballots this year, from federal, statewide, and legislative candidates to county and local races, as well as questions involving abortion, drug policy, and whether English should be our official state language. But there is one question that is less consequential and more fun: choosing Idaho’s official state gun.

Placed on the ballot by House Bill 932, which passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously earlier this year, the question also has an obvious political benefit for Republicans in a midterm election that could see depressed turnout. On the one hand, it can be seen as a cynical political play; on the other, it’s harmless fun, so why not?

Your six options are:

• Winchester Model 1894 rifle, chambered in .30-30 Winchester
• Winchester Model 1873 rifle, chambered in .44-40 Winchester
• Colt Single Action Army revolver, chambered in .45 Colt
• M1 Garand rifle, chambered in .30-06 Springfield
• Colt M1911 pistol, chambered in .45 ACP
• Remington Model 700 rifle, chambered in .30-06 Springfield

To read more, go here.

Winchester Model 12: Why People Still Love This Shotgun

Winchester Model 12: Why People Still Love This Shotgun video from Range logic.

Summary:

The Winchester Model 12 earned its place in history as a wartime trench gun. Today, we’re taking a closer look at this classic shotgun and putting its famous slam-fire capability on display at the range.

Would you add a Model 12 to your collection?

What Locals Actually Carry For Bears, Hogs and Mountain Lions

Alaska vs Montana vs Texas: What Locals Actually Carry for Bears, Hogs and Mountain Lions video from Ivan's Journal.

Summary:

The biggest bear gun I ever owned spent most of a season in a truck console. Big stainless revolver, long barrel, kicked like a mule. And for weeks at a time it sat three hundred yards from where I was standing, because it was heavy, it was awkward, and it didn't fit the way I moved through the brush.

That's the part nobody puts in the forum arguments. People online will fight for hours over grains and foot-pounds. The folks who live with bears, hogs and big cats every day choose by weight, by holster, by what their hands are doing when trouble shows up, and by what the paperwork looks like afterward.

I used to be a pure big-bore man. More gun, more safety. Then I kept seeing guides, fishermen and ranchers carry things that didn't match what I'd been told was the minimum. So I went looking for evidence instead of opinions, and the evidence didn't line up neatly with either side.

In 2012 Tom Smith's team published a study of 269 firearm and bear incidents in Alaska going back to 1883. Handguns stopped the bear 84 percent of the time. Rifles and shotguns, 76 percent. No significant difference. And the best predictor of a good outcome wasn't the gun at all. It was the situation.

What we go through:

Why a rifle on your shoulder isn't in your hands on a salmon stream

What the Smith study got right, and where the critics have a fair point

The pump 12 gauge with slugs and the 45-70 guide gun in camp

How the Glock 20 in 10mm went from a punchline to a belt you see all over Alaska

Dean Weingarten's 170 handgun cases and why the 44 Magnum still has a record

Alaska's DLP rule: report in 15 days, skin the bear, surrender the hide, claws and skull

Montana grizzlies, federal protection, and the Brian Charette case

The bear spray number both camps misquote, 92 percent against three out of nine

Texas feral hogs, 2.6 million of them, and why it's pest control and not hunting

AR rifles, thermal optics and traps as one control system

The first mountain lion rules in Texas history in 2024, and how rare lion attacks really are

Why the threat decides the gun, not the state's reputation

What I'd carry into big bear country now

Said plainly on safety: practice your draw with an unloaded gun and follow the manual. Use factory ammunition the maker rates for your pistol. Wear eye and ear protection at the range and train with the exact load you carry. Carry laws change and every place has restricted areas, so check the current rules where you're going. Don't take a YouTube video, this one included, as legal advice. 

A gun isn't a force field. The one who walks out of the woods is usually the one who had something in his hand quickly. I wouldn't pick the gun that won the most arguments. I'd pick the one I'd still be wearing on the tenth day of the trip, tired and not expecting anything.

I've been writing lessons like this down for years, the stuff you never hear across a gun counter. They're in my book at ivansjournal.com

Gasoline National Average $4.48/Gallon

Above, Strait of Hormuz. Wikipedia satellite image.

In today's edition of the Saturday Newsletter from RV Travel, this was posted concerning the current gasoline prices:

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline continues to climb, up nearly 5 cents on Thursday from the previous week. At $4.48 per gallon, it’s the highest the national average has ever been this time of year. Lingering volatility in the Strait of Hormuz and the high cost of crude oil are driving up prices.

In Gallup last evening, I paid $4.31 for gasoline. That was the lowest price I found while I was in town. The other stations had the same price as the RV Travel blurb.  

20 Guns You Should Never Sell!

20 Guns You Should Never Sell! video from Gun Junkies. 

Summary:

Some firearms are more than just tools—they can become pieces of history, collector favorites, family heirlooms, or models that become increasingly difficult to replace. In this video, we're looking at 20 guns you should think twice about ever selling, based on factors like historical significance, build quality, scarcity, collector interest, reputation, and long-term appeal.

The used firearm market in 2026 continues to show strong interest in proven and established designs. Recent marketplace rankings have featured classics such as the Colt Python, Winchester Model 94, Remington 700, Ruger No. 1, Ruger 10/22, and Remington 870 Wingmaster, demonstrating that older and long-established platforms can retain substantial interest decades after their introduction.

From classic American designs to discontinued models and highly recognizable collector pieces, these are firearms with stories that can extend far beyond their original purpose.

Watch until the end to see which 20 firearms made the list—and why some guns can be surprisingly difficult to replace once they're gone.

 

"Godzilla Minus Zero" Night At Dodger Stadium

 

Looked like a fun night. But I remember Godzilla being a little bit taller.

Deb Haaland: Princess Running Chicken

We have a new nickname for Democrat Deb Haaland: Princess Running Chicken.

It is because she is afraid to engage GOP candidate Gregg Hull or feels entitled. 

Deb Haaland: NO To Any Debates

Democrat Deb "Running Chicken" Haaland feels she's so entitled to become the next New Mexico governor she doesn't feel the need to earning it in a debate. 

KOB 4 posted this on Facebook last evening:

Deb Haaland’s campaign said she will not take part in KOB 4’s Oct. 8 governor’s debate or any other debates in the race.

They then posted a link to their full article on Haaland's refusal to debate GOP candidate Gregg Hull.

The article begins with:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Deb Haaland’s campaign said she will not take part in KOB 4’s Oct. 8 governor’s debate or any other debates in the race.

Hours after KOB 4 updated viewers on the planned debate, Haaland’s campaign sent an email saying Gregg Hull was not serious about an “anytime, anywhere” debate.

“We will no longer be able to hold these dates and would like to move past this sideshow,” Haaland’s campaign manager said in an email.

The campaign manager said Haaland will continue traveling the state to meet voters instead.

Hull responded by saying he adjusted his schedule for the KOB 4 debate and that Haaland should do the same.

“She (Haaland) rejected all of your debate proposals leading up to this circus of her campaign’s own making because she is afraid to face the cameras and defend her record,” Hull said.

KOB 4 has worked since June 3 to set an hourlong live debate between Hull and Haaland after the June 2 primary election.

To read the full article, go here. 

Can A .357 Magnum Really Stop A Bear?

Can a .357 Magnum Really Stop a Bear? Alaska's Shocking Truth video from GUNS360.

Summary:

Can a .357 Magnum really stop a bear—or does carrying one into grizzly country provide more confidence than protection?

In this video, we take a closer look at the .357 Magnum as a wilderness sidearm and separate raw muzzle-energy numbers from the factors that matter in a real emergency.

We cover the history of the .357 Magnum, recoil and controllability, heavy versus lightweight revolvers, ammunition availability, cold-weather considerations, portability, practice costs, and the differences between popular platforms such as the Ruger GP100 and Smith & Wesson Model 686.

We also examine why cartridge power alone doesn't determine the outcome of a dangerous wildlife encounter. Firearm accessibility, shooter proficiency, ammunition characteristics, reliability, and the ability to make accurate shots under extreme stress can all matter.

Finally, we put the .357 Magnum into context alongside larger options such as the .44 Magnum and 10mm to explain why the "bigger is automatically better" argument can oversimplify a complicated decision.

Bear encounters are unpredictable, and no handgun guarantees safety. Follow local wildlife-agency guidance and prioritize bear avoidance and appropriate non-firearm deterrents where recommended.

Would you carry a .357 Magnum in bear country, or would you choose something else?

I found this video of interest as we have bears in the area up in the Cibola National Forest. One bear was trying to cross Interstate 40 recently but was killed by a vehicle near our community. I have one .357 Magnum revolver.  

RV Winterizing Checklist

Now that we are in autumn, it is time to begin planning and preparing the annual chore of winterizing the RV.

Cold temperatures here in New Mexico occasionally drop down into the 30s even in October. I have plenty of water system anti-freeze already on hand that I bought on sale last year.

This is the topic of an article in RV Life.

They begin it with:

Putting your RV away for winter takes a little preparation, but a clear plan makes the job more manageable. Start before freezing weather arrives, with attention to the plumbing, batteries, interior, and exterior.

Michael Ellingson, a Master Certified RV Technician with Blue Compass RV/Coach Net, recommends beginning with the water system and considering the climate where you’ll store your RV. His advice helps you work through the process, including easily missed fixtures and storage tasks.

The steps below focus on an RV that will sit unused over winter. Keep your RV and appliance manuals handy, since the right procedure depends on your particular setup.

To read more, go here. 

CAN THE .30-30 REALLY HANDLE A BEAR?

CAN THE .30-30 REALLY HANDLE A BEAR? THE TRUTH HUNTERS SHOULD KNOW video from Hunt Lab.

Summary:

How capable is the legendary.30-30 Winchester.when the hunt takes place in bear country? In this video, we take a closer look at **5 classic hunting calibers that have long been associated with North American big-game hunting.

From the proven 30-30 Winchester to the .35 Remington.32 Winchester Special**, **.356 Winchester**, and **.358 Winchester**, we explore their history, practical hunting roles, strengths, limitations, and why these cartridges continue to interest hunters decades after their introduction.

Great Cartridges ~ The 30-30 Winchester?

Great Cartridges ~ The 30-30 Winchester? video from GunBlue 490.

Summary:

If you are looking for a great deer hunting cartridge, see if the 30-30 Winchester may or may not be right for you!

How Women Hunters Are Reviving a Fading Tradition

The sport of hunting has been fading. It has been a mainly male sport. But over the years, fewer people are taking it up.

However, there is one segment of society that is causing a resurgence of hunting: women.

The Audubon Society posted an article on how women hunters are reviving a fading tradition.

They begin with:

This isn’t your typical girls’ weekend.  Not that you can tell from the accommodations—a charming farmhouse in Montana’s picturesque Bitterroot Valley—or the wine bottles on the kitchen counter this Friday evening in December. In the living room, delectable hors d’oeuvres hint at the gathering’s theme: savory duck rillettes and a charcuterie board with an array of wild game sausages. Then there’s the entertainment. “Duck Jeopardy” is teed up on a TV in the corner, intended to help us recognize birds in the field.

Ten women have traveled from across the state to learn the ins and outs of duck hunting from a handful of female mentors. A few know one another well. The rest are complete strangers. Most of us have never hunted ducks. Some, like Sophie Albert, have never even fired a gun. She’s from Germany, she says, where the sport is largely limited to private land. The food bank in Whitefish where she works processes a lot of deer donated by hunters, and she’s pretty sure she wants to try harvesting animals to feed her own family. Waterfowl, Albert says, seem like a good gateway.

To read more, go here.

DOJ DECLARES AGE 18-20 HANDGUN SALES BAN UNCONSTITUTIONAL

It has been federal law that 18-year-olds were not allowed to purchase firearms. It has been law that they have to reach age 21 to do so. 

This is starting to change. The Supreme Court is expected to finally determine whether laws banning adults under 21 from buying firearms is unconstitutional.

The U.S. Department of Justice issued a memorandum opinion on this matter.

The NRA-ILA reported:

On September 17, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) issued a memorandum opinion to answer the question “whether restricting young adults from buying firearms comports with the Second Amendment as the Supreme Court has authoritatively construed it.” OLC, focusing specifically on provisions of federal law that criminalize the sale of handguns to adults aged 18 to 20 by federally licensed dealers (FFLs), said “no.” This interpretation marks a sea change in the government’s approach to an issue that has been the subject of decades of litigation, including by NRA, up to the present day. How it plays out practically, however, remains to be seen.

To read more, go here. 

Don't SELL These 10 Winchester Rifles Bought Before 1988

Don't SELL These 10 Winchester Rifles You Bought Before 1988 — They're Worth A Fortune video from The Armory Vault.

Summary:

Think twice before selling that old Winchester rifle sitting in the back of your closet or gun safe! While millions of pre-1988 Winchesters were passed down through generations as everyday hunting tools, certain forgotten factory configurations, transitional tooling quirks, and low-production chamberings are quietly worth a fortune today. From elusive post-WWII Model 94 "Flat Band" carbines and factory-choked Model 61 Routledge smoothbores to pre-64 Model 70s chambered in ultra-rare calibers like .300 Savage and .35 Remington that command upwards of $15,000 at auction, plain-looking field wear often hides high-dollar collector pieces. In this video, we break down the top 10 most underestimated pre-1988 Winchester rifles, reveal the exact roll stamps and mechanical tells to inspect at home, and expose the preservation mistakes that can destroy thousands of dollars in value in seconds.

Before you take a vintage firearm to a local pawn shop or gun counter, learn how to properly verify serial numbers, check internal bolt dimensions, and authenticate factory originality before making an irreversible mistake. Do you currently own any of the rifles featured in this countdown, or have you ever let one go only to realize its true value years later? Drop your rifle's model, caliber, or your best sale story in the comments below! If you found this appraisal breakdown helpful, make sure to like the video, share it with a fellow collector or hunter, and subscribe to the channel for more in-depth firearms history, valuation guides, and collector warnings.

 

Grand Canyon RV Park Remains Closed Due To Water Issues

Above, RV camping at Trailer Village at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Somehow, the closure of Trailer Village at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park eluded me. This blog post ought to rectify that.

Yes, the Trailer Village has been closed since August due to water issues. It may remain closed through the autumn months.

I camped at Trailer Village in 2017 and enjoyed it as it had full hook-ups at every site.

RV Travel reported:

Grand Canyon National Park’s water crisis could disrupt RV camping well into the fall. The South Rim’s full-hookup RV park remains closed, other campgrounds have restricted water service, and park officials say restoring water distribution may not begin until Thanksgiving.

The National Park Service announced September 19 that it hopes to begin pumping water from Bright Angel Creek to a new treatment plant by November 16. Distribution to South Rim residents could begin by Thanksgiving, November 26, allowing concessionaires to resume overnight guest services in phases.

Those dates are tentative. The park has not announced when Trailer Village RV Park will reopen.

Where can RVers camp?

Trailer Village, the South Rim’s only campground with full RV hookups, has been closed since August 31. The park lists it as closed until further notice.

Mather Campground remains open and is accepting reservations through Recreation.gov. However, it’s operating as a dry campground under Stage 4 water restrictions. Drinking-water spigots, regular restrooms, showers and laundry facilities are unavailable. Portable toilets are provided.

The campground has no RV hookups. The nearby Camper Services building, which normally provides showers and laundry facilities, is closed.

To read more, go here. 

RV Lengths That Work Best In National Parks

Above, camping in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the things I am glad I did when I bought a motorhome 11 years ago was to get one under 25 feet long. Most national park campsites easily can accommodate this size. 

The first trip that I camped in a national park was Joshua Tree National Park. The RV fit just fine. The next trip to camp in a national park was at Yosemite National Park. Again, the site I picked accommodated it just fine as well. 

RV Travel posted an article on what RV length works best for national park trips.

They begin it with:

Visiting and camping in America’s national parks is near the top of most RVers’ bucket lists. One crucial factor that can make or break an RVer’s camping experience is whether an RV will fit into a campsite. Let’s explore what size RV is ideal for national park camping, and what you should expect when trying to find a spot.

To read more, go here. 

More Rain This Week

Above, rain clouds are coming in. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The monsoon season started late this year, but when it finally kicked in, we've gotten a lot of rain.

It rained all last week in the Gallup/Jamestown, New Mexico area and it is continuing this week. Today is the first full day of autumn, by the way.

According to the National Weather Service:

Today

Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. High near 59. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9pm, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday

A slight chance of showers between 9am and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

"Godzilla Minus Zero" Gets 'R' Rating

This is a first in the storied history of Godzilla movies, Japanese and American.

Toho Co., Ltd.'s Godzilla Minus Zero garnered a 'R' rating.

According to Dark Horizons:

The MPA has handed out an R rating for the upcoming “Godzilla Minus Zero,” the sequel to Toho’s highly acclaimed, internationally successful, and Oscar-winning “Godzilla Minus One”.

It marks the very first time in the history of the “Godzilla” franchise that a film in the series has scored an R rating. Here, the rating was given for “some violent content/bloody images.”

To read more, go here. 

7 Rifles That Changed Hunting Forever

7 Rifles That Changed Hunting Forever (The History Nobody Tells You) video from Outdoor Arms 360°.

Summary:

These are the 7 rifles that changed hunting forever — not because they sold the most, but because each one solved a mechanical problem nobody else could and forced the entire industry to follow. This is the real history of the hunting rifle, from the Hawken brothers' oversized plains rifle in 1823 to Roy Weatherby's nine-lug magnum action in 1957. Along the way we break down exactly how Mauser 98 controlled round feed works and why it's still the gold standard for dangerous-game hunters, why Winchester split its own history into pre-64 and post-64, and how Savage solved the problem that kept lever-action rifles from ever using a pointed bullet. If you've ever wondered where your modern bolt-action rifle's safety, extractor, or magazine design actually came from, this is that story.

Rifles covered: Hawken Rifle, Winchester Model 1894, Mauser Model 98, Savage Model 1899, Remington Model 8, Winchester Model 70, Weatherby Mark V.

 

These 7 Lever-Action Rifles Beat the AR-15

Why These 7 Lever-Action Rifles Beat the AR-15 When Survival Matters video from Arms Advisor.

Summary: 

Every survival list puts the AR-15 on top, but there is a reason ranchers, guides and remote cabin owners still reach for a lever gun instead. Today I am counting down 7 lever-action rifles that beat an AR-15 where it truly matters. Number 1 broke every rule I thought I knew about survival rifles.

 

Autumn Starts This Evening

Above, it won't be long that we'll be seeing snow on the mesas if
 we have a normal snow season this year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This evening, we can bid Summer 2026 a fond farewell. 

The autumn equinox in 2026 takes place on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:05 p.m. PDT (8:05 p.m. EDT). It will reach here at 4:05 p.m. MDT.

I already noticed that it is a little cooler outside and the night temperature is reaching down into the 40s. 

It won't be long that we might get a snow flurry or two when we are in October and November. This has occurred a few times over the years since I moved to New Mexico. It won't be long I'll have to bring the snow shovel out of the garage.

Blog Hits 15 Million Page Views!

We've reached another milestone here at the ol' blog.

The blog recorded over 15 million page views overnight. Accordingly, I have updated the header reflecting the new number. 

Here it is:

 

Idaho Voters To Choose State Gun In Election

Above, the Winchester 94 is one of six guns on the Idaho ballot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I've posted about this before, but as the November 3 election looms, Idaho voters have an interesting ballot question to vote on.

It is a question on what gun should be designated as the official state gun. Currently, 10 states have official state guns.

According to MyNorthwest: 

Idaho voters will choose an official state gun this November after Gov. Brad Little signed legislation placing a nonbinding advisory question on the general election ballot.

House Bill 932, which passed the House 68-0 and cleared the Senate before Little signed it into law on April 2, asks voters to select one of six firearms to be designated as Idaho’s official state gun. The results will guide future legislative action but do not carry the force of law on their own.

The ballot question will read: “Which of the following guns should be designated as the state gun of Idaho?”

The six choices are:

• Winchester Model 1894 (.30-30)
• Winchester Model 1873 “Gun that Won the West” (.44-40)
• 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver “Peacemaker” (.45 Colt)
• M1 Garand rifle (.30-06)
• Colt M1911 .45 automatic Colt pistol (.45 ACP)
• Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle (.30-06)

To read more, go here.

20 Shocking Winchester Model 94 Secrets Every Owner MUST Know

20 Shocking Winchester Model 94 Secrets Every Owner MUST Know video from Ivan's Journal.

Summary:

There's a good chance the plainest rifle in your family's closet is worth more than the fanciest one sitting right next to it, and the reason is stamped on the gun in a spot almost nobody looks. Two Model 94s side by side on a bench, same caliber, same barrel length, same lever-gun silhouette every American knows on sight, and one is worth a few hundred dollars while the other is worth thousands. Most owners never learn to tell them apart. They inherit one, call it a thirty-thirty, lean it in the corner behind the coats, and either sell it for gas money or overpay for one at a show. Number eight is the single year that split every Model 94 ever made into keep versus shooter. Number one is why the ugliest, most beat-up gun in the room might be the winner.

 

Where To Safely Buy Silver

Above, 2024 American Silver Eagles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been a while since I last posted about silver coins, particularly silver American Eagles and Morgan silver dollars.

So, with that in mind, I found that USA Today posted on where to buy silver coins and bars safely.  

They start with:

Buying silver is easier than ever. Investors can purchase physical silver from online
dealers, local coin shops or precious-metals IRA providers, with options ranging from one-ounce coins to large silver bars.

Before you buy, it’s important to understand pricing and find a reputable dealer that fits your needs. This guide explains how to buy silver and key factors to consider before making a purchase. 

The current Comex silver spot price is around $66.00.

To read more, go here.

RVers Paying $100, $150—Even $200 A Night To Camp

Above, Route 66 RV Resort near Albuquerque charges over $80/night. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Remember the days when campsites at an RV park or commercial campground cost less than $50 a night? Strange as it may seem, it wasn't all that long ago.

The cost of a one night's stay at an RV park has gotten more expensive. $80 per night isn't unusual nor campsites over $100 per night is getting less rare these days.

Even thought prices have shot up, are you getting your money's worth? That is something that RV Travel took a look into in an article.

They begin with:

Remember when $50 seemed like a lot of money for an RV campsite? For plenty of RVers, it still is. But look around popular destinations today, and you’ll als

o find campsites advertised for $100, $150, and $200 or more per night. Go after a premium waterfront site at a high-end RV resort during peak season, and we’ve found published rates of $300, $400, and even close to $600 for a single night!

And to that, we ask: What in the world are you getting for all that money?

We dug into current 2026 campground pricing and looked at what some of the country’s more expensive RV resorts actually include. The answer isn’t quite as simple as “campgrounds have gotten ridiculously expensive.”

To read more, go here. 

7 Forgotten American Guns That Are Secretly Worth A Fortune

7 Forgotten American Guns That Are Secretly Worth a Fortune You Might Own One video from Dale Defense Gear.

Summary: 

That night I stood in Dale's hallway looking at an empty gun rack, and I learned the hard truth this whole video is built on: the model name on your gun means almost nothing, but a piece of paper you probably threw away decades ago could be worth six figures.

I walk you through seven forgotten American firearms — the Winchester Model 1894, the Model 1886, the Colt Single Action Army, the Colt Walker, and the Smith & Wesson 357 Registered Magnum among them — and show you exactly why an "ordinary" one sells for $500 while an identical model with the right documentation sells for $1.6 million at Rock Island Auction Company. You'll learn what a factory letter actually is, why the gun a thief grabs is almost never the valuable one 🔫, and the one document you can order this weekend for less than a box of ammo that separates a $7,000 revolver from a $1,500 paperweight. I also walk through the exact door hardware failure that let a thief into my neighbor's house, and the $0, 11-minute fix I made that same night 🔩.

If you've had guns sitting in a safe or a closet for years without ever checking what's actually behind them, this is the video where you finally go look. Grab a coffee, watch the whole thing, and go check your own rack this weekend — you might be sitting on more than you think.

Dale Defense Gear breaks down the real dollars-and-legality side of gun ownership so you're never the guy who sold history for scrap price.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.

To start off the week we have Nick Gilder with his 1978 hit, "Hot Child In The City." 

From Wikipedia:

Nick Gilder is a British-Canadian musician who first came to prominence as the frontman for the glam rock band Sweeney Todd. He later had a successful solo career as a singer/songwriter.

 

7 Legendary Classic Hunting Rifles That Defined Deer Hunting

7 Legendary Classic Hunting Rifles That Defined Deer Hunting | Winchester, Marlin, Savage Ranked video from Scoper 360°.

Summary:

Ranking the best classic hunting rifles that shaped North American hunting traditions. From the Winchester Model 1894 to the Remington 700, we tested which lever-action and bolt-action rifle earned number one for versatile hunting performance across terrain, distance, and game type.

 

Stupid School Principal

My "honorary sister" sent me this yesterday.

The original post was posted on Reddit and it involves a principal at a school regarding a 4th grader's parent wearing a Godzilla t-shirt.

Here's what the parent posted: 

Was wearing this tshirt when I picked up my 4th grade son from elementary school. Principal pulled me aside and said it's inappropriate. "It implies violence and destruction." and said I should exercise more caution when choosing what I wear to an elementary school.

Here's the shirt:

 

I've always felt that many people involved in our educational system, including teachers and administrators, lacked common sense and some are just plain assholes. This has to be another good example.

Some of the comments at the original post are hilarious.

Trump Returned To White House in an Emergency Right Now

Something is happening in regards to the Iran war causing President Trump to return from Camp David to the White House.

Benny Johnson posted a video on this development:

Ruger 10/22 Years to Avoid

Ruger 10/22 Years to Avoid — and the Exact Year the Quality Died video from Ivan's Journal and Ivan Jackson.

Summary:

I've watched guys walk into a gun store, point at a 10/22 on the rack, and say "just give me that one," like every year of that rifle came off the same line with the same attention and deserves the same price. Some of them are right. Some are paying twenty or thirty percent too much. And a few, the ones who know to look, are walking right past early production examples that have quietly become desirable on the used market without anybody making an announcement about it.

10 SHOCKING Facts About the Ruger 10/22

10 SHOCKING Facts About the Ruger 10/22 Most Owners DON’T KNOW video from Gun Go.

Summary:

10 SHOCKING Facts About the Ruger 10/22 Most Owners DON’T KNOW

 

Gerrit Graham Dies At 77

Sad news from Hollywood.

Actor Gerrit Graham has passed away at age 77.

According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Gerrit Graham, the interesting character actor who appeared in Phantom of the Paradise and three other early films for Brian De Palma and wrote the Grateful Dead song “Victim or the Crime” with Bob Weir, has died. He was 77. 

Graham died Tuesday in an assisted living facility in Rhinebeck, New York, his ex-wife, Dede Taylor, told The Hollywood Reporter. The cause was complications from lung disease.

Graham also portrayed an aspiring country singer in Paul Bartel’s Cannonball! (1976); a computer nerd opposite Julie Christie in Demon Seed (1977); the abusive boyfriend of Susan Sarandon’s character in Louis Malle’s Pretty Baby (1978); one of the scheming salesmen in Robert Zemeckis’ Used Cars (1980); and the foster father of Alex Vincent’s Andy Barkley in Child’s Play 2 (1990).

Used Cars has to be one of the funniest movies from the 1980s. If you have never seen it, I recommend finding a copy. The movie stars Kurt Russell and Jack Warden.

To read more, go here.

Here's the trailer for Used Cars:

Power Outage

Last evening, we had an area-wide power outage that lasted for several hours. It may have been weather-related as we had a thunderstorm last evening.

I went to bed about 45 minutes earlier than usual and when I woke up, the power was on.

According to the McKinley County Sheriff, who posted this on Facebook:

All of Gallup is without power. We believe this is a PNM feeder issue. We do not have an estimated time to restoration.

We will update this post when more is known.

We have received reports that Thoreau, Jamestown, and Gamerco are also without power.

Thoreau is about 15 miles east of Jamestown.

I joked on our Jamestown Community Facebook page that the dilithium crystals failed. (Trekkers would know about dilithium crystals.)

This is an area map of the outage:

Jamestown is not shown on this map. 

Continental Divide Electric Co-Op reported at 10:20 that power had been restored.

RV Travel Poll: Do You Own A Cowboy Hat?

Above, wearing my Stetson at the El Rancho Hotel restaurant.

In some regions of the U.S. law enforcement officers sport cowboy hats. 

In the Gallup, New Mexico area, many (including me) have cowboy hats. I have two, with one being a Stetson. Since I live at 7,000 feet above sea level, the air is thinner and those hats offer protection against the sun's rays. They offer more protection than do baseball caps. It is interesting that quite a number of the area's Native Americans also wear them.

RV Travel asked in a poll article, "Do you own a cowboy hat?" As of this writing, 59% of the responded with yes.

The article begins with:

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) police department updated their uniform policy awhile ago and it’s drawn quite a bit of attention. This change allows on-duty officers to sport cowboy hats, aligning them with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, which permitted the iconic hats earlier.

Now, the officers proudly showcase their cowboy hats on social media. That caught the eye of none other than Deion Sanders, the famous football coach and avid cowboy hat enthusiast. Sanders was so impressed that he offered to cover the cost of hats for the entire staff. However, Police Chief Mahoney clarified that officers would continue to buy their own hats, as these are considered optional accessories.

While the hats add a stylish touch to the officers’ uniforms, their purpose goes beyond fashion. Chief Mahoney pointed out that the wide brims provide excellent protection from the sun, which is especially beneficial during outdoor events like football games and concerts.

To read the full article and participate in the poll, go here.