The Oldest Weapons Still Carried By Average Americans

Above, my Winchester Model 12 shotgun is over 100 years old but still shoots just fine. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When one walks into a gun store these days, they see firearms that are nice and sexy-looking. Whether new guns are reliable and well make are up to the buyer's research before buying.

While some like the new flashy firearms, there are also some who prefer older firearms. I personally prefer guns with nice wooden stocks over polymers. 

24/7 Wall St. posted a list of the oldest weapons still carried by Americans. There are seven listed and I have three of them.

They begin with:

Even though the firearms market is full of slick, high-tech weapons with modern optics and polymer frames, a surprising number of gun owners continue to carry designs that are a hundred years old—or even older. With some 46% of Americans owning guns, these time-tested classics show up everywhere: tucked inside nightstands, riding in truck cabs, and strapped to the hips of hunters, farmers, and urbanites. So why do so many Americans still hold on to these weapons in a world of tactical upgrades and cutting-edge ballistics? It boils down to reliability, familiarity, and—for a lot of folks—nostalgia. Here’s a look at the oldest firearm models everyday Americans still carry in 2025, and why newer isn’t always better when it comes to personal protection and tradition.

To read more, go here. 

10 Best-Selling Lever-Action Rifles In The U.S.

Above, lever-action rifles on display at the Billy the Kid Museum
in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Lever-action rifles have made a big resurgence in popularity in recent years.

Companies such as Rossi, Smith & Wesson, Marlin (now owned by Sturm, Ruger & Co.) and others are manufacturing them to meet high demand. 

24/7 Wall St. has listed ten the best-selling lever-action rifles of today in the United States.

They begin with:

Designed in the United States over 170 years ago, the lever-action rifle is, perhaps, the most iconic American firearm. An offshoot of earlier prototypes, the Henry and Spencer lever-actions were the first successful, widely produced repeater rifles — and were used by some U.S. Army units as early as 1860. In the following decades, lever-action rifles were used across the Western frontier.

24/7 Wall St. Key Points:

• Lever-action rifles are perhaps the most iconic American firearm. 
• First gaining popularity over a century and a half ago, lever-action repeaters remain relevant today — and Americans have some clear preferences for certain makes and models.

To read more, go here.

What States Have The Most Gun Stores?

Above, Bass Tackle Master in Lake Havasu City. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whenever I visit friends in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, I marvel at the number of gun stores in the city. They seem to be as plentiful there as nail salons in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. The city of Phoenix has the most in the state.

This raised a question: What states have the most gun stores?

24/7 Wall St. says that the state of Wyoming has the most. Arizona comes in at number 30.

They posted an article on this a year ago and it begins with:

The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates America’s guns and ammunition industry directly generated over $60.5 billion in economic activity in the last two years alone. Much of that was fueled by record-breaking gun sales following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as millions of Americans across the country – including many first-time gun buyers – flocked to firearm retailers. 

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, there are over 56,700 federally licensed gun stores in the United States. Adjusting for population, this comes out to about 17 for every 100,000 Americans. 

In certain parts of the country, however, the concentration of gun stores is far higher than average. This is particularly the case in states with deeply ingrained gun cultures — where gun rights are well protected and where residents are most likely to have a gun in their home. 

Using data from the ATF, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most gun stores. We ranked all 50 states on the number of federally licensed firearm dealers, including pawn shops, for every 100,000 residents. ATF firearm retailer data is current as of October 2023 and was adjusted using population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey. 

 To read more, go here.

America's Most-Popular Lever-Action Rifles

Above, Winchester 1894 .30-30 made in 1962. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For a few years, I was on the lookout for a Winchester Model 1894 lever-action rifle, particularly one made prior to 1964. 

Then, in April 2019, while browsing through Ron Peterson's Firearms in Albuquerque, I found one that was made in 1962. Without hesitation, I bought it. It was exactly what I was looking for.

There seems to be a resurgence in the popularity of lever-action rifles. There are several of different makes available. 

24/7 Wall St. has posted an article on the most popular lever-action rifles.

They begin it with:

A uniquely American rifle, the lever-action was invented in the United States, where it has remained popular for over 150 years. While never officially adopted by the U.S. military as a standard issue firearm, lever-actions were widely used during the Civil War and by American law enforcement in the early- to mid-twentieth century. Today, lever-action rifles are common in gun cabinets across the country.

Lever-actions tend to be shorter in length than other rifles, making them lighter and ideal for densely forested areas. While they also tend to be faster firing than bolt-action rifles, lever-actions are also more mechanically complex, making them harder to clean and arguably less accurate.

While lever-actions have some inherent advantages and disadvantages, they are an iconic firearm, and several models rank among the best selling rifles in the United States.

Using a report from Gun Genius, which analyzed sales data from the online firearm marketplace GunBroker.com, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 most popular lever-action rifles in America. Rifles are ranked on sales volume in the 2023 calendar year, though exact sales figures were not provided. Supplemental data on domestic manufacturing locations and production volume in 2021 are from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

To read more, go here. 

Best Mexican Restaurants In Every State

Above, a plate of enchiladas at Genaro's, my favorite restaurant in Gallup, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's one for you foodies!

Just before the most recent lockdown was ordered by New Mexico's governor, Russell Azbill (one of the Jamestown, New Mexico gang) and I headed over to the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup to get some Mexican food.

Going out to eat is something everyone enjoys doing and it is a crime for politicians to single out restaurants of any cuisine for some of the most stringent lockdowns. Many have gone out of business as a result.

New Mexico is the "Chile Capital of the World" and there's plenty of Mexican restaurants in the state. The chile rellenos are fabulous here, as are the enchiladas. So far, my favorite Mexican eateries in Gallup, New Mexico are Genaro's, Don Diego's Restaurant & Lounge, Virgie's, The Restaurant at the El Rancho Hotel, Earl's Family Restaurant and Cocina De Dominguez. 

So, while we're waiting to be able to go out and dine again, I thought I would provide some information on the best Mexican restaurants in every state. These are based on Yelp scores.  

These are provided by the fine folks at 24/7 Wall St.

Some pertinent snippets:

The food Americans have missed the most during long months of not dining out — and most look forward to eating again when restaurant-going gets back to normal — is Mexican, according to figures compiled by DoorDash, the nation’s largest food delivery service.

In addition, says the company, three Mexican-style dishes were among the 10 most often ordered items for home delivery in the first six months of this year — breakfast burritos, spicy shrimp tacos, and chicken fajitas.

If any further proof is needed that we love Mexican food in this country, Mexico came in second only to Italy as the country with the best food overall, according to Ranker readers responding to a survey the site conducted last year. And Mexican is the second most popular “ethnic” cuisine in the United States after Chinese — and the number-one favorite in some 27 states — according to an analysis of Google searches for various cuisines conducted by the website Chef’s Pencil.

Of course “Mexican” can mean different things to different people: sea urchin tostadas with bone marrow salsa at Cosme in Manhattan; black mole enchiladas with chorizo at Guelaguetza in Los Angeles; a five-item combination plate at the nationwide Chevy’s Fresh Mex chain; even a keto salad bowl with adobo chicken at the ubiquitous Chipotle or a never-in-Mexico creation like a Quesarito or a Crunchwrap Supreme at the local Taco Bell. (These are the top 15 Mexican chains in America.)

In this listing of the best Mexican restaurant in every state based on Yelp scores, 24/7 Tempo has included establishments of every type — elegant contemporary restaurants, family-style neighborhood places, bare-bones counter-service establishments. Some specialize in the cuisines of specific regions of Mexico. Some offer the standard fare we’ve come to expect, but done particularly well. Some take the Mexican flavor palate as an inspiration and invent dishes of their own. 

These restaurants range from the casual to the sophisticated, the Americanized to the authentic, but every one is a place you’ll want to try.

To see what are the best Mexican restaurants in every state, go here. 

25 Largest (and 25 Smallest) National Parks

Above, Lower Yellowstone Falls. Where does Yellowstone National Park rank in size? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Do you know what are the 25 largest (and 25 smallest) U.S. national parks?

If you don't, but want to find out, 24/7 Wall St. has an article that will answer that question.

They begin it with

Interest in national parks has been soaring in recent years. In fact, total visits to U.S. national parks exceeded the population of the nation in 2016 alone. Exploring the wilderness, hiking through mountains and sleeping under the stars are just some of the experiences visitors to U.S. national parks can share with the pioneers who built the country. 

The national park concept was an idea championed by Theodore Roosevelt. As president, Roosevelt protected about 230 million acres of public land and signed into law the 1906 American Antiquities Act. This act set aside certain public natural areas as park and conservation land to be preserved for historic and scientific interest. These areas were designated as national monuments. Ten years later, Congress passed the Organic Act, creating the National Park Service. 

While Americans approve of preserving their land, setting aside areas as national parks and monuments has sparked controversy in the past, sometimes pitting conservationists against ranchers, developers, and even tourists. The latest chapter in this sometimes contentious issue involves the Trump administration, which is considering shrinking the size of more than two dozen national monuments and turning over the space for private use. 

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the size of all the national parks, historical parks, recreational areas and national monuments in the country to determine their size using data provided by the National Park Service.

Yellowstone National Park ranks at number 5 on the list of the 25 largest national parks.

To see the lists of the largest and smallest national parks, go here.