Above, my pre-64 Winchester 94 .30-30 rifle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
At one of the Winchester 94 Facebook pages (yes, there's several of them), a link to an Outdoor Life article from 2022 was posted.
It starts with:
Over its more than 125-year lifetime, the lever-action .30-30 rifle has arguably killed more whitetail deer than any other single cartridge. And with the cartridge’s popularity still quite high, it’s doubtful it will be unseated in that category any time soon.
Released in 1895, just a year after the popular Model 1894 Winchester lever gun was introduced, the .30-30 Winchester was the first sporting cartridge loaded exclusively with smokeless powder. The original .30-30 Winchester load had a 160-grain round-nosed bullet leaving the muzzle at 1,970 feet per second, a substantial step up from other popular cartridges of the time like the .32-40 Win. (165-grain bullet at 1,450 fps) and .38-55 Win. (255-grain bullet at 1,320 fps).
The cartridge’s speed and power, combined with the lever-action’s capacity and quickness, made it an instant hit as a deer cartridge. Before long, it became a go-to choice for deer hunters.
I posted at a Winchester 94 Facebook page asking about what screw goes into the hole above the loading gate (see photo) on my rifle.
It turns out, it is NOT a screw hole.
This was a reply I received:
That is not a screw hole. It is to insert a punch after the screw is removed on the opposite side of the receiver. That allows the lever to be removed so you can take out the bolt.
This explains why I see so many pre-64 Winchester 94 carbines with a hole in the receiver. I was wondering if that was an inherent problem with them.
The fallen (blown down) Jack Rabbit Trading Post sign is back up! A crane was used to hoist it up onto its supports. This greatly sped up the repair process. It would have taken Tony Jacquez weeks to get the work done if he had to do it on his own.
Although the sign is back up, it still needs repairing. I would hazard a guess that it will be completed shortly.
Here's a photo from the Jack Rabbit Trading Post Facebook page:
Many thanks to all who came out to do today's work!
Above, the exhibit. Facebook image by the Cody Firearms Museum.
Last summer, Mitch Geriminsky and I visited the Cody Firearms Museum in Cody, Wyoming.
Actually, I visited it twice. I visited it a second time two days after the first.
They have a new temporary exhibit in Winchester firearms.
According to their Facebook post:
The Cody Firearms Museum is pleased to present our newest temporary exhibit, "Winchester: 160 Years in the Making." This display is in collaboration with the Ars Mechanica Foundation of the FN Browning Group and features 60 Winchester firearms arranged in chronological order, encompassing 160 years of Winchester's history.
The Cody Firearms Museum is housed in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and is well worth a visit.
The Winchester Facebook page posted an announcement of a new line of ammunition specifically for lever-action rifles.
It is called American Lever Range.
Here's their posting:
Now Shipping: American Lever™ Range!
Fresh off the manufacturing line and heading out the door — our new American Lever Range ammunition is officially shipping!
Built specifically for lever-action enthusiasts, this purpose-designed ammunition delivers smooth feeding & fast cycling, cleaner burning, and tighter groups so your classic lever guns can keep winning on the range.
Available in:
• .30-30 Win
• .357 Mag
• .44 Rem Mag
• .45 Colt
• .45-70 Gov
From the hands of our dedicated American workers straight to yours – proudly built in America with the best American manufacturing.
An argument has broken out in one of the Winchester Pre-64 Facebook pages.
A fellow posted photos of his Winchester 1890 and referred to it as a "gallery gun" in his posting. One person replied asking what makes it a gallery gun.
The thread then took a nasty turn with several members cussing at each other.
Out of curiosity, I looked up gallery guns and the Winchester 1890 was mentioned several times in the results.
While gallery guns can trace their origins as far back as the American Civil War, the practice of “gallery shooting” has more or less survived to this day. Shooting Galleries were more or less the same thing as the gun ranges we use today for practice. While one could only guess what some of these much older shooting galleries operated like, we do actually know what kind of firearms were most often used.
Some of the most common gallery guns included the Winchester Model 1890. This slide-action (pump-action) 22 caliber rifle was a popular choice for competitors and shooting gallery patrons that could also serve as a pest control rifle as it could accept everything from .22 Shorts (used for gallery shooting) all the way up to .22 Long Rifle. Another popular American example was the Remington Rider single-shot pistol, which was a dedicated offering for those who enjoyed the sport of gallery shooting – with some people going as far as to have a dedicated shooting parlor in their house.
Above, my Winchester 94 and 62A rifles. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
I have a Winchester Model 62A .22 rifle and it also has been called a gallery gun over the years. Some shooting galleries did use these rifles. I inherited it from my maternal grandfather. It was made in 1947.
A few years ago, I moved to New Mexico. The home I bought is at 7,000 feet above sea level where the air is thinner than at sea level.
Since the air is thinner, I felt it prudent to buy myself a cowboy style hat to keep dangerous rays of the sun from giving me skin cancer. A cowboy style hat offers more protection than a baseball cap. The back of one's neck is not protected by baseball caps.
The hat I bought was directly through the Stetson company. The hat I chose was a few hundred dollars, but it is of quality material and well made. It still looks as good as the day it arrived. Plus, it keeps my head warmer during winter months than a baseball cap does.
There's a "feller" from Louisville, Kentucky who makes custom hats. The business name is Wild Hats.
I've been seeing their Facebook posts on different hats they make. The guy featured seems quite talented and makes hats to customer specifications.
Here's a video:
:
From the Wild Hats website:
Welcome future WILD HAT FAMILY. So you stumbled upon us. Maybe you saw one of our hats out in the world. Maybe a friend told you about us. Maybe it was me talking to you in sunglasses on instagram and you thought, hell I need a nice hat. Let’s give this a shot. Regardless, our response is the same, welcome to WILDHATS. We look forward to getting to know you, Listening to you, and making you something you have never been able to find!
WILDHATS is built by artists, by musicians, by rebels, by the ones with a wildstreak. But what we share in common is we are all bespoke hat makers. Now this term gets thrown around a lot. “Custom hat maker”. While we agree anyone can make a hat. To make something that’s truly bespoke you have to do something that is severely lacking in the market. Which is to listen. That’s what we specialize in. We listen to what you want, we listen to what you don’t want. Then we act. Pretty simple, and it works for us and you every time. We don’t let our ego get in the way of making you what you are looking for.
Regarding the why? Well sometimes you just start doing something and you don’t stop. Maybe you have known this feeling in your life. An itch you couldn’t scratch, so you kept scratching and years later here we are. Still scratching. We just have a passion for protecting history. The old ways of doing things. When Quality mattered. So that’s our goal. To make you something timeless and to preserve anything that has stood the test of time.
Our story goes much deeper than this, but if we have piqued your curiosity, reach out via the many outlets this website has to offer and let’s share life stories and make some one of a kind art together.
Cheers Y’all!
-WildHats
If you are interested in getting a custom-made hat, their website is accessible here.
Above, a group photo of John Wayne and his young co-stars.
The final decade of John Wayne's movie career was a mixed bag. Some movies were good, some mediocre and some were great. All were entertaining to various degrees.
One of the great ones was The Cowboys (1972). Yesterday marked 54 years since The Cowboys was released. I remember seeing it at a theater during its initial release. It was directed by Mark Rydell. The score was composed by John Williams.
The John Wayne official Facebook page posted the following yesterday:
Celebrating 54 Years of The Cowboys (1972)
On January 13, 1972, The Cowboys premiered, marking a significant chapter in Western cinema. In this film, John Wayne portrays Wil Andersen, a seasoned rancher who, after losing his crew to a gold rush, enlists a group of schoolboys to drive cattle across treacherous terrain. The film is notable for being one of the few where Wayne's character meets an untimely end.
Directed by Mark Rydell, The Cowboys not only showcased Wayne's enduring talent but also launched the careers of several young actors, including Robert Carradine and A Martinez. The film's blend of grit and heart continues to resonate with audiences today.
To this day, some John Wayne fans hold a grudge against the movie's villain, Bruce Dern. He played a very unlikeable villain, but magnificently so. Around about that time, while my family and I were headed up Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu to attend the Point Mugu airshow, we saw Dern jogging along the side of the road.
If you haven't seen The Cowboys, I highly recommend seeing it. I have a DVD copy of it.
The following news certainly came as a shock yesterday.
Salvatore "Sammy" Chioda, known to Gallup and western New Mexico residents as "Sammy C", has passed away.
He was the owner of Sammy C's, a restaurant and sports bar in Gallup, and an announcer of KYAT-FM (broadcasting out of Gallup and Window Rock, Arizona).
His wife Marie posted the following on Facebook:
It is with my deepest sadness that I have to post the passing of my amazing husband, Salvatore “Sammy C” Chioda. He was the most outstanding husband, father, friend, and pillar of our community. We appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers at this time. At this time, we ask that all please respect the privacy of our family while we mourn this tremendous loss. Thank you.
I met him several years ago and last chatted with him at Sammy C's just before it closed. He was a nice guy and had a great voice that will be missed on KYAT-FM.
My condolences to Sammy's family and friends.
UPDATE:
A friend of Chioda's said that he died of pancreatic cancer.
Last night, I stayed up to watch the signing of the bill ending the Democrats' government shutdown by President Trump.
While up, I also went outside to see if there's any visible aurora.
Well, the bill signing went off without a hitch, putting an end to the shutdown.
Unfortunately, there was no aurora that I could see. I walked to a part of my front yard where no lights could wash out any views. There was no aurora that I could see.
I took the photo below from my porch.
On Facebook, I posted it with this caption: The aurora is really impressive!
The following was posted by Jamie Fraser-Page, the administrator of the Facebook page, Gun Owners of New Mexico:
It was impossible to avoid hearing about the shooting at a Catholic Church in Minneapolis, a parish church with a school attached not unlike the one in my neighborhood in Queens where several of my friends went. Some deranged individual, armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol fired all of them into the church where grade school kids were at prayer on the second day of the school year.
The coward took her own life. Or his life. The shooter was a transgender person, which will no doubt become part of the narrative from one side, just like the three firearms will become the main point from the other side. Neither fact is the reason this happened. It happened because people who knew this person and saw their descent into madness did nothing to stop it.
There were a lot of indicators. Detached, isolated, creating a YouTube manifesto to explain the inexplicable - why anyone would shoot into a church filled with kids from the ages of 6 and 14, killing two, 8 and 10 and wounding 14 others as well as three parishioners in their 80s. The shooter entered the church only after their deadly fusillade of gunfire ceased to end their life with a self-inflicted gunshot would.
We need to ask why no one saw this coming. Friends, parents, followers on YouTube and other social media must have known. And, assuming they could see it coming, why - why - did they do nothing to intervene and stop it before it started?
I wonder if this person's change from Robert to Robin was influenced by the increased normalization of transgenderism and by the incessant progressive's preaching abut "toxic masculinity. Perhaps for some M->F transgenders among the young their decision to identify as female is driven or exacerbated by a feeling of being treated as "toxic" by some.
While transgendered individuals according to several studies are only 0.6% of the population the number of young people ages 13 to 24, is twice the average across all ages. I am not saying that there is a direct connection between a person identifying as non-binary or transgender means that they will become mass shooters, just that among those who seem driven to this aberration it might be a contributing factor. Food for thought, at least.
We do a terrible job of identifying and treating the mentally ill. It is still an affliction viewed with a great deal of ignorance and fear - needlessly, since most people with mental health issues pose no threat to others and even little threat to themselves. But those who harbor suicidal and/or homicidal ideation - two sides of the same coin according to some - do pose such a threat. Few mass shooters are taken alive. After inflicting carnage on others they either take their own lives or force suicide by cop by taking precipitous action to trigger a lethal response.
We need to stop using these tragedies to further the agendas of the left or the right and actually *do* something to identify and fix the problem. So many mass shooters give a lot of notice that they are going to do something horrific. We need to listen, watch and get them the help they need, intervene to prevent them from carrying out these acts.
And, yes, when identified, they should be prevented from legally acquiring firearms. For nearly 60 years I have advocated for stripping from our laws the infringements to exercising our right to keep and bear arms protected by the 2nd Amendment . But I also feel that if a person is adjudicated a danger to self or others they need to be barred from access to firearms and explosives. And, if evidence is presented to a court of a credible threat, while a person's mental health is evaluated to rule out it posing a threat to self or others, they should not have access to firearms. This does not mean I support so-called Red Flag laws, since those lack due process. No right should be infringed upn nor abridged but by due process.
In the end, we as a society need to actually care - give a damn - about the incidents like this, which, though relatively rare compared to other types of killings happen far too frequently and are often preventable if due care is exercised. We need to push our elected representatives to create and fund programs to identify and get treatment for the millions of people with mental health issues and not turn a cold shoulder and a blind eye to their affliction. Out schools need to be especially observant of the signs and precursors of such acts and move to thwart them early by getting the individuals help. And, we need to consider having trained armed individuals in our schools and other places which have been targets in the past. And we need t avoid situations of command paralysis such as the one in Uvalde, TX. There is a lot we can do but we, the people need to push to make it happen. And it begins with giving a damn.
Above, a gun display photo posted by a Winchester group member on Facebook.
In one of the Winchester gun Facebook groups, a member was asking about ideas on how to display his Winchester rifle collection.
Several fellow members posted photos of their displays in response. All of them were quite nice, but they also raised a concern in my mind (and I said so in response).
It raised a concern that having such displays are invitations to burglars, especially display cases with glass doors or ones out in the open like in the above photo. I didn't even get to the possible legal problems (depending upon what states the displays are in) where it is unlawful for guns to be where children can gain access to them.
Personally, with the exception of a Manton shotgun that I have displayed on a rack in my living room, my guns are under lock and key in a gun cabinet. Unless the display is in a secure burglar-proof room, I wouldn't display guns out the open.
The Armory Life posted an article on gun displays and the trouble they can invite.
They begin it with:
There are many kinds of gun owners, but there are two types of firearms collectors. First, there are those who like to maintain secrecy when it comes to their collection. Their firearms tend to be locked away in fireproof safes or otherwise secured. Then there are those who display their antique and collectible firearms.
It would be easy to simply say, “To each their own” and leave it at that, but the truth is firearm laws are changing, and depending on where you live, it might be time to consider whether you can and should display firearms as you once did.
The last time I stepped foot at Circus Circus in Las Vegas was in 2015 when I took my daughter Amber there so she could interview with the dolphin show at The Mirage. We stayed at the Circus Circus RV Park.
Three days ago, Las Vegas Strip - Trip Reports Facebook page posted the following:
BREAKING LAS VEGAS
While an official announcement has not yet been made, rumors are growing that Circus Cicrus Hotel in Las Vegas will be demolished and replaced with a new luxury resort by a world known brand that I cant directly say yet. I would stop in several more times if you have the chance. Circus Circus is apparently up for Sale!
Circus Circus has been a popular hotel and casino since the 1960s. It was featured the 1971 James Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever starring Sean Connery. We stayed at the hotel tower in 1986 when I got married.
It has been a bit rundown in recent years. This has also fed to rumor mill.
It would not come as a surprise if the rumors turn out to be true. Too bad, if so.
A few days ago, ABC7 posted the following on Facebook:
Gov. Gavin Newsom is demanding to know why California's gas prices are so much higher than the prices in other states.
The governor has tasked the attorney general with investigating why California drivers are paying as much as $1 more per gallon. Is it price gouging? Or something else? https://abc7.la/33OfIUf
For anyone who either lives (or lived) in California in recent years knows the answer. It is the one-party state government (i.e., Democrats) that over-regulated and over-taxed gasoline and oil in the state. Newsom should take a look in the mirror for his answer.
Now comes a new kicker, and this is from RV Travel:
Hold onto your wallets—California’s gas prices are on track to hit a jaw-dropping $8.44 per gallon by the end of 2026, and experts warn the financial aftershocks could slam Western states too. With two major refineries set to close and a tangle of new state regulations driving up costs, the Golden State’s gas crisis isn’t just a local headache—it’s shaping up to be a regional economic earthquake. The specter of $8 gasoline is enough to make a trip back East look downright inexpensive.
Now nearly $5… $8 gasoline could happen
The highest gas prices in the country are out West. California hits the top of the gauge with an average price per gallon of $4.78 as of Tuesday, May 6. But a new analysis says you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. With the shutdown of two of the state’s refineries in the offing, the findings point to the possibility of pump prices hitting $8.44 by the end of next year. But state lines won’t stop the pump pain—neighbors Nevada and Arizona may feel the big bite, too.
A study released by the University of Southern California took a look at the Golden State’s history of gas prices, its supply of oil, and the capacity of state refineries. It factored in the potential impact of closing two refineries (representing 20% of the state’s refining capacity), and took in the cost of fees and regulations. In the end, this study says $8 gasoline is likely.
Every time I see stories like the above, I have to thank my lucky stars that I moved out of Commiefornia just in the nick of time before Newsom took over. I've been living in New Mexico, where gasoline is under $3.00/gallon, for seven years. No regrets!
Above, Meteor City Trading Post in July 2020. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
The new owners of Meteor City Trading Post have been hard at work in restoring the old trading post on Route 66 outside of Winslow, Arizona.
The previous owner was only getting started on the restoration when cancer cut him down. The new owner picked up the torch and is proceeding with the restoration. The area is called Meteor City due to its close proximity to the famous Meteor Crater.
The best news is that they are planning a grand opening on Memorial Day. I am seriously considering attending. If I do, I'll have to wear my Meteor City Trading Post t-shirt.
To see their Facebook page, go here. To go to their website, go here.
There have been many detractors questioning John Wayne's exemption from military service during World War II.
The official John Wayne Facebook page has posted the following to set the record straight:
Though many questioned John Wayne’s exemption from military service during World War II, the decision was not entirely his fault. Duke was classified as 3-A (family deferment) due to his age (34) and family status at the time of Pearl Harbor. Despite this, he repeatedly wrote to John Ford, asking to be placed in Ford's military unit, but Ford continually postponed it until after one more film.
Wayne did not try to prevent his reclassification to 1-A (draft eligible), but Republic Pictures, where he was under contract, fought hard to keep him. President Herbert J. Yates even threatened Duke with a lawsuit if he left, and Republic intervened with the Selective Service to request his deferment.
During the war, John Wayne dedicated his time to supporting the troops, serving Thanksgiving dinners at the Hollywood Canteen, touring with the USO in the South Pacific, and portraying the American soldier with dignity and courage. After Christmas 1942, he began a three-month USO tour across Australia, New Britain, and New Guinea.
Decades later, Duke continued to visit troops on the frontlines, including in Vietnam, where he spent time with soldiers in the trenches. It was a way for him to engage with everyday soldiers on a personal level, offering morale and support during an active conflict.
Above, counterfeit Morgan and Silver Eagle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Did you know that counterfeit coins are illegal to possess, buy or sell?
According to ACEF, they are:
According to federal law, counterfeit coins are illegal to possess, buy or sell. Hence, once a victim becomes aware that a coin is counterfeit, he/she should turn it over to the nearest Secret Service agent or local law-enforcement official. Often that is impractical because of distance or law enforcement being reluctant to spend time to recover one or two counterfeit items, especially fake coins.
When I bought some counterfeit silver coins a few years ago through an ad in Facebook, I thought they looked wrong and tested them with a magnet. They stuck to the magnet. Silver is not magnetic. It turned out that they originated from China.
I notified the local sheriff and gave the coins to them as I was aware that they are illegal to possess. Thankfully, I got my money back when I notified my bank of the fraud.
However, one can possess counterfeit coins and ACEF tells you how to do so.
By the way, according to ACEF, the Morgan Dollar is the most counterfeited coin:
The Morgan silver dollar is the most frequently counterfeited U.S. coin, according to coin dealers responding to a survey conducted by the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force in June 2018.
To find out how you can legally own counterfeit coins, go here.
Above, the Grand Canyon with the Colorado River flowing through. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
Today in history, President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill establishing Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona.
From the Grand Canyon National Park Facebook page:
Today marks the 106th anniversary of Congress establishing Grand Canyon National Park - in order to preserve and protect one of the world's most awe-inspiring natural wonders.
Over the past century, the National Park Service has worked tirelessly to protect the park's resources, to maintain trails and facilities, and to make Grand Canyon accessible to millions of visitors from all around the globe.
Above, our campsite at Trailer Village RV Park at the South Rim. Photo by Armand Vaquer.
It is hard to believe that we've reached 106 years. I bought a commemorative coffee mug for the 100th anniversary.
I have been to the Grand Canyon's South Rim several times and the North Rim in 1972. I was last at Grand Canyon National Park in 2017 and stayed at Trailer Village RV Park at the South Rim.
