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Henry Rifle Serial No.1, Presented to President Lincoln’s Secretary of War
In the 19th century, firearms manufacturers frequently provided elaborate presentation arms to those who could influence large, lucrative contracts. New Haven Arms had just developed a repeating firearm, the Henry rifle, and a sizeable government contract would have all-but guaranteed success.
The company sent several highly embellished arms to influential persons, but the most famous trio are known among collectors today as the “Lincoln Cabinet guns.” President Lincoln’s rifle, serial no. 6, now resides in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. U.S. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles’ Henry rifle, serial no. 9, is displayed at the Autry Museum of the American West. Edwin Stanton’s Henry, serial no. 1, is the last example available to the collecting public.
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Manufactured in 1912, this is an incredible example of Winchester's early 20th century "Highly Finished Arms", a highly attractive, John Ulrich signed, factory master panel scene engraved and gold inlaid Model 1895 rifle with a beautiful factory carved stock. These John Moses Browning designed lever actions have become deeply associated with the legendary outdoorsman and President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt, particularly when chambered in the venerable .405 W.C.F.
It was a Winchester Model 1895 in the powerful .405 cartridge that took most of the large and dangerous game during Teddy's Smithsonian–Roosevelt African Expedition from 1909 to 1910, with Roosevelt noting that "The Winchester .405 is, at least for me personally, the medicine gun for lions." The Model 1895 represented a modernization of Winchester's classic lever action, designed to handle the most powerful hunting cartridges of the time, and has become essentially synonymous with the American sportsman of the turn of the century.
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The Death of Duty: How Modern Stories Replaced Character Formation with Self-Expression
For most of human history, stories were one of the primary mechanisms through which societies transmitted values from one generation to the next. Long before formal schools, standardized curricula, or mass media, stories taught children what was admirable, what was shameful, what behaviors were expected, and what sacrifices were necessary. They preserved traditions, transmitted cultural knowledge, and helped shape character.
If we compare many of the stories that shaped previous generations with those increasingly popular today, a striking difference emerges. Older stories were often about character formation. Newer stories are increasingly about self-expression.
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RED DOT STUDY DATA COLLECTION – YOUR INPUT NEEDED
In September KR Training will be presenting the results of their old “red dot vs irons vs lasers” study, where they measured performance of 120+ shooters at 5 and 10 yards using four different sighting systems.
They are collecting additional data this summer on shooter performance at 10 and 20 yards, and allowing people to self-report their data. The instructions are here. (Opens to a .pdf)
They are accepting user-submitted data from now until August 15, 2026. All you need is a pistol with an optic and usable backup irons, four B-8 target centers, 20 rounds of ammo and a timer or stopwatch (you can use a phone timer) to give you 10 and 20 second par times.
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3rd Generation S&W Pistol Numbering
The Smith & Wesson 9mm was the first police semi auto to be widely adopted. This was in the form of the Model 39 and later the 59 in a 15 round magazine. For what they were, they were quite advanced. Eventually, both the Beretta 92 and Sig P226 took a big market share from S&W, forcing them to innovate. So they in essence copied the traits of both their competitors. Something S&W would become famous for.
There have been rumblings of S&W bringing back this series. I doubt that they will but if so it could be a huge win for those who have gone back to the traditional double action system.
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The Future of the Brass Cartridge Case
Advances in technology and manufacturing are ushering in radical changes in cartridge case design. It may not be an extinction event on the horizon for the readily reloaded, one-piece brass version, but the times are changing—fast.
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Steel Case vs. Brass Case: The Real Performance Difference
Steel-cased ammunition is cheaper. Brass-cased ammunition is better. That's the conventional wisdom, and it's mostly right. But "better" doesn't always mean "necessary," and the performance gap between steel and brass isn't as simple as most shooters assume. Here's what actually differs between the two, and when each one makes sense.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, typically in a 70/30 ratio for ammunition casings. It's naturally elastic, meaning it expands under pressure and then contracts back to near its original dimensions. This expansion-contraction cycle is what seals the chamber during firing and allows clean extraction afterward.
Steel is harder and less elastic. It doesn't expand and contract as smoothly as brass. To compensate, steel cases are typically coated with a lacquer, polymer, or zinc wash to reduce friction during extraction.
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Optic Review: C&H DMO and Comp Red Dot Sights
C&H Precision made its name milling slides and making adapter plates for red dot sights. They still do all of that, but about a year ago, they came out with their own line of reflex sights and so far, the models they’ve introduced are very competitive.
While C&H offers optics with a variety of features and in a range of footprints, their latest innovation is their Direct Mount Optic line that lets you ditch the use of an optic plate if you’re running a gun from one of seven of the post popular pistol makers (CZ, GLOCK, HK, SIG SAUER, Smith & Wesson, Taurus, and Walther).
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Starr Model 1863 Army Single Action Percussion Revolvers
Unlike most previous American revolvers, the Starr Model 1858 Navy and Army revolvers were double action and thus offered a superior rate of fire compared to Colt’s popular revolvers. The U.S. military was intentionally kept small during this period since as a large military was widely considered to be a threat to liberty. Therefore, initial government orders for firearms were fairly limited. However, that all changed when the North and South failed to reconcile during the secession crisis of 1860 and 1861 resulting in the attack on Fort Sumter by Confederate forces on April 12, 1861.
While many in the South saw their fight as a new American Revolution to protect assaults on their livelihoods and rights, a large number of citizens in the North saw it as a fight for national unity, and thus “E Pluribus Unum” was a frequent slogan on arms and equipment, including many powder flasks, often alongside other designs drawn from the Great Seal of the United States, especially the bald eagle.
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My entry into the website landed on a professional-looking page for the magazine loader and the price was very good. As I looked around the website, I noticed that all their prices really seemed too good to be true—they were.
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Per Paul Howe: While training with more and more law enforcement agencies, I have found that a potentially dangerous practice has been implemented into their SOP’s. This being the ignoring of the weapon manual safety. Many tactical teams are moving from the Last Covered and Concealed (LCC) position to the breach point in a linear formation with a straight finger and the weapon on fire. Further, they conduct a great deal of interior movement and room clearing with the weapon on fire and a straight finger.____________________
At just 15.3 ounces, the Banish 46-V2 still advertises a sound reduction of 30 decibels. Overall length is 8 inches with a 1.59-inch diameter, and it’s finished in black Cerakote. Like other Banish cans, the 46-V2 is made and assembled in the U.S. and sold through South Dakota-based Silencer Central.
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Stop Recording: Cameras Used Against You
Stop using surveillance cameras, ring cameras, and dash cams to record information; those cameras may likely be used against you! Armed Attorneys Emily Taylor and Richard Hayes discuss 6 ways personal surveillance cameras and recordings could be used against you, as well as safer alternatives for safe home recording.
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