Best List of Firearms Owners Manual Ever

Stephen Ricciardelli

There is a guy from Saint Marie, Montana named Stephen Ricciardelli. He has compiled enormous amounts of information about firearms. The main purpose for writing this blog is to make sure I do not lose his website address. My brother Chris sent me the link to his Firearms Owners Manual Page . I spent some time exploring his site. His main Firearms Page has great links. If you visit that page be sure to scroll down and see them. He also has a Firearms Catalog Page. You will also find a Reloading Page. On the Reloading Page you have to click on the target links to find his charts.

Take sometime and visit his site. I didn't see advertising even though there are links to some of my favorite manufacturers. It is not a slick site but is loaded with useful information, tables and charts. He does accept donations which I would encourage. Earmark this Blog page to keep up with this site.

Keep your powder dry.

Gary Barker

Happy 100th Birthday 1911 .45 Automatic

My brother Chris Barker, III recently sent this note out to family and selected friends. A warm sentimental holiday greeting:

Happy 100th Birthday 1911 .45 Automatic

The John M. Browning designed, Colt manufactured, .45 caliber self loading pistol was adopted by the U.S. Government as the nation's standard sidearm and designated the U.S. Model of 1911.

Many fine pistols have been designed since, but none have equaled the 1911 .45 Automatic.  The 1911 proved itself the superior sidearm in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.  Many troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have requested and have been reissued .45 automatics, as the current issue 9mm Parabellum Beretta has proved to lack in stopping power.

Now in 2011, if a need for self defense arose, I would reach for my Colt ,45 Automatic.

Best regards,

Chris

The year 1911 is a very special year for both my brother and I. Our father and our favorite pistols were born that year. Our father who served in the state legislature and the US Navy left us a special legacy. Upon his death, many years ago, we discovered that he had two 1911 .45 Automatic on the shelf in his office. One would assume that they were his service weapons. He had served in both the Atlantic and Pacific in World War II and had commanded a large tanker during the Korean Conflict. He entered Annapolis in 1927 at age 16. His father, a country doctor told him that cash was scarce. He needed to obtain an appointment from the local Congressman to secure a college education. Our grandfather planned for him to serve his obligation and enter medical school. Daddy enjoyed his life in the Navy and stayed until he reached the rank of Rear Admiral.

He was a very straight individual and certainly would have relinquished all US property to the appropriate authority.  The pistols we found were new in the box and never fired. The fact that there were two indicates that he planned for us to find and possess them. He was not a shooter during our lifetime, but both of us enjoy shooting sports. I suppose he had burned enough powder out of 8 inch barrels during the war.

I have to believe he had acquired them with us in mind. Perhaps he enjoyed the fact they were labeled 1911 his birth year. What a wonderful legacy for sons to receive from a father after his death. In 2011 I will certainly remember Rear Admiral Chris Barker, Jr and 1911 .45 Automatics as they celebrate the first hundred years of their heritage.

Keep your powder dry,

Gary Barker

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True Grit 2010

After John Wayne and Kim Darby’s portrayals of Rooster Cogburn and Mattie Ross, I was skeptical about how anybody could follow in their footsteps or possibly do an even better job.  I was amazed.  The new movie was simply wonderful.  The main roles were:

Jeff Bridges– Rooster Cogburn

Hailee Steinfield– Mattie Ross

Matt Damon– Texas Ranger LeBoeuf

Josh Brolin – Tom Chaney

It should be noted that Hailee Steinfield was truly 14 years old when she acted the part of 14-year-old Mattie Ross.  Ms. Steinfeld commented that the new things that she learned from that role were revolver shooting and cigarette rolling.  Noble achievements indeed.

My lifelong enthusiasm for old American firearms just about caused me to foam at the mouth while I was watching this newly made True Grit movie.  I believe the film was made with modern made replicas, as originals are now too valuable to be thrown around on a movie set.  Aldo Uberti in Italy makes the best replica 19th Century American firearms.  The best Ubertis are marketed by Cimarron Firearms in Fredericksburg, Texas.  The Cimarron guns are marked exactly as are the originals.  I do not know which gun maker was represented in True Grit, but I have a strong feeling that most of them were Ubertis.  Rooster had a 7 ½” barreled Colt Peacemaker and an 1873 Winchester rifle.  Mattie had a Third Model Colt Dragoon percussion revolver.  I’m not sure but I believe Ranger LeBoeuf’s sidearm was an 1875 Remington.  His Sharps Carbine was a military model as it has a side bar and a saddle ring.  It could have been made by Uberti, C. Sharps, or Shiloh.  In reality any military Sharps of that era would have been chambered for the .50-70 or .45-70 Government cartridge.  The cartridges in LeBoeuf’s belt appeared a bit too long to be .45-70s, but my eyesight isn’t so hot anymore.  Maybe they were .45-70s.  Tom Chaney’s rifle was a Henry lever action.  Every gun toting character in the film had a weapon that was absolutely authentic for the period of the movie, which I believe was somewhere abound 1876-1878.  There were Colt percussion revolvers, Remington and Colt cartridge revolvers, Henry rifles, 1866 & 73 Winchester rifles, and of course LeBeouf’s Sharps. I noted that all the gun leather was period correct as well.  One of the bad guys even has a Mexican triple loop holster.

Lastly, the English used in the movie was perfect for America in 1876.  The dialect for each individual was just right for his or her class.

Needless to say I loved the whole thing.  This new True Grit followed the book better that the John Wayne version.  Go see it.  You won’t be sorry.  

Keep your powder dry,

Chris Barker

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