Heck, ain't most everbody a cowboy at heart? Take a deep breath, a deep seat, and turn this rascal out..

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Eccentric old coot

Ah Ha!

Yup, we grow 'em Cowboy in these parts.

Kick the the latch on 'im...Can't ride 'em in here.




Ya gotta talk cowboy to these knot heads...
They's don't savvy the King's English much!



Su Amigo,
Dave

Oh almost forgot...Sneak Peek,

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Dave you are a rascal.
DW

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"NUTS"

All right, sir! Bring it on!!!

I can't fault anyone for having an enjoyable time.

Warren,
Thanks for have a good sense of humor...Hope your havin a little fun outta this thread as well.

Folks sumtimes ask if 'we really talk that this' and I must say, jest here's 'bouts...

Stay tuned, could be a few more laughs to be had.

Su Amigo,
Dave

I sumtimes even use some 'cowboy phrases on my horse...
Especially when he's being a lit'l snuffy.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Likewise.

BTW, I was in your state (assuming Texas) until just this morning. Houston and Galveston on business. It's already too hot for me!

Dave,

I've used a few of them "cowboy phrases" after gittin' bucked off of one them "snuffy" ponies a few times too.

My pore ol Stetson was throwed on the ground an awful lot of times with me still in it.

Just to keep this gun oriented, if anybody believes ol Elmer's tale of shootin' a pony whilst he was hung up in stirrup and draggin' along side, ain't never been bucked off of a horse.

That said, I believe ever word ol Elmer ever wrote. I believe some of it was true and some was just a leetle tiny bit of a stretch on the truth, but I believe it.

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Eccentric old coot

Yes Sir Iggy...It's is a wise man that carry's his shooter with him ahorseback.

Now this here is a true story involving a Smith & Wesson revolver.

It was an early February morning an I was lining out a short string of
knot-headed bronc mules for a little schooling on the parade grounds.

Wells, we make a pretty good circle and arrive back at the barn about noonish.
It was a drizzling rain and a lit'l on the muddy side of things. As I step down to the ground,
my rubber pack boot gets all jammed up and hung in the stirrup. I make a little short hop toward my saddle pony.
Which by the way is kinda a little on the broncy side his own-self, well now he buggers and jerks yours truly down.

We headed toward open corral gate and open range...Caught by the left foot and my ol head boppin' on the ground
at a clip that would have left a Derby winner eatin dust.

Wells, I'm tryin to pull my sixgun for to put one in this here run-away's boiler room. Couldn't get to my revolver,
my gunbelt was up under my arm pits, my gun was digging into my shoulder blade...I was in one hell of a fix.

Things was look purty grim for this boy. All that was left to do was udder a word or two to my Maker and let fate take it's course.
I sez,"Lord this sure's a rough way to die!"

Wells, wouldn't ya know it about that time, that ol pony planted a hind foot right in my middle and I popped loose jest like a cork from a jug!

That string of mules was a followin along right close, didn't but two or three of 'em run over me.

Now this ain't been too many years ago...I's wasn't no young man by any means.

Gone to usin belt keeps after that with my gunbelt.

Su Amigo,
Dave

Sneak Peek....

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Just wanted to give a Thanx to Dave n Iggy n da rest. While my "Hoss" is made a steel, i always look forward to the post from you fellasBrings to mind when i used to wait for the next book from ole Louis LaMour. I think deep down everyone wants ta be a cowboy at some times, n you fellas are a treat to read.Whiles i dont have my Winchester in a scabbard crossed me saddle, i do keep an old S&W in me saddlebagsViyo con Dios Amigos. Mike.....from the "Badlands" of south Chicago.

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45.acp-why shoot twice.

Wells, I'm tryin to pull my sixgun for to put one in this here run-away's boiler room. Couldn't get to my revolver,
my gunbelt was up under my arm pits, my gun was digging into my shoulder blade...I was in one hell of a fix.

Things was look purty grim for this boy. All that was left to do was udder a word or two to my Maker and let fate take it's course.
I sez,"Lord this sure's a rough way to die!"


This perzactly what I was talkin' about with Ol Elmer's tale.

Been there, done that, and it warn't purty.

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Eccentric old coot

It's times like these when I'm reminded that the Almighty must be partial to cowboys (and rural lawmen). Been in my share of wrecks over the years and I'm still here reading and enjoying these posts and waiting to see what Dave conjers up next.

Dave and Iggy,
I really enjoy your banter and stories, but I hope you don't fall into the habit of using "boolits" in place of "bullets"! Roy and Gene wouldn't approve of that at all!
Dick

Sometimes I wonder what it was like to have grown up out west. Where I live here in NY there are horses but its because city people want to come up and watch them run around in a circle. Or if you were like my grandfather they were used to skid out wood. I can say I rode a few when I was a kid, my grandfather's neighbors had some, and when I went out west to Arizona when I was 12 I rode some again, but here in the Adirondacks we do alot of walking, the city folks call it hiking but I think hiking makes it sound like too much work, I either do it for fun or when I am hunting. One of the things that gets me is how many people I meet on state trails seem to get a shock out of me wearing a handgun on a trail. I don't go out of my to advertise, but its there just the same. My favorite was back in 2005 when I was up on the Mount Marcy trail which is the tallest in NY and I had my .41 Magnum on my hip. I walked past a man and woman who were a couple of miles back, all decked out like they were going to some shindig, anywhere but some mountain trail some 15 miles from the nearest town. They walked past and I heard her whisper "He's got a gun." and them him say "Shut up and keep going." I can only imagine them probably retelling that story over cocktails somewhere.
I love old sixguns and the stories behind them, from the time my nephew was with me fishing at a little spot and he grabbed me because a large water snake had latched onto a bluegill he had on stringer. I had a nickel Model 36 with me but before I could get a bead on him the snake went under. My nephew had joked about beating me in fast draw but not after that. It was kind of a bonding moment since I had helped raise him and we were more like brothers. His father has spent time in jail and prison and has done little else. He knew after that moment as I later found out that he said he would not have to worry if I was with him. It's funny how little things, like me almost putting a bullet into a water snake wanting some sushi can bring a family a little closer.

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Vaya con Dios

Well now my bona fides is that I know what galusses are, the last two times I got dumped my 65 stayed in the holster I made for it, and it took me a bit to figure out my insurance is paid up and my lovely Bride talked me into a 6 year old gelding that had never been rode. Used a 4" nickle 57 to get the javalena, so thats were I got the handle. I'd say I enjoy your yarns, but I know they aren't. There are posers and wanna be's like me but Iggy and Mr. Keith you are the real deal! Thanks for shareing. Mark

Good thing that broomtail broncstomped you sumplace soft!

If'n he'd hit anythang any softer, it'd had to be between the ears.


Drew,

I'll only tell this cause I was packin a pre-model number N frame 357 at the time...

My brother and a pard of his came up with this lit'l ol Cessna airplane one time, a 170 best I recall.
The only place there was that was fairly flat and not too awful rough too use as a strip wasn't all that good.

As a matter of fact it fell off right sharp after a couple or three hundred yards in to a purty deep gully.

Wells one Sunday evening four of us ol fat boys decide we're gonna take us a joy ride around
the countryside in that worn out trap of a plane.

After two unsuccessful attempts to get the thing off'n the ground before reachin the gully,
we taxied back up toward the barn and let one of the biggest of the boys out to wait his turn.

To make a long story short...I don't believe we ever got the darned ol thing much over fifty feet off'n the ground all evenin'.

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

That reminds me of the time me and a bunch of my ner-do-well pals went berry pickin'. Weren't enough horses to go around so we barrowd my uncle's old Chrysler car and figgered it would be quite a party if we stopped off along the way, picked up the girls and somethin' wet. Was a rainy June that year and the best blue berries were way out by the riverbank. Well it's enough to say that we got that old car down to the river.... bet it's still there. I became an uncle myself during that trip and the skeeta bites we got the next mornin' when we all walked out were memorable and in the oddest places ....

Wells Boys,

Jest so we can keep this here party a rockin'.....

The only thing I found better than a 5" 38 Spl. Outdoorsman is.......

A 5 inch Outdoorsman in .44 Special

I jest can't help myself.



Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Dave,

Yure just bound and determined to make my life miserable with jealousy ain't you.

That is fat cow doin's for sure. Lordy that's nice.

I been plumb happy with the guns I got, now I got to start lookin' agin.

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Eccentric old coot

Daym. That's a fine sidearm... Pour yourself a tall sourmash & branch and pat yourself on the back!

I'm an N frame .357 guy, been so for a spell. My favorite gun is a pre 27 with an 8 3/8 barrel. Drew calls it The B!T@H. I'm fairly handy with it and you don't want me chasin you around at a hundred yards or so. Things could get difficult. I will have to admit you got me wanting a .44 special for no other reason than seeing you have so much fun with them. Got to be a reason a man sticks with a certain caliber for so many years.
DW

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"NUTS"

Dadburnit, Dave, I ain't got the barrel swapped on mine, yet, and you done went and upped the anty! Rekkin I'll hafta root round in the gun closet and see what else needs a remake. Ya know iffn this keeps up, the missus is sur nuff lible to get her back up some. Aw well, what's life lessun ya add a lit'l spice.

Bythway, thatuns a crackerjack for sur!

Well, since 'ol Dave started this 'un and he seems to be toleratin' a bit of drift, I'll pitch in.

For someone who got their first smatterin of formal educatin in Zephur Texas, I didn't know that anyone could talk any other way. The only other dialect I ever heard was from the Braceros that lived in that old abandoned school bus down in the wash.

Wad'nt 'til I moved to the big city (that would be Brownwood, TX!) that I ever learnt to talk right.

Dave's tale about getting his boot hung up reminded me that anyone who spends time around horses and cattle better keep his wits around him or, no matter how well you think you know them, you can get yerself kilt in an instant.

As a boy my horse was a long necked mare named "ole Lady". Now "ole Lady" was more thoroughbred than quarter horse and her most favorite trick was to find a gulley and jump it...the wider the better. When you felt her tense up under you, you better grab some horn or you would be looking up at the clouds in a second. Her next favorite trick was to see just how close she could get a low hanging mesquite limb to the saddle horn. Better be able to hug her neck or you were going to lose more than your hat.

"Ole Lady" introduced me to a horse's hoof when I was about 10 yrs old, as I recall. We'd been working cattle for several hours and I stopped by the barn for a while. I tied Lady to a shade tree and went in the house to get a cool drink of water. I remembered that I hadn't loosened her cinch (my dad would have whipped me if he knew that!) and went back out to loosen it. When I came out, Lady was dozing with that hind leg kinda relaxed like they do when they are resting. I got a little too close before I spoke to her and it startled her. The next thing I knew I was doing a 180 and hit the ground so hard it knocked me out. I'm sure an Olympic diving judge would have scored me a 10 for that flip. I carried a beauty of a hoof print on my stomach for several weeks. Got not a bit of sympathy from my dad who only shook his head at my stupidity.

Speaking of a saddle cinch, I can tell a good story about turning a broke horse back into a bronc when you try to ride 'em upside down...but that's another story.

Bob

This is a fun thread.........you guys have me remembering my younger days when I was single and....................

John

Dave
I'll bet that was a funny sight to see. For everyone but you.
What happened to the horse? Did it git traded off for another
or shot once you got your wits about you?
Great story and i've really enjoyed this thread. Like Iggy said,
i believe there's a little cowboy in all of us. Being a countryboy
from the midwest my boots are'nt Larry Mahans but of the gum rubber variety for wading amongst the hogs and cattle
leavins'.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Wow! I mean that in every sense of the word.

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Vaya con Dios

Now y'all see what I have to put up with when I go pdog huntin' an' pistol shootin' with these two. I ain't no cowboy - rode my share OK, but was always willin' to let someone else own 'em, feed em', doctor 'em, etc., etc. I swear you can buy a fine truck for what it costs to have a horse or two, not to mention your OWN doctor bills. Havin' said that, I can tell you that a guy would be hard-pressed to find two better guys to run the hills with. Jist don't believe everythin' they tell ya!

And, Dave, you're killin' me with these 5" N frames! I jist might have to see if I can figger out some way to git ya to leave one of 'em here when next you visit.

Drew,
Where's ya been...Was a fixin to send out a search party.


DW,
It's got to be a liken to an itch...I'm scratchin as fast as I can.



Bob,
We're jest a bunch of ol mossy horns rememberin the good ol days and good ol revolvers.

Ya know, it's a thousand wonders most of us lived much passed 10 or twelve years old anyhows.
I guess them wrecks at a young age jest made us tougher that the backwall of a shootin gallery, I'd recon'.


Chuck,
Oh, that bay colt went on to become one of my favorites



Wells WYO,

Ya know it is true, that it's a story...

them ol stories and N frames are good for sharin with yur friends.



This is aliken to sum ol hands gatherin around the fire and jest rememberin when....

I know, I've told y'all this before...But, bare with me, cause I enjoy tellin it so much!

Ya remember when, we snubb'd the snout back on that RM?




Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

The man ain't lyin'.... when he unlimbers that long nosed wheeler things start fallin' down and gettin' lotsa holes in 'em....

I was down at the local all night taco stand and UFO landingsite... Tonight is ladies night...

I reckkonize one of them toadropers in the picture... wassin the tin cup?

I am compelled to comment based upon the link early in this thread to David's great story (apparently the only kind he knows) set in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in 1988. I had not read this before, and I commend it to all who have not. Succinctly, I have all of my life been a citified desk jockey, so when a friend asked me to put in for an elk license for the '87 hunt on horseback in the Bob for 10 days with Jack Hooker's outfit out of Ovando, I was skeptical as to how I'd do, but I did it. It was a remarkable experience, and David's story brought it all back (ok, he left out the hiss of the Coleman lantern hanging in the cold tent before dawn, probably meant that for another tale). Now I am unlikely to have any more adventures like that, sitting at home needing some parts tuned up,  but I have those memories, and I wouldn't trade them for a registered magnum and a nickel Model 28. My advice: do not wait for an opportunity to experience this kind of adventure. Take the initiative and do it, you will not regret it.      

Well, sir, I have spent a good deal of time hunkered next to the fire with good friends, maybe a wee bit of "milk and honey" (as my Grandad called it), spent more than a few hours jawbonin' about things true and maybe a few stretched a bit and you're plumb right - it don't git no better'n that!

Man, this is as good as or better reading then the stories Skeeter Skelton use to write up!
Don't stop.....

Springfan,

Man it's a small world...Hunted the Danaher with ol Hooker back in '87, last camp in mid November.
Jack and I skint a bull out up in middle of that meadow on Thanksgiving Day., it was 'bout 20 below.

Hell, ol Jack's got to be pushin' ninety...I was there for his 65th birthday in '87 or '88, one the other.
Still get a Christmas letter from Karen every now and again.

Bill & Jack Hooker at their Danaher Camp in mid-late 80s, I do believe.
(Jest to stay on topix...Jack's a lookin one of my .44 Specials over right there.)


I'll have look in the big picture book, but I recall have a few photos from up in that Flathead counrty.

Su Amigo,

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Spent a lot of time in a huntin' camp like the one in Dave's picture.
Shot my first elk, a 5 point bull, when I was 15. That was a bodacious start, and it was all down hill from there, but a wonderful trip.

Spent a summer in the Wind Rivers and Davy Jackson's hole with 2 horses, and a rifle. I think that was the best time of my life.

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Eccentric old coot

Y'all got one of them too?
Dang, must be a franchise er sumthin....

Yup, I ran down there fur a spell, after puttin the finishin touches on the .44 Outdoorman/3rd Modle kinda Target...

The heavenly bodies weren't shinin much in these parts last nite.

A couple of twin sisters.....One was kinda a homely gal and wells, her sister was jest like 'er, cept mabee a little shorter.

Anyhow, picked up a bag of tacos to go from the celestial sweet Maria and beat it back to the ranch....That gal and her Polka Party was on RFD TV.

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Here niether, but I almost had one to go myself. She was a little long in the jowl, kinda sawbacked, and her knuckles was draggin' on the dance hall floor but she had most of her teeth and seemed like a sweet old gal who shaved often. Jes when I was thinkin' 'bout haven anther tay-keeya for sinkodemayo and gettin my guts up for what was ahead the Mounties showed up an run her off.... I saw it as a message from God and raced back to the POE as fast as I could.

Mr. Dave how do you keep from knockin' the bead off that sight or get a bunch of leather fuzz from a fast draw from the holster? Mark

Yup....

Ya know Drew, that's almost happened to me one time....Them dang Mounties are sharp dressers.

Those goodlookin 'n's always fall fur the feller in uniform.


Su Amigo,







Mark,

The little ivory bead has a shank on it 'bout 3/16' long & .070 in diameter.

The head is the same width as the sight blade.


Never had to deal with holster fuzz as I recall.

I line my holsters with the smooth grain side of the hide.
Also, form a sight channel usin a notched 1/4" dowel for clearance.

That reminds me...I need a new 5" N frame holster, loaned my good one out and remember who too.

As to fittin your 22-4 barrel...Ya may have to set the butt of the barrel back or mybee not,
to get it to index at 12 o'clock and adjust the barrel cylinder gap to your liking.

The underneath side will need to be relieved for the ejector rod knob, but that's about it in nut shell.


Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Thank you, I''l try to holler before I get in to much trouble. Take care, Mark

of being a cowboy, and just like ole Dave & Iggy. Since I been back in Kansas, kinda gone native all over again.

Somewheres in the pic is a big ole single action stuffed in a shuck made by a feller in PA.
Gotta git round to having Dave stitch me on up fore he gets too long in the tooth.

Good lookin' ponies there. Little bit of age and some growin' and they'll put calluses on your back sides.
You guys sure do need to get some boots. Them flat bottom shoes is plumb scary.

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Eccentric old coot

That pic is about a year or so old, they probably have a good 3-400lbs more on them now.
I agree dont normally wear anything but boots you're supposed to wear, kinda got caught off guard on that ride.

Curtis,

I agree that those are a couple of nice looking rides.

They look mighty gentle and you probably won't ever need that circingle to keep your saddle where it needs to be but you might tighten it up a bit and take that slack out of it before that horse tries to scratch his belly and gets his hind hoof hung up in it.

Bob

Thanks guys on the advice. This particular ride was a trip to Missouri to look at this horse. Didn't have my normal gear with me. He is pretty gentle most of the time, but he's still a little green.

They ain't much fun if they ain't got a little "green" in them.

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Eccentric old coot

Curtis,
When I was a haulin pack mules up to the North West for the outfitters market,
them ol boys would ask,"Them mules broke?"

I'd reply, "Yes Sir, Cowboy broke...If'n yur any kinda hand a'tall you'll get along with 'em jest fine."

Not one ever admitted to bein anything less than a Top Hand...Sold a lot of mules that away.

The real deal was just about everyone came back the next year to buy more of them "Cowboy Broke" mules.



I ain't forgot yur holster...It's on the list.
BTW, how much bigger is that hog-leg of your's compared to say a Super Blackhawk?


Just to hold the thread drift to a minimun...

This 'Outdoorsman' is now a 44 Special


Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Well ol pard, since this thread is all about guns that been whittled on I guess when you get around to me I'm gonna need a shuck for a cut down RM I just acquired.

Seeing all those nice old revolvers is making me faint, either that or its my pain meds. I don't think I could cut down my Outdoorsman, not to mention it has that later rib all the way down the barrel and I think cutting it up might mess that up.

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Vaya con Dios

David,

Bobbin one back with a rib ain't no big thing...Ya jest cut the rib off too!

4 3/4" 44 Spl



One of these Colts got prun'd back a bit as well,



Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"