This just came up in an email from GUNS Magazine. I imagine many of you get these as well, but I enjoyed it enough to share the link for those who haven't seen it.
The Searcher
Typically, the story is beautifully illustrated with several quality photos of some drool-worthy revolvers.
Am I the only one who finishes reading every Taffin article by wondering, "how many guns does this guy really own?!"

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Ain't This Fun Though?

Thou shall not covet, thou shall not covet, thou shall not covet...................

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I too read all Taffins stuff. Great writer!
But I too also wonder just how many he has and HOW he finds the time to maintain them all.
I can tell you one thing for certain - he has a whole lot more than I do and certainly more collectible ones for sure!

He is the #1 reason I subscribe to Guns Magazine. I love his Perfect Packing Pistols articles.

He recently sold off quite a few of his guns. I really wish I had tried harder to get one of them that I liked. I love his writing also. He helps me to feel absolutely normal in my desire to try one of everything, maybe more?

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Matthew Conrad

John probably read Skeeter's story about visiting Dobe Grant, where Dobe told Skeeter that sold the oil rights to the family ranch and now had enough money to "...buy every new gun that comes out. And you're going to help me shoot them!"

Mr. Taffin talks about his three grandsons, so I reckon he has his "gun helpers" ready to go!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Was that the one where Dobe had all those guns behind a false wall panel? I loved that story, and I believe I read it on the Shooting Times special edition called Skeeter Skelton on Handguns. Unfortunately, my well-thumbed copy just up and disappeared maybe 20 years ago.

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Ain't This Fun Though?

Where did he sell his guns? I can only assume he had some rare/valuable ones.

That's the one. I read it when the story came out in Shooting Times monthly. I used to haunt the magazine racks, waiting, waiting, waiting.......

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

It doesn't seem that long ago that most any decent size town had a couple of the "big box" book stores. John Taffin's books, like "Big Bore Revolvers" and "Single Action Revolvers" were usually kept in stock.
I'm glad I bought them then!
Now those books are out of print and the book stores have disappeared!

Get with your Librarian....Mine has gotten me some really old Marlin books to read......When you give "em" a request they go at it like a bird dog on point.

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S&W Accumulator

There were several on Gunbroker around a year ago.

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Matthew Conrad

John got his start from JD Jones, he wrote some articles for a JD news letter and was encouraged by JD to write professionally.

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Len

Love his stuff, and have all his books

John Taffin did to me what Elmer Keith did to him if that makes sense....

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Randy

Great article, thanks for sharing. I was into gunners in Redmond more than once, the owner died a few years ago and now, it's just a memory.

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Todd

I have both of his books; Big Bore Revolvers and Single Action Revolvers, both signed by him. Both are excellent reading. The man knows and loves his guns.

I felt a kinship with him when he mentioned "Field and Stream", "Outdoor Life" and "Sports Afield." My grandfather took all three, and when he was finished with them, he'd send them across the field to me, where I'd read them until they fell apart. I was a Jack O'Connor fan. I've still got a few copies of his books. The Old Man the Boy books are on my book shelf today (along with a half-dozen or so other Ruark books). And Peter Capstick became sort of hero to me. The "Lower Forty?" I felt like I knew those guys. And Havilah Badcock? He was a bit before my time, but one of those guys introduced me to him and I found out that "Jaybirds Go to Hell On Friday."

And of course, Keith and Skeeter...especially Skeeter. I've got a couple of Keith's books, but was never smart enough to buy any of Skeeter's..."Later" I told myself. Then he was gone, and there were no more, and later became never. I do have a copy of Skeeter Skelton on Handguns that hides in a desk drawer, where I pull it out from time to time, to vist with an old friend I never met. Someday maybe we'll ride the river somewhere.

Sorry. That's kind of disjointed I suppose. Just gathering some wool here this morning.

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John 3:16 .