BBQ Gun - Cultural Interpretation Please

[CptCurl]

It's not too much of a stretch for me to say I'm a man of average intelligence, experience, and sensibility. However, prior to my participation on this forum I had never heard the term "BBQ gun" or "Texas BBQ gun".

I think I have a reasonable understanding of this expression taken from the context of various posts I've read here. I would take it to denote a relatively short barreled (~4" to 5") nickel plated large bore S&W with mother-of-pearl grip panels on which a steer's head is carved. The steer should have ruby eyes, and there should be some gaudy gold studs on his horns or elsewhere on the grips. The gun should also have crude "zig-zag" non-professional engraving.

It is my impression that the "poster-child" or epitome of this genre would be a Model 1926 3rd Model .44 Spl. shipped to Wolf & Klar, with the mentioned adornment completed by that firm.

The owner would be ever more proud if the piece shows greater than normal wear, as though it was carried in a rough cowhide holster for many years - ideally the full career of a West Texas lawman.

My questions for discussion:

(1) Have I arrived at a proper understanding of this gun, as stated above?

(2) Assuming I have described the gun correctly, how did it come to be named a BBQ gun?

Here in the east we don't see such things; and thus, my ignorance.

As for nomenclature, I'm familiar with an expression we use here for a shiny, pimped-up pistol. That's something we might call a "Sunday go-to-meeting" gun or a "Preacher pistol". For instance, walking through a gun show and coming upon such a thing, one might exclaim, "Man, that's Sunday go-to-meeting!"

Also for example, I have for many years owned a 2" S&W Mod. 31-1, factory nickel, that I always have called my "Preacher pistol." It's shiny and small, and you can imagine a preacher having it concealed under his vestments.

So let's have a discussion of the specifics of BBQ guns and any other names we have for dressed up fancy S&W revolvers. These questions have rattled around in my brain for some time now. I was inspired to this post by the post put up today by ar33c3: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/260861-pa-shooters-bbq-gun-way-texas.html His post makes you understand how we in the east strive to join in the fun!

Best,

 

[G.T. Smith]

I think a BBQ gun is the gun you use to kill the animal that is on the grill. Or it could be a gun you use to flip the steaks or ventilate your cheap wally world grill.
Seriously though, I believe the term is applied to the gun you wear to a get together like a BBQ. One that makes others drool at the sight of it. We have outdoor events like BBQ's and swimming parties every now and then and the folks that carry guns usually carry their nicest looking gun in the best rig they have. I would think that BBQ guns are not worn concealed because they are meant to be viewed. I hope that is what it means, because I ain't got nothing fancy but I do have some really slick guns and leather.
this is just my opinion. My old .22 has been the cause of many a BBQ though!
Peace,
gordon

 

[ditrina]

Sunday -Go-To-Meeting/ BBQ gun.. North OR South..

Pre27, Nickel, Ivory Grips, Polished Tyler "T"......Hand made David Keith Modified Brill Holster and Belt..

 

[Cooter Brown]

Dtrina's got it down pat. 'Ol Mr. Keith and a few others should show up in a while. There's some good ones around here!

I think you've nailed the classic description down pretty well as far as I understand it, but there are variations. I've seen some fine examples of 1911 pattern pistols all dressed up and ready to go to a pig pickin' (disregarding what is considered bar be que in Texas).

Of course, as dtrina indicated, the holster rig is as important as the shootin' arn. And unlike the bar be que, makin' it out of a cow is perfectly acceptable.

 

[ol' geeser]

In my experience,the "Texas" BBQ gun follows no set mold except - it cannot be of polymer construction and the gun's holster and belt must be leather. Tooling is not required nor does it matter if the leather is new or old. As long as the stitching is not frayed or missing. The Rangers commonly wear a pants belt and gunbelt the match with identical buckle sets,with the gunbelt worn immediately below the waist belt. It is generally considered a rig nice enough to be worn to church.

The gun is usually a S&W revolver or a 1911, either polished stainless or nickled, and should have personalized grips of some sort. Fitz Specials are allowed.

In Texas, fish frys and BBQ's are very much social celebrations and if Peace Officers are involved they are an excuse to put on the gaudy. These occasions may also be associated with ropings, team pennings, rodeos, weddings, and funerals of other officers. High school football games - especially playoff games - are included.

To this day, the priest in my home church insists that officers that come to church be armed. If officers come to Christmas Eve mass they are not asked to disarm (he knows they can be called out anytime and doesn't want them delayed by having to put their gunbelts back on).

It can be quite a sight to witness uniformed State Troopers, Deputies, and Rangers all kneeling at the altar rail to receive the Holy Sacrements.

The story is told about a Ranger at some sort of church function in Longview, Texas back in the day...he was approached by a spinster lady who asked him since he had his pistol on, was he expecting trouble? He supposedly replied, "No ma'am, if I was expecting trouble I'd 'ave brought my shotgun.."

 

[Green Frog]

"The gun is usually a S&W revolver or a 1911, either polished stainless or nickled, and should have personalized grips of some sort. Fitz Specials are allowed. "

Or if the wearer is of an old-school frame of mind, a Colt Single Action is a perfectly acceptable BBQ gun, isn't it?

th (Eastern) Green Frog

 

[ol' geeser]

"The gun is usually a S&W revolver or a 1911, either polished stainless or nickled, and should have personalized grips of some sort. Fitz Specials are allowed. "

Or if the wearer is of an old-school frame of mind, a Colt Single Action is a perfectly acceptable BBQ gun, isn't it?

th (Eastern) Green Frog

I can't remember ever seeing a SAA type weapon carried by a Texas Peace Officer as a BBQ gun. Several years ago there was a Constable in Henderson Co. that wore one as a duty weapon....most agencies have forbidden them as a matter of policy....

"Old School" in my part of the world is a revolver guy...."I resemble that remark"

 

[CptCurl]

This is great. I'm learning a lot. Please keep up the talk.

It also occurs to me that this thread might make a great vehicle for gathering photos of BBQ guns, so please post them.

Thanks,

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

In the Southwest and especially Texas BBQ's are social occasions and also frequently used as a way to raise campaign funds for county sheriff's, constables and judges, all elected officials. Hense the name BBQ gun for wearing your favorite gussied up sidearm for evereyone to see and admire. The fancier the firearm and leather the more succesful the wearer is considered, much like an east coast buisness man wearing a Rolex instead of a Timex to a buisness or social ocasion. They are both a symbol of success and prosperity. By the way they need not be a revolver or have the steerhead but pearl , stag or ivory are considered to be required for grips. Here is my 1949 vintage 38 super, cattelbrand engraved, full coverage, silver plated with pearl grips. It is my BBQ gun.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I think that ditrina said it pretty well. It is QUITE different from a pimp gun, which is a gun gussied up by a pimp without regard to cost, but also without regard to taste. A BBQ gun is one that at least some folks would consider in good taste. BTW, IMO pearl/stag/ivory is NOT mandatory. Fishpaw, Keith Brown, Walter Roper and others have made wooden grips that would be acceptable. Top-quality engraving certainly helps, but plenty of folks here have made it clear that it is not mandatory.

The closest thing I have to a BBQ gun is my 3" double-magnaported PC 629 with Fishpaw grips, but I always figured that it needed to be at least polished, or maybe engraved, to make the grade. Maybe my nickel 37 SB with stag grips?

 

[Dan M]

I think I have a reasonable understanding of this expression taken from the context of various posts I've read here. I would take it to denote a relatively short barreled (~4" to 5") nickel plated large bore S&W with mother-of-pearl grip panels on which a steer's head is carved. The steer should have ruby eyes, and there should be some gaudy gold studs on his horns or elsewhere on the grips. The gun should also have crude "zig-zag" non-professional engraving.

It is my impression that the "poster-child" or epitome of this genre would be a Model 1926 3rd Model .44 Spl. shipped to Wolf & Klar, with the mentioned adornment completed by that firm.

Back in the day, Lawmen were flashy or liked to create a persona for themselves. In the Southwest ie.. Texas, New Mexico and AZ you find such guns fairly regularly. I have found a few over the years and enjoy the history such guns usually have attached to them. Your description of non-professional & crude engraving is somewhat offensive to me but I am a little biased, this engraving is more commonly known as pawn shop engraving but Wolf & Klar a major distributor of Smiths and Colts & Winchesters in Texas provided many such guns to Lawmen all over, FBI and Texas Rangers and Sheriffs all over adorned such guns.
When one of these Lawmen attended a Get together they usually would dress up in the best clothes and wear the flashiest rig and handgun they could wear.

Smith & Wesson Forum - Dan M's Album: BBQ Time

Dan

 

[CptCurl]

Your description of non-professional & crude engraving is somewhat offensive to me but I am a little biased. . .

Oh no, please don't take offense as none was intended at all. My choice of words may have been blunt, for which I apologize.

I have no engraved handguns, but I have a number of engraved rifles and shotguns. My perspective comes from owning those. An example:

For other examples you can see the thread I started in the Lounge: http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/251390-double-rifles-true-addiction.html

But again, no offense is intended. I'm truly interested in the concept of BBQ guns.

Sincerely,

 

[DWalt]

Having lived in Texas for the last 38 years, in Midland, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Del Rio, and Laredo, I have been to a great many BBQs. I have yet to attend even one at which anyone was carrying a gun, at least visibly. If there is such a practice, I'd like to know who attends them.

 

[CptCurl]

Dan,

I just looked at your photo album. Wow! These are really interesting guns with a lot of history.

Smith & Wesson Forum - Dan M's Album: BBQ Time - Picture

Thanks,

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

Having lived in Texas for the last 38 years, in Midland, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Del Rio, and Laredo, I have been to a great many BBQs. I have yet to attend even one at which anyone was carrying a gun, at least visibly. If there is such a practice, I'd like to know who attends them.

My family having lived here since 1832, myself having lived here around 64 years in Weslaco, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Cibolo, Huntsville and several small burgs. I have attended several BBQ's usually political fund raising in nature where almost all of the sworn LE's and several judges were armed exactly as described. I have also carried in the open at such functions and in the old days, before the bean counters were placed in charge, at TDCJ functions. I guess I just move in the right circles. The Uniform of the Day for such functions besides the gun and leather consists of starched and stacked Levis or Khakis western cut pants, a starched white dress shirt, Luchesse,Tony Llama or Justin boots highly polished, and topping it off a Stetson Weatern Felt in Silverbelly or Granite Grey, or if summer time a Stetson Straw same style.

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

By the way again not a SW but here is my 38 Supers understudy when I need something a little lighter to carry. 1921 vintage Colt Model M in 380. Engraved in the Helfricht style, silver plated with checkered Ivory grips.

 

[Texas Star]

Actually, the first BBQ guns were probably flintlock pistols. The term "barbeque" is derived from, "barbacoa", Spanish I think, for a way to grill meat in the outdoors.

This was a frequent practice in the Caribbean islands during pirate days there. The buccaneers cooked that way, and the term arises from that era.

However, in the past, some Texas Rangers wore flashy sidearms, usually Colt SAA's or Govt. Model 45 autos. One famous one was named Lone Wolf Gonzuallas. (Sp? But not Gonzales. He was originally a Spaniard, maybe a Basque. Used a different spelling of the name,) I think he also cut away the trigger guards on some of his guns.

I haven't seen a Ranger in years, so don't know if some still carry flashy guns. Probably do. They are NOT to be confused with the Highway Patrol, although both agencies are part of the Texas DPS and most Rangers come from the ranks of the Patrol.

I suspect that some rich ranchers and oilmen carry guns at big social BBQ's, too. But most people attending probably wear their guns out of sight, as required by the CCW laws and social custom today.

 

[nipster]

It's not too much of a stretch for me to say I'm a man of average intelligence, experience, and sensibility. However, prior to my participation on this forum I had never heard the term "BBQ gun" or "Texas BBQ gun".

You're not the only one. The whole thing kind of reminds me of "Corvette guy" to me.

Also, we dont have open carry here, so it's not something we could do even if we wanted to.

Having lived in Texas for the last 38 years, in Midland, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Del Rio, and Laredo, I have been to a great many BBQs. I have yet to attend even one at which anyone was carrying a gun, at least visibly. If there is such a practice, I'd like to know who attends them.

I asked my uncle who is in his late 70's now, has lived in Texas for the better part of the last 30 years (Del Rio, San Antonio, Wichita Falls) about this too, and he has never heard of it either. And he is a big gun guy.

I'm guessing the barbecue gun crowd is a completely different social circle than most of us common folk

 

[Xfuzz]

Top Colt Single Action is an old example of the term.

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

Texas Star, if you ever want to see a Ranger there is usuall one assigned to each county and they work out of the loca DPS office. Or come to Huntsville any day there is an execution scheduled, the last time I was out and about for one there were 5 current Rangers at McKenzies BBQ resturant afterwards, all carrying various degrees of fancy versions of John Brownings greatest gift to pistol shooters, the 1911. All dressed as I indicated in my previous post, and yes we all admired each others hardware.