Texas Rangers Museum, San Antonio, Texas

[raljr1]

So during our recent trip to San Antonio, I had the opportunity to tour the Texas Rangers museum inside a local bar. Cost $20 to get in, lots of great taxidermy, and about 40,000 sq ft of interesting information about a number of former Texas rangers...lots of interesting firearms and I thought I'd share some photos of them.

Robert

 

[6518John]

Those Rangers Law-Dawg’ed with STYLE!

 

[DWalt]

Rangers frequently drifted in and out of the job in the old days. Might start out as a Ranger, later leave and take a job as a county sheriff, city marshal, police chief, etc., maybe become a farmer or rancher for awhile, then go back to being a Ranger again. Texas politics had a lot to do with the fluidity of the job. Frank Hamer did that. At the time of the Bonnie and Clyde ambush, Hamer wasn't a Ranger at all, despite what everyone thinks. He was an agent for the director of the Texas Prison System. Before that he was in the state highway patrol, but wasn't being paid for it.

The real official Texas Ranger Museum is in Waco, not at the Buckhorn Saloon. Far, far better, no comparison possible.

 

[Rudi]

Great museum! No nonsense guys.

 

[Farmer17]

I went to the Waco Texas Rangers Museum a few months ago and really enjoyed it. Was really surprised at all the 1911 Colt .45s and Commanders.

 

[DWalt]

Occasionally some authentic Texas Ranger guns show up at the San Antonio gun show. Last show there was a Remington Model 81 in .30 Rem. Probably authentic but the provenance documentation was a little sketchy - just copies of the original documents. There is also a sort of semi-official Texas Ranger cemetery close to Bandera, which is not too far from San Antonio.

 

[Kiwi cop]

Went to both museums on our trip, the Buckhorn and Waco.

The Buckhorn museum has a lot of Teddy Roosevelt memorabilia. The Texas Rangers part is well laid out, but small.

The Waco museum is much larger. But what the Buckhorn does have and Waco does not is the replica '36 Bonnie & Clyde Ford V8. The fake bullet holes looked real upon first sight.

And yes, there are a lot of 1911's as well as '73 Colts, various S&W single actions and .357 Magnums on display at both museums.

 

[Ogandydancer]

Rangers frequently drifted in and out of the job in the old days. Might start out as a Ranger, later leave and take a job as a county sheriff, city marshal, police chief, etc., maybe become a farmer or rancher for awhile, then go back to being a Ranger again. Texas politics had a lot to do with the fluidity of the job. Frank Hamer did that. At the time of the Bonnie and Clyde ambush, Hamer wasn't a Ranger at all, despite what everyone thinks. He was an agent for the director of the Texas Prison System. Before that he was in the state highway patrol, but wasn't being paid for it.

The real official Texas Ranger Museum is in Waco, not at the Buckhorn Saloon. Far, far better, no comparison possible.

It was my privilege several years ago to visit the one at Waco. My BIL took me while I was on a short visit there. It is a real education. It probably would take most if not all of one day to properly see it maybe even a day and a half.

 

[peyton]

Heck, I remember going to the Lone Star Buckhorn saloon as little sprout. Lone Star Brewery was co-located on Roosevelt Park on the south side of San Antonio and there was a giant public swimming pool there. My brothers and I would catch the bus to go swimming and then go to the saloon to buy a soda and look at all the stuff there. Since Lone Star left that area I did not know where they the stuff moved to.
The Rangers did a lot of work and were given great latitude to ensure the peace an prosperity in a big state.

 

[DWalt]

But what the Buckhorn does have and Waco does not is the replica '36 Bonnie & Clyde Ford V8. The fake bullet holes looked real upon first sight.

Back in the day, there were many faked B&C "death cars" traveling around the country. The small town rubes would pay 50 cents so they could brag about seeing it. Pretty simple to make one - buy a similar car, shoot it full of holes and splash some cow or pig blood around the interior. I remember reading that the authentic death car still exists in some collection.

 

[AKtinman]

I remember that location, too, Peyton.

But I think the original Buckhorn Saloon was downtown San Antonio before it was closed due to “urban renewal” of the area. Lots of old buildings torn down to make way for “progress”, some of it for Hemisfair.

It was in the late ’50’s that my dad took me to the Buckhorn Saloon to see the exhibits. What made the greatest impression on me was the elephant skull on display. I don’t remember the skull moving to the Lone Star Buckhorn, but only made a quick trip through that one once.

All my San Antonio kin have passed, so don’t make many trips back to the area.

Thanks to raljr1 for posting the photos!

 

[Kiwi cop]

Back in the day, there were many faked B&C "death cars" traveling around the country. The small town rubes would pay 50 cents so they could brag about seeing it. Pretty simple to make one - buy a similar car, shoot it full of holes and splash some cow or pig blood around the interior. I remember reading that the authentic death car still exists in some collection.

Apparently it’s in Nevada, north of Vegas.

 

[Trooper224]

The only thing in Waco worth seeing. I wouldn't make a special trip, but definitely worth a look if you're in the area.

 

[huthike]

The Buckhorn also has some display stuff on the Topperweins, exhibition shooters that were San Antonio’s, IIRC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[walkin jack]

Never been to the one in San Antonio but my folks were from Waco. It takes as long as 2 full Days to see all that in it's entirety seeing everything and not rushing.

It's a good way to spend a couple of days and worth the trip from just about anywhere as far as I'm concerned. Any Texan worth his salt should go there if you haven't already. You ain't a REAL Texican until you do.

 

[raljr1]

IWhat made the greatest impression on me was the elephant skull on display. I don’t remember the skull moving to the Lone Star Buckhorn, but only made a quick trip through that one once.



Thanks to raljr1 for posting the photos!

the elephant skull is still there.

I was happy to share the photos..

 

[armadillo]

There is also the Texas Ranger Heritage Center in Fredericksburg which is run by a group of real retired Rangers.

 

[leswad]

I am blessed to own this Ranger’s gun:

 

[Kiwi cop]

The only thing in Waco worth seeing. I wouldn't make a special trip, but definitely worth a look if you're in the area.

I wanna go back to see the mammoth fossils.

And Mt Carmel too.

 

[walkin jack]

Those guys sure had some fancy "bar b que" guns and fancy gun belts and holsters. Some of them are a bit over done but a lot of them look really sharp. Former Harris County Sheriff Johnny Klevenhagen (SP) had some of the nicest. A brace of 1911s. I could spend a week in there and still not have enough. Miss Pam always takes my credit cards and check book away from me for a while after a vistit.