Just Like “Gunsmoke”
B
ack in the early 1960s, my father enjoyed watching episodes of “Gunsmoke,” with James Arness as Matt Dillon. I was in my early 20s at the time, and because of this, I bought a Second Generation Colt Single Action Army for him as a birthday gift. I ordered a .45 Colt, but was told they were all gone, so I agreed to one in .357 Mag. instead. The revolver became a working pistol for my father. When he got a job as a security guard at a local business, my father carried the revolver in a holster on his hip, and when he later became a county building inspector the gun was always in his truck in case a dog attacked him during an inspection. He also enjoyed hunting for deer in the Ocala National Forest each autumn, and would carry the Colt as a sidearm in case he had to dispatch a wounded deer. My father hated snakes, so as a handloader, I also made up some cartridges loaded with lead shot. During the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, my father received a wound to his hip from an 8 mm Mauser rifle, and I have the bullet—along with his Purple Heart and other medals—now on display. I guess he never knew that James Arness received a similar wound during World War II, and sometimes had difficulty mounting his horse
NRA member photo
FAVORITE FIREARMS
during the filming of “Gunsmoke.” Several years ago, when my father passed away, I asked my stepmother to return the revolver to me. I occasionally still take the Colt out to the Eustis Gun Club and shoot some .38 Spl. cartridges through it in memory of my father. TERRY MCCAUSLIN, FLORIDA Nearly every shooter has a favorite firearm. If you would like to share the experience of owning yours with other American Rifleman readers, or on americanrifleman.org, send a sharp color photograph of the gun, accompanied by its story in fewer than 400 words, with your name, address and daytime telephone number to: Favorite Firearms, American Rifleman, National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400. Photos and submissions cannot be returned and may be edited for clarity and brevity.
