This Week in Firearms History:

May 7: In 1901 Actor Gary Cooper is born; in 1915 the Lusitania is sunk by a German U-Boat, 1198 innocent civilians are killed

May 8: In 1884, gun maker Samuel Hawken dies; in 1924 Gun maker Hugo Borchardt dies; in 1945 The Germans surrender to the Allies, VE Day

May 9: In 1849, gun maker Jacob Hawken dies; in 1865 President Johnson declares the Civil War is over.

May 10: In 1801 Barbary Pirates declare war on the U.S.; 1869 the US transcontinental railroad is finished when the "golden spike" is driven. In 1920 Jeff Cooper is born; in 1924 Frank Kenna buys the Marlin Corporation; in 1927 John Browning is issued the patent for the M2 Machine Gun.

May 11: In 1880 7 people are killed in the Mussel Slough tragedy; in 1888 Irving Berlin is born; in 1960 Adolf Eichmann is captured in Argentina by Massad; in 2020 tv show COPS is cancelled by woke agents due to white guilt over black crime.

May 12: In 1784, ratified copies of the Treaty of Paris are exchanged, ending the Revolutionary War; in 1943, Axis forces in North Africa surrender.

May 13: In 1846, the U.S. declares war on Mexico; in 1857 Arthur Savage is born; in 1905 Theodore Koch (of Heckler & Koch) is born.

Gun of the Week: Winchester Model 70

The Winchester model 70 is the only rifle known as "the Rifleman's Rifle", heralded by most experts as the greatest bolt action rifle ever made.

Introduced in 1936, the rifle was basically a copy of the K98 Mauser, with some notable refinements as well as quality of workmanship.

The rifle has been chambered in every caliber imaginable from the diminutive 22 Hornet to the massive 458 Win Mag.

The 30-06 Springfield and 270 Winchester are probably the most popular chamberings, the model 70 has taken every type of game in the World.

In 1964 Winchester redesigned the model 70, marking a turning point. Changes in the extractor and feed design as well as the use of stamped steel parts, made the gun less expensive to manufacture.

Thus pre-64 model 70s are worth substantially more than post 64 versions.

Cartridge of the Week: 500 S&W Magnum

The story of the 500 S&W Magnum might begin with the S&W model 29 and the legendary silver screen character Dirty Harry. Early into the movie Harry Callahan delivers the line "this is a 44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world".

Problem is that it wasn't the most powerful (the .454 Casul held that spot) and in 1971 S&W wasn't the only company making a 44 Magnum revolver.

In the early 21st century S&W began working with Cor-Bon to develop a cartridge that would put S&W back on top. Before you go thinking, when is the .55 Magnum going to be offered, the National Firearms Act prohibits sporting calibers from being larger than .5"

The gun was introduced in the S&W X-Frame revolver at the 2003 SHOT show.

Standard loads are typically 300-500 grain, but some very heavy loads, as large as 700 grains have been developed. Since it's introduction, more powerful handgun cartridges have been developed, but just as with the .44 Magnum, people will associate the most powerful handgun with Smith & Wesson, and that is just how they like it.

Gun Quote of the Week:

“Political tags — such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth — are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.” - Robert Heinlein

Bubba Gun of the Week:

Sammy Quaid Johnson was a contender in the 1st Annual Golden Poop Awards for Gunsmithing in the "Best Homemade Modification" category. He built this special "Dongle grip" for Ruger and Dan Wesson Revolvers. Sammy tells us he is still looking for investors to bring this to production.