March 19th 2026

It's been a blast from the past photographing and thumbing through these 1920-1950-ish Outdoor Life Magazines I grabbed at an auction.. The stories, the advertisments, the art and photos. Thinking about the publishing and distribution challenges, and admiring the results.

I took a stack from 1956 for our "show and tell" at the Amarillo Pioneer Gun Collector's monthly meeting last Thursday. 55ish is a young'n there! They don't get to look things over until after the meeting. You think I could get those old codgers to turn loose and quit cackling at what they were seeing so I could go home?? And since in the past I had brought a stack of old buffalo rifle targets (well, targets with a bison and 7 bullseyes) and another time some old Jackson Arms (old time Dallas gun dealer) that I gave away, they were thinking these were also "freebies". Nope, you can look but I want them back... or you can open your wallet (but no sense in wasting breath that-a-way). Anyway, back home ....

I grabbed a few pictures of some of those back covers for a memory lane stroll of then current parts of American life ... parts long gone for all kinds of reasons. I'll post a few of them at the very end of this email, but one in particular, from May, 1952 came pretty close to taking my breath away.

"Damn", said I said to no one; I have that book ... or one of them

You probably know the name, Zane Grey, but do you realize what a huge part of American literature, theater, motion pictures ..... and wildlife environment he was? Born in in 1872 and passed in 1039. He was alive before the Great Slaughter of bison was over!

Zane Grey wrote over 90 books, many based deeply on real life. Even his pure novels have strata of life as it was; gritty and unglorified. His 1914 Lone Star Ranger and 1915 adaptation "Rangers of the Lone Star" were purportedly the basis of the TV series "The Lone Ranger".

He reads easily and quickly I always want to keep going; his writings do not lag or bore. They are like very interesting roads with new sights around each bend. I stay captivated and moving further into the story, fact or fiction.

Anyway, I got a real kick out of seeing the advertisement ... and realize there is a lot of his work .... much on his love of and adventures in fishing with which I ought to spend time. That said, I just went and ordered "Tales of Fishes", his 1919 first book on his fishing, as well as his 1924 "Swordfish and Tuna". Have read neither. Will before summer is out. I'll report back at some time. Something to take with on the boat for slow times. Next!!

Just a question that I hope will get some answers quickly. Any of you out there still possibly interested in a Damascus sword or two?

This shipment of the Damascus steel swords that came in just two weeks ago went out in a blink. All are gone. Yes, a few were actually special ordered and "pre-sold', so that kind of skews the results. But, I know that some purchases - especially ones I describe as "things nobody needs" take some thinking … and re-thinking (remind me to tell you the story of the Wal Mart Chicken). Those kinds of decisions might even require cogitating.

Cogitating is just a fancy word for thinking, or in the case of old folk like moi it is more accurately Cogger tating … but I digress (which is both fun and sometimes exasperating when you can't "find your way back home" .. to what you were wanting to think about before you started thinking about things you hadn't intended to think about). Like right now.

Seriously though, I'm on the fence about ordering more. There are many styles, lengths, patterns, most of them just awesome. I bought 4 styles last time; Might repeat one or two ...but there are some other deluxe choices. Bob is kind of like me; maybe we should or just be happy the got sold out. Marshall, on the other hand - even knowing he has no vote - is calling for more.

If you would, please call, text 817-992-8220 or email [email protected] if you want to see a few more. No commitmenton your part to buy, promise … but if there is interest I might get another order started and put some of the designs up on line for further cogitation. Your input always helps me along.

Thanks for considering my dilemma. Look forward to hearing. (Oh, is that one of you texting already!!??)