MercantileEXCITINGSee section our NovemberNovemberNovember 2001 2001 2001 CowboyCowboyCowboy ChronicleChronicleChronicle(starting on PagepagePagePage 92) 111 The Cowboy Chronicle~ The Monthly Journal of the Single Action Shooting Society ® Vol. 21 No. 2 © Single Action Shooting Society, Inc. February 2008 .A SHOOTING IN SIN CITY . 6th Annual SASS Convention & Wild West Convention By Billy Dixon, SASS Life/Regulator #196 Photos by Black Jack McGinnis, SASS #2041 dress in funny old See HIGHLIGHTS on pages 74, 75 clothes, and some join to do some seri- and singles wearing their very best. ous costuming. Ladies adorned in close-fitting white From Wednes- or pearl satin and silk, or dazzling day evening when the eye in unexpected contrasts of Sugar Britches and I purple and green, or hand rolled yel- checked into the low roses on gun metal blue. Men as Riviera Hotel and strutted as peacocks in charcoal gray L Vegas, Casino we never set Prince Albert frocks over blood red Nevada – Well, the 6th Annual foot outside the vests. Long, trimmed moustaches SASS Convention & Wild West hotel until Sunday were shadowed by wide brimmed Christmas is added to the pages of morning when we Stetsons or tall silk stovepipe hats. history, and I for one am changed by checked out and The smell of exotic perfumes and its passing. Being wrong is a hateful departed for home. after-shaves wafted by with each experience for me, and I’ve been Between arrival and passing reveler. Layers of starched wrong. Having attended various departure, we had silk petticoats rustled with every Ends of Trail and other SASS func- one of the greatest step, while bustles added shape and tions for more than 20 years now, I SASS experiences texture to mystery. Brass jinglebobs thought I had enjoyed the entire we have ever had! ka-chinged against stainless steel SASS experience. I had only seen Departing from rowels. Cowboys pulled tight collars the half of it! the chronology of the from constricted necks, and cowgirls The SASS Convention has an event, I shall contin- struggled for breath against the con- entirely different personality than ue this report with straint of corset and gown. Five END of TRAIL. I’ve known since my observations of The colors presented by the SASS Grand Army hundred and twenty merry souls starting the club in Houston 23 years one of the most of the Frontier was particularly moving. spoke in every tone and volume from ago and then doing the same when impressive cowpoke Not a word was spoken, but when the colors hushed whispers to belly laughs as we moved to Colorado that all kinds events I have ever started to move all conversations ceased, friends met, seating assignments of folks join SASS, and not all of them witnessed. everyone rose, and hats came off. This obvious were located, and the entire world join just to generate great clouds of The Cattle respect for the flag and what it stands for seemed to laugh and shine. Then the makes one proud to be a cowboy. smoke and make bang-ding sounds Baron’s Ball rear doors opened and all went hush. on the range. Some folks join to The Cattle Baron’s Ball in the The theme of Cattle Baron’s Ball SASS Grand Army grand ballroom of the Riviera took was taken seriously by cowboy and of the Frontier me back 120 years to a time that cowgirl alike. I’m just a poor old Heads turned and eyes averted SASS Cowboy Chronicle may have existed only in the imagi- cowpoke, so I don’t know much of as all attention was focused on Old nations of people like you and me, as silks, taffetas, brocades, and the like. Glory as the SASS Grand Army of we try to recreate the West that I recognize Stetson Tontos, Garcia the Frontier marched the red, white, In This Issue never was, but should have been. spurs, gold watch chains, lovely and blue dead center of the ballroom Costumes were not threatened by ladies, and well dressed cowboys. from back to front. Not a word was 46 KIRST KONVERTERS-PART 1 wind or dust or mud, so everyone The entire ballroom was bustin’ over spoken as hands and hats covered wore their very best. with cowboys and cowgirls, couples (Continued on page 71) by Tuolumne Lawman 64 SHOOTOUT AT SADDLE BUTTE by Sweetwater Jack C h C r o 68 POWDER BLAST o w by Captain George Baylor n b i o 23255 La Palma Avenue c y 78 LEGENDS OF THE WEST Yorba Linda, California 92887 by Drummer Girl l e www.sassnet.com Page 2 Cowboy Chronicle February 2008 February 2008 Cowboy Chronicle Page 3 Page 4 Cowboy Chronicle February 2008 If you compete in Cowboy Action Shooting you know this is a serious sport. Your scatter-gun should be the same. Chambered for 3-inch shells and available in blue, satin nickel or polished nickel finish, the affordable Stoeger RUGGED. RELIABLE. REVOLUTIONARY. Coach Gun is as formidable as it is handsome. Whether you’re heading for a competition Silverado Coach Gun – 12-GA or 20-GA MSRP $410 shootout or just want a little extra security at home, you’ll want to Silverado Coach Gun – 12-GA or 20-GA MSRP $410 take a serious look at the with English Stock Stoeger Coach Gun. Nickel Coach Gun – 12-GA or 20-GA MSRP $410 Coach Gun Supreme – 12-GA or 20-GA MSRP $460 To request a FREE DVD catalog visit StoegerIndustries.com A COMPANY freedvd.stoegerindustries.com February 2008 Cowboy Chronicle Page 5 The Cowboy CCONTENTSONTENTS Chronicle 1 ON THE COVER A Shooting In Sin City . 6 FROM THE EDITOR A New Year And A New Start In New Mexico . Editorial Staff 8-10 NEWS Ten-X, SASS #4444 . Louis Imperato . Don’t Miss An Issue! . Tex Editor-in-Chief 12-15 LETTERS Comments From SASS Members . Cat Ballou Editor 16 CAT’S CORNER Glittering Costumes At The 6th Annual SASS Convention . Coyote Calhoun Managing Editor & 18 COYOTE DROPPINGS Buffalo Stampede And Buffalo Chile . Marketing Director Adobe Illustrator 20 POLITICAL Courage Of Conviction Is The True Spirit Of ‘76 . Layout & Design Mac Daddy 22-36 ARTICLES “Deadwood” Sanitized . Traveling In Europe With Firearms . Graphic Design Donna Oakley 40-44 GUNS & GEAR Gun Safety-Old West Style! . Inexpensive Dress Shirt Made Easy Advertising Administrator Contributing Writers 46 REVIEWS-PRODUCTS Walt Kirst And His Wonderful Konverters (Part 1) ... Billy Dixon, Bob Boze Bell, Capt. George Baylor, Col. Dan, Mounted Range Officer Program . What Is A National Spokesperson? Coyote Calhoun, Cree Vicar Dave, 48-51 MOUNTED Drummer Girl, Ellsworth T. Kincaid, Holy Terror, Joe Fasthorse Harrill, 52 PROFILES A Man, A Cowboy, A Passion . M. Lou Findley, Madd Mike, Nubbins Colt, Purdy Gear, Sweetwater Jack, Tuolumne Lawman, 53-56 END of TRAIL (27TH ANNUAL) (Sign-up) . Wildcat Kate and Johnnie Concho, 58 REVIEWS BOOKS A Fistful Of Thorns . The Blood Of Bass Tillman . The Cowboy Chronicle is published by The Wild Bunch, Board of Directors of The This Month In History . Little Known Famous People . Single Action Shooting Society. For adver- 60 HISTORY tising information and rates, administrative and editorial offices contact: Obit . New Born . Chronicle Administrator 62, 63 TRAIL MARKER 23255 La Palma Avenue Yorba Linda, California 92887 64-78 ON THE RANGE What’s Goin’ On In Your Town? . 714-694-1800 FAX: 714-694-1813 email: [email protected] 84-90 CLUB REPORTS 4-H Shooters Discover A New Game! . http://www.sassnet.com The Cowboy Chronicle (ISSN 15399877) is 92-96 MERCANTILE Nice SASS Collectibles . published Monthly by the Single Action Shooting Society, 23255 La Palma Avenue, Yorba Linda, California 92887. Periodicals 97- CLASSIFIED Postage is Paid at ANAHEIM, CA and addi- tional mailing offices (USPS #020-591). POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 101- SHOOTING SCHEDULES (MONTHLY)-(ANNUAL) The Cowboy Chronicle, 23255 La Palma Avenue, Yorba Linda, California 92887. 105- SASS TERRITORIAL GOVERNORS LIST DISCLAIMER - The Single Action Shooting Society does not guarantee, warranty or endorse any product or service advertised ® SASS Trademarks in this newspaper. The publisher also does SASS®, Single Action Shooting Society®, not guarantee the safety or effectiveness END of TRAIL®, EOT®, of any product or service illustrated. The distribution of some products/services may TM Cat Ballou met British monarch The Cowboy Chronicle , be illegal in some areas, and we do not Queen Victoria during the Cowboy Action ShootingTM, assume responsibility thereof. State and Cattle Baron’s Ball at the CASTM, local laws must be investigated by the pur- The World Championship of chaser prior to purchase or use or prod- ‘07 SASS Convention. ucts/services. Well – not really. Cowboy Action ShootingTM, The Queen was actually Bow-legged Cowboy Design, and the WARNING: Neither the author nor The Cowboy Chronicle can accept any responsi- vendor The Civil War Lady, Rocking Horse Design bility for accidents or differing results Joy Melcher, quite resplendent are all trademarks of obtained using reloading data. Variation in her Queen Victoria regalia. The Single Action Shooting Society, Inc. in handloading techniques, compo- nents, and firearms will make results Any use or reproduction of these marks vary. Have a competent gunsmith check without the express written permission your firearms before firing. of SASS is strictly prohibited. Page 6 Cowboy Chronicle February 2008 A NEW YEAR AND A NEW START . IN NEW MEXICO . By Tex, SASS #4 early example of the benefit of New and educational. It not only allows tiative to develop SASS’ European Mexico competitors traveling to one to gain new friends, but it also base. SASS endeavors to become adjacent venues and Founders allows one to see how other clubs more involved in European Cowboy Ranch is the reallocation of the New operate and structure their matches.