Classic Guns

In Part II of this excerpt on the .44 Special from Gun Digest 2010, John Taffin looks at the Smith & Wesson . 44s.

In an age of magnums and larger caliber handguns, the .44 Special is just as relevant for today's shooters and hunters as it was in Elmer Keith's days. In this article from Gun Digest 2010, sixgun expert John Taffin shows this cartridge is still up to the task. And with so many models still chambered in .44 special, there's plenty of reasons to champion the round.

Smith & Wesson marketed a perfectly good line of self-defense revolvers as early as 1876 and produced nearly 160,000 of them before dropping the design in 1911.

With an upgraded manufacturing process and Colt's languishing attention to revolvers, Smith & Wesson begins to surpass colt as the go-to maker of police revolvers.

Last year Ithaca resurrected several models of their popular shotguns. This year, the company has brought back its 1911.

The Model 1894 incorporated a newly designed action in a light, thin-walled frame (receiver) that was quite revolutionary.

In this featured auction by SoldUSA.com, you'll find extremely rare military and firearm collectibles, including a WW1 German Ace 1st Class Iron Cross and Pilots Badge, Colt Third Model Shoulder Stock Provision Dragoon (1858), Winchester “A Classic Combination” Advertising Poster, plus over 200 guns and related merchandise.

Having held out for years, Dan Shideler gives the SKS a chance.

Remington's big-bore guide rifle is one collectors will love. And you don't even have to be a guide.

In this classic article from the 1980 Gun Digest, editor John T. Amber pursues Russia's red deer - and some interesting Russian arms - in the Red Forest.

A look at the history of the Gran Chaco War with resulting supply and current values of Model 1891 Argentine Pattern, Model 1903 Turkish pattern, Model 1908 long and short rifle and Model 1907 rifle and carbine Mausers.

Did you know that even today most Gun Digest readers can buy military surplus M-1 Garand rifles, M-1903 Springfield rifles, M-1917 rifles, surplus military 22 LR target rifles, ammunition, and gun parts taken directly from surplus U.S. government stocks at excellent prices?

The Russian firm Izhmash (Izhevsk Mechanical Works) holds the patents for the AK-47, and it is going broke because of all the illegal copies of its weapons being produced worldwide.

Never heard of the Pieper Volley Gun, have you? Neither had I until I stumbled across it in the LaPorte museum. If the LaPorte museum's W. A. Jones Collection of Antique Firearms contains the damndest stuff you've ever seen, then their Pieper Volley Gun has got to be the double-damndest.

Bob Ball reviews one of the most treasured names in the history of firearms: the Mauser.