A M ERIC AN
SHOOTING JOURNAL Volume 16 // Issue 2 // October 2026 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andy Walgamott OFFICE MANAGER / COPY EDITOR Katie Aumann CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Askew, Larry Case, Scott Haugen, Mike Nesbitt, Paul Pawela, Nick Perna, Trampas Swanson, Dave Workman SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kelley Miller, Janene Mukai DESIGNER Katrina Ngor PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Emily Baker WEBMASTER / INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@americanshootingjournal.com
ON THE COVER “There is certainly nothing obsolete about Aja Richardson. She’s holding the winning hand at Buffalo Arms and playing it to the hilt.” So writes our man on the black powder cartridge scene Mike Nesbitt, who stopped by BACO’s north Idaho factory to get the downlow on how Richardson plans to make the company’s wares more readily available to the shooting public. (BUFFALO ARMS COMPANY)
Website: AmericanShootingJournal.com Facebook: Facebook.com/AmericanShootingJournal X: @AmShootingJourn Reddit: r/AMSJ/
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8 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
VOLUME 16 • ISSUE 2
FEATURES 24
THE 3 A’S OF BIG GAME HUNTING Leave it to a full-time professional hunter whose last name starts with A to make the case that the three greatest places to hunt the planet’s most iconic game animals are America, Alaska and Africa! Nathan Askew details the adventures to be had chasing antelope, brown bears, Cape buffalo and more!
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ROAD HUNTER: THE EASIEST ROOSEVELT ELK HUNT OF MY LIFE For Scott Haugen, the day began in a Willamette Valley waterfowl blind with his two hunting dogs and ended with not only a limit of ducks but a 339 4/8-inch monster elk he bagged just a mile away. Scott shares the story of one helluva mixed bag, including a bull that topped his craziest dreams.
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PEDIGREE, PASSION – AND MUCH MORE THAN A POCKETKNIFE Don’t for a minute think that the beautiful Spartan-Harsey Ronin Long Gunner Edition folding knife is for display only. The collaboration between Spartan Blades, William Harsey, and Tu Lam of Ronin Tactics meant to honor snipers not only is a stunning blade but practical when it comes to self-defense and hunting. Trampas Swanson takes a look.
CONTENTS cover story
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AJA RICHARDSON: TAKING BUFFALO ARMS BY THE HORNS With founder Dave Gullo beginning to mull retirement after running Buffalo Arms Company for 36 years, daughter Aja Richardson is stepping into the breech. Mike Nesbitt shares how BACO’s new general manager aims to boost collaborations with other companies, increase product offerings and even open a storefront.
(BUFFALO ARMS COMPANY)
AMERICAN SHOOTING JOURNAL is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2026 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.
americanshootingjournal.com 11
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(AKKAR USA)
MORE FEATURES 42
IT’S TIME TO GEAR UP FOR HUNTING Doing some last-minute shopping for new deer, upland bird or waterfowl hunting equipment? Larry Case brings us some of the latest rifles, shotguns, crossbows, blinds, camouflage and more from Spandau, Akkar USA, Barnett, Ol’ Man Outdoors, Huntworth and Athlon that are worth a look.
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HISTORY: VIRGIL EARP – THE LAWMAN WHO CARRIED THE BADGE AT TOMBSTONE Our scholar of the Wild West Paul Pawela lays out a case for why Virgil Earp deserves more recognition than he has perhaps received in the shadow of his more famous brother and Gunfight at the OK Corral partner Wyatt. Learn about a man who “embodied the professional peace officer” of frontier days.
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LAW ENFORCEMENT SPOTLIGHT: A TRIBUTE TO ONE OF A KIND You’ve seen nationally known tactical trainers heralded in our pages, but Nick Perna recalls the legacy of a regional one – Ben Tisa, who brought SWAT instruction to California. Nick shares the life and times of a man whose “unorthodox at times” lessons proved critical during his own SWAT duties.
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2A TALK: SCOTUS RETURNS WITH TWO MAJOR 2A CASES ON DOCKET As the Supreme Court of the United States begins its new term this month, longtime gun rights reporter Dave Workman previews a potential “blockbuster” of a consolidated case that could nullify local and statewide bans on AR-15s. He also looks ahead to a probable challenge of carry permit requirements.
DEPARTMENTS 15 17 74 12 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
Gun Show Calendar Competition Calendar Concealed Carry Gallery
PRIMER
GUNSHOW C A L E N D A R
C&E Gun Shows cegunshows.com
Crossroads Of The West Gun Shows crossroadsgunshows.com
Florida Gun Shows floridagunshows.com
GunTVShows.com guntvshows.com
oregon guns & more SHOW oregongunsandmoreshow.com
RK Shows rkshows.com
Texas Gun Shows gunshowstx.com
Tanner Gun Shows tannergunshow.com
October 3-4
Fayetteville, N.C.
Crown Expo Center
October 10-11
Salem, Va.
Salem Civic Center
October 17-18
Dayton, Ohio
Montgomery County Event Center
Oct. 31-Nov. 1
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Myrtle Beach Convention Center
October 3-4
Reno, Nev.
Reno Convention Center
October 10-11
Ontario, Calif.
Ontario Convention Center
October 17-18
Prescott Valley, Ariz.
Findlay Toyota Center
October 24-25
Bakersfield, Calif.
Kern County Fairgrounds
October 24-25
Hurricane, Utah
Legacy Park
October 3-4
Fort Myers, Fla.
Lee Civic Center
October 10-11
Orlando, Fla.
Central Florida Fair Grounds
October 17-18
Tampa, Fla.
Florida State Fairgrounds
October 24-25
Palmetto, Fla.
Bradenton Convention Center
October 3-4
Phoenix, Ariz.
Ben Avery Shooting Facility
October 10-11
Casa Grande, Ariz.
The Property Conference Center
October 24-25
Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson Expo Center
Oct. 31-Nov. 1
Glendale, Ariz.
Glendale Civic Center
October 3-4
Redmond, Ore.
Deschutes County Fair & Expo
November 14-15
Redmond, Ore.
Deschutes County Fair & Expo
October 3-4
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Alhambra Shrine
October 3-4
Savannah, Ga.
Savannah Convention Center
October 10-11
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Grand Station
October 10-11
Springfield, Mo.
Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
October 17-18
Franklin, Tenn.
Williamson County Expo Center
October 17-18
Jefferson, Ga.
Jackson County Agricultural Facility
October 24-25
Knoxville, Tenn.
Knoxville Expo Center
October 24-25
Somerset, Ky.
The Center For Rural Development
October 2-4
San Antonio, Texas
Alzafar Shrine Auditorium
October 17-18
Buda, Texas
Central Texas Fieldhouse
October 24-25
Victoria, Texas
Victoria Community Center
October 10-11
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Colorado Springs Event Center
To have your event highlighted here, send an email to kaumann@media-inc.com. americanshootingjournal.com 15
PRIMER
COMPETITION C A L E N D A R
USA Shooting usashooting.org
December 10-16
December 11-13
December 11-16
October 8-11
October 16-18
October 23-25
October 9-11
October 21-25
Pistol Winter Selection Match Hillsdale, Mich.
High Desert NM Sectional La Luz, N.M.
United States Practical Shooting Association uspsa.org
Carolina Classic Salisbury, N.C.
International Defensive Pistol Association idpa.com
Maryland State USPSA Championship Thurmont, Md.
November 6-8
October 10-11
October 17-18
October 24-25
October 10-11
October 17-18
October 31-November 1
October 9-11
October 17
October 30-31
October 16-17
October 24
November 3-7
October 16-17
October 17
October 30-31
Bluegrass Regional Classic Wilmore, Ky.
North Pacific Regional Shoot Boardman, Ore. Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association cmsaevents.com
CrossRoads Classic Johnston, Iowa
Rifle Winter Selection Match Colorado Springs, Colo.
Area 4 Championship Waxahachie, Texas
Port Malabar Glock Classic Palm Bay, Fla. Glock Sport Shooting Foundation gssfonline.com
Winter Air Gun Championships Camp Perry, Ohio
Alabama State Championship Rainsville, Ala.
South Carolina State Match Travelers Rest, S.C.
Hoosier State Regional Classic Atlanta, Ind. OKC Red Dirt Shootout Arcadia, Okla.
Mid Mountain Regional Pueblo, Colo. It’s The Great Pumpkin Shoot Topsham, Maine
Washington State IDPA Championship Renton, Wash.
Georgia Peach Classic State Championship Covington, Ga.
Freedom NC Glock Challenge Louisburg, N.C. The Glock Showdown in Savannah Fleming, Ga.
Mid-Central Regionals Inola, Okla. CMSA World Championship Guthrie, Okla.
Day of the Dot IDPA Optics Regional Championship Whitewright, Texas
To have your event highlighted here, send an email to kaumann@media-inc.com. americanshootingjournal.com 17
AJA RICHARDSON: TAKING BUFFALO ARMS BY THE HORNS Founder's daughter and company GM aims to boost collaborations, increase product offerings, open a storefront. STORY BY MIKE NESBITT • PHOTOS BY BUFFALO ARMS COMPANY
B
uffalo Arms Company was started in 1990 by Dave Gullo, the well-known black powder competition rifle champion, and it has grown to become a leading supplier of arms, ammo and accessories, mainly for black powder cartridge shooters. Obsolete smokeless cartridges are also found in their catalog and on the shelves in their stock room. Dave has said that he started this company because there were supplies he needed for his own black powder shooting that he couldn’t find regularly and he knew other black powder shooters were in the same situation. He corrected that rather uncomfortable situation very well. At least until now, Buffalo Arms Company has been a very modest business. They basically have no store, and their main building in Ponderay, Idaho, doesn’t even have their name on the outside of it. Buffalo Arms Company is Dave Gullo, Buffalo Arms Company mostly a mail-order business – and by mail founder, with one of his many black order, they thrive. Today it is hard to find powder cartridge shooting trophies. a black powder shooter who hasn’t done
18 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
Aja Richardson, Dave’s daughter, is taking on a new role at Buffalo Arms. While the saying on her T-shirt, “Obsolete, hard to find,” reflects the company’s longtime raison d’etre, most of her ideas for it are brand-new.
americanshootingjournal.com 19
business with Buffalo Arms Company. But now some of that is changing, and certainly changing for the better. Dave is thinking about retirement, after maintaining his business for 36 years, and his daughter Aja Richardson is taking over. Presently Aja wears the title of general manager for Buffalo Arms Company and she’s getting involved with everything that the company does or stands for. That includes shooting, and Aja is following in her father’s well-placed footsteps leading to the competition firing line. Aja’s rifle of choice is her Winchester Highwall in .45-70 caliber. It has a single set trigger and is equipped with a Kelley Soule tang sight. Her shooting is worthy of note too. When I asked her what her first score was at the big Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match, she smiled modestly and replied, “Thirteen.” My own first try at Quigley was only 11, and I was proud of that. Naturally, Aja’s shooting is improving and she’ll be one to keep up with. Going along with the shooting, Aja is also loading her own ammunition. That will give her the background to really Aja shooting her Winchester Highwall at one of several matches she participates in each year.
As her dad contemplates retirement, Aja is taking notes as the general manager.
20 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
understand what black powder shooters and reloaders need in the way of goods and accessories. Black powder shooting and reloading isn’t a completely different world from smokeless powder reloading, but it does have its own favorites and guidelines. We can see, in one small example, how shooters’ comments and input are being heard and recognized by Aja. For years shooters have referred to Buffalo Arms Company as “BACO,” by simply making a word out of the company’s initials, B.A.Co. It was Aja’s idea to take that nickname and make it official, so now BACO is registered and used on certain products in the forefront. One of those products is the new front sight aperture holder, or index, where front sight apertures can
The new sight aperture holder showing the new “BACO” trade name.
A drawing of bullet #459535C2.
This holster from Buffalo Arms will carry author Mike Nesbitt’s .44 Special.
be carried. The “O” in the new BACO insignia on the cover is in the form of a colorful target seen through a scope. By the way, that new aperture index has a thong for carrying the unit around your neck, so those apertures will be kept very handy. Many target shooters like to change apertures to keep up with changing light conditions.
Every box holds a different cartridge on this company shelf. Have a hardto-find caliber? BACO even has ammo for the .50 Remington Navy.
OF COURSE, IT has always been the products that are available from Buffalo Arms that have kept them going, in addition to making customers come back for more. On my recent trip to Buffalo Arms, where my conversation with Aja took place, it was simply too convenient for me to not pick up some of those goods. One item was a new holster for a .44 Special-caliber single-action that I’ll be carrying and shooting. Another item was a new bullet mold for my americanshootingjournal.com 21
Here’s Nesbitt’s first five shots taken with bullets from his new Creedmoor mold in .45-90.
.45-90, mostly used for silhouette matches. The bullet molds from Buffalo Arms Company deserve much more than just a sideline comment. Those bullet molds are unique and especially made for the best performance. The mold that I got is marked “Jim459535C1” and that tells a short story all by itself. “Jim” is Jim Brannon. He was BACO’s mold-maker for several years and he knows his stuff very well. Now Jim is semiretired and his apprentice for mold-making is Bryan Doty, another perfectionist. The “459” indicates the diameter of the bullet as cast. That is followed by “535,” which is the weight of the bullet. Then the “C” indicates the style of the bullet, a Creedmoor style, in this case. Finally, the “1” is needed because there is more than one style of Creedmoor bullet as made by BACO. In this case the “1” tells us that this bullet has a full-diameter forward bearing band. Bullet style “C2” has a beveled forward bearing band, theoretically to help center the bullet as it enters the leade of the rifling when the cartridge is fired. So far, I’ve only fired five rounds in my .45-90 by C. Sharps Arms to test that bullet. Those five shots went into 22 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
a group just under 1¼ inches, center to center, at 100 yards. Yes, should you need to ask, I will be using that bullet a lot more. We can be sure that maintaining the high quality of those bullet molds is certainly on Aja’s list of priorities. Another priority that Aja is following is the welcoming of other family members into the business. She has hired her two cousins, Dave’s nephews, to handle things on the BACO floor, mainly in shipping and receiving. In Aja’s words, “Those two guys have really taken over running the show!” This simply adds to the fact that Buffalo Arms Company is certainly family-owned and -operated.
AJA IS ALSO reaching out to other businesses with collaborations on her mind. She is connecting with a number of well-known companies such as C. Sharps Arms, Elite Compass, Cimarron and McBride’s Gun Store (in Austin, Texas), plus more that are in her view. At McBride’s there will be a Buffalo Arms “ammo wall” filled with obsolete or hard-to-find ammunition. Aja is hoping to expand that smokeless
powder ammo to include black powder cartridges available there. (I’m surprised that isn’t already done, but then black powder is my primary focus.) That ammo wall will be something to see. Another new category for ammunition will soon be added to the Buffalo Arms inventory and that will be some “dangerous game” ammo. They are also going to add to the variety of shotgun loads to offer things they don’t currently have. One more thing is on Aja’s mind and that is to go to as many shooting matches as possible, even if it is just to have BACO’s presence noted there. She competed at September’s Shiloh Sharps Big Whiskey Match in Montana, which was the first competition she went to without her dad. For that doin’s she was partnered and escorted by Steve Anderson, a well-known black powder competitor. Aja commented about how this community of black powder cartridge shooters is so open to helping each other, and that is a real big deal for helping others to join in so the community can continue to expand. We have not focused on Aja’s shooting in this story, mainly because it’s really about her role and activities in the business, but perhaps her competitive shooting will be the subject for another story. Meanwhile, a big change for Buffalo Arms is on her mind. That is the addition of a storefront where local customers, or travelers like me, can come in and do their business face-to-face with BACO. Such a storefront, perhaps with periodauthentic wooden sidewalks, will certainly be a very welcome change and can only increase their business. In closing, let me point out that the saying on Aja’s T-shirt reads, “Obsolete, hard to find.” She’s making that a slogan of sorts describing the ammunition and other goods available from BACO, and it will be used in their future advertising. But there is certainly nothing obsolete about Aja Richardson. She’s holding the winning hand at Buffalo Arms and playing it to the hilt. ★
3 A THE
’S
OF BIG GAME
HUNTING Looking for awesome adventures? You could do much worse than America, Alaska and Africa! STORY AND PHOTOS BY NATHAN ASKEW
24 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
I
f you’re into A-list places, then this article will be a treasure map for your next adventure. Africa, Alaska and America – The A – List. This is where it’s at for big game hunting. No excuses; all these destinations are affordable enough and all are more possible today for hunters than at any other time in history. No one is going to take you by the hand and organize most of these trips, so buy your plane ticket or load up on some of that $6 diesel and get going.
The whitetail deer is the most pursued animal on the planet. Here, author Nathan Askew (left) and a client pose with a 190-class Iowa buck. They are rare even in the best areas.
The adventure and the pursuit of big animals is ingrained in our DNA. Humans are designed to push beyond the next horizon. We need to see what’s over the next hill and try to eat it… It’s what we do. The modern-day middle management man and the paycheck-pulling waitress still seek out hunting on a regular basis. Even the most polished boardroom executives feel the urge to pursue and explore almost as much as the club-toting caveman from centuries past. It’s natural and needed for our sanity. Like it or not,
the modern-day convenience that surrounds us cannot squelch the hunt that is in every human. Luckily, if you’re reading this, you are most likely an American and thus in a great spot to capitalize on all three destinations on this A-list of hunting.
AMERICA
It’s first on my list and that’s due to the fact that America has the most opportunities for hunting in the world. Regardless of budget or skill or connections americanshootingjournal.com 25
you can hunt. You don’t need a royal pedigree or a bunch of money like you do in most of the world. In America if you have the desire you can find a place to hunt and experience a lot of great country for damn near free. Might as well start at the top with deer season. The whitetail deer is the most pursued animal on the planet. It’s a 25+ billion dollar industry and for most hunters it’s what makes the approaching winter months a blessing. I’ve hunted a lot of creatures and guided for even more and I am convinced that a mature trophy-class whitetail is one of the toughest animals to regularly take. And money can’t just make it happen; it takes time, skill and patience. They exist in 48 of the 50 states and more than 6 million whitetail are killed, butchered and consumed by Americans each year. There are 38 subspecies of whitetail deer throughout the US and Canada, ranging in size from the 75-pound Florida Key deer to the 300-pluspound northern woodland whitetail. Next and very obtainable are black bear, turkey and pronghorn. All are very different hunts, but they are all readily available for a hunter who does a little research and is willing to travel a bit. These three adventures are great hunts with different skills required for
Pronghorn antelope taken in Wyoming by Bill Chouinard, this was one of 5 we took in 3 days on a fantastic hunt for our group of college friends.
26 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
A Nilgai antelope taken on the King Ranch in Texas. Mr. Bucher (right) had taken one the day before and we hauled the meat back to Missouri.
success. They are each very rewarding and really fun. For bear, you may learn to run baits or spot and stalk depending on place and regulations. On the turkey front, you will have four species to choose from and they are distributed across the Lower 48. You’ll learn to call, run and gun – and get spotted by these sharp-eyed birds from a mile away. Antelope roam out in the open prairie of the West. You’ll need to learn to shoot effectively at long range. A new gun and gear aren’t needed; your dad’s .30-06 will work just fine. Slap on some good optics and learn how to shoot. It takes practice, not the newest magnum. My favorite of these three hunts is the pronghorn, as it’s a more active pursuit and a different style of hunt in different terrain than most American hunters are used to. Don’t forget about elk. Elk hunting
is at an all-time premium in cost and demand. It is close to too expensive for most unless you live in a state that has a bunch of them. A guided trophy elk hunt will cost a nonresident upwards of $15,000 these days in a decent place where you will have a chance at a bull. If you draw a tag you can cut that cost by about a third. A do-it-yourself elk hunt takes research on units, draw odds and a lot of planning to be successful. America also offers mountain goat, bigger bears, bighorn sheep and moose, but only for those lucky enough to get a tag or those ready to pay huge amounts for a special permit/guided hunt. There aren’t a ton of these tags/hunts available, but they are out there. You have to enter into the many state-run “draws” or sometimes you can pay a higher price for landowner tags. Instant
Bush planes – go-karts with wings and floats – make the Alaskan backcountry accessible.
gratification is buying the guided hunt; it is also the most successful by far. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, then start playing the odds in the draws for these tags. Drawing one of these more restricted tags might not happen fast, but it will never happen if you don’t start the process. There are many services that can help you with this and I recommend it. The various state regulations and paperwork and deadlines and units can be a bit confusing and you should be applying in multiple states for the best results. Game ranch? If you’re up for a fun weekend or three-day hunt, you can find a wide variety of introduced or exotic species that are readily available on private and mostly fenced properties. The cost varies. Most of these exotic ranches are in Texas. Several species have escaped the
fence and now have established their own feral populations… God bless Texas. My favorites are the nilgai and axis deer. I’ve been fortunate to hunt nilgai and I’m planning to do an axis hunt soon. Both of these antelope are originally from India and have adapted well to the Texas terrain. The hunts are fun and the meat is second to none. So that’s hunting America for you. Don’t forget trapping, wingshooting and maybe even a little big game fishing. America has a lot to offer.
ALASKA
Yes, Alaska is part of America but requires a separate shout-out. Alaska deserves its own distinction as a big game mecca that every hunter should experience. I know this for a fact as I have experienced one big game hunt there and I loved it. I’m patiently
awaiting my return! Alaska has fewer species than the Lower 48 but offers more in the way of adventure and true wilderness hunting. When we are talking big Alaskan game, the first two species that pop up are the huge brown bears on the coast and the Alaskan moose. There is no way to prepare your mind for an up-close encounter with a coastal brown bear. They are powerful animals with the largest specimens weighing in at over 2,000 pounds and standing over 10 feet tall. I was able to hunt a 10-foot, 4-inch bear at close range on the peninsula of Alaska in 2019. It was shot at 32 steps in a flat, open swamp. I could see the Aleutian Range on one side and the Bering Sea on the other. It was remarkable. The bear saw us from 600 yards away; it ripped open and ate a fish, then came straight americanshootingjournal.com 27
A great Alaskan moose taken toward the end of a hunt. The weather in Alaska adds a huge degree of difficulty on any adventure.
towards us. The bear was coming to fight or feed on us, and I don’t think he cared which. The video is a good quick watch and on my YouTube channel (bulletsafaris.com or youtube.com/ user/BulletSafarisCom/videos). The Alaskan moose is one of the most impressive animals on Earth and the largest of the various moose subspecies. Weighing in at a max of 1,800 pounds, standing some 7 feet tall at the shoulder and carrying massive antlers of over 6 feet across, you better be sure of your exit plan before you pull the trigger. In other words, you have to carry all the edible meat out before any 28 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
of the trophy parts are taken. This is standard in Alaska for all species except bears, wolves and wolverines. There is a lot of meat on a moose and many shot opportunities are passed by hunters because of the packing out logistics. I have been fortunate to help plan several moose hunts for my clients but have yet to hunt one for myself. One of my guides used to work in Alaska and was good at killing big moose. The hunt usually goes somewhat like how Doc Craven’s hunt went in 2024: Days 1, 2 and 3: Traveled and ended up at a tent on a hillside in Alaska. Days 4 and 5: Saw moose via
glassing and short hikes, but animals were not big enough or too far. Days 6, 7 and 8: Rain and fog prevented any glassing or hunting. Spent most of the time in the tent hoping for it to clear out. Day before the last day: Prepared for a tag sandwich. Saw a moose; it was huge and in 45 minutes it was on the ground. It was the biggest of the season. Gutted the animal and hoped a bear wouldn’t find it. Days after the shot: Skinning, meat extraction and trying to find a gap in the weather to safely leave the wilderness. Some of the other popular big
A huge coastal brown bear taken at close range with a .300 Win. Mag.
game targets in the great state of Alaska include Dall sheep, grizzly bear, black bear, caribou, mountain goat, Sitka blacktail deer and even muskox. Some hunts you need a guide by law and some you can do on your own. If you decide to hunt anything on your own in Alaska be prepared and knowledgeable about the weather – it will have a huge effect on your hunting and safety.
AFRICA
The African continent hosts 170 huntable species and holds the most dangerous animals on Earth. Here you americanshootingjournal.com 29
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can still hunt the big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo and limited rhino hunting). There is no other location that can hold a candle to the big game hunting that Africa offers. You hunt a lion with your heart, leopard with your brain, elephant with your feet, buffalo with your guts, and for the other 166 species, it varies. As Ernest Hemingway once wrote, “A brave man is always frightened three times by a lion; when he first sees his track, when he first hears him roar and when he first confronts him.” (The line is based on a traditional Somali proverb and appeared in Hemingway’s 1936 short story “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.”) From my experience, this holds true. Hunting a lion is a great adventure and a special privilege. The hunting of lions are helping preserve the existence of this iconic cat in the wild. The costs of a wild lion hunt are well over 100k and a lot of that money is directed straight back into habitat preservation and antipoaching efforts. There is nothing like the chess
game of a leopard hunt. The scouting, planning, baiting, blind setup, timing, patience and followup are all key in a successful hunt. There are few things more awesome than watching this silent predator appear in the tree in daylight hours with you 60 yards away. Following up a wounded leopard is difficult and can result in hundreds of stitches per second if it goes bad. Hunting the largest animal currently walking the earth is an experience all its own. For elephant, you need the largest of calibers and you must hit its football-sized brain at close range with open sights (or at least that’s how we prefer to do it). If you think you just stroll up to a bull on the savanna and shoot him, you have another think coming. Elephant live in thick bush and their huge size hides them. Even at 10 yards it can be impossible to see them, much less judge the ivory. I have literally walked into them by accident. It is a humbling experience to be that close to an animal that can kill you by accident. Buffalo have a terrible disposition
White rhino are still hunted today and it is an impressive operation that involves a great hunt first and then a lot of modern science and technology with DNA sampling, microchips and long term tracking of all parts.
32 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
and are probably the hardest animal to kill with a bullet. When they are wounded and full of adrenaline, you may not have enough bullets in your belt to finish the job. Even with a perfect heart shot, they still have about 45 seconds of oxygen stored in their brain and muscles to stay on their feet and fight. That’s plenty of time for a buffalo to stomp and hook you into a bloody mess. The only solution is a brain shot or severing the spinal cord. The variety of experiences and trophies is absolutely amazing in Africa. The hunting varies in more ways than can be explained and you have to be on the ground there to understand how great it is. Africa holds many unknowns and rewards, but one thing is for sure: You better have your sh*t together when you knock the dust off your safety in Africa.★ Editor’s note: Nathan Askew is a fulltime professional hunter and guide. He is the owner of Bullet Safaris and Iowa Trophy Hunts.
\
\/\/\/\ HUNT AFRICA \/\/\/\
Roosevelt bulls often retreat to lowland habitat to recover from the rut. Private land here can offer thick cover for protection, food and water.
34 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
ROAD HUNTER
THE EASIEST ROOSEVELT ELK HUNT OF MY LIFE Used to chasing bulls in steep, dark mountains, a hunter bags a trophy in farmland just off I-5. STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN
O
n November 11 last year, sleep didn’t come easy. Earlier that day I had packed five dozen duck decoys into a pond and tidied up the blind. I’d already been on multiple duck hunts by then, but it was the first for Echo and Kona, my two aging pudelpointers. I went to bed at 11 that night, and woke up at 2:30 a.m. I was too excited to sleep. So were the dogs. We got to the duck blind earlier than necessary. A wisp of fog blanketed the floor of western Oregon’s Willamette Valley. To the east, the Cascade Range’s foothills were engulfed in clouds. The conditions were prime for duck hunting. I’d spent each of the last four days looking for elk in the Cascades. Trying to fill a General West Cascade elk tag, I focused my efforts between the 2,000and 3,500-foot-elevation marks. I found tracks, mostly old. Hunting pressure was high. The low-percentage hunt had me frustrated. I needed a break. It came in the form of a morning duck hunt with my dogs. Fog thickened. There wasn’t a breath of wind. Ducks worked well into the decoys. A pair of mallards approached first. They circled twice and dropped into a gap in the decoys. Each dog retrieved a bird. A trio of northern shovelers came in next. There was no circling. Two birds folded on the
first two shots. I missed the third and easiest shot of all. Four birds into a seven-duck limit, my buddy Richard Kropf sent me a text. A big Roosevelt bull had just shown up on trail camera a mile from where I stood. The last time we’d seen that bull was 363 days prior, when it appeared in the same spot. It was on the valley floor, barely 2 miles from Interstate 5, the busiest highway on the West Coast.
OVER THE PAST 20 years I’ve received multiple calls about big Roosevelt bulls being shot near my home, most on private lands in the Willamette Valley. I attested the score on the then-world record Rosie, the first ever to measure over 400 inches. Thirty years ago, few Roosevelt elk lived in the lowlands of the Willamette Valley. Some meandered through, but few stuck around. Today, herds thrive on private land year-round. It’s mostly cows and young bulls that reside in the lowland habitats, but during the rut, big bulls drop in from the mountains to breed. Once the rut is over, mature bulls usually head back into the Douglas fir-covered mountains. But come November, some drop back into the valley, where it’s safe from predators and food abounds. The Willamette Valley is known as the Grass Seed Capital of the World. Rye grass draws a lot of elk into the lowlands. The hunts are 100-percent americanshootingjournal.com 35
ROAD HUNTER Kona and Echo, author Scott Haugen’s pudelpointers, with a limit of ducks taken six hours before Haugen would fill his elk tag just over a mile away. It was a memorable day from start to end.
“The best way to get this bull is going to be to drive it out,” Kropf said. “The wind is supposed to pick up from the north this afternoon. I’ll give you a call when it starts moving and we’ll make a plan. Until then, keep shooting ducks.”
BY 9:30 I was home, cleaning a limit of
ducks and tracking the weather. For the next three hours, all I thought about was how the shot could unfold on the big Roosevelt bull. In high school I was quarterback of the football team. Every Thursday night, following a short practice, I’d lie on my bed and mentally run through every single play in the playbook in preparation for Friday night’s game. I’d start by tossing a football toward the ceiling, but would inevitably kick into a trancelike state, eyes closed, visualizing how defenses might react and what my next move would be. I was also a defensive back and handled all kicking and punting duties. I visualized all those plays too. I slipped into game mode on the big bull, as is often the case. I was familiar with where the bull was hanging out, as two years prior Kropf had invited me to hunt for elk sheds with him there. We covered every inch of ground that day. It proved to be an invaluable education I’d not anticipated at the time. For three and a half hours, I did
private land, or close to it. Here, bulls eat, drink and sleep in a very small area, conserving energy and letting wounds from the rut heal. I had my rifle in the truck, and was ready to cut the duck hunt short. But I spoke with Kropf and we agreed that with the lack of wind, it would be best to wait until the afternoon to try and find the bull. The 30-some-acre tangle of blackberries and low-growing, densely packed oak trees would make it nearly impossible to find the bull by way of spot-and-stalk. Briars grew over 20 feet tall in places, mingling with low-growing limbs of oak trees. 36 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
Fourteen hours after catching this big bull on trail camera, Haugen was strapping his tag to the seven-point giant.
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ROAD HUNTER nothing but lie in a recliner, visualizing how the shot might unfold. I didn’t answer phone calls, check emails or let my mind get distracted by business. Echo and Kona were fast asleep on the floor next to me. Their deep, heavy breathing helped put my mind at ease. “OK, we have a plan,” Kropf texted me early in the afternoon. I called him. He was going to get his brother Brent and they’d do an old-fashioned drive to push the bull from thick cover toward
Haugen and the massive Roosevelt bull that showed up 363 days after it was last seen in the same spot.
38 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
me. I knew where I’d be standing in wait amidst a small clearing that separated the 30-acre mess the bull was in from another one to the south that was about a third smaller.
ON THE EDGE of the meadow, 20 yards of tall briars buffered the oak grove from the field of dead grass in which I stood. The brown grass and weeds were barely knee-high. My shooting window would be less than 100 yards wide,
from right to left. Plenty big. By the time I got set up in the tripod shooting sticks, I’d played out all the possible scenarios so many times that I was ready. With the rifle set in perfect position on the tripod, I took multiple range readings and made sure the bolt cleared the saddle, should more than one shot be necessary. I made sure the tripod head moved smoothly so I could track the bull if it busted out on the run. I turned on the reticle in my rifle
ROAD HUNTER scope, adjusting it to get the perfect amount of illumination. Less than five minutes into the drive, it happened. The massive bull lumbered from thick oak trees and stopped behind a patch of briars. It sniffed the air with intensity, nose held high. Its wet nostrils flared wide in my scope, trying to scent the Kropf brothers who’d nudged it from cover. Its eyes rolled downward, exposing the whites. The rack appeared massive, its main beams longer than what I’d expected from the trail camera shot. When I saw the seventh point on the left side of the rack, it confirmed I was looking at our bull. I only had a head shot, which I wasn’t going to take at 200 yards. The bull was committed and had to either cross the opening or run right at me. Either option was good. Given how slowly the bull moved, I thought it was going to walk into the open and offer a broadside shot. It
THE GEAR
S
didn’t. After taking two steps, the bull instantly hit high gear. I swung and pressured the trigger the moment the crosshairs cleared the brisket. The bull dropped, smack on the trail Kropf had said it would emerge on. The shot was 204 yards. When field dressing the bull, we found the bullet had passed through both lungs, clipping the lower spine on its way through. It exited the opposite side. Approaching the bull, it was even bigger than we’d thought. The Kropfs had hunted the area during archery season but never saw this bull during the rut. The season prior, Richard and Brent called in two bulls and got a double in this spot. To take any Roosevelt bull elk in the farmland is a treat, but the 339 4/8-inch monster that laid before us exceeded my wildest dreams. There are bulls this caliber taken on the valley floor just about every season,
A look at some of Haugen’s equipment on his elk hunt.
cott Haugen’s rifle of choice on this elk hunt was a Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed, chambered in 6.8 Western. He shoots Browning Long Range Pro Hunter 175-grain Sierra Tipped GameKing bullets. The rifle was topped with a Leupold VX-6HD scope in 3-18x44 with a Customized Dial System (CDS) for the specific load. A red FireDot is a valuable part of the scope, something Western big game hunters should consider. The bull was caught on a Moultrie cellular trail camera early in the morning. Being in the valley, so near the I-5 corridor, cell coverage was solid, not the norm for elk hunters out West. -ASJ
40 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
but not until you actually see one can you believe its sheer size. The fact that mature bulls occupy such a gentle habitat is mind-boggling to me, for the only place I grew up hunting them was in the steepest, darkest, most rugged haunts in the Coast Range and Cascades – some of the toughest terrain I’ve hunted anywhere in the West. Standing over the grand bull, I could see the brush surrounding the blind where my dogs and I had enjoyed a great duck hunt six hours prior. It was the easiest elk hunt I’ve ever been on, but I’d been on enough hard ones over the past 50 years to appreciate it. I had the Kropf brothers to thank, for without them, the biggest Roosevelt bull of my life would still be a dream. ★ Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s latest book, just out, Elk Hunting The West: The Experience, visit scotthaugen.com.
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IT’S TIME TO GEAR UP A look at new hunting rifles, shotguns, crossbows, blinds and more. STORY BY LARRY CASE
F
all is here, and if you are thinking about guns and gear you need for this season, it’s getting late. Don’t – like me – wait until two days before your season comes in and be thinking you need this or that. Need a new shotgun or rifle? (Who doesn’t?) A crossbow, tree stand, ground blind, some more camo (always), or maybe some of the new optics that are out there? It is time to pull the trigger on any or all of this gear. First, guns.
FIREARMS
Spandau Arms (spandauarms.com) may be new to some of you on the gun scene, but they have a very impressive array of firearms for you to consider. The Spandau RL bolt-action has made quite a splash in the rifle world. Some would say this gun is maybe a clone of the Remington Model 700, but as the Spandau folks will tell you, this rifle is more than that. The Spandau RL is currently produced in .308 caliber, but other calibers are coming. Designed around a Remington 700-compatible short action, this rifle allows shooters to tap into the decades of stocks, triggers, bases and upgrades developed for one of America’s most iconic rifle platforms. If you like the Remington Model 700, you will like this rifle. Chambered in .308 Winchester and paired with a 1-in-10-inch-twist 5R rifled barrel (that is important), the RL is field-ready right out of the box with premium 42 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
Akkar USA Firearms Sharp Spur shotgun. (AKKAR USA) americanshootingjournal.com 43
Spandau S2 20/24 wearing Mossy Oak Bottomland camo. (SPANDAU ARMS)
Spandau RL bolt-action in .308 Winchester. (SPANDAU ARMS)
features like an oversized bolt handle, Accuracy International Chassis System-pattern detachable magazines, and a zero-cant Picatinny optics rail. It is finished with a durable oxynitride treatment and outfitted with a beautiful Turkish walnut stock. Spandau also produces several shotguns. The S2 is a lightweight, high-performance firearm designed for hunters and shooting enthusiasts. It features a reliable inertia operating
system for smooth cycling with various loads, a customizable Benelli Mobil choke tube system, and a fiber optic front sight for quick target acquisition. (Many will see this shotgun as similar to the Benelli.) The S2 has oversized controls, an enhanced loading gate and compatibility with Benelli M2 accessories. Other features include a vent rib barrel and an adjustable drop/ cast spacer kit, as well as being drilled
and tapped for optic mounting and a rubber recoil pad. MSRP is $531. Akkar USA Firearms (akkarusa .com) has come on the scene with a full line of shotguns for the hunter and competition shooter. Many turkey hunters want an optic on the shotgun and the Sharp Spur model features an ingenious mounting method with an integrated Picatinny rail on the receiver. This allows a fast and easy installation while also lowering the red dot where
Akkar USA Back Country Magnum 12-gauge shotgun. (AKKAR USA)
44 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
Crossbow hunters must be able to maneuver in tight spaces like blinds, and Barnett has taken that into consideration with its latest models. (BARNETT CROSSBOWS)
it needs to be. This is a lightweight shotgun available in 12, 20, 28 and .410 gauges. It features 3-inch chambers in the 20, 28 and .410, and 3½-inch chambers in the 12 gauge. The barrel is 24 inches with five extended choke options and the entire shotgun is adorned with Mossy Oak Obsession camo. This is a lot of shotgun for an MSRP of $569. Also check out the Akkar USA Back Country Magnum. This is a light, fast-handling over-and-under shotgun featuring a 2¾- to 3½-inch chamber that accommodates a broad range of shotshells, especially those for turkey and waterfowl hunting. The Back Country Magnum is equipped with five extended choke tubes, so you can easily tailor your shot pattern to match any shooting scenario. MSRP is $1,119.
CROSSBOWS
The smack talk against crossbows by some bowhunters has been argued ad nauseum. I don’t understand it, 46 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
Barnett Crossbows Hyper Raptor GTX with Buk Ops X-Factor scope. (BARNETT CROSSBOWS)
but I get it. If you don’t want to use a crossbow, don’t. But it can’t be denied that the modern crossbow has allowed thousands of hunters to be able to participate in what they want to do: get out and hunt. Young and new hunters have all benefited from the surge in crossbow use, plus some hunters simply want to use a crossbow. The Hyper Raptor GTX is the latest model from Barnett Crossbows (barnettcrossbows.com). Speed is important to crossbow hunters
and this bow is a screamer. Its compact, energy-efficient design launches small-diameter Hyper Flite arrows at speeds up to 425 feet per second with 152 foot-pounds of energy. Measuring just over 7 inches axle-to-axle when cocked, its composite riser provides excellent maneuverability in tight cover. The Barnett Wildcat CRX crossbow may be considered a more entry-level hunting crossbow. This is a lightweight model that combines the heritage of traditional archery with modern-day crossbow innovation. Reaching speeds of up to 280 fps and ready to hunt straight out of the box, the Wildcat CRX features an all-new precision red dot scope with protective neoprene scope armor cover, an easy-use rope cocking device, two 20-inch Headhunter
arrows, and a lightweight arrow quiver with side mount bracket for a narrow and easily maneuverable setup.
GROUND BLINDS
From Ol’ Man Outdoors (olmanoutdoors.com), the Bounty Hunter 270 ground blind delivers a 270-degree
Tarnen, the next generation in timber camo pattern, combines natural shapes and visual randomness to disguise your movements. (HUNTWORTH)
Ol’ Man Outdoors Bounty Hunter 270 ground blind. (OL’ MAN OUTDOORS)
one-way, see-through viewing experience in a streamlined and highly portable package for hunters. Built with durable Realtree APX camouflage fabric and featuring quiet, slide-open window technology, it provides the wide-angle visibility and complete concealment critical for monitoring game. Designed for efficiency, it offers rapid setup and takedown, packs down to a manageable size and weighs only 18 pounds for easy transport to remote locations, ensuring you can establish a hidden vantage point anywhere.
CAMOUFLAGE
As we have noted here many times, you can never have enough camo clothes. Neal Ash started Huntworth (huntworthgear.com) as a hunting apparel brand in 2001 with one goal: make quality technical hunting clothing for passionate hunters at an affordable price. For a company you may not have heard of, 48 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
Huntworth has a staggering array of camo clothing. The Tarnen pattern is interesting to me, but Huntworth offers several patterns to choose from. Huntworth offers edgy technical gear that performs at the top of its class, without breaking the bank.
OPTICS
If you have not been living under that proverbial rock we talk about, you have been hearing about the thermal technology available to hunters. The Cronus ATS P-Mini 250S thermal monocular from Athlon Optics (athlonoptics .com) delivers powerful thermal performance in an ultra-compact, easy-to-carry design. This thermal is lightweight, rechargeable via USB-C, and designed with an intuitive touchscreen interface. Built around a 256x192 thermal sensor, the P-Mini 250S provides crisp image clarity, making it ideal
for scouting, tracking and nighttime observation in the field. Editor’s note: Larry Case has been a devoted outdoorsman since he was a child. He will admit to an addiction to turkey hunting (spring and fall), but refuses any treatment. He enjoys the company of gobblers and cur dogs that are loud and people who speak the truth softly. Case served 36 years as a game warden in West Virginia and retired with the rank of district captain. You can check out his podcast and other stories at gunsandcornbread.com.
Athlon Cronus ATS P-Mini 250S thermal monocular. (ATHLON OPTICS)
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HISTORY
VIRGIL EARP: THE LAWMAN WHO CARRIED THE BADGE AT TOMBSTONE Oldest brother in famed clan 'embodied the professional peace officer of the Old West.' STORY BY PAUL PAWELA
hen the story of the American West is told, Wyatt Earp usually dominates the conversation. Yet among firearms historians and students of frontier law enforcement, it’s increasingly clear that the true leader of the Earp brothers was Virgil Walter Earp. As Tombstone’s city marshal and a deputy US Marshal, Virgil, not Wyatt, enforced the law in one of the most volatile mining towns in the Arizona Territory. Calm under pressure, respected by his fellow officers and willing to face armed opponents when necessary, Virgil Earp embodied the professional peace officer of the Old West. His leadership during the Gunfight at the OK Corral secured his place in history, but his life offers far more than a single famous gunfight.
W
BORN ON JULY 18, 1843, in Hartford, Kentucky, Virgil grew up in a family that would become synonymous with frontier justice. Like many American families of the era, the Earps moved frequently, settling in Illinois, Iowa and California as opportunities arose. Life on the frontier demanded hard work, adaptability and self-reliance, qualities that shaped Virgil long before he pinned on a badge. When the Civil War erupted, Virgil answered the call, enlisting in the 83rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry in 1862. Three years of service instilled in him discipline,
Virgil Walter Earp – Union soldier, city marshal, Gunfight at the OK Corral hero, ambush survivor. (WIKIPEDIA) americanshootingjournal.com 51
HISTORY leadership and composure under fire. Those lessons proved invaluable years later when split-second decisions meant the difference between life and death. After the war, Virgil held a variety of common occupations in the expanding West, including farming, stage driving, railroad work and prospecting. Like many veterans, he followed opportunity westward and eventually settled in Tombstone during Arizona’s silver boom. By 1880, Tombstone had become one of America’s richest and most dangerous mining towns. Thousands of miners, gamblers, merchants, drifters and cattlemen poured into the town. Wealth arrived quickly, but so did violence. The town’s ordinances prohibited carrying firearms within the city limits, placing the burden of enforcement squarely on City Marshal Virgil Earp. Unlike the hot-headed lawmen often portrayed in Hollywood westerns, Virgil favored professionalism over confrontation. Contemporary accounts consistently describe him as steady, courteous and deliberate. His objective was simple: to enforce the law fairly while avoiding unnecessary bloodshed whenever possible. That philosophy would be put to the ultimate test on October 26, 1881.
FOR WEEKS, TENSIONS had escalated between the Earps and members of the loosely organized Cowboy faction. Threats had been exchanged, arrests made and tempers pushed to the breaking point. Learning that several Cowboys were carrying firearms in violation of city ordinance, Virgil assembled Deputy US Marshal Wyatt Earp, Special Deputy Doc Holliday and Deputy City Marshal Morgan Earp to disarm them. It is important to remember that Virgil’s assignment was not to start a gunfight but to enforce the law. Numerous eyewitness accounts indicate that he ordered the Cowboys to surrender their weapons before any shots were fired. What followed lasted less than half a minute but became the most famous gunfight in American history. In seconds, 30 shots were fired. By the 52 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
time the smoke cleared, Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury and Frank McLaury were dead; Virgil was wounded in the calf, Morgan was injured in the back and shoulder, Doc Holliday sustained a minor wound, and Wyatt was unharmed. Debate over who fired the first shot has persisted for more than a century, but historians agree that Virgil remained in command throughout the encounter. His restraint before the shooting and his determination afterward reflected the mindset of a seasoned peace officer rather than a man seeking violence. The aftermath proved even more dangerous. On the evening of December 28, 1881, Virgil was walking through Tombstone after finishing his duties when hidden attackers ambushed him. A shotgun blast at close range struck his left arm and shoulder, shattering the bones and leaving him permanently disabled. Although physicians considered amputation, Virgil chose to keep the arm despite losing much of its function. The attack was widely seen as retaliation for the events at the OK Corral. Just three months later, Morgan Earp was murdered while playing billiards, prompting Wyatt Earp’s wellknown Vendetta Ride against those believed responsible. Still recovering from devastating injuries, Virgil could not fully participate. Despite the permanent damage to his arm, he refused to retire quietly. He continued to serve in law enforcement positions across the West, including as a marshal in Colton, California. His reputation for honesty and professionalism remained intact wherever he served. For firearms enthusiasts, the Tombstone story also highlights the evolution of late 19th-century sidearms and frontier policing. Lawmen and outlaws alike carried a wide variety of revolvers and long guns, with equipment often reflecting personal preference rather than standardized issue. Training was based on experience, and success depended more on judgment, nerve
Author Paul Pawela at Earp’s gravesite at River View Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. (PAUL PAWELA)
and familiarity with one’s firearm than on rapid-fire marksmanship alone.
VIRGIL’S GREATEST STRENGTH was not exceptional gunfighting skill but sound leadership. He understood that a peace officer’s responsibility was to prevent violence whenever possible and to respond decisively only when circumstances left no alternative. That distinction separates professional lawmen from the dime-novel image of the quick-draw gunfighter. Later in life, Virgil experienced a remarkable reunion with his first wife and the daughter he had never known. Decades after being separated by the Civil War, he met his adult daughter, bringing unexpected happiness to his later years.
Although overshadowed in popular culture by Wyatt, modern historians increasingly recognize Virgil as the leader of the Earp brothers during the Tombstone years. He accepted responsibility for enforcing unpopular laws, stood his ground under extraordinary pressure and continued to serve despite life-altering injuries. Although Virgil died in Goldfield, Nevada, on October 19, 1905, at age 62, his final resting place is hundreds of miles away in Portland, Oregon. He is buried beside his wife, Allie Earp, at the historic River View Cemetery, where a simple yet well-maintained monument marks their graves. Over the years, the site has become a destination for Old West enthusiasts, historians and descendants of frontier lawmen who come to pay their respects. Unlike the dramatic events that defined much of his life, Virgil’s gravesite is peaceful and understated, a fitting tribute to a man whose greatest legacy was not as a gunfighter but as a dedicated peace officer who carried out his duty during one of the most turbulent periods in American frontier history. Today, Virgil Earp deserves recognition not only as Wyatt’s older brother but also as one of the Old West’s most capable frontier lawmen. His story reminds us that the badge often carried a greater burden than the gun. The legends may celebrate the shootout, but history remembers the man who tried to prevent it and never stopped serving after the smoke cleared. ★
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americanshootingjournal.com 55
L.E. SPOTLIGHT
A TRIBUTE TO ONE OF A KIND
Remembering Ben Tisa – marine, FBI SWAT Team leader, tactical trainer. STORY BY NICK PERNA PHOTO COURTESY OF BENTISA.COM
T
here are a lot of big names out there in the tactical firearms training community that everyone knows about. Kyle Lamb, Massad Ayoob, Pat McNamara and others are household names for those who are familiar with that genre. With that being said, there are a lot of really great instructors who may be lesser known but their impact on the regional communities in which they instruct is just as significant. In California in the 1990s and early to mid-2000s, there was one man known throughout the state as one of the premier SWAT instructors. His name was Ben Tisa. Ben’s résumé reads like something a Hollywood action/adventure script writer would embellish to make someone sound larger than life. Ben served in Vietnam as an infantry officer with the United States Marine Corps’ Third Infantry Division between 1966 and 1970. Upon receiving an honorable discharge, he became a special agent for the FBI, where he served until 1995. He started in the Oklahoma City office and later transferred to the San Francisco
Ben Tisa never said no to an adult beverage (except on the range, of course).
office. While in San Francisco, he was assigned to the Special Operations Unit where he was a member of the FBI SWAT Team. As part of the team, Ben held multiple roles, including operator, team leader, sniper and hostage negotiator. He worked his way up the ranks from SWAT Team member to team leader to team commander to tactical commander. He was also a member of the Firearms and Tactical Training Unit, as well as the Shooting Evaluation Team, which investigated shooting incidents involving FBI special agents. He also served with the Department of Defense as an instructor for the Marine
Corps’ Special Operations Training Unit, providing hostage rescue, sniper, breaching aircraft assault, ship and oil platform training.
WHEN HE LEFT the FBI in 1995, Ben
started his own training company, ITR (International Training Resources). In that role, he was instrumental in designing and implementing tactical training for SWAT cops throughout California and elsewhere. He developed and presented the first 80-hour statecertified SWAT course. He also designed the first Patrol Rifle, Tactical Dispatcher, Explosive Breaching, Rappel Master and Tactical Commander courses, just americanshootingjournal.com 57
L.E. SPOTLIGHT to name a few. I am proud to say I am a graduate of his SWAT, Rappel Master and Advanced Sniper courses. Ben was basically responsible for bringing tactical law enforcement training to California. Ben’s teaching techniques could be a little unorthodox at times. When I attended his SWAT course in 2001, we did a live fire drill that would make most firearms instructors cringe. It involved lining up SWAT guys with long guns in two rows, facing each other. In between each SWAT guy was a cardboard target on a target stand. Each officer was directly in front of a cardboard target, with a SWAT officer right next to it. The drill was simple: On the command of “Threat!” the officer would fire two rounds into his target. This started out at 5 yards, then 10 yards, 15, 20, 30, all the way out to 50 yards. To make things a little more exciting (not that it needed to be), all the students were expected to transition to their handgun when their rifle ran dry. This meant that some officers were
58 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
forced to take shots at 50 yards at a target flanked by two other live human beings. On another occasion, while attending Ben’s Advanced Sniper school, we did live fire training inside an old World War II dirigible hangar. We climbed about 100 feet up some old, rickety wood ladders to get to the top of the hangar, then shot down at steel targets below. This is an important skill for a sniper to know: accounting for angles on long-distance shots. During that same class, we shot steel targets inside an actual office building. One shot I had to take was on a 4-inch steel plate that was about 75 yards away. It was not a hard shot, but the backdrop behind was a large bay window that opened up to a major highway. Needless to say, I took my time with that one. There were obvious risks involved in much of what Ben taught, but to be fair, gunfighting is a dangerous business. To come out as a victor in a gun fight, you are going to have to take risks. In
all fairness, some of the best trained teams in the world, like America’s Delta Force or Britain’s Special Air Service, do much riskier training. They routinely do explosive breaching and live fire engagements in shoot houses with live “hostages” inside the rooms, inches from targets. The only way to train for gun fights is to make it as realistic as possible, and Ben definitely did that.
BEN HAD HIS detractors, namely law
enforcement administrators and some state-level training managers, but for guys like me who received training from him, I can honestly say much of what he taught me kept me alive and the victor in a few engagements on the “two-way range.” Ben taught a team entry technique that involved flooding hallways and rooms with heavily armed SWAT operators. Terms that are common today in SWAT circles, such as “dominating a room,” came directly from the techniques
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Ben taught. Speed, surprise, violence of action was the mantra we trained under. Ben called the formation a “Tactical Snake,” a reference to a group of SWAT cops quickly moving as one through buildings. Graduates of his SWAT school were presented with a rubber snake as a memento. Ben also had a great sense of humor. He had a framed picture of J. Edgar Hoover, the former FBI director, that he brought to training. The picture was kidnapped on more than one occasion, and returned to Ben with a blonde wig and a dress. He also brought an alarm clock shaped like a little soldier, named “Bugle Boy.” Bugle Boy was kidnapped by Ben’s students as well and let’s just say he ended up in some pretty seedy locations. A Polaroid and a ransom note would be given to Ben. The ransom was usually paid at the hotel bar the night after a long day’s training. We lost Ben in June of this year. It wasn’t the Viet Cong, criminals or terrorists who took him out. No, it was Father Time. Benedict James Tisa was 84. Ben leaves behind a great legacy, training tens of thousands of cops and military members who, in turn, passed on his knowledge to generations that came after. Ben never said no to an adult beverage (except on the range, of course), so I’m tipping one back to the great Ben Tisa. ★ Editor’s note: Author Nick Perna served for more than 24 years with the Redwood City Police Department in Northern California before his 2025 retirement.
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2A TALK
SCOTUS RETURNS WITH TWO MAJOR 2A CASES ON DOCKET Local, statewide bans on AR-15s could be nullified by high court.
STORY BY DAVE WORKMAN
he United States Supreme Court is back in business this month, and high on the list of cases they will hear – perhaps the most important cases to be considered during the new term – are the consolidated cases of Viramontes v. Cook County, Illinois, and Grant v. Higgins, both challenging bans on modern semiautomatic rifles, such as the AR-15. Viramontes is important because it deals with a local jurisdictional ban, while Grant challenges a statewide ban, in this case in Connecticut. If the high court rules – probably sometime in late June 2027 – that such firearms are protected by the Second Amendment, bans on such rifles in other states, including California, Washington, Maryland, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Delaware and Hawaii, as well as the District of Columbia, would be essentially nullified. However, as explained by Amy Swearer, senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom (AAF), in comments to the Washington Examiner, “I don’t expect any of these states that have implemented these types of laws to just roll over and die on this issue, and I think what you will see afterward is some sort of extensive permitting process for these types of guns.” Modern semiautos have long been
T
The Supreme Court as composed June 30, 2022, to present. Front row, left to right: Associate Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., and Associate Justices Samuel A. Alito, Jr. and Elena Kagan. Back row: Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson. (FRED SCHILLING, COLLECTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES)
erroneously referred to as “assault weapons.” It’s a term perpetuated by the gun prohibition lobby and
Alan Gottlieb, Second Amendment Foundation executive vice president. (SAF/CCRKBA)
their all-too-lazy allies in the media to demonize ARs and their clones, and other military-looking firearms. The AR-15 is the most popular rifle in America, and estimates range upwards of 30 to 40 million now in private ownership. Translation: They are “in common use,” an important consideration in their constitutional protection. This promises to be a blockbuster case, and at the center of the legal battle is the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), based in Bellevue, Washington. Both Viramontes and Grant are SAF cases, a fact about which SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb is especially proud. It’s tough enough getting one case before the high court, but two? That’s almost unheard of. americanshootingjournal.com 63
2A TALK In a statement at the time the court granted review of both cases, Gottlieb said, “Lawmakers have long relied on fearmongering to pass laws that infringe on the Second Amendment, especially when it comes to common, semiautomatic rifles. We’re hopeful the court will finally put to rest the idea that these rifles are not covered by the Second Amendment simply because of their look and features. These arms are no different than other semiautomatic firearms millions of Americans own for self-defense, and we look forward to restoring the right to keep and bear arms for countless citizens through these cases.” Gottlieb has spent the last half-century getting to this point, pursuing cases with crack attorneys, holding annual Gun Rights Policy Conferences around the country, bringing the brightest legal and legislative minds together with grassroots activists, and always with the goal in mind of restoring the Second Amendment as the cornerstone of the Bill of Rights. For him, it’s more than a job, it’s a passion. SAF brought the 2010 landmark case of McDonald v. City of Chicago to the Supreme Court and won. Not only did the ruling nullify Chicago’s 30-year-long ban on handguns, it also allowed the high court to incorporate the Second Amendment to the states via the 14th Amendment. This opened the door to scores of legal challenges of state and local laws on Second Amendment constitutional grounds. WHAT’S AT STAKE An affirmative ruling that says ARs and other modern semiauto rifles and pistols are fully protected by the Second Amendment will devastate the gun ban lobby, but it won’t put the prohibitionists out of business. After all, the movement is backed by billionaires and elitist foundations, and they have legions of lawyers willing to rack up billable hours by doing to gun owners what environmentalists have been doing 64 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
to fish and wildlife agencies for years over wolf and grizzly bear reintroduction and protection, even though “recovery” of those two apex predators has far exceeded the original goals. They will use the courts to harass, wear down and erode gun rights any way they can. Opposition from anti-gun groups will only intensify if Democrats take control of Congress with next month’s midterm elections. This makes it doubly important for gun owners and hunters to vote for candidates who will support and protect your Second Amendment rights. As AAF legal fellow Swearer noted earlier, anti-gunners aren’t just going to fold their tents and go home if/when they lose at the Supreme Court. If history is any indicator, they will double down in their efforts to literally dance around an affirmative ruling, essentially going around the Constitution itself. And will the gun control lobby lose? To advocates such as Gottlieb, it seems inevitable since the Supreme Court isn’t likely to take a case just to uphold the status quo. Still, he predicts many more years of litigation because the gun prohibition lobby is a determined bunch. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACTION The Department of Justice under President Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche isn’t going to last forever, and that’s another consideration. Right now, the DOJ with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon at the helm of the department’s Civil Rights Division, is taking the most pro-Second Amendment position on gun rights in the agency’s history. That could easily change with the national election outcome in 2028. It would be nice to see the DOJ stick to its present course, supporting and enforcing the Second Amendment under the next administration, but don’t count on it. Election outcomes have consequences, which is another reason for gun owners to vote.
The next few months will be interesting, especially after we hear the oral arguments in the Viramontes/ Grant combined cases, which may come as early as November or December. From then on until a ruling is handed down, pundits on both sides will be speculating about the outcome and subsequent reactions from lawmakers in states where existing bans could be nullified. A positive Supreme Court ruling will definitely be a major victory, and one which will deprive – at least temporarily – the gun prohibition movement of one of its major talking points. But they’ll rebound, using it as a fundraising tool. This is why it will be important for hunters, gun owners and grassroots activists to keep supporting organizations such as SAF, the National Rifle Association, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Gun Owners of America and others so they may continue the fight. Still to be decided are questions about the constitutionality of permitto-purchase laws, including the one scheduled to take effect next May 1 in Washington state. Nobody should need government permission in the form of a purchase permit in order to exercise a constitutionally protected, fundamental right. Also on the horizon most likely is a challenge of carry permit requirements versus “Constitutional carry” laws. Right now, 29 states allow carrying of firearms without a license or permit. Republican US Senator Mike Lee of Utah has introduced the National Constitutional Carry Act, which would prohibit state and local governments from requiring permits or enforcing other restrictions on the peaceable carry of firearms in public. The upcoming Supreme Court confrontation may not be “for all the marbles,” but the outcome will likely spill marbles all over the landscape. ★ Editor’s note: Dave Workman is a longtime reporter on gun rights issues.
Pedigree, Passion – And Much More Than A Pocketknife A look at the Spartan-Harsey Ronin Long Gunner Edition folder.
W
STORY AND PHOTOS BY TRAMPAS SWANSON
ithin the blade industry, few highprofile collaborations carry as impressive a pedigree as the Spartan-Harsey Ronin Long Gunner knife. For those in the know, the title alone carries a lot of weight, but for those outside tier-one blade circles, this will certainly be a great education in quality, design and legacy. Let’s start with the primary focus of this knife’s imagery and codesign, Tu Lam, founder of Ronin Tactics.
Lam grew up as a Vietnamese refugee living outside Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he later joined the US Army. As a member of the legendary 82nd Airborne, he outperformed his fellow recruits and opted for the more difficult Ranger School. Over a 22-year military career, Lam was a weapons specialist, combat diver, team leader and special forces commando. After retirement, Lam founded Ronin Tactics and began training SWAT teams, counternarcotics teams, US Marshals, Texas Rangers and
police departments. Lam’s path of the Bushido – the traditional moral code of the samurai – centered his life and gave him clarity that many veterans and retired first responders never find. Currently, he is a top name in the firearms training world, a successful writer, speaker, knife designer and even a playable character in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Lam’s training, life mantras and insightful writings have been the difference maker in thousands of lives across the country
The classy and practical SpartanHarsey Ronin Long Gunner knife is a tribute to snipers. The handle art depicts a rifle carried by its codesigner, former US Special Forces commando Tu Lam, in a Japanese blockprint style.
66 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
since starting Ronin Tactics. Over a series of collaborations with Spartan Blades, Lam has managed to design or codesign many well-thought-out production knives. The SpartanHarsey Ronin Long Gunner is an excellent example to spotlight when discussing these blades. First, let’s look at who else had a hand in this particular knife. FOUNDED BY LAM’S former US Army Special Forces teammates Mark Carey and Curtis Iovito, Spartan Blades has been a top choice for knives that have served across the globe. These knives have been deployed by skilled military and law enforcement professionals as well as highly experienced civilian outdoorsmen for over a decade. Spartan Blades has collaborated with leading knife designers, including Lam on several occasions, to create awardwinning products, even as skilled designers themselves. Not only do these projects look good but they are built to the highest quality with the best materials available and hand-assembled with care. Spartan Blades are tough, durable and 100-percent ready for the
ロン グガ ンナ ーエ ディ ショ ン
specific purposes they are built for. The most prominent of these collaborations have been with design legend William “Bill” Harsey Jr. From the Difensa, the Spartan Blades flagship knife, to the elegant Spartan-Harsey Dagger, reminiscent of the legendary Fairbairn-Sykes OSS (US Office of Strategic Services) design, everything these men do is top level and often awarded at industry trade shows. I have been deeply honored to have gotten to know all three of these gentlemen over the years and gain some insight into their passion and respect for history. With Harsey’s deep roots in the Western frontier logging industry and knowledge of outdoors survival, he was an obvious choice to be the man who teamed up with fellow knife legend Chris Reeve to produce the US Army’s Yarborough knife. This is a sacred knife only given to the military’s elite warriors upon graduation from the Special Forces Qualification Course, which is based on intense survival skill development and mastery. In 2016, Spartan Blades was awarded one of the knife industry’s highest honors, Blade Magazine’s American Made Knife of the Year, at the annual Blade Show for yet another Harsey collaboration. While mainly renowned up to that point for their battle-ready fixed-blade knives, it would be the Spartan-Harsey Folder bringing home top honors. This beautifully built, robust, single-bladed folding knife was simple in function powered by intricate design. This knife incorporated a reliable frame lock mechanism, ambidextrous thumb studs for rapid deployment and meaty blade profile that provided both a razor-sharp edge and durability. The success of this blade would go on to inspire several different versions of the Spartan-Harsey Folder over the years, each with increasing impressive advancements in materials used and designs lasered into their scales. The series of knives based on the original design feature 4-inch blades of various offered steel choices and measure a full 9 inches of overall length. One of these special variants is called the Ronin Long Gunner. This special collaboration between
Ronin Long Gunner Edition. americanshootingjournal.com 67
マグ ナカ ット エデ ィシ ョン MagnaCut Edition.
Spartan Blades and Ronin Tactics is best described as a tribute to the precision, patience and quiet professionalism of America’s long gunners: snipers who carry their rifles into the most demanding missions, protecting teammates from afar with discipline and resolve. Built on the trusted Spartan-Harsey Folder platform, this edition is more than a knife. It’s a symbol of brotherhood and heritage.
The steel’s fine grain structure and high vanadium content contribute to its wear resistance and ability to hold a sharp edge. MagnaCut is a powder metallurgy (PM) steel, which means it is made from very fine particles of metal that are sintered together, resulting in a very uniform microstructure. This uniformity enhances the steel’s toughness and edge retention, making it a favorite among knife makers and users.”
THE LONG GUNNER CPM MagnaCut Edition features a premium CPM MagnaCut blade (60-63 HRC), paired with laser-engraved titanium handles depicting Lam carrying a sniper rifle used by many special operators in a Japanese block-print style, crosshairs overlaid on imagery capturing patience, precision and overwatch. Crafted almost entirely from 6AL-4V titanium, aside from the blade, pivot and stop pin, this edition is built to last a lifetime. Each knife carries a unique serial number, making it a distinctive and personal companion whether carried in the field or added to a collection. The knife’s spear-point blade features a flat ground main bevel and tapered top edge (known as a swedge). The overall profile follows the original 4-inch pattern but is updated from the original Spartan-Harsey Folder blade material of CPM S35VN. The Ronin Long Gunner Edition’s blade is made from CPM MagnaCut stainless steel. The advantages of the upgraded materials through various researched test results show MagnaCut steel outperforming CPM S35VN in each of three major categories: corrosion resistance, toughness and edge retention. The only noticeable disadvantage is increased material cost. You may ask, what is so special about MagnaCut steel? For the best answer, I turn to the description given by the folks at Blade HQ:
Along the blade’s right side, the Spartan Blades and Ronin Tactics dragon logos are crisply laser-etched with a designation of being MagnaCut and proudly made in the USA. The left side bears the etched signature of the designer and legend himself, Harsey. The small black script and logo are offset perfectly with the mirrorpolished blade shining prominently against its blue and gray frame along with the rich bronze-colored accents. When fully deployed, the whole assembly locks up tight as a bank vault. The frame lock mechanism incorporates part of the handle (frame of the knife) as a spring that moves inward to lock the blade in place. The mechanism is similar to a liner lock, but with a liner lock there are handle scales over the metal frame. The advantage of the integral frame lock is that it serves to reinforce the lock in place. This only provides additional reliability, and who doesn’t love that? The frame lock tends to be very popular in the industry, particularly on high-end knives. (Personally, I am a huge fan of the button lock found on the SpartanHarsey Pallas.)
“MagnaCut steel is special due to its unique combination of high toughness, strong wear resistance, and excellent corrosion resistance. This makes it stand out from other knife steels, as it can handle hard use, hold a sharp edge, and resist rust better than most stainless steels used in knives today. 68 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
FUN FACT: EVER since the age of 10 years old, I have carried a knife daily except in strictly prohibited areas. Even then, that may have been violated a few times due to my strict belief that a man should never be knifeless. When tasked with carrying larger fixed-blade knives for hunting, SWAT duties, etc., it has always been accompanied by a good folding knife as well. Large tools are great at larger tasks, but even the best bushcraft fixed-blade knife pales in comparison to a smaller utility knife for everyday intricate tasks. The Spartan-Harsey Folder is a great
A look at the flip side of the Long Gunner Edition and its engraved titanium pocket clip.
70 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
everyday, multipurpose utility knife that performs many of the tasks suitable for a midsize fixed-blade. The Ronin Long Gunner has the heft and amazing balance in the hand of a well-crafted chef’s knife despite its smaller size. The balance point of all the Spartan-Harsey folders falls right at the index point, which allows the user to trace along bones with scalpel precision when skinning game and add pressure when slicing through materials that commonly snag such as rope and fabrics. The spear-point tip of the blade can penetrate deeply through tough hide when dressing game such as eastern North Carolina whitetail deer. Despite the blade profile being slightly thicker than some of my other knives with flat grinds, I appreciated how well past editions of the Spartan-Harsey knife series have sliced through muscle and tendons that can easily hang up or even snap lesser-quality knives. With the denser blade, I feel more confident in putting more pressure behind cuts through cartilage and even small bones. For times when I am in firearmsrestricted areas, having a blade that I know can perform such tasks is good reassurance of having another primary self-defense option. Years of training with edged tools is very important, but matching it with a quickly deployed blade up to the task of doing what needs to be done is a great feeling even when I am carrying my firearm. Sometimes you must fight just to get to your pistol, and sometimes the fight is over well before you do. I have lived that truth during my law enforcement days. The titanium pocket clip bearing the Ronin name offers a left- or rightside mounting option and allows for a deep carry that still positions the knife to be quickly accessible. Speeding up the blade’s deployment are beveled reliefs in the scales for deeper access on each side to the thumb studs. This allows the thumb to get more strength behind opening the knife. While this action was somewhat stiff in the beginning, a couple hundred openings and closings sitting at my desk on conference calls loosened it up nicely.
UNLIKE MANY “TACTICAL knives” on the market, the Spartan-Harsey Ronin Long Gunner Edition knife was designed and built by true warriors and American heroes. All these men have unquestionably lived the stuff true history is made of. Their firsthand knowledge of how steel needs to optimally perform and the designs needed to give a blade the feel of being an extension to one’s hand is second to none. The fact that these giants among men know all too well the sights and smells of war, survival and death yet have a poet’s heart to appreciate a sunrise over the deserts of a foreign land or the sunsets through the frozen Oregon wilderness will never cease to be highly impressive to me. This insight into life and its darkest requirements for survival are evident in every blade they make. Retailing for $625 on the Spartan Blades website, it should come as no surprise that this level of style and grace does come with a noticeable price tag. For those who carry a $500 Glock every day (because the guns shoot well and flat-out work when needed), the cost of a Spartan-Harsey Ronin Long Gunner Edition may be a bit of a mismatch in budget. I will gladly support that argument as well as highly recommend other outstanding models from topbrand knife makers any day. Those suggestions most certainly would include others in the Spartan Blades catalogue that would be a better fit for price constraints. However, there are also those of us who choose more intricate tools such as a Staccato 2011 pistol for everyday carry. Available budgets and a willingness to invest in Spartan Blades’ dedication to fine craftsmanship may allow for choosing the more elegant style and class of the Ronin Long Gunner Edition. Sadly, because of its amazing art motifs, many versions of great blades like these end up being safe queens despite being built as “knives with intent.” Make no mistake, the SpartanHarsey Ronin Long Gunner isn’t all about great looks and inspiring artwork – it’s a legitimate performer. The size, weight and design allow it
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You won’t end up tucking this blade away in the safe, argues author Trampas Swanson. “Make no mistake, the Spartan-Harsey Ronin Long Gunner isn’t all about great looks and inspiring artwork – it’s a legitimate performer.” (SPARTAN BLADES)
to outperform many other knives in its class. The materials are top-notch and the overall assembly belongs in a museum under glass just as much as it belongs in a hunting camp and
SPARTAN-HARSEY RONIN LONG GUNNER SPECS Maker: Designers:
Spartan Blades William Harsey Jr. and Tu Lam Blade length: 4 inches Total length: 9 inches Blade material: CPM MagnaCut stainless steel Blade style: Spear point with flat ground main bevel and tapered top edge Handle: Laser-engraved titanium with Ronin Long Gunner image Fittings: Titanium Weight: 5.9 ounces 72 American Shooting Journal // October 2026
put to work. I definitely see the deep level of experience in how robust and dependable this knife is built to be. In the field, there is no option for running to the store for replacements; survival depends on what you pack in. I look at this level of tools much like I do three levels of a mechanic’s tools. When working in my garage with everyday tasks or weekend warrior projects, my box full of second- and third-generation Craftsman tools does great. If I were a professional mechanic, Monday morning I would get to work in the shop with the most affordable Matco or Snap-On tools I could make payments on. If my job were that of a NASCAR pit crew member, it would be the highest-end, most expensive and durable Snap-On tools offered. Spartan Blades’ series of Field Grade, Pro Grade and Elite Grade knives fall right in line with that thought process to me: something for everyone with a top-quality design behind each budget level. I’m blessed to not only know my
equipment but those who designed and built it as well. I thank each and every one of those amazing Americans who do the behind-thescenes tasks such as polish the blades, fit the screws and put in the care to build a beautiful and reliable knife. This allows me to be able to look into those blue eyes of my lovely wife and two daughters knowing I have a quality tool in my pocket ready to help protect us if needed. To discover more editions of this great folding knife design, I urge you to visit spartanbladesusa.com and find your next daily carry tool. ★ Editor’s note: Retiring early from law enforcement, where he worked as a deputy sheriff, primarily serving as a SWAT sniper, Trampas Swanson now travels the US as an NRA and USCCA training counselor and instructor in his 23rd year as a professional firearms trainer. He has also worked for 24-plus US and international publications, ranging from recreational shooting to private military contracting.
74 American Shooting Journal // October 2026