Author: Grumpy
We now know the name of the educator who tackled the Silver Rail Elementary School shooter and fought to take away his shotgun.
Cassidy Schutz, a certified learning specialist at the Bend, Oregon, school, was identified by Bend-La Pine Schools nearly two weeks after the Oct. 15 attack.
Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz previously told reporters that Schutz threw her cellphone at the 16-year-old attacker, tackled him and wrestled for control of his firearm.
“She was not injured in that incident, but she almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed,” Krantz said.
The teenager had reportedly shot through the windows of the school’s locked entrance before entering a special-needs classroom and firing as many as 15 rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun.
Three children and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert were killed. Another student and teacher Becky Drury were wounded.
As Schutz fought the gunman, 36-year-old Kaylub Giamanco followed him into the school. Giamanco, whose two daughters attended Silver Rail, retrieved his legally secured .40-caliber pistol and fatally shot the attacker inside the classroom.
Giamanco later credited the still-unidentified educator with creating the opportunity that allowed him to stop the attack.
“I would love to give her a hug because that’s a real true hero,” he told Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Schutz has now released her first public statement through the school district.
“This is not a story,” she said. “This is a horrific and heartbreaking tragedy, and it is our real lives.”
Schutz said her thoughts remain with those who were killed, their families, the wounded and everyone who experienced the attack.
“It all happened so fast, and I wish with everything in me that we had more time,” she added. “The pain of this loss I will carry with me forever.”
Before becoming an educator, Schutz played four seasons of college basketball at Linfield University and later served as an assistant coach. She was a starting point guard, team captain and graduated with a degree in education.
Schutz has asked for privacy and said she does not plan to make additional public statements.
What happened inside that classroom was a team effort under unimaginable pressure. Schutz attacked the gunman with nothing more than a cellphone and her bare hands. Giamanco entered with a firearm and ended the threat.
Both moved toward danger when lives depended on it. And their actions almost certainly prevented an already horrific attack from becoming even worse.
Images courtesy of Smith & Wesson, Inc.
From American GIs to Elmer Keith, large-frame, big-bore, double-action revolvers have a storied history as the first choice for hunting, competition and self-defense. For Smith & Wesson, these models started with the company’s original swing-out cylinder Hand Ejector models and evolved into the company’s current lineup of wheelguns. New for 2026, Smith & Wesson is resurrecting and updating two of its classic .45-caliber revolvers with the Model 1917 Classic and Model 22 Classic.
“Drawing inspiration from two of the most iconic large-frame revolvers in company history, these new offerings combine period-correct styling and heritage-driven features with the quality and reliability expected from a modern Smith & Wesson revolver,” the company states. Both new revolvers use Smith & Wesson’s large N-frame and are made of blued carbon steel with smooth walnut grips with a lanyard ring mounted on the butt. Neither have an internal lock.
The Model 1917 Classic replicates the .45 ACP-chambered revolver that Smith & Wesson produced for the U.S. Army during World War I, when production of the then-new Model 1911 couldn’t keep up. The company calls the original 1917 “one of the most historically significant military handguns ever produced by Smith & Wesson.”
The revolver’s chambering of .45 ACP necessitates the use of moon clips, and five, full-moon clips that hold six rounds each are included with each revolver. In this original American Rifleman article from 1951, Keith stated, “For a defense gun against man, the 1917 S&W…is a fine, fast gun, and one can carry a couple of the three-shot clips loaded with .45 auto ammo…and have a very quick reload.”
Like the original, the Model 1917 Classic has an unshrouded ejector rod and a 5.5-inch barrel with a rounded “half moon” front sight and a rear “gutter” sighting groove in the frame’s topstrap. In a concession to modernity, the front sight is pinned in place, allowing for it to be replaced with aftermarket options. Weighing 36.6 ounces, it has an MSRP of $1,299.
The original Smith & Wesson Model 22 was an updated commercial version of the 1917, and its original designation was “.45 Hand Ejector Model of 1950 Army.”
At the time, it was a rare model, with less than 4,000 made from 1951 to 1966. Smith & Wesson has re-introduced various versions of the Model 22 over the years and this latest version “is a revolver that honors its heritage while delivering practical shootability for today’s enthusiasts,” according to the company.
The new Model 22 Classic uses a 4-inch barrel versus the 5.5-inch length of the original. Instead of making the front sight integral to the barrel like the original, it has a pinned serrated front ramp sight.
It also has an unshrouded ejector rod and lanyard loop, like the 1917. While the original was chambered for .45 ACP (with rim clips) and .45 Auto Rim, the new Model 22 Classic is chambered for .45 Colt and will also accept .45 ACP cartridges with the use of moon clips. Each revolver comes supplied with five full-moon clips. Weighing 34.6 ounces, it has an MSRP of $1,299.
For more information, see Smith & Wesson’s website here.
The STAR Super B’s lineage from the 1911 is quite evident on the outside. (Photo: Francis Borek)
There are plenty of reasons why modern shooters enjoy 1911 handguns and, despite valid criticisms, John Browning’s famed design still endures to this day. One criticism that dogs the 1911 these days however are the prices.
New US-made 1911s can start at around $650 and work their way up from there (unless of course you catch a store having a sale). Foreign made examples start around $400. To complicate matters, long time shooters of this platform often won’t even touch a 1911 under $800 and will advise others to do the same. Then there is the price of ammunition to factor in as well.
Luckily for many, Spain adopted a near-clone of the 1911 and kept it in service for decades.
Background
Soon after the First World War (in which they were officially neutral) the Spanish Army realised that their standard issue handgun was too complex for the modern battlefield. “Complex” made for a gun that cost more in both money and time, two factors armies could not spare in war. Accordingly, Spain re-evaluated what their native handgun companies, like Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A., were producing alongside the designs that had seen action during the Great War.
A five round group with Federal JHP’s. None too impressive, but workable. (Photo: Francis Borek)
After this evaluation the decision was reached to adopt a clone of John Browning’s Colt M1911 handgun for both practical and commercial reasons. In 1920, Star Bonifacio Echeverria, S.A. produced a pistol, designated the Star Modelo 1920, for Spain’s Guardia Civil. An updated version, rechristened the Model 1921, appeared the following year. Soon after the Star Model A was marketed to civilians and in 1924 the Model B began its first generation of production.
Changes to both models A and B continued concurrently, including the removal of a grip safety and the addition of an arched backstrap, with each variant modifying and simplifying the design further. Initially the family of pistols was chambered in 9mm Largo, but it eventually included the 9x19mm cartridge.
A second generation of the Model B started production in 1931 and would not stop until 1983 with a large number of variants in between including the Model B-Super, Model BS, Model BG, and the compact BKS/Starlite, BKM and BM.
Despite being the same size, the Star Super B weighs considerably less than this Remington 1911. (Photo: Francis Borek)
Spain declared itself neutral once again during the Second World War, though they would give some support to the German cause until 1944. This included the sale of Star Model B pistols to Germany.
Further developments
Following that conflict, Spain eventually joined NATO and once again their armed forces found themselves in the market for a new pistol to go with the new CETME rifle. Finding nothing especially wrong with the Star Model B, they decided to simply update the basic design. Gone was the swinging barrel link; in it’s place was a linkless barrel reminiscent of the Browning Hi-Power. Disassembly was further simplified as well, with a large takedown lever on the frame. These pistols would remain in service into the 1980’s when they were replaced by the Star Model 28 and 30.
And with armories full of old handguns, the Spanish have begun to sell off the venerable old Stars for bargain basement prices.
Impressions
These old pieces generally have a blued finish, though some may have been refinished at one point with black enamel paint. Grip panels are a rather ugly checkered orange-brown plastic. Though durable, they’re generally not very attractive.
While the original finish was doubtless attractive when the pistols rolled off of the factory floor, one must remember these are surplus handguns. They will show use and that means the finish is often worn and/or pitted.
Disassembly is easy and straightforward. (Photo: Francis Borek)
For many this doesn’t matter as they simply want a shooter, or an inexpensive handgun for self defense. However for those looking for a project, this pistol is an inexpensive choice to turn into something nice.
My example was professionally refinished with a blue Cerakote finish, and the grips replaced with a pair of walnut laser-engraved grip panels. As for historical value, the vast majority of Star pistols are being imported from Spain. The majority spent their time in holsters and armories, so their historical value is basically nil.
There are a few Star pistols that have been imported which saw service with the South African Defence Forces and the Rhodesian Security Forces as well as some aforementioned guns out there somewhere that were sold to Germany during WWII. As these pistols do have historical value, it’s best not to refinish them.
Compared to other 1911s
The controls on the Star Super B mimics the layout and ergonomics of the Colt 1911 though not seamlessly. This means that they are placed where God and John Browning intended a handgun’s controls to be and an easy to hit for the average shooter.
What’s missing are the plunger for the safety, the grip safety and the slide release. Also the arched backstrap is not removable. The trigger pivots instead of sliding straight back, and the safety disengages the sear instead of blocking it. There is also a ridge of sorts at the bottom of the grip for what I am assuming is meant to enable better control.
The takedown lever and external extractor make it clear that this isn’t a true 1911. (Photo: Francis Borek)
But the biggest changes from the original 1911 design are the external extractor and the large takedown lever. Simply rotate it downwards and the slide can be removed off of the frame. The guide rod and recoil spring comes off next, followed by the barrel bushing and the barrel for disassembly. Far easier than most guns today, it should be perfect for novice shooters.
Range performance
On the range, the Super B is not a match shooter, but it was never meant to be. One shouldn’t expect pinpoint accuracy. Although the trigger has a nice break, it is a little on the heavy side, breaking around six pounds.
With 115 grain Federal JHP’s, the Super B brought in a 3.5 inch group; with Blazer Brass 115 grain FMJ’s, an eight round magazine came in under 4-inches. Both groups were shot at ten yards, and all rounds were kept in the black.
Not perfect, but good enough for a combat pistol that was made in the 1960s. With the factory magazine, reliability is good and my weapon cycles perfectly. However with an aftermarket magazine, my Super B seems to jam every other round. My advice would be to avoid these magazines or use them only to practice clearing malfunctions.
A whole magazine shot with Blazer Brass. Good enough for a combat pistol. (Photo: Francis Borek)
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the Star Super B is a genuine workhorse of a handgun, designed for service use and not for the target range. As long as one has factory magazines handy, then the Super B can be used for both fun and defense. Most will purchase the Super B because it is a 1911 without the 1911 price tag.
With it’s low price, the Super B proved to be quite the Star on the range. (Photo: Francis Borek)
Despite the bluster of many in the shooting community, the 1911 is far from it’s deathbed. With the Super B, a novice can get his hands on something close to a 1911 without breaking the bank. In addition, 9mm is far less expensive than .45 ACP meaning that they can practice more often. Novice and experienced shooter should be able to get plenty of mileage out of a Star Super B.
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Care to guess on who went to the Gunshop today? Grumpy
Most gun owners couldn’t pick William J. Ryan out of a lineup. Nearly everything he has said about guns in public is buried in court filings. But if you owned a pistol brace in 2023, built an NFA collection through a trust, or bought a forced reset trigger, Ryan’s work touched you. Now he’s replacing Robert Leider as Acting Chief Counsel for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
From Marine Lawyer to ATF’s Classification Chief
Ryan joined the ATF in April 2009 as a firearms and explosives attorney in Martinsburg, West Virginia, according to his own court declarations and a conference speaker bio. Before that, he was a Marine Corps judge advocate at Camp Pendleton. By early 2023, he was Acting Chief of the Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division (FATD). By that summer, he was signing filings as Chief.
Today his LinkedIn profile describes him as “Deputy Chief Counsel for a Federal Agency” who supervises 100 attorneys. The profile doesn’t name the agency. ATF is the obvious bet given his whole career, but I couldn’t confirm the agency or when he took the job, so treat that title as his own description, not an official one.
Gun Trusts and 41P
Gun owners first saw Ryan in 2015. At the NRA Firearms Law Seminar in Nashville on April 10, 2015, he spoke as an NFA Branch attorney about gun trusts.
The account comes from Pennsylvania gun-rights attorney Joshua Prince, who sues the ATF and titled his blog post “Shocking Statements/Concessions by ATF.” Keep that in mind. According to Prince, Ryan blamed much of the NFA backlog on trusts drafted by non-attorneys and fill-in-the-blank forms. Ryan said trust applications went from 45 in 2003 to 36,000 in 2012.
Prince wrote that Ryan said the ATF was “still sorting through the comments” on ATF-41P, the rule that changed how trusts and responsible persons were handled for NFA transfers. On a prohibited executor, Prince reported Ryan said the person “can’t possess it” and “it is on that person to know that.” Ryan also acknowledged that a trust counts as a “person” under the NFA but not under the Gun Control Act.
Sutherland Springs
Ryan’s most consequential testimony didn’t come in a gun-rights case. It came in Holcombe v. United States, the lawsuit over the 2017 Sutherland Springs church shooting.
On April 13, 2021, the government called Ryan to testify before Judge Xavier Rodriguez in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Ryan told the court he had been appointed ATF’s liaison to the Department of Defense (DOD) Inspector General (IG) on the Devin Kelley case.
He also signed the ATF memo, using signature authority for the Associate Chief Counsel, that found Kelley was a prohibited person. The memo concluded Kelley was barred under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1) because of a felony-level court-martial conviction and under 922(g)(9) for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. It found he was not prohibited under (g)(4) or (g)(6).
The court later found the Air Force liable for failing to report Kelley to NICS.
Here’s the irony. Ryan was a government witness, but his testimony laid out the exact point the families needed: Kelley was prohibited and should have been in the system. The background check system didn’t fail because the law was weak. It failed because the government didn’t send in the records.
The Pistol Brace Rule
In 2023, Ryan put his name behind one of the most hated ATF rules in recent memory. On March 10, 2023, as Acting Chief of FATD, he filed a declaration in Britto v. ATF in the Northern District of Texas. He walked through the January 31, 2023 “stabilizing brace” rule, including its claim that most braced firearms are likely short-barreled rifles and its 120-day registration window.
He also addressed the pictures the ATF posted of common platforms and commercial models it considered SBRs. Ryan said those examples were informational, not final classifications, and that owners could request a classification letter for their own setup.
Four days earlier, on March 6, 2023, Ryan’s declaration was filed with the ATF’s opposition to a preliminary injunction in Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition (FRAC) v. Garland in North Dakota.
It didn’t end well for the ATF. On August 9, 2024, the Eighth Circuit held that the ATF’s brace test was likely arbitrary and capricious and reversed the denial of a preliminary injunction. The Fifth Circuit ruled against the agency too, and the rule was eventually abandoned.
The government posted a picture of your gun, called it a likely NFA item, and then its own classification chief told a court the picture wasn’t final. That’s the brace rule in one sentence.
Rare Breed Triggers
Ryan showed up again in the government’s case against Rare Breed Triggers over the FRT-15 in the Eastern District of New York. As Chief of FATD, he filed a declaration explaining how his division works. He said it had about 28 Firearms Enforcement Officers across five branches. He said those classifications determine whether an item falls under the GCA or NFA.
Rare Breed moved to exclude him. The company argued he was an undisclosed expert with no personal knowledge of the case. The Department of Justice called him a pure fact witness.
The court sided with DOJ. According to the government’s witness list, the motion to exclude Ryan was denied by minute entry on July 30, 2023. In May 2025, DOJ announced a settlement with Rare Breed.
The Award
Ryan also picked up an Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award under Merrick Garland. DOJ listed him as “ATF Firearms & Ammunition Chief William J. Ryan,” alongside ATF’s regulatory affairs chief, rule writers, and the agency’s top lawyers. The release doesn’t say which rule earned the award.
What I Didn’t Find
AmmoLand News found no congressional testimony from Ryan and no Inspector General or GAO findings against him. A federal campaign finance search turned up no donations, though that search was limited and he may list a different employer or state. An X search found no posts naming him. I didn’t find any news coverage of him, including at AmmoLand.
The record does show a career ATF lawyer who sat at the center of the agency’s biggest fights over the last few years. He did it almost entirely out of sight. If he really is now one of the agency’s senior lawyers, gun owners should start paying attention to the name.
About John Crump
Mr. Crump is an NRA instructor and constitutional activist with more than 26 years of experience in networking and cybersecurity for major Fortune 100 companies. John has written about firearms, the Constitution, and cybersecurity, and has interviewed people from all walks of life. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons. Follow him on X at @right2bear, or at www.crumpy.com.
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