Category: All About Guns
Back in 1975, a friend of mine invited me to a skeet range, and he brought his Remington Model 3200 over-under shotgun for me to use. I had used over-unders before, but never a Remington 3200.
I was amazed at how well that shotgun fit me, and my accuracy seemed to have improved with it, so I decided that I would buy one someday.
At the time, a Remington 3200 was a fairly expensive shotgun and kind of hard to find at the local gun shops in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. I remember seeing one once, but it was too expensive for me.
In 1976, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and my first assignment was in Jacksonville, Fla. I couldn’t get that Remington shotgun out of my mind, so I looked all around the local gun shops but never found one. This was before the Internet, when finding things was not as easy as it is today.
Then, after about six months, I was looking at the classified ads one day when I found: “For Sale – Remington Over and Under Shotgun, Excellent Condition, $450.” I was determined to not let this one get away from me. After calling the seller and making the deal over the phone, I went directly to my bank and took out a loan to buy it. Since I was only an airman first class (E-3) at the time, I was not flush with money.
When I met the seller at his house and received the shotgun, I was amazed at the condition; it looked brand new. I went through several boxes of shells during the remainder of my tour at Jacksonville Air Force Station. For the next 20 years, I was stationed only at overseas bases and never knew if my firearms would be authorized at the next one, so I left all my guns at my parents’ house.
After I retired from the Air Force in 2000, I was finally reunited with my favorite shotgun, the Remington 3200 over-under. I will never sell this shotgun, and hopefully it will always remain in my family.
Steve Kapp, Oklahoma
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What a great looking rig!
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A Henry – H012GMR in .357 Mag
I know that Texas doesn’t have a lock on court guns, or their kissin’ cousin, the BBQ gun, but someone always asks me what they are.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid they’re a dying breed. At least in this part of the country. Back in West Texas every lawman worth his salt has a court gun. Around here, everyone has gone to polymer framed pistols, and I’m here to tell you, ain’t no way this side of the Styx than you can turn a Glock into a court gun.
Sorry, ain’t gonna happen. It is technically, physically and aesthetically impossible.
So, down to brass tacks.
A court gun is the pistol that you wear during your court-type duties.
Usually a Colt Government Model or clone or a Browning Hi-Power, although any metal pistol with removable grips will do. Either blued or stainless is just fine, and have a small amount of tasteful engraving done to the slide.
Replace the grips with burlwood or stag. Fancy wood is acceptable, and can be minimally engraved. Understatement is the word of the day here.
The gun leather for your court gun should be dark in colour, with the classic basketweave pattern and a Ranger buckle. A subdued floral or Celtic pattern is acceptable, as long as the leather engraving is not a different color from the rest of the belt. In the past, the best gear was custom-made by inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but I don’t know if they’re still doing that.
Some philistines have asked about nylon carry gear, or — God forbid — kydex. The only stuff good enough for a ‘court gun’ is leather. Period. Full stop. And for God’s sake, don’t have your name engraved on the back of the belt. That’s just…just…tacky.
For accessories, consider one open-topped magazine pouch and a belt-mounted badge. Polish your boots, press your jeans and wear a starched long-sleeve shirt.
Now, a BBQ gun is a whole different animal. A BBQ gun is what you wear to barbeques, baby christenings, formal balls, and any other place where a fancy jacket or outfit would be worn.
Get your paws on a revolver. Smith & Wesson or Colt would be best, although I understand that Brazilian products are becoming accepted. Polished stainless at a minimum, and full-blown nickle is a better. And pony up for full engraving. Have the trigger, hammer, screws and ejection rod anodized blue, gold, or colour-case-hardened for the traditionalists.
Now, look in the mirror. Is your mustache over 50% grey? If so, go for pearl grips. 49% or less on the grey-meter, and you’d best stick with ivory. If you go for mother-of-pearl, have it carved or inlaid. Steer heads are a classic pattern, although badges and stars are always safe.
If you go the ivory option, have the ivory inlaid or scrimshawed. Floral patterns involving roses and the Texas flag are good, as well as the state of Texas, a tasteful rendition of a young lady, or long horn cattle. Any scene from the battle of the Alamo is a surefire crowd pleaser. For those souls living outside the Great State of Texas, the flag raising at Mt. Suribachi may be substituted for an Alamo scene, and anything involving Marines is acceptable engraving material.
I would advise that you stay away from morbid or dreary themes in your engraving — unless it is extremely well done.
The leather for your BBQ gun should be of a floral pattern, with the engraving a different color than the rest of the leather. The engraving pattern should extend to the buckle and any other metal hardware which should consist of silver and be polished bright enough to shave in, although gold is acceptable if carried with the proper attitude.
Accessories should be limited to a reload and a pocket watch.
No BBQ outfit is really complete without hand-made boots made from the hide of a critter that is guaranteed to send your local PETA petter into orbit. Pressed jeans under a Western-cut jacket, with a bolo tie, and a black Stetson complete the ensemble. The bolo tie should have a chunk of rock slightly larger than a baby’s fist and the Stetson should have a hat band made from the cousin of the critter on your feet.
For some of the best examples of court and BBQ guns around, I strongly recommend visiting the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, Texas.
LawDog
Now I don’t know about you and your opinions about course checkering on the handle of a large caliber handgun. But when I shoot my Good Buddy Bill’s 45, After about 7 rounds my hand was extremely raw and very sore. So as you can guess I decided that this feature from now on was on my NFW list. Grumpy
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