By Orme Dumas | Published on September 16, 2025
In this thoughtful post, Orme Dumas explores the uneasy marriage of faith and firepower. He delves into how clergy and congregants alike navigated the moral terrain of concealed carry in houses of worship—particularly in rural America. With a nod to ...
Read MoreBy Orme Dumas | Published on September 08, 2025
A journey into the lives of late 19th-century traveling salesmen in Oregon and the discreet revolvers they relied on. Orme Dumas reflects on pocket pistols, self-defense, and the quiet resolve of men who sold their wares on the road.
Read MoreBy Orme Dumas | Published on August 26, 2025
n early Oregon, receiving a youth rifle was a rite of passage. This post explores the cultural, educational, and familial role of .22 firearms from the 1870s to the 1930s, when discipline and trust defined marksmanship — not fear.
Read MoreBy Orme Dumas | Published on August 18, 2025
In frontier Oregon, not all revolvers were carried on horseback. This post explores how barkeeps, pharmacists, and other shopkeepers used compact, effective revolvers for discreet self-defense—highlighting the unsung role of pocket pistols behind the...
Read MoreBy Orme Dumas | Published on August 11, 2025
A tribute to the women of the Willamette Valley who quietly armed themselves with elegant, easily concealed revolvers like the Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless and Iver Johnson Safety Automatic. This post highlights the practicality and quiet power o...
Read MoreBy Orme Dumas | Published on August 06, 2025
A reflection on the often-overlooked intersection of Oregon’s railroad boom and the everyday firearms that traveled with its workers. From discreet Kolb and Iver Johnson revolvers tucked into station desks, to Smith & Wesson and Colt sidearms worn by...
Read MoreBy Orme Dumas | Published on July 29, 2025
A reflection on the Smith & Wesson revolvers that found their way into the hands and homes of Willamette Valley residents from the 1870s to the 1930s. From the pocketable Model Number One to the reliable .38 Hand Ejector, these revolvers served farme...
Read MoreBy Orme Dumas | Published on July 15, 2025
Discover the Winchester Model 1873 in .38 WCF—a refined, dual-purpose lever-action rifle once favored by Oregon farmers and loggers. With light recoil, smooth cycling, and timeless design, this “gentleman’s repeater” became both a trusted tool and a ...
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