[Henri]

Ok, Here's another one... Texas Rangers seemed to be carrying alot of 1911A1 automatics during the twenties and thirties. Were these issue weapons or personal guns???

 

[Guest]

dfariswheel,
no disrespect intended but my answers are a bit different. Rangers carried a variety of guns, some issued, some personal. They had plenty of latitude in what they were allowed to carry. Back in the 1930's, the Texas Highway Department bought 100 Govt. Model .45's, which were issued and I think that started the trend for Rangers to carry .45 autos.


The punchline to that story about carrying a "dangerous" .45, cocked and locked is "I wouldn't carry the sumbitch if it wasn't!"

 

[dfariswheel]

I think the issuing of of pistols is a fairly recent innovation with the Rangers.

From the beginning, Rangers supplied their own weapons, and I think the issued gun is something started sometime after the 60's??

My favorite Ranger story:
A Ranger is standing outside the Alamo when a Northern tourist approaches.

He looks at the Ranger's 1911 and says:
"Say Mister, isn't carrying a .45 cocked dangerous"?

The Ranger replies: "Son, you damn betcha".