Firearms of the Texas Rangers by Doug Dukes

Firearms of the Texas Rangers: From the Frontier Era to the Modern Age

by Doug Dukes

From their founding in the 1820s to the modern day, the Texas Rangers have proven their ability to adapt and survive. A critical part of their evolution was their use of firearms, as evolving weapon technology often determined the effectiveness of these early lawmen. Firearms of the Texas Rangers tells this rich history primarily through the story of their weapons.

Author Doug Dukes, a native Texan and retired law enforcement officer, narrates famous episodes in Ranger history, showing how figures like John Coffee "Jack" Hays and Samuel Walker left their mark by adopting new technology to alter their tactics. The book explores the use of iconic firearms that "won the West," such as the Colt Peacemaker and the Winchester '73, which coincided with the creation of the Frontier Battalion.

Readers will delight in learning about the specific firearms and their famous owners, including:

• Jack Hays and the Paterson pistol
• The Walker Colt
• The McCulloch Colt Revolver, which was smuggled through the Union blockade during the Civil War
• The Colt Peacemaker and Winchester and Sharps carbines used by the Frontier Battalion
• Frank Hamer's Colt Single Action Army and Remington rifle

With more than 180 photographs, this book provides a detailed look at the changing technology, from a Ranger in 1844 on patrol with his Paterson to a Ranger in 2016 working the Rio Grande with a modern LaRue 7.62 rifle. The tools may have changed, but the gritty job of the Rangers has not.