Cruel Hand Luke

Yes. I have carried a small fixed blade pretty much daily since 2005. I carry a spyderco Delica folder in my pocket (utility knife that does not scare people) and either a TDI LE knife, Cold Steel Braveheart, or a Clinch Pick on my belt. Mostly been rolling with the TDI lately. I also have "trainer" versions of each to actually use in training against resisting opponents. Against a resisting opponent, there is no question a small fixed blade on the belt is much easier to access than any knife in the pocket.

Really? Can't think of ANY situation where having a knife located on your belt that does not have to be opened is useful? Really? ANY situation where you need a knife QUICKLY. ANY situation where you only have 1 hand available to access the knife ANY situation where you only have your non dominant hand available to access the knife. A centerline carried small fixed blade is EXPONENTIALLY easier to access in a hurry than ANY folding knife. Whether we are needing it NOW to cut a seat belt or needing it NOW to cut our way out of a 2 on 1 clinch, the the small fixed blade carried on the belt in front of the body is going to be easier to access with either hand and make functional (since it does not have to be opened) than ANY folder carried in a pocket.

Reminder! For those who are looking for a class that will get you started RIGHT, that is focused on teaching you to fight with a pistol not just target shoot, that covers a wide range of topics from dealing with unknown people who approach you on the street,to getting better position BEFORE the fight starts, to building a smooth efficient directional drawstroke, to robust and simple manipulations of the pistol and simplified malfunction clearance, shooting under stress and how to use your body's natural reaction to stress to your advantage, what to do (and not do) and say (and NOT say) after the shooting, this is the class for you. It is listed as our "basic" class because it is intended as the first class. But it is anything but "basic". Many "basic " classes are merely "safety and marksmanship" classes. This class is the foundation and core skills of fighting with a pistol and the entire class is run from the context of reacting to violent assault.....not shooting a bullseye match. A lot of effort went into creating this class to get the new shooter (and the experienced) familiarized with REAL criminal assault and how to deal with that problem. And it does not look at all like an IDPA match. We also are offering the glock armorer class so you glock owners who want to know everything you need to know about disassembly, reassembly, detail stripping, parts replacement and modifications can attend both at a discounted rate. Looking forward to getting people started out on the right path.

Just a few days to go ! We still have some spots available for this one. Looking forward to an EXCELLENT weekend!

The AR15 week is coming up right around the corner. How better to spend July 4th week than learning to fight with the AMERICAN service rifle? Looking forward to it!

I knew Paul. Trained with him several times as fellow students and as a student in various symposiums and tactical conferences, classes taught by himself, and classes he co instructed with Ian Mcdivett (tac med) and with Southnarc (knife, MUC , ECQC, Saps and Blackjacks) and he was a student in my presentation at the Rangemaster Tactical Conference. Paul was a WEALTH of knowledge, a deep thinker and always thought outside the box, never taking anything just at face value. I am a better instructor (and person) having known him. RIP Paul.

Last minute reminder! This one is coming up in 2 weeks. Looking forward to bringing GUNFIGHTING (not just "shooting") to Knoxville. Hope to see you there!

HERE IT IS! The one you've been waiting for. The class that ties it all together..... from empty hand to ground work, knife defense, disarms, weapon retention, in fight weapon access, fighting in a clinch, accessing weapons in a clinch, how to get better position, point shooting, shooting on the move, shooting from the ground,shooting while getting up, shooting weak handed, shooting through clothing, this class is THE class you want if you realisticly expect to be dealing reactively to hands on problems. A good many gunfights start as hand to hand struggles (ask George Zimmerman). This class covers the whole spectrum of skills to prevail in a weapons based environment when the fight starts with you being empty handed and reacting to a threat. July 28-29, 2012 0 TO 5 FT: PISTOL GUNFIGHTING Louisville, Kentucky Instructor: Randy Harris Price $450 This revolutionary class focuses on integrating the pistol into the fight at zero to five feet. This is what some trainers call "The Hole" and their entire perspective is to "Get Out Of The Hole". We don't worry about "getting out of the hole" because the reality of it is that you won't. Instead, we get comfortable in there...we set up a nice cozy camp there and learn to thrive where other men fear to walk. We make the other guy want to get out of the hole he finds himself in as we start to rip his head right off his shoulders. This will be a very thorough study on how to prevail and not get killed at this distance interval. We will do a great deal of technical work to ingrain the correct skills and then work them extensively via force on force exercises. You have never seen training and information like this before. While I do want to make sure guys are in reasonable condition to handle this, you don't need to be a hard core athlete to do this. We will play hard. . . . but within reason for the attendees we normally have in class. SOME TOPICS: Dealing against the drawn gun. What are all the options? We will look at everything from running away, to drawing and killing him, stabbing him with a knife, to disarming him and shooting him with his own gun. Dealing against the drawn knife. Both from "hold up" type situations to actual attacks. You will deal with them with the gun in hand (this one is really cool), and with empty hands, leading into a draw and shots as part of the fight. Dealing with a fight in hallways, elevators, phone booths and cars. All empty handed, and with one leading to the other. Dealing with more than one bad guy. How to position and maneuver to deny them the advantage, as well as how to immediately escalate and take them out. The combined use of various tools such as knife and gun, knife and light, light and gun, gun and stick. Not only the how, but the why as well. These and other topics will make this one of the hottest classes available to civilian operators. This course requires prior attendance at an intermediate level Suarez International Pistol class. DURATION:2 days TIME:9:00AM to 5:00PM PREREQUISITES:Students must be in reasonable physical condition and have attended a Suarez International Intermediate pistol class AMMUNITION:Approximately 250 rounds (Minimum) and 400 (Minimum) good quality biodegradable pellets. NO STEEL PELLETS YOU NEED TO BRING:Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape) REQUIREMENTS:Pistol, holster, at least two magazines, and the usual range safety gear (ear and eye protection). Bring an airsoft pistol with the necessary gear (pellets, facemask, etc. - all of it is available athttp://www.onesourcetactical.com) LOCATION:Knob Creek Range 690 Ritchey Lane West Point, KY 40177 502-819-8515 Web: http://www.machinegunshoot.com/ World famous Knob Creek Range! For more info and to sign up.....http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/july28-2012-zero-to-five-feet-pistol-gunfighting-louisville-ky.aspx

Welcome from another Ooltewah resident!

Who is building it for you? I have one built by Jim Fuller (Rifle Dynamics) and it is NICE.

This one is about 2 weeks out. Still time to get signed up for a class that will take both your REACTIVE shooting skills (React to danger, get off the X , get your gun out and get quick hits on target) and PROACTIVE shooting skills (getting to more stable position or cover and then using sights and trigger control to place accurate fight ending hits to vital zones from zero to 100 yards) to make you a complete shooter. Whether dealing with a criminal assault on the street where you are the target of the attack or dealing with a situation where you are not the initial target but you decide to step in and save a life by using super accurate fire from a distance, this class will polish those skills. Look forward to seeing you there.

Getting closer guys. This will be an excellent opportunity for you guys in the Knoxville/East Tennessee area to get world class training without having to travel far to do it.

The CZ 75 (pre B models )does not drop free. The original 1911 mags did not drop free. Browning Hi Power mags did not drop free. The original glock mags were not drop free. Why? They were built as combat guns intended to be worn on the belt in harsh conditions where the accidental loss of the loaded magazine in the pistol was a bigger concern than whether the mag would fall out of the gun when it was empty while reloading. Pistols in combat are SECONDARY weapons and as such they will be used little if ever. Needing to get one reloaded in under a second is just not something most soldiers could even do nor would there be many realistic situations where that would be needed. Lets be honest. In a battlefield situation a super fast pistol reload is rarely going to be the deciding factor on whether you live or die. Especially if you actually use cover and reload behind it. And in a civilian self defense situation you also want to be moving to cover if there is any available.If you have cover and need to reload from slide lock then whether the mag falls free of the gun or whether it needs to be stripped out is a moot point. If you "strip " the mag from the gun as your hand goes from gun to mag pouch then it really does not matter anyways and the time difference is literally 10ths of a second. If your "Plan A" is to stand flat footed and slug it out with the bad guys like a game of Rock'em Sock'em Robots with bullets until your gun runs dry and then do a smokin' fast reload like in an IPSC match...then yeah, I guess a drop free mag is important. But if you carry a hi cap pistol and actually hit what you aim at the odds of needing to reload from slidelock in the first place is just about zero. Do more Force on Force and less match shooting and you'll see there is a big difference between Time and Timing. Standing in the open doing a speed reload may yield a faster time. Moving to cover and then reloading will be more likely to keep you alive.

June 9-10, 2012 ADVANCED CLOSE RANGE GUNFIGHTING Price $450 Chattanooga, Tennessee Instructor: Randy Harris This course is pure shooting at all ranges. We will spend the morning of the first day polishing up our pistol shooting fundamentals and then spend the remainder of the weekend taking our skills to higher levels. This is a physically demanding course that builds upon what you have already trained in other pistol classes. Course material includes methods for increasing speed and accuracy. Although the course is titled "Close Range" to deep within the CRG family of classes, we will do some long range shooting . . . like 75 yards and 100 yards! We will teach you to hit at all possible distances. We will also point shoot from belly to belly distance, while ignoring the use of sights both station stationary, on the move and on the run. We will study the various Threat-Focused Point Shooting systems (Point Shooting) as well as Sight-Focused Shooting Systems and their seamless integration and applications in a total Close Range Gunfighting program. We will shoot from field expedient positions (including one handed, behind cover, etc.). We'll examine special problems such as confined area shooting, shooting in crowded environments and other difficult problems. All attendees should have a high level of skill and a reflexive understanding of safety measures. There is little or no lecturing and the majority of the time is trigger time. Come join us in this exciting and cutting edge training event. This course requires prior attendance at an intermediate level Suarez International Pistol class. DURATION:2 Days TIME:9:00AM to 5:00PM (CST) PREREQUISITES:Requires prior attendance at an intermediate level Suarez International Pistol class AMMUNITION:Approx 800 rounds (Minimum) YOU NEED TO BRING:Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape) REQUIREMENTS:Modern Defensive Pistol, Holster specifically made for that pistol - and designed to be worn on the belt, 3 Magazines and Magazine Pouch, A Belt of the same width as the belt loops for the holster and magazine pouches, Range Safety Gear (Eye protection, and ear protection) For more info or to register .....http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/june9-2012-advanced-close-range-gunfighting-chattanooga-tn.aspx

Just a reminder for those looking for a class that covers not just the fundamentals of shooting but the fundamentals of FIGHTING with a pistol. It also covers in depth the pre fight issues, mindset issues, and starts you on the path to using the operating the pistol in a combative environment...not a target shooting environment. Get started out the right way so you don't have to unlearn bad habits later. For a TGO review of a previous DPS class.......http://www.tngunowne...__fromsearch__1 And I can pretty much guarantee no snow in August!

Coming in JULY........ From th epeople who brought you Red October for the AK.........RED WHITE AND BLUE JULY for the AR platform! Spend the week of July 4 mastering the all American rifle the AR15/M4! We offer the Ar15/M4 Gunfighting, AR15 Armorers class, and the Advanced AR15 Gunfighting class all in one block for those whose weapon of choice is the AR15/M4! July 5-6, 2012 AR15/M4 RIFLE GUNFIGHTING Chattanooga, Tennessee Instructor: Randy Harris Price $400 In this class we explore the capabilities/strengths and weaknesses of the AR15/M16/M4 Weapons systems. In Suarez International fashion, sacred cows end up as dinner while we methodically address history, operation and the tricks and tips of professional operators who have used and continue to use this venerable, most American of Assault Rifles. Expect to be surprised to find out just how reliable the AR can be if proper care and operational protocols are followed. This is not your usual re-hashed presentation of the pistol with a rifle that you get in other schools, nor is it SWAT material only suitable for use in a team format. This material is focused for the lone operator regardless of his official status. DURATION: 2 Days TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM (CST) PREREQUISITES: NONE AMMUNITION: Appx 500 rounds (Minimum) and 50 rounds of pistol ammunition YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape) REQUIREMENTS: AR-15/M-4 type rifle, (3) magazines and any ancillary rifle gear. Pistol, Holster, Pistol Magazines. Eye and Ear Protection. NOTE: Chest Rig/Tactical Vests are not allowed with CCW Holsters. If you wish to use a Chest Rig or a Tactical Vest, use a vest mounted holster or a thigh holster. LOCATION: Phillips/Edwards Farm 763 County Road 332, Pisgah, AL, 35765 Phone - 423-488-4309 For more info or to enroll..... http://www.suarezint...tanooga-tn.aspx Followed by...... July 6, 2012 AR15 ARMORER Chattanooga, Tennessee Instructor: Randy Harris Price $100 This class will present a definitive study on the AR-15/M4 rifle. Students will be shown assembly, disassembly and repair, as well as operational characteristics of the weapon. DURATION: 4 hours TIME: 6:00PM to 10:00PM (CST) PREREQUISITES: NONE AMMUNITION: N/A YOU NEED TO BRING: Note taking supplies, water, snacks, anything to keep you comfortable. REQUIREMENTS: AR-15/M4 type rifle, carbine or pistol, (1) magazine and eye protection. NOTE: NO .308 AR'S ALLOWED LOCATION: Phillips/Edwards Farm 763 County Road 332, Pisgah, AL, 35765 Phone - 423-488-4309 To enroll.......http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/july6-2012-ar15-armorer-chattanooga-tn.aspx July 7-8, 2012 ADVANCED AR15/M4 GUNFIGHTING Chattanooga, Tennessee Instructor: Randy Harris Price $400 Advanced AR15/M4 Gunfighting is the most advanced level rifle training available outside of Special Operations schools. This class will consist of all new material and take your rifle fighting skills, both as a firearm and as an alternative force tool, far beyond what you would think possible. While we will be using and teaching with AR-pattern rifles, you are not required to bring an AR. Bring ANY semi auto rifle you have. Not for Beginners. Students must own the basic combat rifle skill-set and be in reasonable physical condition for this class. If in doubt, attend the introductory class scheduled immediately before. This class will leave you gasping for air with a red-hot smoking rifle barrel. DURATION: 2 Days TIME: 9:00AM to 5:00PM (CST) PREREQUISITES: Students must have attended a Suarez International Intermediate rifle class AMMUNITION: RIFLE: Approx. 500 rounds (Min) PISTOL: Approx. 100 rounds (Min) YOU NEED TO BRING: Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape) REQUIREMENTS: AR pattern rifle, (3) magazines and any ancillary rifle gear. Pistol, Holster, Pistol Magazines. Eye and Ear Protection. Note: Chest Rig/Tactical Vests are not allowed with CCW Holsters. If you wish to use a Chest Rig or a Tactical Vest, use a vest mounted holster or a thigh holster. To enroll.....http://www.suarezint...tanooga-tn.aspx Value package for multiple classes if you sign up for all 3 classes (AR Gunfighting , AR Armorer, Advanced AR Gunfighting) you get them at the reduced price of $850!!!!! http://www.suarezint...tanooga-tn.aspx

Updated with dates in Knoxville and Louisville Ky!

There is a difference between firing 3 rounds that sounds like a burst from an SMG and firing 3 rounds 1 at a time 5 seconds apart. If the BG has stopped his aggression then STOP shooting. The number of rounds is not the issue. The TIMING of the rounds is . If the BG has ceased to be a threat and then shot again ...then that is a problem. If he takes a 5 round burst to the chest before he falls down then that is different. I KNOW of a case in Memphis where the good guy shot the bad guy ELEVEN times (shot to slide lock) in a continuous burst. Thi happened in a parking lot when the bad guy attempted to carjack them and grabbed the good guy's wife. Even though he shot the BG 11 times he did not get prosecuted. The number of shots in and of itself is rarely the issue.....

We are still a few months out, but we are starting to get folks signed up. If you wait until the last minute there may not be spots available. Really looking forward to this class! Oh, and thanks Paul I appreciate the kind words.

There have been several questions on what is meant by ... THIS COURSE IS NOT FOR THE NOVICE SHOOTER....That simply means that if someone has never had ANY instruction in safe gunhandling and pistol marksmanship then this class may be a bit too advanced for them. This class is a FIGHTING class not a gun safety and basic marksmanship class. If someone has never drawn a gun from a holster, shot while moving , or shot their pistol 1 handed then they may have difficulty when they have to move, draw and shoot 1 handed all at the same time. And there is a lot of that in this class. While there are no prerequisites for this class, It is not a basic class it is an intermediate class. I hope that clears up any confusion. Hope to see you there! If you have had ANY instruction from a credible source in safe gunhandling and marksmanship or if you shoot IDPA or IPSC then you should be fine for this class.

FIRST time ever in Knoxville !!!!! June 23-24, 2012 CLOSE RANGE GUNFIGHTING Knoxville, Tennessee Instructor: Randy Harris Price $450 This is our flagship course and goes as far as you can safely go on a square range with live-fire pistols. The dynamic curriculum surpasses the traditional handgun methods commonly taught in most institutions and focuses of the use of the pistol in aggressive close range applications likely in individual civilian street encounters. The class begins with a tune-up of the fundamentals, then we progress quickly to new skills such as Proactive and Reactive Manipulations, Shooting While Moving Off The X, Reality-Based Multiple Hostiles Engagement, 360 degree CQB Movement, Danger-Close Fighting, Bilateral Shooting, 360 degree After Action Assessment Methods, and Integrating the Flashlight and Other Tools into the Firing Platform. This is the life-saving material that is often ignored in many other programs. In two days, you will receive more information than most armed professionals ever get! We must point out that THIS COURSE IS NOT FOR THE NOVICE SHOOTER. If you have not received basic instruction, or have a question about your skill level, please call us first. DURATION:2 days TIME:9:00AM to 5:00PM (EST) PREREQUISITES:NONE AMMUNITION:Approximately 500 rounds (Minimum) YOU NEED TO BRING:Spare clothing appropriate to the weather, lunch/snacks and water (minimum of 1 gallon per person) for the entire day, baseball or other style hat, sun screen, bug repellent, allergy medication (if needed), chair (if you have a problem with sitting on the ground, note taking paper/pen/pencil and a boo boo kit (band aids, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and tape) REQUIREMENTS:Modern Defensive Pistol, holster specifically made for that pistol and designed to be worn on the belt, 3 Magazines and Magazine Pouch, A Belt of the same width as the belt loops for the holster and magazine pouches, Range Safety Gear (Eye protection, and ear protection) LOCATION:Private Range 1818 Tarklin Valley Rd. Knoxville, TN 37920 865-919-3909 Private range easily accessible from Alcoa highway and address is recognized by GPS systems. More info and to enroll......http://www.suarezinternationalstore.com/june23-2012-close-range-gunfighting-knoxville-tn.aspx

Thanks to "Gotthegoods" here at WT there will be another option for training in Knoxville in June !! He will be hosting me for the Suarez International Close Range Gunfighting class in Knoxville June 23-24 . I'll post more info here once it is up on the Suarez website class schedule. Looking forward to this!

According to the Pensacola Gazette, Bowen chased a black man through the terminal and hotel dining room. The man escaped as Chipley passed by while going to his office.Bowen shouted at Chipley asking why he had not stopped the man and Chipley replied he had nothing to do with it! Bowen proceeded to point his cocked pistol at Chipley who jammed his hand between the hammer and frame preventing it from firing. He snatched the gun from Bowen and hit him over the head with it. The confrontation ended with Bowen leaving swearing to kill Chipley. Here we see again that a weapon disarm is a viable tactic especially if the object of the disarm is very close. It is often much easier to take a gun away from someone than to outdraw the drawn gun. Most people probably look at the disarm as a modern"progressive" technique, but it has been performed as long as people have been pointing guns at each other. Another "modern" item is the backup gun. How many carry a snubnose or small auto as a backup to their primary pistol? There is evidence of backup guns being carried by various individuals in the late 19th century. Wells Fargo detective James B Hume was known to carry a cut down Colt 1860 Army .44 cap and ball revolver.Hume was the man who captured Charles "Black Bart" Boles. Noted El Paso marshal Dallas Stoudemire carried a similarly chopped 1860 Army as a backup to his pair of Smith and Wesson .44 Americans. Wild Bill Hickok was known to carry a derringer or two in his vest as backups to his Colt 1851 Navy pistols. John "Doc" Holliday was also known to carry a .41 caliber Remington derringer also. Though it seems some folks did carry them documented cases of using them seems thin. There is however at least one account. John Wesley Hardin was gambling over a bowling match one day. He had removed his pistols so he could roll, and an argument ensued. His opponent a man named Phil Sublette threatend him and went for his pistol. Hardin pulls a "Bulldog" pistol and sticks it in the man's ear! So not only did Hardin carry his two "belt pistols" but apparently also a "hideout gun" too! Hardin also mentions drawing and firing a derringer at another man.But aside from these instances I have not found many documented cases of small backup guns being employed. The lack of documentation of usage however should not be viewed as an indictment against backups. Most fights just did not go long enough to empty one (or both) "primaries" and then pull the backup too! Much like today, carrying a backup is an insurance policy against a worst case scenario! The last Hardin incident we will look at is his last. On the night of August 19,1895 Hardin stood at the bar of the Acme Saloon in El Paso, drinking and rolling dice with a grocer named Henry Brown. Earlier in the evening Hardin had a heated exchange of words with constable John Selman. In the hours since then Selman had been fuming over the incident. Around midnight while Hardin stood at the bar Selman stepped through the doorway and shot Hardin in the back of the head. He fired several more shots as Hardin fell to the floor. Just like Wild Bill, Hardin met his end not in a shootout, but in an ambush from behind. Hardin had such a reputation as a gunman that even at age 42 folks were not lining up to challenge him. Ambush eliminates the advantage of skill! Though Hardin was armed, reportedly carrying a SW New Frontier 44/40 double action revolver and a Colt 1877 .41 double action, he was shot from behind and had no chance to get his gun into play. It is also interesting to note that Selman said he shot Hardin in the head because Hardin was "known to wear a metal breastplate".The newspapers even reported no sign of a mail shirt on Hardin as it was rumored among the citizens of El Paso that he always wore one. Hardin makes no mention of ever wearing armor but his manuscript was not finished when he was killed. It is also unlikely that he would have mentioned it if he did wear a "vest" as it would not have been smart to "advertise" . Wyatt Earp was also rumored to have worn some type of mail shirt under his shirt, but I can find no documentation of him ever actually doing so. Again, not the sort of thing you tell people. Now before you say "RUBBISH" to this let us look at another historical event. Comanche chief Pohibit Quasha (also known as Iron Shirt or Iron Jacket) was rumored to be impervious to gunfire. He was in fact witnessed having been shot in numerous confrontations to no ill effect. On May 12,1858 on the banks of the South Canadian River after pursuit by John "RIP" Ford's force of Texas Rangers and Brazos River reservation indians Iron Jacket's luck would run out. Indian sharpshooter Jim Pockmark patiently waited for the shot and put a .58 caliber musketball through Iron Jacket's unprotected side. It turns out that armor not magic is what had preserved the chief for so long. He wore an armor breastplate vest left over from the Spanish Conquista hundreds of years before. Hmmm.... maybe something to wear to stop bullets is a good thing? Interestingly though, we see that rifle fire is still a good solution to armored opponents! The final confrontation we will look into is the February 8,1887 streetfight between gambler/gunmen Luke Short and "Long Hair" Jim Courtright. Luke Short was a gambler/gunman who had moved to Fort Worth, Texas from Dodge City , Kansas.He had been a half owner of the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City.He was friends with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday and had survived several altercations before moving to Texas.In Fort Worth he had bought into the White Elephant Saloon and ran afoul of town marshall Jim Courtright. "Long Hair Jim" Courtright was a gunman of some repute. He was a rumored to be a crack shot, even skilled enough to be able to shoot the dangling ear rings from his wife's ears without harming her. He was reputed to have killed between 6 and 10 men in the performance of his duties. However most of his duties were running a "protection racket" where he fleeced area saloon proprieters for payments for his "protective services". Short refused Courtright's offer for protection and the animosty grew between them. On the night of February 8 an intoxicated Courtright called Short out into the street. Short came out to see what the commotion was. There he was confronted by Courtright. The two men argued for a minute. Short was a notoriously dapper dresser and during the argument he grabbed hold of the lapels of his vest. Courtright yelled out "Don't you pull a gun on me!" and Short answered, replying he had no gun.He told Courtright to see for himself. As the two stood literally face to face Courtright pulled his pistol and projected it toward Short. Now as far as EXACTLY what happened is not clear. Courtright's pistol snagged on a watch chain.But it is unclear whether it was his own or Short's. At the distance they were standing EITHER is possible. Some reports had Courtright shoving the muzzle of his Colt Single Action Army .45 into Short's stomach and the hammer falling with Short's watch chain getting caught between the hammer and frame preventing the gun from firing. Other accounts have Courtright getting tangled in his own watch chain as he drew the pistol. Regardless of whose time piece was involved, Courtright's pistol did not fire.At the same time Short pulled a .38 Colt 1877 DA "Lightning" pistol from his back pocket firing as it came up. The bullet struck the frame of Courtright's pistol and tore off Courtright's right thumb! Courtright passed the pistol to his left hand in an attempt to stay in the fight, but Short took this time to step back and fire three or four rounds into Courtright's chest. Courtright crumpled to the cold street. The next day local hardware stores experienced a run on double action pistols. Word had gotten out about how fast Short had dispatched a gunman of Courtright's skill and reputation.Short had used the double action Colt to good effect, and folks thought that Courtright's demise surely had more to do with his single action pistol than picking on the wrong man.Much like today people thought it had more to do with the equipment than the skill and nerve of the operator. In this final fight we see all the elements of a classic close quarter engagement stemming from an alcahol fueled argument.The combatants begin the fight at range close enough to touch each other. Courtright yells for Short to not pull a gun , likely in an attempt to make murder look like self defense.Even today what the witnesses hear may be as important as what they see! Again we see a draw getting fouled when it is made from street clothes and not from "range gear". Do we see a pattern developing? We also see projecting the pistol toward the target when you are in touching distance is a bad idea. Short's fast draw and shooting along the line of presentation of the pistol saved the day here. Courtright showed good instinct if not good judgement. After being wounded in the gun hand he tried to pass it off to the off hand to stay in the fight. The problem was he was facing a skilled gunman. Training for the lowest common denominator of an opponent has always been bad for your health! And as always luck sometimes plays a part! I hope this has shown a glimpse of how the REAL wild west gunfights were. They were fast,close up, violent affairs that rarely looked anything like TV or movies.They really are just like what we encounter today. The equipment changes but the dynamics are the same. If this interests you further you might read some of my source material. The Life Of John Wesley Hardin as Told By Himself by J.W. Hardin, John Wesley Hardin; Dark Angel of Texas by Leon Metz, The Last Gunfighter by Richard Marohn, Wild Bill Hickok-Gunfighter by Joseph Rosa,Guns and the Gunfighters by the Guns and ammo editors, and the History Channel's Wild West tech.

Last time we looked at how the dynamics of confrontation and the issues that we deal with today are essentially the same as they dealt with in the Old West. Things may not be exactly the same, but the similarities vastly out weigh the differences. After all how different is an alleyway mugging with a knife on a hot summer night in 1870 than the same event in 2012? For many of us TV has been our only frame of reference for what gunfighting in the 19th century was like. Unfortunately the majority of the western movies and TV were stylized,sanitized and modernized and glamorized renditions of how events really happened. You simply can't have the good guy have a fistfight go less than a couple of minutes in a western movie. It also doesn't make for good cinematography for a gun fight to be a clinch situation with a flurry of strikes to the badguy's midsection followed closely by a contact shot to the sternum. "Walk down" gunfights where both parties start at different ends of the street look much better on screen. Boxing match length fist fights also film better than a quick strike to the throat, a punch in the nose followed up by kicking their now downed opponent. Hollywood and reality rarely converge. So when we look a little closer at what REALLY happened, we see alot of similarities to what still happens in life and death struggles today. The hardware may change, but we still have the same operating software! Last month we looked at some specific gunfights and what we can learn from them. This month I'm going to hit upon several issues that we might just think of as "modern" issues but were in fact issues back then too. Last month we left off with the 1874 killing that would ultimately send John Wesley Hardin to prison in 1878. Hardin's capture shows us a few things too.Among these are dispelling the myth of open carry in the old west and the importance of a smooth fumble free draw. Hardin left Texas with the highest bounty of the time on his head ($4000). He moved east to Florida and then to Alabama. He spent 1876 and half of 1877 living in the southeastern US living under the assumed name John Swain. He was finally tracked down and captured August 23, 1877 in Pensacola Junction, Florida which is actually present day Flomaton, Alabama. The capture took place in a railroad smoking car. As Hardin and travelling companions sat waiting for the train to leave, an "entry team" of Texas rangers and Pensacola sheriff's deputies boarded the train. Accounts vary as to EXACTLY what happened. Hardin saw the rangers and knew they were there for him but he claims to have yelled out that he was being attacked by robbers maybe hoping to get help form other passengers. Sheriff William Henry Hutchinson and Deputy A.J Perdue had entered the car from behind Hardin and they both grabbed him and wrestled him to the floor.As the three men struggled on the floor, ranger John Armstrong came forward and struck Hardin over the head with the barrel of his pistol.One of Hardin's travelling companions Jim Mann, not knowing who the assailants were, pulled a pistol and was promptly shot and killed.Mann was not wanted for anything and it is doubtful he even knew who Hardin really was! Hardin claims to have never gone for his gun because it was being carried concealed and he knew he'd never outdraw their drawn guns. He was going to wait until later and try to take them by suprise.When asked where his pistol was he claimed to be unarmed but upon being searched the lawmen found a.44 caliber Colt 1860 Army stuffed inside his waistband under his shirt. Another more popular version of this (that I believe is the version Armstrong gave the newspapers) is that Hardin went for his pistol but it snagged on his suspender and he was wrestled to the ground and hit over the head by Armstrong with a revolver. Hardin himself states in his book and in letters that if he had drawn he'd be "a corpse" as there were 40 men outside all about the train station acting as the perimeter team. In this scene we see several issues that we still deal with today.Hardin's pistol was carried concealed inside the waistband and under his shirt NOT in an exposed belt holster. Many folks think that everyone moved about openly armed in the last half of the 19th century. In fact most states, cities and towns had laws against carrying firearms at all, or at least against open carry in public.It was big business for the police departments and city and town marshalls assessing fines for carrying pistols in town. Guns were typically carried openly out "on the range" but in town they were carried concealed. In fact the shoulder holster and pocket holster were not 20th century inventions, but 19th century inventions to be able to better carry guns concealed.In fact El Paso Saddlery still makes a reproduction of the shoulder holster Hardin commissioned them to make for him in 1895. Hardin was carrying concealed just like we do today. And just like we do today he had to be able to access the gun under duress. In this instance if we believe the "stuck in the suspender story" his normal quick draw was impeded by the way the gun was carried. Lets face it, even the fastest most deadly pistoleer in the west won't win if he can't get his gun into play! That is why it is so imperative to devote time to drawing your gun from your ACTUAL mode of carry not just open carry range holsters! On the other hand if we believe the accounts that he did not try to draw, we see where even for a man with a lightning fast draw, drawing against a drawn gun is a course of action he decided to avoid in order to wait for the right time later. We also see here that an impact weapon (in this case a gun barrel) can very well beat a pistol in close quarters. As Hardin struggled to clear his pistol, Armstrong struck him in the head and knocked him to the floor.In fact he lay motionless so long that Armstrong thought he had killed him. It might just as well have been a sap, blackjack or baton. The point is that the mere presence of Hardin's gun AND Hardin's considerable skill, and even his awareness and ability to see the fight coming before it was on could not keep him from being knocked silly and wrestled into submission. For all the guys that think just being aware of your surroundings and carrying a gun and knowing how to use it will solve ALL your problems this incident from history shows that is NOT always the case! If you get "smoked in the melon" by an impact weapon, your pistol skills may never even come into play! Hardin talks later about about getting ready to affect a gun disarm in order to escape."I knew my only hope was to escape.My guards were kind to me but they were not most vigilant.By promising to be quiet,I had caused them to relax somewhat.When we got to Decatur we had to stop and change cars for Memphis.They took me to a hotel,got a room and sent for our meals.Jack [Duncan] and Armstrong were now getting intimate with me, and when dinner came I suggested the necessity of removing my cuffs and they agreed to do so.Armstrong unlocked the jewelry[manacles] and started to turn around,exposing his six-shooter to me,when Jack jerked him around and pulled his pistol at the same time. 'Look out!' he said 'John will kill us and escape'. Of course I laughed at him and ridiculed the idea. It was really the very chance I was looking for,but Jack had taken the play away just before it got ripe.I intended to jerk Armstrong's pistol, kill Jack Duncan or make him throw up his hands.I could have made him unlock my shackles,or get the key from his dead body and do it myself.I could then have easily made my escape. That time never came again." It is chillingly clear that had Hardin got hold of the pistol he would have probably tallied at least two more killings. This is no different than today when an officer transports a prisoner. Again, the mere presence of the gun is no real insurance even against an unarmed assailant.Weapon retention and disarm training can save your life! In another incident related from Pensacola a few weeks before Hardin's capture, one William Chipley, the superintendant of the Pensacola Railroad, had an altercation with Hardin's brother-in-law Brown Bowen.

With all my travelling classes this year (Michigan, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia,Arkansas, South Carolina) and as a Tier 1 instructor a heavier load of advanced classes being offered, there have not been many opportunities in Chattanooga for the fundamental classes like Defensive Pistol Skills. In fact this one in August will be the last DPS class I offer this year in the Chattanooga area. So if you miss this one it will be sometime in 2013 before there is another in this area. This class is where you get started right...or come to "unlearn" all the bad habits you might have accumulated over the years. It is not a "basic" class...it is a Fundamentals class that builds the gunhandling, marksmanship and mindset total package foundation to be able to jump right into the intermedate and then the advanced classes ready to learn new material...not just treading water and trying to keep up due to shaky gunhandling skills learned other places. This class paves the way for you to be the best you can be. This class is the way to save yourself A LOT of time effort and money by learning it right the first time. So come out and join us and make yourself a more dangerous individual.