D.E. Watters

A Brief History of Custom Competition and Carry Handguns (1976-2000)

Part Three of a Four-Part Series

Watters Custom .38 Super

I am not a professional gunsmith, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once. I built this .38 Super pistol in late 2000 for use in IDPA’s Enhanced Service Pistol division. The frame and slide were from Caspian; each made from 416 stainless barstock. This was during the brief period that they offered barstockContinue reading “Watters Custom .38 Super”

Shooting for the Moon – Full Moon, Half-Moon, and Other Schemes for Rimless Revolver Cartridges

Smith & Wesson had full-moon clip patents years before the half-moon clip was patented. Given some of the schemes tried, I suspect that they were worried about how the loaded clips could be carried without damaging them. The most cynical part of my brain wonders if some insisted on them being able to be carriedContinue reading “Shooting for the Moon – Full Moon, Half-Moon, and Other Schemes for Rimless Revolver Cartridges”

Notes on the History of Custom Competition and Carry Pistols (Pre-WW2)

Part One of a Four-Part Series

Marine Lance Corporal Dalton Gunderson checking the area for Viet Cong snipers during Operation Virginia in 1966

I see this photo constantly misattributed as showing Carlos Hathcock. So here is the National Archives’ card for the photo: