William Bell

Crestwood

Contributor at GunBroker.com

Senior Contributing Editor at Athlon Outdoors

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Articles

Lever Action Supreme Rifle From Henry Repeating Arms

6 days ago | athlonoutdoors.com | William Bell

I first laid eyes on the Henry Repeating Arms (HRA) Lever Action Supreme Rifle during Industry Day at the Range, preceding the 2024 SHOT Show. My first impression was that it looked “retro-cool.” Its blue steel, anodized aluminum and American walnut construction gave it traditional styling, and the design seemed out of the 1920’s rather that the 2020’s. It reminded me of a Browning BAR, with shades of a Model 1907 Winchester, but with a finger lever.
Visiting a Legend – Touring the Henry Repeating Arms Facilities

1 month ago | athlonoutdoors.com | William Bell

Anthony Imperato does everything 100 percent. I got to know him when he and his father, Louis, formed Colt Black Powder Arms in 1994. They produced a 3rd Generation of cap and ball revolvers made in their factory in Brooklyn, NY. I tested two of their Colt Signature Series models, the 1851 Navy and 1860 Army revolvers, and they both reside in my gun safe to this day.
Savage Revel Classic: The Savage Lever-Action Returns in Rimfire

1 month ago | athlonoutdoors.com | William Bell

While the company’s new theme is “Not Your Grandpa’s Savage,” I rather like my old Model 1895 lever-gun in .303 Savage that has spent some time with me during deer season. Savage started out in the lever-action rifle business when Arthur Savage founded the company in 1894. A rifle Savage had designed for Colt in 1892, failed in a bid for a U.S. Army rifle contract, and became the civilian Model 1895.
Classic Concealment Re-Introduced in .32 ACP: The Walther PPK/s Pistol

Feb 15, 2025 | athlonoutdoors.com | William Bell

In 1929, German arms manufacturer Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen (later Waffenfabrik) introduced the PP (Polizei-pistole/police pistol). The PP later became the more concealable PPK but eventually ran into importing issues in the United States. For this reason, Walther combined the PP and PPK, creating the PPK/s pistol, which was importable. The PP was semi-automatic, with a recoil-operated blow-back action, and had some unique features.
2025 Cowboy Guns | Cowboy Action Shooting | GunBroker

Feb 10, 2025 | gunbroker.com | William Bell

By William Bell, GunBroker ContributorWelcome to a “Rootin-Tootin” 2025 Cowboy Guns new year! There is lots of enthusiasm in the firearms industry as a more “gun-friendly” administration now resides in the White House. Folks will not be looking over their collective shoulders watching for gun grabbers to head them off at the pass. Under the category of Cowboy Guns, we offer a short synopsis of handguns, rifles and shotguns that will be of interest to those involved in Cowboy Action Shooting.
2025 New Lever-Guns Introductions

Feb 6, 2025 | gunbroker.com | William Bell

By William Bell, GunBroker Contributor They called 2024 the “Year of the Lever-Gun.” Well, I believe 2025 might just have called dibs on that title. Many manufacturers and importers have taken the traditional blue steel and walnut rifles and carbines and morphed them into tactical versions by substituting polymer for wood and applying items like Picatinny rails, M-LOK attachment points or large-loop levers wrapped in paracord.
2025 New Revolver Introductions

Feb 5, 2025 | gunbroker.com | William Bell

By William BellHandgun-wise, as we near the end of the first quarter of the 21st Century, the predominant selection for most military, civilian self-defense, law enforcement, sport shooting and other applications is the semi-automatic pistol. This most often takes the form of a steel/polymer hybrid with a striker-fired action, a large capacity magazine, likely optics and suppressor ready.
Rounding up the Revolvers: 20 Wheelguns from SHOT Show 2025

Feb 1, 2025 | athlonoutdoors.com | William Bell

The popularity of revolvers is more than evident this year. Double action revolvers, the concealment type with “snub” barrels, are popular for self-defense, while those with longer barrels excel in the field and competition. Single-action revolvers are favorites of hunters and cowboy action shooters. So, let’s take a look at the revolvers I saw at the 2025 SHOT Show. A unique revolver I saw at SHOT Show 2025 was in Charter’s Chic Line.
Small Frame Revolver: Charter Arms Releases the Coyote in .380 ACP

Jan 27, 2025 | athlonoutdoors.com | William Bell

My history with Charter Arms revolvers goes back many years. As a young deputy sheriff in the late 1970s, I carried a Charter Undercover .38 Special snub in an ankle holster as a BUG. Later, as a state Parole and Probation Officer in the mid-1980s, I carried another Charter Undercover. This one had a matte black finish and shrouded ejector rod housing. Recently, Charter Arms released its Coyote in .380 ACP, and I was intrigued.
Lipsey’s Releases the Ruger SP101 Chambered in .327 Federal Magnum

Nov 7, 2024 | athlonoutdoors.com | William Bell

I’m usually hesitant about jumping on the bandwagon for new cartridges. However, I must admit that I became a fan of the Federal .327 Magnum from the get-go. Introduced in 2008, it was an improvement on the 1984-era .32 H&R Magnum. So, when a company like Lipsey’s offers an option like the Ruger SP101 chambered in .327 Federal Magnum, I’m in. In 2020, Lipsey’s introduced a new Ruger SP101 in .357 Magnum.