True West Magazine - January - February 2025

In this issue

Best of the West Collector's Edition
Samuel Walker Texas Ranger and the Gun That Changed the West
Jay Dusard The True Westerner Cowboy Photographer Gets His Due
Walk Where They Walked—Jesse James and the Centralia Massacre
Deadwood Named 2025 Top True Western Town

A TRUE WESTERNER INDEED PHIL SPANGENBERGER 1940-2024

Spangenberger had Nevada trained to bow by the legendary horse trainer, Glenn Randall, who trained Roy Rogers' Trigger, Gene Autry's Champion, Rex Allen's Koko and the Ben Hur chariot horses, among other great equines.

5 mins

THE MAN WHO SHOOTS THE WEST

Jay Dusard is a living American photographer who has made Arizona his home for over 60 years, seeing it first in 1960 on a visit, moving here for good in 1963.

2 mins

THE BATTLE OF CENTRALIA

ON September 27, 1864, Bloody Bill Anderson and about 80 men took over the small railroad village of Centralia, looting stores and discovering a barrel of whiskey that they hauled out into the street. Wild enough when sober, they soon were roaring drunk.

3 mins

SAMUEL WALKER VALIANT WARRIOR

While a prisoner at the castle of Perote, Walker was put to work raising a flagpole. At the bottom of the hole, Walker placed a Yankee dime, vowing to someday come back and retrieve it, at the same time exacting revenge on his Mexican captors. In the summer of 1847, when Walker's mounted riflemen returned and routed Santa Anna's guerillas, the young captain kept his promise and got his dime back.

9 mins

Wild Turkey, and Not the Drinkin' Kind

The actual bird was a favorite of pioneers.

2 mins

FIREARMS COLT WALKER 47

THE LEGENDARY HANDGUN THAT REALLY WON THE WEST

6 mins

WESTERN BOOKS THEN AND NOW

THE STATE OF WESTERN HISTORY AND FICTION PUBLISHING IN 2024 IS ONE OF GRIT AND DETERMINATION.

5 mins

THE PASSION PROJECTS OF THE MODERN WESTERN

A YEAR OF UNDERRATED EXCELLENCE

7 mins

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True West Magazine Description:

TRUE WEST captures the history of the American frontier through authentic and provocative literary nonfiction and heritage travel narratives that keep the spirit of the West alive.