By B. Gil Horman
Years ago, I was at an outdoor defensive pistol shooting class with a colorful native Texan instructor conducting the exercises. As we lined up, sweating in the unforgiving summer sun, he said something along the lines of, “Now, when you hear that signal, I want you to haul them smoke wagons, fast as you can, and get to work!” In the years since, “smoke wagon” has stuck with me. His use of the term then made me smile! Later, I would learn that it’s a bit of Old West slang for the Colt 1873 Single Action Army revolver, which is among the most iconic handguns ever developed.
Somewhere along the way, probably when I started ramping up my research into trail-to-town guns, a question came to mind. If a full-size, big-bore, single-action wheelgun is a smoke wagon, then what kind of moniker could be affixed to the same type of revolver that’s been trimmed down or fitted with a short barrel? The name that came to mind was “Thunder Buggy.” And for better or for worse, this made me smile too! I’ve been looking for the right revolver to apply it to ever since.
