SASS, The Early Days

[Ethan Cord]

On 6/23/2021 at 9:49 AM, Jersey Kid, SASS #287 said:

Posse Photo 2001  - see who you remember

In the center of the front row is Island Girl and Bounty Hunter (RIP), In the second row, far left is Shakey Jake. I know some of the other faces, but their names escape me....

[McCandless]

On 6/23/2021 at 12:49 PM, Jersey Kid, SASS #287 said:

Posse Photo 2001  - see who you remember

Hmmm... Back row, top left.  Diamond Dick.  Top row 2nd from right, San Quentin.

Front row, second from right, Marshal Harlan Wolff.  Third from right, (between Bounty Hunter and Marshal Wolff), is Cajun Kid.

[McCandless]

A photo taken at the Alabama Rangers 3rd Annual Dixie Shootout, 1996

 

Hawk Spivey

 

Cool Waters

 

Brazos Bill

 

(photos courtesy of Hawk Spivey)

[Madd Mike #8595]

the early days were alot of fun for me SASS #8595

[Jailhouse Jim, SASS #13104]

On 10/21/2023 at 4:11 PM, Madd Mike #8595 said:

the early days were alot of fun for me SASS #8595

Me too

[Griff]

On 10/21/2023 at 6:11 PM, Madd Mike #8595 said:

the early days were alot of fun for me SASS #8595

Only the rainy days are less than fun... but, if I stay dry, they're still enjoyable!

[Von Dutch, SASS # 7995]

On 8/7/2019 at 2:52 PM, McCandless said:

Matt Q, Oscar Crabby, Old Lone$ome, Buckeye Flats and Pitchfork c. 1990

 

I sure miss shooting with the Pards in this picture! I never shot with Old Lone$ome AKA Bob Shaw he was  smithing for us Cowboys! He was a great guy and a good gun smith! Cowboy action shooting will never be as good as it was back then! V.D.

Edited January 24, 2024 by Von Dutch, SASS # 7995

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I went to two matches at Coto de Casa back in the late '80s but was busy earning a living and besides "this looks like fun but I don't see it going anywhere."

 

I finally joined at EOT in 1995 and thought....later on....that my number 3935 was really low.

 

 

Yeah......right!

 

Lots of faces gone and many who for some reason never got their pictures taken.

 

We'll meet again at the last railhead.

[Rex M Rugers #6621]

That is a pretty low number , Forty.

I joined in 1991 , and my number is 6621.

A few years later I upgraded to Life , and was offered to pick a number in the 5000 range , but just kept my original.

Rex 

[Mild Bill #2326]

On 1/18/2024 at 5:12 PM, Von Dutch, SASS # 7995 said:

I sure miss shooting with the Pards in this picture! I never shot with Old Lone$ome AKA Bob Shaw he was  smithing for us Cowboys! He was a great guy and a good gun smith! Cowboy action shooting will never be as good as it was back then! V.D.

Yep, I agree, lots of fun. I’m still playing, much older and slower, but

the camaraderie keeps me in the game. The early were better.

[Macon Due]

Wow, looking back I can see that we were a lot more fit back then than nowadays. Even the 'heavier' guys were not near like todays heavier cowboys. And it was not just because a lot of us were younger as I see several older gents and ladies in the pictures as well. I reckon maybe we were a bit more health conscious or perhaps the stages just demanded a higher level of fitness ? I know down at Higginsville with the Mountain Oyster gang there was lots of movement including running up and down the stairs at the 2 story Hotel. Other places I shot were also demanding on some stages due to movement.

Oh well..........time marches on.

Macon Due #29445

[Black Jack McGinnis, SASS #2041]

I didnt start playing this game till '90.  I wish it would've been a few years earlier.

[McCandless]

 

Taipan, Colin Dangaard, at EoT 1999

 

[McCandless]

 

 

Tex Boden, Duke Chisum (R.I.P.), Mayobard, Wyatt Earp SASS #1628, and Pat Riot

[Wyatt Earp SASS#1628L]

I can say 100% that IS me

[McCandless]

Los Pistoleros de Santa Margarita - the Santa Margarita Gun Club at Camp Pendleton monthly match.

 

The matches at Pendleton were unique among other cowboy matches, in that the Marine Corps rifle range offered the opportunity for some very challenging stages. The rifle targets for most stages were set out at 75-100 yds, with at least one stage with rifle targets at 200 yds. There was always a team event at the end of the match.

 

Because of the stages' tough, challenging, and slower nature, there was only time for 4 or 5 stages per match. Most stages were shot with only one or two guns.

 

Edited August 14, 2024 by McCandless

[McCandless]

 

 

Kid Clayton, Doc Holliday, Bootlegger, Ringo, and the Hangman,  1998 Western Action Shooting Society, (New Zealand) - End of Trail

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

@McCandless - I'm sure glad you keep finding and posting all these cool old pics.  Gracias!

[Griff]

On 8/14/2024 at 10:59 AM, McCandless said:

Los Pistoleros de Santa Margarita - the Santa Margarita Gun Club at Camp Pendleton monthly match.

 

The matches at Pendleton were unique among other cowboy matches, in that the Marine Corps rifle range offered the opportunity for some very challenging stages. The rifle targets for most stages were set out at 75-100 yds, with at least one stage with rifle targets at 200 yds. There was always a team event at the end of the match.

 

Because of the stages' tough, challenging, and slower nature, there was only time for 4 or 5 stages per match. Most stages were shot with only one or two guns.

 

My son & I were discussing those matches just last week.  After finding out another regular attendee there, Coto de Caza and West End had passed on (Hangfire Hank).  

[McCandless]

 

Thunderbolt Taylor, 1993 EoT

[Griff]

I guess I never thought of this as "The Early Days"... but for some it likely were!  Having to decide whether to attend a family reunion or their National Championships, during Nov, 2000 on the South Island in New Zealand was much influenced by family.  But, after the reunion, I traveled north and attended a monthly shoot with the Quarry Gang somwhere in the middle of the North Island.  I didn't get any pics of folks, but took these prior to the match:

 

 

 

 

Early arrivals...

[Modoc]

On 12/8/2020 at 5:50 AM, Snakebite said:

 

On 4/21/2021 at 2:43 PM, McCandless said:

Bill Lindholm sent me these:

 

Wimpy Hank Yoho - EoT 2002

 

Tule Spud, Wimpy Hank Yoho, Lost River Slim & my brother Whiney Henry Yoho

"Tule & Slim left us a few years ago.  Miss them.  Pards ta' ride the river with.  They were like brothers to me too."

 

Wimpy Hank Yoho and Whiney Henry Yoho

"Here's one of my brother Whiney Henry Yoho & myself.  I'm guessin' about a dozen years back or so. Match was called True Grit, Roseburg, Oregon. Whiney's smilin' big cuz' it was a two day match with 10 stages with 4 pistols, 2 rifles & a shotgun. Ammo count per stage approximately 50 rounds per stage. We'd do that one & feel like all the other matches after that one seem like not much shootin'. LOL"

 

 

some fond memories of friends that I haven’t seen in a long time  (and some I won’t Be able to see again 😢).  @Snakebite, it was great reminiscing with you at CVR this year!  

Edited August 28, 2024 by Modoc

[Snakebite]

3 minutes ago, Modoc said:

 

some fond memories of friends that I haven’t seen in a long time  (and some I won’t Be able to see again 😢).  @Snakebite, it was great reminiscing with you at CVR this year!  

Yes Pard, it was good to remember old times and some of the best stages I ever stole!

[Modoc]

1 hour ago, Snakebite said:

Yes Pard, it was good to remember old times and some of the best stages I ever stole!

on that note, here are Sierra Packer, JRB, and Myself at Chorro Valley in 1995?

 

Sierra Packer’s First SASS Match as a Shooter. 
 

 

The Facilities have come a Long way since we started. 

Edited August 29, 2024 by Modoc

[Snakebite]

13 minutes ago, Modoc said:

on that note, here are Sierra Packer, JRB, and Myself at Chorro Valley in 1995?

 

Sierra Packer’s First SASS Match as a Shooter. 
 

 

The Facilities have come a Long way since we started. 

Geeze! Were you shooting the Jr. Category?

[Modoc]

31 minutes ago, Snakebite said:

Geeze! Were you shooting the Jr. Category?

Nope, Traditional.  But…. Both of us were in our early 20’s at the time. 😆

[Modoc]

Some more from CVR in the Early ‘90’s

 

Johnny Waco (John Mars) laying down

The Man on Man Shoot-off from ‘95

 

 

[McCandless]

 

 

Cowboy Mounted Shooting at Winter Range 1996. CMSA founders. L to R: Bronc aka John Peel, William Bruce aka Jim Rodgers and Rawhide Rawlins aka Phil Spangenberger.