Jack Weaver

Earlier this week my boss tasked me with quite a challenging assignment—writing my first obituary.

Former Los Angles County Deputy Sheriff, Jack Weaver, died on Apr. 7 in Carson City, NV. For aliens, or those new to the shooting sports, he’s the man for whom the “Weaver Stance” is named. The term was first coined by the late Col. Jeff Cooper following Weaver’s victory at the 1959 annual quick draw Leatherslap matches in Big Bear, CA. At the time, the vast majority of participants used traditional one-handed shooting stances, such as hip and point shooting, using either single-action revolvers or semi-automatic pistols. However, Weaver dared to be different by competing with an Smith and Wesson K-38 revolver, which he shot strictly double action. The act brought forth substantial ridicule from his competitors. But, Weaver persevered, developing his own shooting stance—now known as the Weaver Stance—that incorporated using both hands to grip the pistol, applying isometric tension to dampen recoil and lowering his head slightly to allow for a flash-sight picture.

When he wasn’t competing, Weaver enjoyed cruising the desert, exploring ghost towns—in search of antique bottles—and taking his sons camping in Panamint and Death Valley. My conversations with members of the Weaver family have shown me that besides being a Champion competitive shooter and deputy sheriff, Jack Weaver was a devoted family man. Judging by the generosity of his family, he left one fine legacy.

Look for complete details soon in my web story.

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