Prior to his death in 2012, Craighead enlisted the help of leather craftsman and holstermaker Jason Winnie to aid in designing an all-leather holster for one of Craighead’s favorite historic firearms, the Colt Single Action Army (SAA). In addition to Winnie, Craighead also called on his friend, noted SAA aficionado and Shooting Illustrated Senior Field Editor Sheriff Jim Wilson to provide his expert advice on the desired features for a comfortable, workable and useful fighting holster for the legendary pistol. The result is the new Liberty Cross.

A thick, leather reinforcement around the holster's mouth ensures it stays open and facilitates one-handed reholstering.

“The Liberty Cross is a variation of a holster that was first designed by Bruce Nelson,” Wilson said. “The back belt loop helps to tuck the gun into the body for better concealment. The reinforced holster mouth helps with one-handed reholstering. The molding of the holster helps keep the gun secure without the need for a retaining strap.”

Winnie’s skill at crafting fine leather goods comes somewhat naturally, as he is renowned holstermaker Don Hume’s grandson, and the Liberty Cross’s fit and finish are a testament to that family legacy.

And legacy played an important role in the Liberty Cross mission. “The most special aspect of this holster, for me, is being able to finish a project that Mark started,” said CrossBreed’s Trent Cooper. “It is our first all-leather holster—our other models are hybrid holsters combining leather and Kydex—and it is also our first model for the SAA.”

Each of the 100 Liberty Cross holsters is signed and numbered by Sheriff Jim Wilson.

While the SAA may not be an ideal choice for self-defense in today’s world, it still has utility as a fighting handgun. “As a general rule, I don’t recommend a single action for personal defense,” Wilson said. “However, cowboy-action shooters practice with them a lot and you are going to do your best with the gun you shoot and practice with the most. Also, people who live in rural settings may have to deal with predators of the 4-legged variety; they prefer guns of stouter caliber than the common defense guns, and the single action is a viable choice. Finally, for those who spend a lot of time horseback, there is no safer handgun than the single action. I find that there are a lot of folks who just prefer the single-action revolver over others.”

Only 100 Liberty Cross holsters, designed for SAA revolvers with 4 5/8-inch barrels, will be manufactured. Each is numbered and signed by Sheriff Jim Wilson. The Liberty Cross retails for $200 and is available exclusively from CrossBreed Holsters.

Karl Weschta, general manager of Independent Studio Services’ (ISS) armory, explained, “Production companies usually hire a prop master. The prop master is responsible for all the props, everything an actor or actress touches on camera. Most prop masters are knowledgeable about firearms. Depending on the show, the prop master may have an additional person or persons responsible for the firearms.”

As for firearm selection for a given film, Mike Gibbons, who spent 30 years as a studio armorer before running a prop house for 11 years, said, “Sometimes, the scriptwriter knows exactly what gun or guns he wants for a given scene, but other times the prop house helps select an appropriate firearm.” Weschta further described the prop house’s role, “Most prop masters will come into our facility and take pictures to show the director and give him choices for the different characters requiring firearms.” Then, depending on what the script calls for a given character, the period in which the film is set and other elements of the script, the proper firearms can be selected. “If the character is an LAPD officer fresh out of the academy,” Weschta explained, “we are going to suggest Glocks, and maybe give a second or third choice as a Beretta or Smith & Wesson.”

Of course, most films utilize blank ammunition, or else actors would have very short careers. Yet, films seldom show guns with blank-firing adapters attached. How, then, do the guns function? Gibbons explained, “We modified the guns in-house [at his prop company] to fire without visible adapters.” Weschta added, “In simplistic terms, we are putting a restrictor plug in the barrel with a certain diameter hole tuned with the blank load we are using. There are many different ways to do this. Some states, like New York, have certain requirements on how the guns are modified, so in New York, the guns are even more messed up.” Depending on the make and model, several modifications may be required to make a gun function properly and safely using blank ammunition, but much of this information is proprietary.

“Hollywood’s gunsmiths and armories have spent years perfecting it,” said Weschta. “In some cases, we are unable to get certain firearms to reliably or safely fire with blanks at all.” Gibbons noted the blank ammunition used in films is usually loaded by the prop house and tuned to the guns to ensure reliability.

That still leaves one major stumbling block: California has some of the strictest firearm laws in the nation, yet many films shot in the Golden State feature guns not available to its private entities and citizens. Weschta explained how movies are made without violating the law. “A lot of people would like to say that the prop houses or armories in Hollywood have it easy and the rules are not the same for them. I can tell you that is not true. We are regulated just like any other firearms dealer or manufacturer.”

This process includes visits from BATFE every year and regular inventory audits. California adds its own regulatory red tape via the state’s Department of Justice, and since many prop houses are located within the city limits of Los Angeles, they are further regulated by the LAPD Police Commission and have additional requirements imposed by the city. On top of federal and state permits for the company, individual employees who transport and handle what California defines as “Dangerous Weapons,” including “assault weapons,” .50 BMG-chambered guns, destructive devices, machine guns and short-barreled rifles or shotguns, must be licensed, too. Weschta further noted, “the vehicles we use to transport weapons have to be outfitted with a safe and must be inspected and approved.”

What of actors with past indiscretions precluding their handling of firearms? For such pillars of the community, ISS offers “non-guns,” which are blocks of aluminum that look like firearms, but aren’t. They run on batteries and give a flash effect, but require no permits to use, making them very popular with film students and productions on tight budgets.

The next time you see any film with a firearm, no matter how insignificant the gun is to the plot, remember the work that made your entertainment possible.

Kyle’s flag-draped casket was borne by a team of SEALs and placed on the Cowboys star at the 50-yard line. The Texas native and his best friend, Chad Littlefield, were murdered on February 2. Childhood friends, comrades in arms and Kyle’s wife, Taya, delivered emotional eulogies commemorating the man known to the enemy in Iraq as “the Devil of Ramadi,” but to his friends and family as a caring father, husband and pal.

Mrs. Kyle began her eulogy by saying, “Chris always said, ‘The body will do whatever the mind tells it to.’ I’m counting on that now. I stand before you a broken woman, but I am now and always will be the wife of a man who was a warrior both on and off the battlefield.”

A Navy SEAL comrade read a letter from Kyle’s parents: “God anointed you with the name The Protector,” they wrote. “Your life embodied the full meaning of that. You were tender to the young. Compassionate with the wounded. And sympathetic for the less fortunate. The Lord had his hand on you the moment you were born. You were destined for greatness.”

Following Mrs. Kyle’s eulogy, country-music star Randy Travis played “Whisper My Name,” which Mrs. Kyle told him was a meaningful song for the couple. He then played “Amazing Grace,” after which a pipe-and-drum corps led the recessional out of the stadium.

A funeral procession escorted by hundreds of Patriot Guard Riders, and law enforcement and military personnel on Tuesday covered 200 miles from Kyle’s hometown of Midlothian to the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, where the American hero was buried with full military honors.

Many Shooting Illustrated readers have asked us to post our interview with CPO Kyle, which ran in the May 2012 issue, on ShootingIllustrated.com. The interview can be found here.

CK: That’s actually been a common theme of questions I’ve been asked. So no, it wasn’t a surprise.

SI: You mentioned you think Carlos Hathcock was the greatest American sniper ever. Why do you rank him ahead of yourself?

CK: The kills come because of the situation you’re in. I was presented with a lot of targets. The snipers in World War II were given more opportunities than anyone since. Hathcock, on the other hand, used all the skills a sniper needs to know—stalking, concealing his movement, waiting for the right moment, etc.—and did so better than anyone. That’s the real skill of being a sniper, not just the final moments of the shot.

SI: When did you start shooting?

CK: I started when I was three or four with a BB gun. I was eight when I first shot a rifle. The first rifle I had was a Remington Model 700 in .30-’06 Sprg.

SI: You joined the military at the relatively old age of 24. Why?

CK: I had wanted to serve in the military for a long time. I grew up in a very patriotic household. When I was 19, I got in a rodeo accident that resulted in getting pins in my arms to fix broken bones. As a result, I was denied by a recruiter when I was 20. That same recruiter kept my phone number, and I guess they must have been short a few guys, because he called me a few years later.

SI: What made you decide to write “American Sniper?”

CK: There were people seeking my stories for books of their own, and I figured I could write about my experiences better than anyone else. I wanted to advocate for vets—to draw attention to vets and their families. Of my portion of the profits, 100 percent will go to those families and other charities. I’m not only going to talk about helping veterans, I’m going to walk the walk.

SI: You’re obviously known for your skill with a rifle. What was your primary rifle in the service?

CK: My favorite was a .300 Win. Mag. rifle with an Accuracy International stock. It was a Crane-designed rifle that handled real well and delivered superior accuracy over standard-issue rifles.

SI: How did you determine what rifle to take on a mission?

CK: We’d look at overhead imagery before mission and estimate what was the longest possible shot we might have to take. Beyond 1,000 yards, I’d take the .300 Win. Mag. 7.62 NATO just doesn’t have the range or punch at those really long distances. The .300 Win. Mag. also worked just fine on closer targets—it put them down faster than the 7.62 NATO could.

SI: How often did you use handguns while in the Navy and what was the model you used most often?

CK: We were issued the SIG P226, but I’m not a fan of 9 mm. On one deployment, I brought my own SIG P220 in .45 ACP.

SI: If you could pick which sidearm you carried into combat, which would it be?

CK: I’m a huge fan of 1911s and I carried a Springfield TRP Operator a few times in the field.

SI: Do you carry concealed?

CK: Yes I do. My main gun is a micro-compact Springfield 1911, but it’s been heavily customized. The frame is the only thing left that is from the Springfield factory.

SI: How often do you shoot since you left the military?

CK: I shoot three times per week usually. It’s my job now. I’m training military and law enforcement personnel through Craft International. I know that the students and other instructors would love to say they shot better than me, so I try to keep my skill level up and continue to improve. The most important thing is to help make sure guys going overseas and folks keeping us safe here at home have the skills needed to get home safe after a hard day’s work.

SI: What would you recommend for the armed citizen in regard to training?

CK: It is everybody’s given right to defend themselves and of course to be armed. If you’re going to be armed, you should learn how to use it. It’s that simple.

SI: What was your longest shot in Iraq?

CK: The longest was 2,100 yards. It took place outside of Sadr City while providing overwatch. We saw movement against a friendly convoy—a guy trying to hide on top of a roof. I noticed he had RPG and was raising it to attack the convoy, so I took the shot. I was using a .338 Lapua Mag. rifle that day.

SI: Did combat in Iraq differ from what you had grown to expect to experience during your training?

CK: No matter how much training you do, you can never simulate the emotion of combat—the fight-or-flight instinct that kicks in. War is hell. You lose friends. But sometimes it is a necessary evil.

SI: When did you join the NRA and why?

CK: I joined in the last few years, after I left the Navy. I need to be able to show I’m 100 percent in favor of the right to keep and bear arms, and there is no better way than to join the NRA.

“Our research indicates our members own handguns at a similar rate to other areas of American society,” Christine said. “Being responsible means to possess the knowledge and skills required to be safe, proficient and legal.” To that end, SIG Sauer Academy developed a customized training manual for each participant in the program, all of whom are active or former professional football players. The two-day course covers key areas of instruction, including handgun safety, familiarization, safe-handling procedures and ammunition basics. But, it’s not simply a safety class. Fundamental shooting techniques, presentation from the holster, loading, unloading and reloading, and dealing with stoppages and malfunctions are also taught by the Academy’s cadre of instructors. Furthermore, equipment selection, legal issues associated with self-defense and concealed carry, maintenance and cleaning, proper storage, and the NFL’s policies regarding firearms possession are additional topics taught to players attending the class.

Patriots Chaplain Don Davis and Texans (now Bears) safety Troy Nolan receive tips from SIG Sauer Academy instructors on one of the facility’s indoor ranges.

After a pilot course in 2011, the inaugural training event was held in April 2012 at SIG Sauer Academy in Epping, NH. Twenty active and former players participated, including former New England Patriots Pro-Bowl tackle Matt Light. “Light was instrumental in the development of this program,” Christine said. “Matt is an outdoor enthusiast and firearms owner, and also an expert in handgun sportsmanship proficiency.” Other participants included Houston Texans (now Chicago Bears) safety Troy Nolan, former San Diego Chargers cornerback Scott Turner, Patriots center Ryan Wendell, guards Dan Connolly and Nick McDonald, tackle Nate Solder, defensive end Rob Ninkovich, and former linebacker and current Patriots chaplain Don Davis. Based on the number of New England offensive lineman who attended the class, one can assume Tom Brady is very well protected.

SIG Sauer provided P226 and P229 handguns, which, according to SIG Sauer Academy Director Adam Painchaud, “looked like pocket guns in the pro-football players’ massive hands.” Though some players, like Light and Wendell, had previous experience with firearms, most did not. Yet, Painchaud said everyone in attendance proved an excellent student. “The nice thing about working with professional athletes is they pick up on instruction really quickly. They were very capable and had a lot of natural skill, which is not surprising because they are world-class athletes.”

Likewise, the players found the instruction indispensable. Solder said, “I had…basic safety questions answered as well as many new safety and legal issues illuminated that I had never thought of before, all which I believe make me a safer, more well-informed citizen and potential gun owner.” Several players also endorsed the Academy to anyone looking for firearm instruction. “I would definitely recommend the class to anyone who owns [a handgun] or [a] future owner of a handgun,” Ninkovich said. “The instructor was very informative about everything a person needs to know when handling a gun safely.” Nolan added, “The SIG Sauer Academy really had a huge impact on me. I really gained a lot of valuable information.” McDonald added, “Many people own a gun and don’t properly know how and when to use a firearm. [The SIG Sauer Academy] will provide a foundation for those with no experience with firearms.”

Nate Solder, Rob Ninkovich, Ryan Wendell and Nick McDonald, members of the New England Patriots, dwarf SIG Sauer Academy Director Adam Painchaud at the training event held in April 2012.

According to Christine, plans are in place to hold the NFLPA class on at least an annual basis at SIG Sauer Academy, with an additional class scheduled at a West Coast location to better serve NFLPA members who might have difficulty traveling to New Hampshire.

In contrast to the NFLPA’s proactive efforts to help its members learn firearm safety and proficiency, the League has a candid—if not misguided—policy regarding firearms. NFL Senior Vice President of Communications Greg Aiello provided Shooting Illustrated with the League’s official policy on guns. “Whether possessed legally or illegally, guns and other weapons of any kind are dangerous,” the policy begins. “You and your family can easily be the losers if you carry or keep these items in your home.” It goes on to list the various prohibitions put in place by the League, summarizing with the admonition: “…recognize that you must not possess a gun or other weapon at any time you are performing any service for your team or the NFL.”

While the League recognizes some situations where players may have access to firearms and does not actively discourage players from participating in legal shooting activities, it puts heavy weight on alleged negatives of firearm ownership: “Any weapon, particularly a firearm, is dangerous—especially when it is in a vehicle or within reach of children, or around others who are not properly trained in its use.”

Christine responded to the League’s policy with a simple statement: “The NFLPA recognizes the Second Amendment rights of our members.” He added that, “The NFLPA feels we have an obligation to ensure our members benefit from having access to [expert] training and information offered by the SIG Sauer Academy.”

The Gotcha will be sold in the U.S. by The Mako Group as a compete hat and as a kit to add to your own hat. MSRP for the complete hat with the Gotcha brim is expected to be around $40.

I’ve used the Duty model for a few months and found the adaptation period quite short. From entering ballistic data into iSnipe to posting photos on Facebook, the gloves let me maintain my comfort while shooting thousands of rounds through various firearms without the annoyance or delay of removing one to use my iPhone. They also let you call home from the range—or text your buddy who is always late that you’re running out of ammo and he’d better step on it—with your gloves on, saving time and peace of mind.

MSRP: $49.99-$89.99. (866) 451-1726, 511tactical.com.

At a Gunsite event in March, I wore Blackhawk’s Fury Commando HD w/Kevlar gloves, which have a hard shell knuckle for added protection. Unlike most tactical gloves I’ve used, they did not have a hook-and-loop closure, but rather an elastic wrist with a nylon loop for pulling each glove tightly on the appropriate hand. This system has pluses and minuses. The nice aspect is the gloves go on with minimal effort, no noise and they fit quite closely thanks to the elastic. On the other hand, they are substantially more difficult to take off than gloves with a fastening strap and while the fit is close, it cannot be adjusted. That said, these are very rugged gloves—they won’t fray or tear, will take a lot of abuse and thanks to the hard knuckles, can dish some out, too. The Fury Commando HD w/Kevlar has an MSRP of $89.99 and they are available in black or olive drab.

This past summer at Telluric Defense and Security in Brunswick, GA, I attended a day-long course where we fired approximately 500 rounds in just a few hours. Now, summertime in southern Georgia is, shall we say, rather hot and humid—enough to make a lizard say, “Screw this! It’s too hot and humid. I’m going back under my rock.” Fortunately Telluric’s range is indoors, but with a full class of shooters and a whole bunch of ammo burned, the line got uncomfortably hot pretty quickly. I was very glad to be wearing the Blackhawk Hot Ops Ventilated Hot Weather Gloves, which have a copious amount of ventilation while still offering enhanced purchase on a firearm and some protection against hot brass from the guy in the next lane. These gloves have a hook-and-loop fastener, which proved very useful. As the heat index rose, I found it refreshing to undo the strap and let my hands breathe when I was off the line. Then, when it was time to shoot, getting the right fit was quick and painless. The only drawback is these gloves offer only minimal protection against scratches and bruises, but that’s the trade-off for added comfort in the heat. The Hot Ops Ventilated Hot Weather Gloves have an MSRP of $34.99.

Don’t write off gloves as a luxury item as far as shooting is concerned. If you plan to put a bunch of rounds downrange and work on a variety of manipulation drills, movement exercises, etc., gloves can save you a lot of pain and ensure the gun stays in your hands.

How do these deals work? A local range or instructor will partner with the sites to offer a discounted course or shooting session. With their wide local appeal—the sites have deals on everything from dining to clothing and beyond—a large audience will see and (hopefully) sign up for the offers. In return, the websites take half of the discounted price, meaning that for a 50-percent discount, the range or instructor takes home just 25 percent of what it normally would for the service offered in the online deal.

Why, then, would a business utilize these sites? Because the response has been universally enormous. Silver Eagle Group, a modern indoor range in Ashburn, VA, has sold nearly 6,000 sessions via LivingSocial. Customers get 30 to 45 minutes of personalized classroom instruction, rental of a Glock 17, an hour on a lane, eye and ear protection, and a box of ammo for $75—the equivalent of 60-percent less than retail for those goods and services. “We want to introduce people to shooting in a safe, clean environment,” said General Manager Jason Randall. “And about 90 to 95 percent of the people who use the LivingSocial deals are new shooters.” Interestingly, 35 to 40 percent of those utilizing the web-based offers have been female. “We’ve had many instances of a group of women enjoying a girls night out at the range,” Randall said. “The women also tend to shoot better than the men who sign up, as they actually pay attention during the classroom instruction.”

Jay Temple, owner of Straight Shooters in Lubbock, TX, was contacted by LivingSocial in December 2010 to run a half-off deal on concealed-carry training. “I told my friend that if I got 30 people to sign up, I’d be happy. I got 140 people the first time I ran a discount. Now, I buy stuff on LivingSocial!”

While young people make up the plurality of shooters signing up for these online discounts, they are not alone. “The majority of folks who signed up for our classes via LivingSocial were in their 30s,” said Dallas, TX-based DFW Shooters Academy owner Travis Bond. “But about 10 percent of the more than 1,000 people who participated were older than 60.”

If you haven’t browsed these sites, you’re leaving money on the table. Given the numbers, however, a lot of you knew that already.

Fortunately, it was just your roommate brewing up a mug of joe, served in the Gun Mug from thinkgeek.com. This unique beverage conveyance has a ceramic cup portion with a handgun-esque handle for added purchase and panache.

“The Gun Mug was just something that we saw and thought was pretty cool, so we decided to give it a shot (no pun intended),” said thinkgeek’s PR Manager/Righteous Dude Shane Peterman. “It’s received a great response so far from the public, selling better than we thought it would.”

Retailing for $11.99 plus shipping, the Gun Mug has proved so popular, it is out of stock at press time, but thinkgeek.com is expecting a rapid delivery of new inventory. The next time you hear about an early morning mugging, don’t rush to conclusions. It might have been a surprise delivery of café latte.