Cimarron Firearms, makers of quality replicas of Old West firearms, pay its respects to another group of little-known, but historically significant frontiersmen, known as the Arizona Rangers, as immortalized in the classic song “Big Iron” by Marty Robbins. Cimarron’s new Model P revolver honors the 107 men who initially served in the Arizona Territorial Rangers from 1901 to 1909.
The Arizona Ranger Competition SA is a fast-acting, competition-style revolver that incorporates a finely-tuned US action, a competition hammer, and a trigger/bolt spring that is lighter and smoother while offering a crisp, no-creep trigger pull. The sights are a wide-square notch rear and constant-width front sight, perfect for quick target acquisition, and repeat shots. Hand-checkered, slim European walnut grips and a blued finish add to the beauty of this performance-built pistol. “Arizona Ranger” is roll engraved on the .357 Mag./.45 LC Barrel in an old-style font. MSRP is $842.01.
The little-known Arizona Rangers were created in 1901 by the Arizona Territorial Governor, Nathan Oaks Murphy, as a result of increased violence, outlaws, cattle rustling, and train robberies occurring. Pressure from ranchers and mine owners, and the newly established railroad barons, on the territorial government increased to form a law force modeled on the highly successful Texas Rangers.
The new force was comprised of fourteen men, one captain, one sergeant, and twelve privates. They were a well-trained mounted, undercover group. Besides capturing and killing several outlaws and cattle rustlers, the expanding forces also assisted in labor disputes, including the Morenci copper mine dispute, in which 25 of 26 Rangers were present at the location and successfully averted any violence while reaching a settlement. Another labor dispute at a mine in Cananea, Mexico turned into a riot resulting in several deaths. A volunteer posse was led by then Arizona Ranger Captain Thomas Rynning, who entered Mexico against the orders of the governor of the Arizona Territory, but with the blessing of the governor of Sonora, Mexico. The Ranger-led posse, along with the Mexican rurales were able to put down the riot, but not without several deaths.
In 1909, under increasing pressure from county sheriffs and attorneys, the Arizona Rangers were disbanded. In 1957, a few surviving Arizona Rangers re-established the force and were officially recognized by the State of Arizona in 2002. Today’s Arizona Rangers is an unpaid, volunteer, non-profit, law enforcement and assistance civilian auxiliary who work with and at the request of federal, state, and local law enforcement in the State of Arizona.
For more information on Cimarron Firearms and accessories, visit www.cimarron-firearms.com.
