THE TEXAS RANGER BICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE RIFLE
Authorized by the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum™
The left side of the receiver, features Capt. Bill McDonald’s Company B on the frontier near San Saba County. Early residents had limited access to law enforcement; the Texas Rangers were sent to help stop the violence caused by vigilante mobs. The image on the left features a Frontier Battalion Ranger with his horse and rifle in the saddle. The Texas Rangers Bicentennial logo celebrating 200 years of the legendary Texas Rangers is also featured.
The right side of the receiver showcases four Rangers standing behind a table of confiscated alcohol after the enactment of Prohibition. The image to the right showcases a modern-day member of the Texas Rangers in the foreground and a helicopter in the background. Today’s Rangers are fully equipped with the latest technology and equipment. The image to the far left features a Ranger in the Red River oil fields at the turn of the century. As a period of dramatic change ushered in rapid development, the Texas Rangers were called in to patrol, protect, and maintain peace on the rough frontier. The images on both sides of the receiver are surrounded by classic scrollwork.
The history of the Texas Rangers began 200 years ago as American settlers migrated westward. The western frontier was dangerous and those who chose to settle needed a special kind of protection. Stephen Austin, known as “The Father of Texas,” made the call in 1823 for ten men “to act as rangers for the common defense.”
Austin’s call brought out rugged men - frontier warriors of the firmest resolve. Tough and resourceful, the Rangers patrolled the wide-open frontier of Texas for weeks and months at a time, often living off the land and navigating without maps. Outlaws, cattle thieves, fence cutters, bank robbers, and renegades of all types knew Rangers as relentless lawmen who would not be outrun or outfought.
During the war with Mexico, Texas Rangers served as scouts, fighting with a fierceness that earned them the nickname “Los Diablos Tejanos” – The Texas Devils. At war’s end, with Texas’ statehood no longer contested by Mexico, the role of the Rangers shifted from border defense to law enforcement.
When the War Between the States broke out, few Rangers remained in Texas. Various groups were raised for frontier protection, but as the war continued, many were soon withdrawn in order to help the Confederate cause. By 1864, most men were off fighting in the war, leaving young boys and the elderly to guard the frontier.
After the Civil War, the Rangers were suspended as Reconstruction laws did not allow armed groups to be assembled in the South. However, the need for protection did
not diminish. In September of 1866, the 11th Texas Legislature gave approval for three battalions of “Texas Rangers,” but they were never organized due to the ban on states raising armed men. It would be the 12th Legislature that would authorize the Frontier Force to be made up of 20 companies; the Texas Rangers were back in the field in 1870.
THE TEXAS RANGER BICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE RIFLE
To celebrate the upcoming 200th Anniversary of the legendary Texas Ranger’s enduring legacy, America Remembers, in cooperation with the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum™ in Waco, TX, a center dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of the Texas Rangers, proudly presents the Texas Ranger Bicentennial Anniversary Tribute Rifle. To honor this historic milestone, America Remembers selected the Model 1866 Carbine, which was relied upon by the Texas Rangers when they resumed service after the Civil War, and was a fixture on the American Frontier.
This Tribute is a working, lever-action Model 1866 Rifle in caliber .44-40 (.44 W.C.F.) with a handsomely blued, 19” barrel. Rifles for this edition are produced by the artisans of A. Uberti, whose master craftsmen have painstakingly reproduced the greatest firearms of history for more than five decades. Craftsmen, commissioned specifically for this Tribute by America Remembers, decorate each Tribute in elegant 24-karat gold with a nickel decorated background serving as the canvas for the artwork.
ONLY 500 AVAILABLE
Only 500 of the Texas Ranger Bicentennial Anniversary Tribute Rifles will ever be produced. Each Tribute is individually numbered and shipped with a matching numbered Certificate of Authenticity, which will confirm your place among the elite ranks of collectors. Order now and we will arrange delivery of your working Tribute through the licensed firearms dealer of your choice. As always, you will receive your Tribute with our 30 day guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied, you may return your Tribute to us in original, unfired condition for a complete refund.
This Tribute proudly celebrates the honor, courage, sacrifice, and service of the legendary Texas Rangers. What began as a call to action on the frontier has spawned a legacy of dedicated lawmen who have adapted to the times and continue to shape the future of American law enforcement. This is your chance to own a piece of Texas history, American history, and an enduring testament to the strength and integrity of those who sacrificed all to preserve law and order.