By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
One of the longest-running specialty firearms magazines in the country is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, and it shows no signs of losing momentum as it has gone from one generation of shooters to another.
American Handgunner, which publishes six times a year, premiered in the fall of 1976. It was started by Publisher’s Development Company, which was founded by George von Rosen back in the 1930s, and which also publishes GUNS Magazine. That monthly periodical publishes 12 times a year and is one of the stalwarts in the firearms publications field.
According to Roy Huntington, who spent two decades at the helm of American Handgunner, the corporation felt that a magazine “dedicated to handguns would be popular.” While there was some rejection from people who felt handguns wouldn’t have enough interest because at the time that was just a small segment of the industry, according to Huntington—who corresponded with TGM via email—“From the first issue, it was a landslide success.”
Indeed! Huntington and others at the publication have noticed over the years that as one generation of handgunners may have moved on—or passed on—they’ve been followed by an entirely new generation of people also interested in handguns for all kinds of reasons. The magazine still has octogenarians on the subscriber list, but there are also a lot of 20-somethings in the ranks, and more of them are showing up all the time.
Initially its content was heavier on the competition side of things, but over the years, the field of interest has definitely expanded, to include self-defense, handgun hunting, long-range shooting, specialty guns, Gunsmithing, reloading and virtually every facet of handgunning, even collecting.
Among the components that have made American Handgunner so popular is the photography. Among firearms periodicals, the color photo quality in American Handgunner has endeavored to be superb, and it has reached that mark in every issue.
The magazine has been graced with bylines from some of the nation’s best gun writers. Massad Ayoob is a longtime contributor, and other authors have included the late Col. Jeff Cooper, J.D. Jones, John Taffin, Skeeter Skelton, Elmer Keith, Dave Anderson, Mike Venturino and so many others over the years it would be impossible to name them all.
Possibly one of the most popular features in the magazine has been the “Speak Out” letters-to-the-editor column. It has expanded over the years as interaction with readers has become very important, and it offers a wide range of opinions underscoring the fact that not all gun owners think alike.
Another heavily-read regular feature is “The Ayoob Files,” in which Ayoob delves into self-defense shootings, analyzing them from both legal and practical aspects. Many of these columns were actually compiled into a book.
Since Huntington stepped down as editor a few months ago, Tom McHale is now at the helm, and he’s been keeping the ship on a steady course.
For a firearms publication with such a perceived “narrow” subject matter, American Handgunner has beaten the odds, it would seem. But with so many more handgun owners now than ever before, including more women and minorities, and increasing numbers of people securing concealed carry permits or licenses, things may just be getting started.
In recognition of this milestone, a Cimarron Frontier single-action sixgun in .45 Colt with handsome engraving and a custom DeSantis holster were produced for the cover photo of the September/October issue and as the giveaway package for that month.
Is there a secret to this success story?
Maybe Huntington said it best via email: “From my own experience as a free-lance writer, editor and publisher over the past 35 years, I can tell you that’s not always the case with many magazines — and they’re gone now.”
