Home Page Legend of My Pards Unusual Suspects
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Along side the infamous gangs of the west; James/Younger, Doolin/Dalton, and The Wild Bunch; they came - the ones they called
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Once upon a time a group of desperados that seem to have banded together for one purpose - having fun - usually at each others expense. You may have found them on yer posse among the 'serious' shootist or they've been banded together. Over the years their numbers grew (Piney keeps a running list at US page on Piney's site ) but these are the originals. They traveled over the trails of New England riding in, causing a ruckus and riding out leaving honest citizens with a grin on their face...
This is Piney Woods, the Marshal of the CAS matches at County Pond in Newton, NH and co-founder of the Unusual Suspects. He's the one who coined the phase to describe this group (ya never know - they probably laughed at 'Wild Bunch') while filling out the sign-up sheet at a match. He has the best CAS site for the New England area, check it out by clicking on his name above. He's big and quiet and has a keen sense of how to run a stage and making the correct call. He also has a wicked sense of humor, but don't be fooled, he's a first class DGB (#149) and is pretty damn fast as he's proven by being in the top 20 (or 10) rankings. Oh, and he's a good dancer as well...
Driftwood & Patience Johnson
This is Driftwood Johnson, in the years I've known him he never ceases to amaze me. We both hold the same view of this sport - make tons of smoke, and come up with the best line to start a stage.
It doesn't matter where you place, it's how much they talk about you in the clubhouse when it's over. Driftwood has taught me much about shooting and loading. He sees himself as the "Colorful Character" seen in all of our favorite movies - that he is, the best of them all. It just ain't the same fer me if he's not there to shoot with, kinda like bein' in Bolivia and havin' no banks to rob. He has gotten his wife - the lovely Patience - to come out shootin' with us now as well, he's still workin' on Gus.
Of course Ida & I felt we had to include our favorite goofy Driftwood Photos - it really was hard to pick:
Iron Pony & Sixgun Swanzey Slim
I first met Iron Pony up at Falmouth's first
shoot. As you can see he also likes to make lotsa smoke, not as much as
Driftwood but he comes close. He has
fallin' in love with shootin' gunfighter and is
something to watch with a coach gun, two quick booms and they're down. He
also loves his kitties and was my choice to receive the annual Icon of Idiocy
making him a member of the Secret Society of the Crow.
Sixgun Swanzey is another convert to the black powder arts. He had started
out with cap & ball Remmies but has moved over to cartridge pistols instead.
They both went into business as "Slim-Pony Blackpowder Projectiles" casting the
"Big Lube" bullets many blackpowder shooters have begun using. Although
they have no website you can contact Pony
here if you need great bullets at great prices.
LaBouche & Miss Addy Tude
LaBouche - which you'll figure out is French for "The Mouth" in no time is one
of the great mentors of CAS. The first time I met LaBouche at my
first shoot I scared the hell out of him, but he has taught me much about
shooting, safety & gunsmithing over the past years. He used to try and
coach me to be faster but in time gave up - after I took 10 shots from the hip
in rapid fire at a match in Pemi and never once hit the target.
Miss Addy Tude formally of Keene, NH now VT is the
daughter of LaBouche. She was an
ace shootist herself and enjoyed making much smoke as well. Known in some circles as 'Princess of the
Pistoleers', she's a quite one but can certainly hold her own with 'the boys'.
She has a wicked sense of humor and actually tried to re-name us "Posse Pravus".
Grizz Henry & Sled Dog Man
Grizz Henry is one of the original cowboys, a user of the 'holy black', a 1st class long distance
shootist, mentor to Driftwood, Iron Pony and myself. Hang around
with him for a while and you know what the west was all about. He's also a
master caster and the gamey ol' bastard tends to beat me well on the range.
Sled Dog Man is a fellow fine
shootist and he used in colder days races his team of dogs (thus the name).
We are all fellow member of 'Doc Bear's Crippled Cowboy
Posse'.
A couple of better pards to ride with is gonna be hard to find.
Iron Horse Pete & Cowboy Spanky
Iron Horse Pete is a fellow steel horse rider and
body ink enthusiast. He's also quick with a gun a joke or to help you out
in any way he can.
Spanky is a lawman & fire fighter, he also is known to use his coach gun to
re-qualify with the force. A pal of LaBouche's he always has a good time
and a big smile for ya at a match.
Camarillo Brillo & Long Suffering Wife
The one thing about this sport is you will find many couples who shoot together. Rounding out the Unusual Suspects are Camarillo Brillo and Long Suffering Wife. His name was taken from a Frank Zappa song, hers - well, it's pretty obvious. Although they don't get out to shoot as often they did get their daughter into the sport - her alias? The very cool "Killer Bunny".