Yesterday the state of Indiana, and the United States of America, and the gun owners’ civil rights movement all lost one of their most accomplished sons.  James Reinholt died in the quintessential heartland American town of Winamac, IN, where he was born in 1941.

In his younger days, Jim spent time as a policeman in the American Southwest, where he became a friend and protégé of such great gun experts and legendary lawmen as Bill Jordan and Charlie “Skeeter” Skelton, and earned their respect to the point where he progressed beyond being their student and became their peer and friend.  Like them, he didn’t fear to go into the most dangerous situations, and the gunfights Jim won left him with a renewed value for human life. He taught people how to survive, in classes from Mexico to the American Midwest.

When Jim decided to devote his life to teaching – which he did, for four decades as a true mentor in venues from elementary school to Purdue – he never lost sight of the lessons that kept him alive in his earlier profession. Reinholt’s Range in Winamac was a true Backwoods Home gathering spot for everyone from factory workers to judges and millionaires, some coming to shoot an evening round of trap or skeet, and some coming for more serious pursuits. Before he became ill, Jim hosted an annual police combat match in which each scenario replicated some gunfight that had occurred in the past year between Indiana cops and dirtbags who tried to murder them. For many years, he hosted the Indiana State Championships of NRA Action Pistol shooting.

He taught cops and armed citizens alike to understand what they were fighting to return to when the chips were down: their family, their values, the people they loved. Jim’s long marriage to the brilliant Carol Reinholt was evidence of that. Together, they raised a bright and beautiful daughter and two fine sons, one of whom they tragically lost.

One of the most articulate men I ever knew – like Col. Jeff Cooper, Jim Reinholt always spoke in the same perfect diction in which he wrote – the erudite Reinholt was a compelling advocate for the civil rights we all fight for when he stood at the podium. His influence was recognized in 2004 when he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash, an Indiana accolade that any Hoosier understands and reveres.  Jim Reinholt was living proof that being an intellectual and having common sense need not be mutually exclusive.

Condolences to his family. We have too few people like Jim Reinholt, and it’s not a cliché to say that his loss diminishes us all.

1 COMMENT

  3. As saddened as I am to hear of Jim’s passing, I am glad that his pain is over. It was always fun to go up even though I had the same luck as you Mas in motels. Everybody was family to Jim and his wife, and the various rascals at the range.

  4. To my knowledge I never met Jim. I’m sorry, we cannot afford to lose men like him.

    Mas, I have a question; I received my S&W Performance Center 625 and just cannot get it to shoot like I feel it should. This is the same one you wrote up in GUNS a few months back that had the laminated red,white and blue grips. I even ordered a box of Black Hills 230 hp that you said shoot about 2″ at 25 yds. I have tried 185, 200, 225, 230, and 240 gr hp bullets. the best was 185gr Rem swc jacketed with a target load of bullseye. Better, but not great. I sent the gun back to S&W (they were very nice and they paid the shipping both ways) and they put another barrel on it, but the results haven’t changed. In searching the internet I found a GUNS artical by you from 2002. You stated that it seems to you that stainless guns don’t seem to shoot as accurately as the older steel guns. Also that you checked with S&W and they put one on a ransom rest and got 3″-4″ and that if they got a group like that with a model 945 they would throw the barrel away. You found out that the Performance Center considers a minimum acceptable group with this gun at 4 inches. I know that my eyes aren’t what they used to be, but I can get pretty close to 2″ with my Ed Brown Ayoob Signature model. I see that the 625 has had the top strap drilled and tapped for a scope so I have ordered a base and rings and will eliminate my eyes as a possible source. Also a set of Hogue grips. I know, I know I’m long winded. Anyway, where do you stand now on stainless guns, have they fixed the problem? Years ago I had an Automag in .44 mag, all stainless and very accurate when it functioned.

    Best Regards,
    Randy

  6. Randy, the stainless .45 ACP revolvers never did give me the gilt-edged accuracy I got from the old blue 1955 Target and Model 25-2, at least with jacketed bullets. Oddly enough, I have a 1988 Model 5″ 625 out of the first batch, which is like throwing rocks with jacketed bullets but tears one-hole groups at 25 yards with lead 200 grain Hensley & Gibbs #68 bullets. Might want to check out a lead bullet load.

    Failing that, call S&W customer service at 800 331 0852, and ask for Jim Ray at the Performance Center. He’s the guy I’d call with any S&W revolver accuracy problem.

    best,
    Mas

  8. Jim was one of those few small town people that was a great
    person. He will be sadley missed by all his friends.

    Howard W. Wentz
    one if the “Wild Bunch”

  9. Mas,

    Thank you for your kind words and flowers. Dad was an interesting and colorful person. I, amongst many, learned so much from him. He was always fighting for our firearm rights and promoting the industry. He enjoyed your company when you were teaching at our range. He was my Hero and Yes he will be missed.

    Rankin Reinholt

  10. Good to hear from you, Rankin. I’m glad I was able to visit your dad when I was in Indiana this past summer. Please give my best to the family, and don’t be a stranger here.

    Mas