My friend John Taffin passed a couple of days ago, after a period of ill health. He was 86.

John was one of the longest-standing gun writers in the business. He was particularly fond of older-style revolvers and lever action rifles. His work appeared regularly in GUNS and American Handgunner magazine. A devout Christian, he lived his beliefs – a genuinely kind and generous man in person, and very much a family man.

A heck of a good shot, too. Not to mention his encyclopedic knowledge of firearms history.

It’s not too late to read his several excellent books, which should be available on Amazon. John was the quintessential “good guy with a gun,” and my deepest condolences go to his large family, his many friends, and his countless readers.

May he rest in peace.

44 COMMENTS

  1. Oh no, first Mike and now John. I never met either man but felt like I knew them after reading their articles since I was a teenager. Not only was their writing packed with information but it was very personal and entertaining. Both were of the “new generation” that took over where Skelton, Askins and O’Connor left off and will be sorely missed. Rest in peace John and God bless Miss Dot.

    • I agree. Husband of 66 years After only knowing me three and a half months. Our first date was a hamburger at the flag. Pole drive in and then to the gun store to pick up a gun he had in layaway. After we were married, he told me that The..
      Only time his guns got dusty was when he was dating me..yes..never to be replaced/ dot

  3. John Taffin will remain my go-to source for big bore, perfect packin’ pistols. Reading his numerous articles and books is a comfortable time capsule, that is, a nostalgic return to 1950s America when life seemed better for most Americans.

    • The classic phrase “perfect packin’ pistols’ “ ranks right up in memorability with our oft-quoted Arthur Conan Doyle’s “comforting feel of a heavy revolver” from “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” Whenever I am walking down whichever Valley of the Shadow of Death that I might find myself to be in, I find solace not only in prayer, but also in the solid thump my heavy revolver will uniquely give from the very first shot at whatever merciless predator is foolish enough to ask for it. Blessed indeed are the faithfully skookum Peacemakers that John Taffin so artfully praised!

      • Thanks for your coments steve. I don’t think John appreciated. The fact that so many really did appreciate him. He was a solid family man. And would answer any letter anybody sent him or email.. He will certainly be missed in my house. Married sixty six years. And even bought guns for 1 another..
        .

    • God’s blessings to you and your family and thanks for sharing his love of all things God and guns.

  6. Earth’s loss. Heaven’s gain. Glad we had him for as long as we did. Glad he was on our side.

  7. For those of us who enjoy the “Old Guns”, we’ve lost some great writers in the last year. John, like Mike and Phil leave some big boots to fill. I’m glad so much of their work is out in books and not just magazine articles.

  8. One of the most honest knowledgeable writers who ever lived. His forte was revolvers, but he even wrote those Tupperware pistols called Glock and even the ubiquitous Hipoint. He loaded some 45 acp with black powder, try that on your Dillon.Condolences his wife Dot, and the rest of his family.
    Go to youtube and see Roy Huntington and Brent What’s memories of John at the FMG site.

  9. Despite my preference for guns invented after 1910, John Taffin wrote with a style and deep knowledge that I found compelling. Clearly he was a deeply good person, something to which we can all aspire. And, that may be the highest compliment one can pay a man.

    I offer my condolences to his family and close friends.

    • Thank you Jeff. Yes, he was a good person, good husband, good grand dad and great grand dad. He was a friend to many and he thought his readers were great. He mentioned that a lot in his campfire dl tales. If you go to amazon in type in john taffins campfire tails, it comes up. Free if you have prime and 10.00 if u don’t. It’s either twelve or fifteen years.

    • Oh yes, keep buying guns in American hand gunner. Because John still has several articles. Sitting there waiting to be published.. In fact the Man
      From guns magazine Said one campfire tale is so long that he has to divide it in four issues. Don’t stop buying them yet..dot taffin

  12. Makes me think of the George Jones song “whose goina full their shoes”. We all should carry their banner and some one or several will fill their shoes. Carry on Triggermen.

  13. I am another long-term reader of John Taffin’s work. As someone who appreciates real guns, made out of blued steel and walnut (rather than plastic), and someone who appreciates a good revolver, his writings spoke to me. This is another heavy loss.

    Quote of the Day:

    “When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.”

    – African Proverb (popularized by Malian writer and ethnologist Amadou Hampâté Bâ)

  14. I’m very sad about hearing of the loss of John Taffin. I have to say though that I’m very happy for him. To be absent from the body is to present with the Lord for all believers. My prayers for his family and all of us who will miss his writing.

  15. I am so happy that john meant so much to you all. Nott just as a writer but as a God loving man. We were married for 66 years. I knew him less than 4 months when we got married. 2nd best decision of my life.first one was accepting christ. We had a great time together. He said that the only time his guns gathered dust was when he met me. Diamond Dot. Thanks for your kind words.

    • Very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Taffin, your husband was a fine man and an excellent writer. I am gratified that we have such an enduring library of his work, but he will be greatly missed.

    • We are all diminished by his passing, Mrs. Taffin. He will be remembered fondly by all those for whom he wrote. My condolences to you and your family.

    • Thank you for that. He’s waiting on the other side for you. We’re so lucky to have the lord and salvation. God bless you mam.

  16. Though John never knew us, we, his readers certainly knew him. Thank you Dot for what you wrote. You can say what no one else can. I am so very sorry for your loss. Your loss is our loss and we never pick up another magazine without remembering John. He remains a Mountain of a Man, in so many ways,and that mountain will always remain. Oh my, I am so saddened by the loss, I myself can hardly remain.

    • Philip..now u make me tear up. Yes he was all that u say and more. I used to tease him and tell him that God better take him first because he would never sell a gun. If he needed the money and after about a day and a 1/2, he couldn’t even do anything in the kitchen. And be so crowded with stuff. Be careful what you say… It could come to pass.

  17. I knew he’d been ailing for a while.
    Hell of a writer. I have more than a few of his works. He even inspired me to go full custom on a Bisley from Clements Custom.
    There will be a void in the world of firearms.

  21. I am late to hearing about John’s passing. What an awesome writer. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his works. My condolences to his family. The gun writing industry has lost another legend.

  23. John was my computer teacher when I was in junior high at Hillside, in Boise, ID. I was blown away to read this as I never knew that he was an author let alone a lover of revolvers. I will be reading his works in his memory. Rest in Peace Mr. Taffin….

    • Erica, See about getting campfire tails that john wrote on amazon. Free, if you have prime in ten dollars if you don’t. In.
      Campfire tales, he does talk about guns. But he talks about hunting trips. He talks about people, he talks about me, although I have different view of what he wrote.. Yes, it’s not all about guns in campfire tales

  25. I’m sorry to hear about John’s passing. I bought a Ruger single action revolver after reading his magazine articles, and it’s fun to shoot. May God comfort his family in their loss.

  26. I had written to Mr Taffin a number of times and always received a complete answer and additional comments. Have become 44 Special fan because of him. Although my mainstay is still the 45Colt. I just learned of his passing. Please accept my most heartfelt condolences.
    I grew up in South America so rest assured he was appreciated world wide.

  27. Damn. I first started reading his articles in “American Handgunner” in the summer of 1990, just before I turned 15 y/o. R.I.P. and God bless, John Taffin, and condolences to Dot.

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