That is a great loss to the entire shooting community.  He was best known for his rifle articles (especially BPC) but was interested in and knowledgeable about a wide variety of firearms. RIP, Duke.  You will be missed.
Charlie Shaeff 

RIP Mike Venturino

marlinguy wrote on Jun 10^th, 2024 at 1:52pm:

Sorry about the time line error. I thought Shrapnel's post about Mike's passing was posted late Saturday. 
I corrected my origional post.

Mike’s articles taught me alot. I used to run into him at the Bozeman December gunshow. Big shoes to fill.

I've read Mike's work for years. His articles on casting, on the old cowboy calibers, on lever guns and on Buffalo rifles have all given me hours of pleasure and cost me money, too. I, unfortunately, never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, but I've really benefited from his work. May he rest in peace.

Got a strange reply from him once. It was the early 90's when I had just bought a 1875 Sharps rifle in 45-90 and I wrote him a letter (yes when folks still wrote letters) asking his opinion of the rifle. Well he must have not had a very high regard for them because he turned my single page letter over and wrote on the back. "Well if you like the gun that is all that really matters" and he signed it and sent it back. I wanted his opinion of the rifle and I don't think he had a very good one. He was partial to the 74's I think. Don't know what happened to the letter. But yes he will be missed along with his knowledge of the weapons we love to shoot and I think he was a good person as well. Never heard anything bad about him. In his later years I would read from time to time of his ongoing health problems.



JMH

Enjoyed reading Mike's articles and enjoyed shooting BPCR with him. RIP Mike.
Pictures from 2015 Shiloh Invitational.