Conor McCracken-Flesher

Conor McCracken-Flesher is a historian who studies diverse topics such as German choirs, the British Empire, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He's working with the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in summer 2018 in Firearms Records and gaining experience in public history. This includes blog writing and researching as well as working with arms company records. When not at the Center, Conor spends time trying to catch up on his book list, video game list, tv show list, and his trail-hiking list.

Representing Firearms

August 16, 2018 by Conor McCracken-Flesher

As I’m writing this, the Cody Firearms Museum here at the Center of the West has just begun preparing the top floor for its big… Read More

Matchlocks in Isolation: Tokugawa Japan’s Firearms Culture

August 13, 2018 by Conor McCracken-Flesher

In 1854, United States Commodore Matthew Perry finally succeeded in pressuring Japan to reopen itself to trade for the first time in nearly 200 years.… Read More

Flintlocks in the Revolution Part 2: The Continental Army Learns Line Tactics

July 30, 2018 by Conor McCracken-Flesher

Last time, we saw that guerilla action at the battles of Lexington and Concord forced the British military to take colonial resistance seriously. These famous… Read More

Flintlocks in the Revolution Part 1: Militaries and Hunters

July 23, 2018 by Conor McCracken-Flesher

Mid-way through the interview for this internship, I was asked about my favorite firearm. I answered that if I had to choose, I’d settle on… Read More

The Magnum 10 Lawsuit: Ithaca on Trial

July 13, 2018 by Conor McCracken-Flesher

Guns are tools built around explosions. When all goes as designed, they redirect the blast’s force away from the user and throw a projectile through… Read More

It’s July 4th, and the colonists are searching for their flintlocks

July 4, 2018 by Conor McCracken-Flesher

It’s the Fourth of July! Happy Independence Day! It’s a beautiful day here in Cody—perfect for the parade this morning and for cookouts this evening.… Read More

Karl May’s Henry Carbine: Creating the West for Germany

June 29, 2018 by Conor McCracken-Flesher

Continuing from my last blog entry, I want to draw a line from my previous research to the work I’ll be doing here in Firearms… Read More

A Lot to Learn for a New Intern

June 23, 2018 by Conor McCracken-Flesher

Hi! I’m Conor McCracken-Flesher and, as I often have to remind myself, I’m a historian. I’m also the new Firearms Records Intern at the Buffalo… Read More