Turner Kirkland

Turner E. Kirkland was an American writer, collector, and entrepreneur best known in the world of antique and replica firearms. He founded Dixie Gun Works, a company that became widely recognized among black-powder shooters, collectors, hunters, and historical reenactors.

He also wrote about specialized areas of firearms history, including Southern gunmaking traditions. One of his noted works is Southern Derringers of the Mississippi Valley, which shows his interest in preserving and documenting regional weapons history for enthusiasts and researchers.

Kirkland is remembered as someone who helped keep older firearms knowledge alive, not just through business but through books that shared practical detail with a wider audience. His legacy sits at the crossroads of collecting, historical preservation, and hands-on enthusiasm for early American arms.