Jim has been interested in the western genre since the mid-1950s when his family was involved in reenactments at the Buffalo Ranch near Newport Beach, CA and at the Ray “Crash” Corrigan Movie Ranch (Corriganville) Simi Valley, CA. He has also been involved with horses most of his life, still riding regularly today. After completing a successful career in the military and in the health care industry, he became involved with making quality leather gun belts, holsters, chaps, etc. working for several of the Southern California premier Gun Leather Companies. This renewed his interest in the Old West and he became a member of the Single Action Shooting Society, a member of the Reenactment Guild of America, a member of The Cowboys, Norco, California, a member of South Bay Rod & Gun Club, Dulzura, California and a member of the Julian Doves and Desperado’s Reenactment group. His long hair and facial characteristics make him a natural for Buffalo Bill. His other persona as Captain Cooper swings from a Civil War Officer (both Union and Confederate) drifting into the western frontier, a working cowboy, Indian Wars Period Officer or Arizona Ranger thus allowing some latitude in period attire, which he enjoys. He possesses several authentic and unique firearms from this era, including a .44 Evans, an 1887 Winchester lever action 12 gage shotgun, an 1894 Winchester pump 12 gage shotgun, a Colt Bisley in .45 caliber, and also periodically carries/shoots a LeMat pistol.
First Place Speciality Men Costume, 2ND Annual Grand national Competition of “The Old West”, Jean, Nevada, May 14-15, 2011
First Place Overall Speciality Costume, 2ND Annual Grand national Competition of “The Old West”, Jean, Nevada, May 14-15, 2011
Second Place, Living History, 2ND Annual Grand national Competition of “The Old West”, Jean, Nevada, May 14-15, 2011
First Place, Small Encampment, 2ND Annual Grand national Competition of “The Old West”, Jean, Nevada, May 14-15, 2011
First Place, Male Specialty Costume Contest, 15th Annual Gathering of the Gunfighters, Yuma, Arizona, January 12, 2013
He is recognized as a knowledgeable historian of the “Old West” and has given the following recent presentations:
Spoke on History of Cowboy Chaps and Cuffs at the Blue Grass and Old West Festival, Ramona, CA March 20, 2010
Spoke on History of Cowboy Chaps and Cuffs at The National Day of The Cowboy Celebration, Ramona, California July 14, 2010
Spoke on History of Cowboy Chaps and Cuffs at The National Day of The Cowboy Celebration, Ramona, California July 23, 2011
Spoke on History of Cowboy Chaps and Cuffs at The National Day of The Cowboy Celebration, Ramona, California July 28, 2012
In addition he has served as a studio model for art students interested in authentic ‘Old West’ attire.
Captain Cooper creates his own cowboy chaps, cuffs and gun leather, making reproductions from Museum and Historical Books, keeping with the American Cowboy era of the 1860s to the early 1910s, and recently completed a fully tooled “B” Western set of Batwing chaps.