thirty-thirty

thirty-thirty (plural thirty-thirties)

1. (firearms) A thirty calibre firearm designed for cartridges that originally held thirty grains of smokeless powder.
   • 1919, Hennry Herbert Knibbs, The Ridin' Kid from Powder River, page 16:

     "What do you know about thirty-thirties?" "Huh, I know lots. My other pop was tellin' me you could git a man with a thirty a whole heap farther than you could with any ole forty-four or them guns. I shot heaps of rabbits with his."

   • 1960, The Cattleman, volume 47, page 46:

     Now that the season has arrived in many parts of the country for the nimrods to load their trusty Thirty-Thirties and go forth in quest of the elusive deer, it seems an appropriate time to say a word about the skilleting of venison — which can be a pretty tough and dry proposition if not properly handled.

   • 2014, Robert E. Howarad, The Pirate Story Megapack: 25 Classic and Modern Tales, page 2301:

     “I'll get one of those thirty-thirties out of the rack and slip her into the boat . Maybe we won't use it, and maybe we will . We might meet that Pirate Shark, you know!”