Featured Penmanship, Marksmanship, Craftsmanship and Mastery David Reeder August 25, 2015 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. It shouldn't take a Renaissance Man or a ‘proper lady to know how to write.' Penmanship skills are often regarded as irrelevant today, and while perhaps inevitable that's a shame. “We're people, not machines. What if the Declaration of Independence had been written as an e-mail? How special or personal would that be. If you don't teach your child handwriting, the thoughts that they develop when they wish to communicate through a computer will vanish as soon as they have touched the keyboard.” Michael Sull, IAMPETH Pens and pencils may well be antiquated tools but that makes something handwritten all the more significant. You don't have to be Austin Norman Palmer or a samurai master of Shodo to pen something important (luckily for me). It will be more time consuming than banging out something on a device, and it may well be cathartic. It could also be good for your brain and help you learn. Anyway, I like Jake Weidmann's style and I'd love to spend an afternoon chatting with Michael Sull. I also wonder, as technology increases at an ever faster pace, if marksmanship will become as marginalized as penmanship. I'd say I was happy I was given the opportunity to write this, but what was it Truman Capote said? “That isn't writing at all, that's typing.” If you're interested, Weidmann appeared at a TEDx event last year. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
