“Ch’arki”, a name derived from the Quechuan language of the Incas (which literally translates into “dried meat”), later evolved into what we now call jerky. This discovery of jerky allowed humans to both store food for long periods of time and have an easily carried, dense source of nutrition to take with them on journeys. Jerky is both flavorful and compact and almost any meat (except pork), can be made into jerky. Some say Native Americans made the first jerky (buffalo jerky) thousands of years ago, while others say an ancient Inca tribe call the Quechua made jerky as early as the 1500s.

When the first Europeans arrived in the New World, they found that the Natives were making a dried meat product that did not need to be consumed immediately and they instantly knew that jerky would be beneficial to them. What the Native American Tribes called “pemmican” was jerky meat added to either crushed dried fruit or animal fat. The Native Americans taught the settlers how to cut and prepare the meat into long strips and later shared with them the entire jerky-making process and some variations of seasonings to make different recipes. With this new found knowledge and time-tested recipe, the European pioneers found themselves cooking and consuming jerky more than ever before; it was absolutely the snack of choice. Jerky is compact and easily carried in saddlebags.  It was an integral part of their diet on their journeys because it is a good source of protein and nutrition.

Jerky reached its height of popularity during the expansion into North America, where traders and explorers prized it as an essential source of nutrition as they traveled to new areas with limited accessibility to fresh food and supplies along the way. The fact that meat could be hunted anywhere along the trails that the settlers were following to the West made this method of preparing meat an extremely valuable skill. This was also the introduction of other jerky meat types such as turkey, goose, and other wild game.

As the industrial age in America approached, many companies saw the potential of producing jerky products in large quantities for mass consumption. Today, the benefits of jerky are still important to the nutrition of hunters, campers, cowboys, and even astronauts.  Since 1996, jerky has been selected as a food source for space flight due to its light weight and high level of nutrition.

Six Shooter Brand Jerky is made with the finest ingredients and is USDA inspected. Experience jerky the way original beef jerky was intended. We offer beef and buffalo jerky that is delicious, moist and tender, with seasonings that will let the true flavors come through in every bite. That’s what you’ll find with all of our Six Shooter Brand beef and buffalo jerky snacks.

Until you’ve tried ours, you simply haven’t had the best!

Survival Kit Food

With the uncertainty in the world, we all have come to realize just how vulnerable and unprepared we can be for disasters; be it the natural or man-made kind. We are repeatedly being told to be prepared with survival kits, water and food for survival. Our Six Shooter Brand Jerky is a great survival kit addition and can also spice up the bland survival food options available in MREs (meals ready to eat).

Our Six Shooter Brand Jerky products are the perfect addition to your survival kit, pantry or a ride through the countryside.