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In the 1980s, Tom Selleck had it all.
Hollywood couldn’t get enough of him.
Magnum, P.I. had made him a household name. Women swooned. Men wanted his mustache. Studios lined up with scripts and million-dollar contracts.
But Tom?
Well, he was thinking about something else.
You see, while the bright lights of Los Angeles were calling, a little voice inside him was whispering something quieter.
Something simpler.
Something real.
So, at the height of his fame, Tom Selleck did something most actors wouldn’t dare.
He bought a ranch.
Sixty-five acres of rolling land in Ventura County, California.
Not for the glamour. Not for the headlines.
For his daughter.
He wanted her to grow up with dirt under her fingernails, horses in the barn, and sunsets that didn’t require a filter.
Tom scaled back his work. Turned down roles.
He chose saddle time over screen time.
And that daughter of his? Hannah?
She grew up with hay in her hair and horses in her heart.
By her teens, she was competing professionally in show jumping—because her father hadn’t just given her a house. He gave her a way of life.
And that old cowboy—he didn’t just play one in the movies.
He rode his own horses in Quigley Down Under and every Western he could get his hands on.
Years later, in an interview, he said it plain:
“Working with horses keeps you honest.”
Tom Selleck never stopped acting. But more importantly, he never stopped being a father.
And long after the cameras fade and the scripts stop coming, there’s a man out in California with dust on his boots and peace in his heart. Because he chose the ranch.
Rick C
I’ve never meet the man. But in 2019 we got a closeup look of one of the three Matthew Quigley rifles used for the movie. It along with Heston’s “My Cold Dead Hands” Sharps was on display at the NRA Museum booth at the Tulsa Gun Show. Of course we had walked all the tables looking for prized Winchesters first. There was a slow down or lull in the crowd when we were looking at the rifle. We actually talked Jim Supica into opening up the case and letting us get some closeup pictures of the Rifles. We tried talking Jim into letting us setting up some targets in the parking. We figured Tom wouldn’t mind us making sure it was still sighted in. Jim had a good laugh! Then told us about what a chore it was to make sure Selleck & Heston’s rifles were kept safe.
Jim told us something that I did not know. That since the movie Shiloh Sharps will no longer monogram any rifles with the letters “M” & “Q” on them. No matter the amount of money thrown at them to do so, they won’t do it. The movie actually help cement them in the firearms business and that before the movie the success of the company was shaky at best if not on the tip of bankruptcy.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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I ran into him at a Vegas gun show. He was going through the show with George Madis looking for 1876s for his upcoming movie Crossfire Trail. I was working a deal with Rocky Goodall on a 76 when George and Tom took a interest in it. George then hit up Rocky for a commission on the sale to Tom, Rocky took it out of their hands and handed it to me. I bought it. Tom was a true gentleman about the deal.
I traded into one of his 76s years later with letter and providence, I consider it a prize possession. I love his movies. T/R
TR,
Did it happen to be the “J.A. Vanderpoel” 76 Rifle Serial #43,770?
I thought at one time Selleck was a member of WACA? Maybe even an honorary member possibly? Certainly back when George was still alive?
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Maverick,
The gun I bought from Rocky was a 45/60 OB FM CB blue gun 90%, nothing special. He was going to buy 3 or 4 76s for Crossfire Trail, one really nice for close ups, the rest to be carried and possibly thrown on the ground. I was told later by Scott Swamer that he decided to go the restored route with the guy from southern Wisconsin. I sold the gun several years later and do not recall the serial number. George was active at the big shows then
The one I own now was featured in a full page NRA ad in Newsweek Magazine, he’s holding the gun. It’s OB FM CB 45/60 case frame with special stock dimensions in nice condition. I’ve owned it for 10 years. T/R
This is a great topic, and conversation, as I feel I was at that same show years ago, and I also met Tom at the show, along with my late Brother in Law, who himself was a firearm aficionado, and not so much a collector, as with a 30 year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, he knew his weapons.
I also talked to Tom Sellek, about a possible sale, on the Deluxe model 1876, in the picture, second down, and left him my phone number, if he was interested, and never heard back from him, which was fine, as I’ve always enjoyed the movies he was in, and how well he represented our hobby, as trying to do it better than most, especially in regards to the Winchesters we all enjoy! I’m thinking maybe the Deluxe version didn’t fit his need at the time.
Anthony
Tony,
I can’t say I blame you for wanting that Deluxe model 1876, in the picture, second down. I’ve never met a movie star, especially one that collects winchesters. Just that interaction would’ve been very memorable for me. Thank you sharing.
Rick C
Tom Selleck is truly one of the few real men still in pictures. To me he is right up there with John Wayne.
It makes me wonder if there will ever be any real men in the movies again!
Edward Kitner said
Tom Selleck is truly one of the few real men still in pictures. To me he is right up there with John Wayne.It makes me wonder if there will ever be any real men in the movies again!
Well said, he is a true gentleman. T/R
My Wife’s older sister and her family, lives around the corner from, Tom Sellek and his Ranch. The rumor in the neighborhood has been lately, that he needs the money, as for him selling some of his rifles and collectables. I don’t know.
I do agree with you guys as he is truly a man’s man, in regards to what he represents, and him playing a Cowboy! I read that he came to an agreement with the producer, Taylor Sheridan, on a project, continuation, in regards to the Yellowstone series, and the couple other series related to the early West productions, (1923, etc). I am looking forward to that!
Anthony
I just read that the droughts over the past several years, have caused significant losses with the avocado farm on the property. This could be one reason for the needing money rumour and selling off guns, but that is just an assumption.
I too, would be very pleased to see him in one of Taylor Sheridan‘s series.
Rick C
Rick,
I agree with you, as the drought out there is real, and has been, for several years!
We used to take the month of February off 40 years ago, and spend time out there, and the State of California was talking back then about using de-S alienate methods to compensate for the drought conditions, for several millions of dollars, that now seems to be minimal, in regards to the problems that all of the fires, and all of the crops that need water,etc……………..It’s easy to look back, as many don’t have what it takes to prevent problems or even care about trying to prevent future problematic issues. IMHO!
I was always glad, that we didn’t make the move, when we had the opportunity to move out there, years ago!
Anthony
Tom Selleck’s Farm Property Experienced Some Devastation
Unfortunately, several of the crops on the farm died after getting hit with a severe drought, which wiped out most of the avocado trees and more than 20 oaks.
“That just breaks your heart,” he told People in April 2024. “But with the rain we’ve had, the sick ones are getting better, and they’re all sprouting a lot of healthy growth.”
“I’ve planted them for years and they bloom in cycles,” he said of planting wildflowers. “When it’s coldest, one of them blooms and then another one comes in. I know it sounds stupid, but I just watch them grow.”
Tom Selleck Reflected on the Future of His Home
It was announced that Blue Bloods would be ending after season 14 in 2024, much to the dismay of fans.
“It doesn’t make sense to Tom that CBS pulled the plug on Blue Bloods,” an insider told Closer in May 2024. “They’ve still got a lot of story lines to explore and it seems a bit premature. It would be a shame to let it go.”
Tom made it very clear that he hoped that a miracle would happen to help keep the show going.
“I will continue to think that CBS will come to their senses,” he said during a May 2024 interview with CBS Sunday Morning. “You know, hopefully I keep working enough to hold onto the place.”
“That’s always an issue,” he said about the fate of his farm. “If I stopped working, yeah. Am I set for life? Yeah, but maybe not on a 63-acre ranch!”
Rick C
I fail to see how a 63 acre ranch can have any significant financial effect on an actor of his caliber. Perhaps he would have been richer if he hadn’t done the NRA thing. Hollywood does not have the same values as the NRA. That’s another reason I like him. T/R
TR,
I’m thinking maybe, just a bad run on his ranch, with all that goes into it, and the drought didn’t help either. Probably a combination of events, that can put anyone in a bad financial situation. IMO!
Maybe he made a couple bad investments!
Don’t know. Not everyone is good with they’re $$$$, and or watching it!
It won’t stop any of us from rooting for him, and or watching what he’s in!
I could go back and watch re runs of all his movies, over and over, including Blue Bloods, and cross fire trail, and I always liked him in Jessie Stone, to name few!
Wishing him the best! 
Anthony
I’ve met Tom a few times at the Vegas show. I even got to hold one of the Quigley rifles. Phil Schreier took a picture of me holding the rifle but he never sent it to me. Phil did give me a picture of Tom that he took at Tom’s ranch.
Forgot, I even got to hold the 45 he used in Magnum.
November 7, 2015
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Have always hoped to run into him at a show someday. We have similar tastes in guns but he can obviously afford the ones I merely enjoy from afar. I can tell he’s very familiar with a 1911 and he listened to MLV when he was learning how to handle his costar in Quigley. Yes, I’m talking about the Sharps! I wish him the best but as any farmer can tell you the best way to make a small fortune farming is to start out with a large one.
Mike
Tom caused a stir a few years back. During one of the droughts he had a contractor go get him some water. The contractor hooked up to a hydrant and hauled some water to the ranch. Water District and Media raised a huge ruckus. Turned out is was all legal but he did pay some money to cover some investigating fees.
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