Voluntary Deferment of HB 869

On May 30, State Representative Cedric Richmond (D-New Orleans) requested a voluntary deferment on his anti-gun bill, HB 869. The Louisiana House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee approved the deferrment. This means the bill was not considered, but it can lie in the grass like a venomous snake, ready to strike at it's sponsor's request.

HB 869 would target every firearm modified to conform with the now defunct Assault Weapon Ban plus many other semi-automatic firearms which are not linked to those rifles or having any military association whatsoever. HB 869 would compel current owners of targeted firearms to register their guns with the Louisiana State Police, obtain and renew a costly license annually to keep them, restrict how and where they may be used or transported, and allow the State Police to inspect private homes for compliance. This proposed legislation is some of the most ominous revelations to come down the pike in Louisiana. It has not gone away. Until Cedric Richmond is gone from office, the threat lingers.

Things My Wife Drags Home Part Deux

Earlier this month I wrote a bit about things my wife drags home. It's always interesting, one never knows what to expect next.Today, however, it was a crusty old bicycle from the 1960s.

She bought it for just $40. The seat had been chewed up by a bulldog, but the cracked and dryrotted tires held air. The bike was complete though, and it functioned OK. She is looking forward to me refurbishing it. She says it makes her feel like a girl again when she rides it. I can understand that. Another project has begun for me.

Bulgarian Makarov Review (2003)

A decade ago I made an error in judgment. In 1993 Makarovs were plentiful at any gunshow. Ammo was not all that plentiful back then, and a lot of people were claiming that .380ACP could also be shot through the Makarov. Back then, such a handgun did not sound like a deal to me, even though you could buy Russian and East German Makarovs for $100 apiece. I passed. I kicked myself for several years later.

Then, in 2003, the Makarov again began appearing on our shores, this time from Bulgaria. These ranged in price from excellent examples costing $124 to unissued, still in cosmoline pistols for between $150 and $180. The Bulgarian Makarov can be recognized by the "Circle 10" military proofmark beside the slide release on the left side of the pistol. In general, the Bulgarian pistol is considered to be high on the Soviet Bloc fit and finish scale. I found an unissued Bulgarian Makarov at a gunshow for $150. It came with two magazines, a holster and a cleaning rod. I did not make a mistake this time, I bought the gun.

The Makarov is a blowback operated, double action pistol of all-steel construction. A manual safety is located on the left side of the slide, and, when engaged, safely brings hammer down from cocked position, and then locks the hammer, sear and slide. The hammer can be cocked manually for the accurate first shot in single action, or it can be cocked automatically by the longer and heavier trigger pull in double action. Field stripping is accomplished by pulling down the trigger guard and pulling the slide to the rear, like a Walther PPK. The Makarov magazine holds 8 rounds. The magazine release is in the heel of the pistol's grip. The Bulgarian Mak is fitted with small military style sights. Unloaded weight is 1 pound 8 ounces. The Bulgarian barrel appears to be chrome lined. While other pistols may have more panache, the Mak has a well earned reputation for rock solid reliability.

My Makarov came with the red commie grips. These are my prefered grips. There are several grips available for the pistol. My Mak has the CAI buzzpen import marks on the right of the slide. The date code indicates my pistol was made in 1984. I detailed the gun, removing plenty of cosmoline, and revealing an unblemished pistol. I lubed it and took it to the range.

9X18 Makarov ammo is now plentiful. The Mak was designed for steel cased ammo, so Wolff ammo will not harm the pistol. I shot Wolff and Blazer ammo. I shot 300 rounds with no failures. The DA trigger was heavy with noticeable stacking. The SA trigger pull was creepy. Still, the gun fit my big hands well, and I achieved fair accuracy. I shot at 25 feet, and grouped shots between 2 & 3 inches. I was constantly pulling my shots due to the pistol's trigger. With less stacking in DA and less creep all around, I feel the pistol could have been more accurate in my hands. Recoil was controllable, but noticeable. Muzzle flash? Yes.

If a person needs a CCW pistol, and has less than $200 to spend, then the Makarov may be the best deal going. The caliber is the only potential drawback, as it is sandwiched between the 9mm Parabellum and the .380ACP. If the pistol still makes the cut after caliber considerations, the shooter will find it to be easily concealed, easy to use, and almost boringly reliable. Obviously a steel pistol's weight will be more than that of a polymer pistol, but with a good holster (and they are available for the Mak) the weight difference is easier to deal with. Novak type sights are available. Eventhough I do not carry my Makarov, I'm glad I did not pass it up again.

Makarov.com

Memorial Day

A Tale of Two Bodyguards

When I titled this article a Tale of Two Bodyguards, I actually ignored two Bodyguards in my possession. I own a Smith & Wesson Model 49, Model 649, and now, two S&W Airweight Model 38's. This article is about the Airweights. The Smith & Wesson Model 38 is a superb carry gun. In my opinion, it is one of the best defensive carry guns, period.

My first Model 38 was a Michigan police supply gun, easily recognizable by the blued frame and stainless cylinder. It is not a pretty gun, it is entirely functional, with a custom grip given to me by a retired State Trooper. It has ridden in my pants pocket for several years.

There is a decided advantage to a J-frame in a pants pocket. You can have your hand on your weapon, in a firing grip, before your adversary even knows it is there. The snubby revolver will fire time and again with the muzzle pressed into a rib cage. If a fight goes to the ground (as most end up doing) this little lightweight power house is the gun to have.

The Model 38 has an aluminum frame, making it substantially lighter than it's steel framed brethren, the Model 49 and 649. The humpback configuration of the Bodyguard frame assists the revolver in staying positioned in a front pants pocket. The exposed nubbin of the hammer allows a single action shot if desired, while the concealed hammer prevents snagging on the draw.

Thus, when I found a pristine nickel Model 38 in a pawn shop, I jumped on it immediately. For $225, it was a steal. Along with the nickel finish, it has a smooth trigger face. Five years ago, there was a line drawn between pinned and unpinned revolvers among collectors. This revolver does not have a pinned barrel. Now, though it seems the dividing line is drawn between Smith & Wesson revolvers with and without locks. This revolver is a lock free dedicated carry gun. That it is a Model 38 is just gravy on the cake.

Pawn Shop Circuit: Nickel Bodyguard

I stopped by Kenny's pawn shop this morning to check his firearms selection. Back in January, Kenny had told me about a Smith & Wesson Model 38 that was hocked. This morning Kenny said the revolver was finally coming out of hock........At noon today. I told Kenny to expect me there for the occasion, and I went on about my Saturday morning rat killing.

At 1205 I darkened Kenny's door. He had not even placed the revolver under the glass yet, but he went into the back room to retrieve it for me to examine. What Kenny had was a perfectly pristine Model 38 in factory polished nickel. Regrettably, the barrel was not pinned, but the condition was superb.

I was almost scared to turn over the tag and look at the price. Kenny knew I wanted this revolver. Would he try to gouge me? I took a look. $225. I broke out my wallet, and asked for a 4471.

The Price Of Gas

There is a gun show in Bossier next weekend. The Great Southern shows are always good, and shows in the Bossier/Shreveport area are always fun because of the many shooters I know there. The shows usually have at least one or two Clark guns for sale, at least by a walker, and M1911s and old Smiths seem to crawl out of the woodwork there. Still, with gas over three bucks a gallon, I'm not sure if I want, or need to go........Oh well, I have a week to decide.

The 1911 Grips of Mr. Vu Kim Son

I received a package from the other side of the world today. Back on May 8, I pondered an email from Mr. Vu Kim Son of Vietnam, who wondered if I might like to try and possibly review his 1911 grips. I wrote him back, and stated my conditions. On May 10, Mr. Kim Son agreed, and said he was sending a package my way. Fourteen days later, two sets of grips were in my hands, sandwiched between two styrofoam slabs inside a rigid box from the Saigon post office.

It is understandable that some people would be skeptical of grips hand crafted and shipped halfway around the world. In a thread on The High Road, Mr. Kim Son admitted that he did not have a 1911 handgun to use as a pattern to make his grips. Such is life in countries where firearms are restricted or banned from the public. He was trying to work from blueprints, but the blueprints were confusing in translation to a man who had never held a 1911 pistol in his hand. Mr. Kim Son was not to be deterred, however. One of the High Road's members offered to send a pair of Alumagrips for Mr. Kim Son to use as a guide. Mr. Kim Son then had all he needed.

Both sets of grips sent to me by Mr. Kim Son appeared to be crafted from buffalo bone. I immediately noted the high polish on the grips. Inside the screw holes were brass inserts to prevent undue stress on the grip itself. That is a very nice idea, I think.

The real question, though, is how do the grips fit? I pulled my Colt Commander off the rack, and removed the grips that had long adorned it's exterior. I breathed a small "wow" as I dropped the grips into place. They fit so well I would have sworn they were crafted for my specific pistol. Even without the grip screws in place, there was no wiggle. Yet when I inverted the pistol sans screws,the grips fell right into my hand. For a hard, but organic product such as bone, a perfect fit like that is remarkable indeed.

When I held the pistol, the grips were just the right width. The extended thumb safety did not contact the grip when snicked off. The edges of the grip ran exactly along the round of the grip frame. The screws were perfectly flush across the top of the grip, not sticking up above the surface nor snugging up a quarter inch below the surface like you see with some popular grips. The bevel on the bottom met the edge of the grip frame perfectly, about 1/64 of an inch short to help prevent chipping. The edges of the grips were straight, and the corners sharp without being "pointy". The bottom of the grip did have a small gap where the interior of the bone would have been (see the picture at left). Many grip makers would have filled this gap with polymer. I like the fact that Mr. Kim Son chose not to. These grips are made from the real deal, natural bone. One must accept that there will be a few imperfections. The only imperfection in the manufacture of the grips is the magazine release indentation in the right grip was a frog hair too shallow. The magazine release rubbed the grip just a bit. A couple of passes with a round jeweler's file though, and that issue was put to rest.

I did not like the second pair of grips as much as the first. They were no less well made, but they had a swell at the bottom. I suppose this is to assist a shooter with hanging onto his gun while shooting. Rather than bulges, I would prefer a rougher surface for that purpose. Perhaps I am too much of a traditionalist. I know I have seen shooters competing with similar grips on their race guns. For me, the concept just doesn't transfer well into bone, ivory or horn as a material. It just looks and feels funny to me. It makes the sidearm less conducive to carry.

Even though I do not like the bulged bottom idea, I have to say that these grips are also impeccably crafted. They drop right on and off the pistol with no wiggle. The lines of the grip are arrow straight. The screw holes (at least the top ones) are the perfect depth for the screws I had. It is hard to believe these grips were not fitted to my specific pistol. When one considers the obstacles Mr. Kim Son faced bringing these grips to market, they are amazing indeed.

Mr. Kim Son also makes 1911 grips from buffalo horn. He has them priced from $23 to $35, depending on the material used. Along with the handgun grips, his company makes many items from horn and bone, from intricate hair pins to eyeglasses frames. You can find Mr. Kim Son's grips and other items at his website, Kim Son Handicraft Co. Ltd. I salute his efforts to produce beautiful and affordable exotic grips for the 1911. He has achieved a nearly irresistible product and a price that cannot be beat!





More

Update: It seems as if Kim Son has disappeared and has stiffed several people who helped him, never sending them the grips he promised. Caveat emptor.

Big Bayou Bandits

Fun with surgical gloves

The Cornered Cat

Update On Scum

Jesse Macbeth, liar and general scumbag, is now facing federal charges, one count of using or possessing a forged or altered military discharge certificate, and one count of making false statements in seeking benefits from the Veterans Administration.

Scumbag Macbeth attempted to steal a bit of a soldier's honor in claiming to be an Iraq war veteran. His foul lies were lapped up by protestors of the war in Iraq, such as Iraq Veterans Against the War. A pencil necked and speech impaired Macbeth actually made a video dressed in a camo jacket, claiming to have witnessed the slaughter of hundreds of innocents in a mosque. “We would burn their bodies ... hang their bodies from the rafters in the mosque,” he said.

It was bloggers who exposed Jesse Scumbag Macbeth as a liar, a thief, a coward, and a cretin. After publishing his tripe, the mainstream media pretended he no longer existed.

A Loaded Gun In Detroit

Charles Parker Jr. was an 18 year old petty criminal in Detroit. On May 17, at about 8:40 PM, he robbed a 16 year old youth of his cellphone, silver chain and wallet. Parker used an unloaded .22 caliber handgun to frighten his prey into compliance.

At 9:30 PM, Charles Parker Jr. and friends approached a couple in their driveway attempting to car jack them. Parker inadvertently pulled the trigger of his empty weapon. Click. The suspects ran away empty handed.

A short time later, Parker and his accomplices came across a man washing his car at a car wash. Parker pointed the empty handgun at his victim. Parker's friend wielded a baseball bat. Parker's victim quickly drew a loaded 9mm handgun and shot Parker.

Parker's partners in crime took him to Sinai-Grace Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Hospital security detained the accomplices until police arrived. Four others are now in custody. All four suspects were arraigned Sunday in 36th District Court. They are each being held on a $250,000 cash bond.

After the shooting, police questioned the 53 year old man at the carwash, noting that he had a valid concealed weapons permit. Having acted in self defense, he was not arrested. His handgun was returned to him.

That Pesky Assault Rifle Ban

CCW Foils Murderous Bank Robbery

May 14th was like any other Monday morning for Chris Chappell of Bessemer, Alabama. He had visited his mother at Medical West hospital, dropped in at Wal-Mart and then made a quick stop at the local bank to get $40 in change to take to work. But another man, a man with a desperate purpose, closely followed Chappell into the bank that morning. The man was wearing a sky blue shirt, striped tie, khaki pants, baseball cap, sneakers and sunglasses. He had a cell phone pressed to his ear. He had tape on the bottoms of his shoes. He carried a Glock 9mm handgun, to aid him in his purpose. Chris Chappell handed a teller a few bills, and the teller collected coins for him. Suddenly, gunshots rang out. Chappell exited the bank, drew his CCW handgun, and took cover behind his sport utility vehicle. It was 9:04 AM. Inside the bank, unseen ruthless and deadly violence was occuring.

The robber started to escape out the front door of the bank, but retreated back inside when he saw the armed Chappell. He again looked out the door only to find Chappell drawn down on him. "I just held him in there as long as I could and if he would have came out I would have had to shoot. There's nothing I could have done, he was a mad man going crazy," said Chappell. Cornered, the killer then took a bank manager hostage. In the interim, law enforcement had arrived. Sheriff's deputies Ray Sorenson and Randy Davis were passing by when they spotted a woman running from the bank. She fell, rolled, got back up and kept running. The deputies, who serve outstanding warrants, quickly turned around to investigate.

Chappell alerted the deputies of his presence and intent when they arrived on the scene. The deputies called for back-up from the Bessemer police department. It was 9:06 AM. "That's when he comes out the door with a hostage," Chappell said, referring to the armed robber. "I'm telling him to get down, the cop's hollering to get down, and he doesn't know what to do because he's jerking the hostage around from side to side."

The armed criminal, William Merriweather Jr., stumbled and was shot in the groin by Deputy Alan Rhea. Even after being shot, the robber tried to crawl away with the moneybag. He did not release this grip on the bag of money until he was handcuffed and taken into custody. Bessemer police arrived on the scene at 9:09 AM. According to witnesses and police investigators, inside the bank the gunman shot bank teller Eva Lovelady Hudson in the face, killing her. He then continued firing down the line of tellers. He murdered bank teller Sheila Prevo. The killer wounded two other tellers, all the while demanding money, and forcing bank manager Myron Gooding to open the vault. Grabbing a bag of money, he started out the door of the bank, only to find Chappell waiting.

Merriweather is charged with capital murder in the deaths of the two bank tellers, and faces the death penalty. Merriweather is also accused of attempted murder in the wounding of Anita Gordon and LaToya Freeman, and kidnapping for taking the male bank manager hostage in his failed escape attempt.

Afterwards, Chris Chappell stated, "I was prepared to shoot, I don't think you had time to be scared....He never expected nobody else to have a gun, he thought he'd get away free. There wasn't really a chance to be scared at the time it was happening because it happened so fast." Chris Chappell and his ability to carry a concealed weapon was instrumental in the apprehension of this vicious murderer.

"It's certainly commendable," Jefferson County Sheriff's Sgt. Randy Christian said. "It's obvious he [Chappell] played a key role in keeping the guy there until we could get there. It's a great testament of someone willing to take action."

"He kept him from escaping, and he gave deputies time to get to the scene," Bill Veitch, chief assistant district attorney, told The Birmingham News in its moment-by-moment account of the robbery and arrest.

Bessemer Mayor Ed May, while calling Chappell a "good Samaritan and a brave individual," added that "I would not encourage anyone to do that."

Chappell, however, said he just followed his gut. "I know what's right and what's wrong. There wasn't nothing I could do differently. I'm always going to do what I think is right," Chappell said. The bank remains closed, with a bouquet of flowers at the door, and a contractor inside cleaning up.

Meanwhile, USA Today tries to minimize Chris Chappell's heroism. Go figure.

Morse Code vs Text Messaging

Free Thinking In South Carolina

A South Carolina House subcommittee approved a proposal today that would allow CWP holders to carry concealed handguns onto public school campuses, from elementary schools to universities. Proponents believe allowing trained and armed gun owners in schools could prevent mass killings like the April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech, where one armed deviant murdered 32 unarmed people. "We're not talking about kids. We're talking about responsible adults," said Republican Rep. Jeff Duncan, who sponsored the bill.

Law enforcement has not endorsed this measure. "Today, if we respond [to a shooting], we know the person with the weapon is the bad guy," said Ernest Ellis, the law enforcement director at the University of South Carolina.

So, a firearm makes a person a "bad guy" according to Mr. Ellis. How simplistic. Thank goodness men like Congressman Duncan hold political office.

20/20 On Gun Control

Note

Due to the inability to prevent autoplay, the video of the WWII vet and the beating he sustained has been removed for now changed.

Due to hijacking assholery interference of some website called "Protien Wisdom" Chris Muir's Day By Day cartoon has temporarily been removed from returned to my sidebar.

Due to corporate merging and cyber jackbootery of Comcast, my email may well screwy for a while. Not much I can do about that.........

I regret the inconvenience.

Vet Beaten For Car

The AOL video of this incident has been removed from my blog due to the inability to prevent autoplay. The law has caught up with the bastard that beat this old man. Here is the new video.

Rat Bikes

There is just something about a rat bike......Meet Deathtrap III.
Owner:-------------Ezrat
Builder--------Ted Rush,Ez
Fabrication------Ted Rush
Year-Model----1982 Honda
Time-------------1 yr
Engine-----4.5 Cadillac V8
Carb--------------Holly
Ignition-----------Stock GM
Exhaust----Custom single
Transmission-Automatic
Frame-----------Hand made
Rake-----------Stock Honda
Stretch-------Stock Honda
Forks----------Stock Honda
Powdercoat-----------Ha Ha
Color---Faded red & rust
Pinstriping------------------No
Handlebars---------Custom Rusted chain
Gas Tank------------ExMark riding mower
Seat----------------60's Harley
Front Fender-------Old sporty
Rear Fenders----50 Chevy pickup front clip
Rear Wheels-------Cadillac
Front Wheel----------Honda

Curious Consequences

On the evening of April 15, in South Bend Indiana, Tim Watson had just returned home from dinner and a movie. His two daughters, ages 3 and 13, and his 10 year old niece were with him. Watson's younger daughter needed to use the restroom, so they went inside their home. They were being watched.

When they came back outside, Terry Fennessee confronted Tim Watson, accusing him of having a relationship with his estranged wife. Watson asked to put the children in his car before speaking with Fennesee. Then, he turned his back on the man.

Fennesee pulled a gun and shot Watson in the back. Watson fell to the ground, and his assailant stood over him, aiming the firearm at his head. Watson pleaded with Fennesee, "Don't kill me in front of my babies!"

His three year old daughter was crying "He shooting my daddy! My daddy dead!" Fennesee responded with obscenities and shot Tim Watson again and again, in the head, back and chest.

Fennessee later told his sister, Tina Clump, that the shooting was in self-defense and that he fired at Watson because he believed the man was reaching for a gun in his vehicle. Police found no weapon in Watson's car. Fennesee is charged with one count of attempted murder, a Class A felony. At a court appearance last month, Fennessee told a reporter that he never meant to hurt anyone and that he was innocent of the charges against him. He posted $7,500 bond the same day he turned himself in at the St. Joseph County Jail.

Fennesee is presently free on bond. Watson is gradually recovering from gunshot wounds to his back, shoulder, rib cage, head and the side of his chest. He has sustained nerve damage and brain damage. He still carries a bullet lodged in his lung. Watson's children have suffered untold mental trauma. Tim Watson is in hiding, fearing for his safety. Apparently, a trial date is set.

This felonious and vicious attack raises several curiosities.

How was Fennessee able to claim self defense and post bond when he was on Watson's property, apparently lying in wait, and Watson had no means of self defense? Hell, Watson was shot in the back, and then again and again as he writhed and pleaded on the ground, in his own blood. While children watched and screamed. Witnesses attest to this fact. Why the hell was Fennesee allowed to turn himself in at the St. Joseph County Jail? Don't officers of the law still form manhunts? Or does that just occur when a fellow officer is shot? Seven thousand five hundred dollars bond? Was this judge smoking something? Finally, why the hell must Tim Watson and his children hide in fear while their rabid attacker walks free? Why is this son of a bitch free at all? Why?

By God, I'm glad I still live in a place where peace officers still have dogs and shotguns! This, this is why I carry a gun.

Happy Mother's Day

FLGR Stuff

Thoughts on the full length guide rod by Chris Byrne

Lunacy

"One wonders why it takes "Courier-Post" columnists weeks and thousands of words finally to begin to realize that a society that arms its lunatics with weapons that can fire dozens, perhaps hundreds, of shots per minute is an insane society.
Or, society is so stupid that it allows itself to be bought by its gun collectors. It is self-evident that arming the lunatics is insane.

As much as the gun enthusiasts try to associate the founding fathers with their own pathology, the drafters and adopters of the Second Amendment were faced with weapons that could fire at most a shot or two in a minute. Such weapons might deter an intruder, but such weapons could never enable a massacre. It is not the framers who were idiots, but those who allowed what the framers permitted to be expanded to encompass weapons that might have seemed in 1789 to be weapons of mass destruction.

As a constitutional scholar of some experience, I am perfectly content to adhere to the strict construction and original intention the right wing worships, to permit under the Second Amendment such guns to be privately held as have the same, but not greater, capacity as those available in 1789. Hunters could hunt, homeowners could defend and massacres would end.

Now all we need to do is find the money to buy back our legislatures."

Ira Morton Goldberg

Apparently Ms. Goldberg never heard of the Boston Massacre. March 5, 1770. Last I checked........Yep, 1770 did come before 1789.

In Ira's world, we should ban steak knives. A lunatic can stab dozens of times a minute with them.

"To these would be opposed a militia amounting to near half a million of citizens with arms in their hands, officered by men chosen from among themselves, fighting for their common liberties, and united and conducted by governments possessing their affections and confidence. It may well be doubted, whether a militia thus circumstanced could ever be conquered by such a proportion of regular troops."

"Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of. Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
James Madison, The Federalist Papers

"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms."
Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787

"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks."
Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1785

Constitutional scholar of some experience eh?

Ira Goldberg fails to understand the very basis of the 2nd amendment. No arms were forbidden. Not muskets, shotguns, pistols, rifles or cannon. None. No ammunition was forbidden. Not ball, chain or grapeshot. No weapon was forbidden. The US Constitution was not ammended to ensure hunters could harvest food, or that homeowners could defend their homes. It was not even proposed so individual citizens could defend their lives, although those are all fringe benefits. The second amendment was proposed and ratified to provide the means of the citizens of the United States to rise up and use whatever force necessary to again secure their freedom if the US government ever became tyrannical.

Ira Goldberg is no constitutional scholar. Perhaps banning lunacy would be a better option. Of course, then there would be no Ira Goldbergs.

Grip Review Proposal

Hi,
I try to find your contact information but i can not saw.
I would like to send my pistol grips to you for test and some review.
Would you like to do that?

Sir,
I would be happy to take a look at, and review your grips. I took a look around your web page, and they certainly look beautiful, especially the black buffalo horn "dust of life" grips.

I will review them under three conditions.

1. I will write what I really think. I will not place my credibility at stake to sell products.

2. I will not pay return postage. If you want the product returned afterwards, please provide the postage to do so.

3. If a reader has a bad customer experience as a result of ordering based on my review, I expect the problem to be taken care of promptly and to their satisfaction. Please understand that if the problem is not resolved, and I learn of it, I will post an addendum to the review concerning customer service.

If you find these terms amenable, I will forward my address for shipping.

Kindest regards,
Xavier

Need?

In 1960, Everette Simpson hacked his wife, Virginia Hudson, to death with a butcher knife. He spent nine years in a California prison, convicted of second degree murder. After nine years, he was released.

In 1983, Everette Simpson again found a woman in his life, Ruby Richardson of Shreveport Louisiana. He chopped into her body with a knife and a hatchet and then smothered out her last gasps with a pillow. For her death, he served 11 years of a 21 year sentence at Angola , on a manslaughter conviction. In 1994, he was paroled.

On April 3, of 2007, in Covington Louisiana, Everette Simpson succumbed to smoke inhalation in a house fire. His body was found in a bathroom after firefighters extinguished the conflagration. His third wife, Estelle Simpson, 69, and her brother, Allen Martin, 75, were incinerated in the blaze. Investigation revealed Simpson had beat them to death in their sleep prior to setting the fire to cover up his crime.

Relatives and neighbors expressed shock at the most recent crime, and disbelief at Simpson's past.

There is a lot about the Everette Simpson saga that one can use to express righteous indignation about. Hell, his legacy of murder demands condemnation. It would be redundant to even express my outrage over his murderous existence. Instead, I only want to point out one inescapable fact. Everette Simpson did not need a gun, but his victims damned sure did.

Details

The Best Deal On 1911 Mainspring Housings

Midway USA has finally received a new stock of Smith & Wesson 1911 mainspring housings. These are machine checkered at 20 lines per inch, and are lightweight aluminum. They will fit any standard Government Model or Commander sized 1911, and the fit is excellent. The best thing about them though is the price. $11.99. They also come with all the internals, making them a fantastic deal.

To swap out your old mainspring housing, first make sure your gun is unloaded. Wrap a large rubber band tightly around your pistol's grip safety and frame to hold it compressed. This prevents the sear spring from jumping off the sear. Then, make certain the hammer is down. Next, punch out the lower mainspring housing pin. (If you have a Springfield with the internal locking safety, lock the mainspring housing safety first.) Slide out the old mainspring housing, slide in the new mainspring housing, making sure the hammer strut rests in the mainspring cup. Finally drive in the mainspring housing pin, and remove the rubber band. Voila'! Instant upgrade for less money than the least expensive commonly obtainable housing alone!

Edited to add: Tuesday night......Wow, they are already out of stock again.....

UAB Emergency Room Rap

I despise rap, but I like this..........

Fighting Gun Control

Hat tip to Oleg

The Raleigh P.U.B.

When I decided to start bicycling again earlier this year, I faced a conundrum. I am too big a guy to ride a road bike. Likewise, I am too old to get into the BMX or freestyling thing. Mountain biking did not really appeal to me either........So what was an old man to do?

In past years, I had refurbished and driven old Series IIA Land Rovers, and I liked the utilitarian aspect of them. I wanted to translate it into a bike. Roadster bikes, however, are not widely available in the US, the closest thing being a retro cruiser, an antique, or a custom build. After purchasing a Raleigh hybrid bike, like many people I went online to research what I had already purchased. I went to the Raleigh website, and there I found the Raleigh Public Utility Bike.

The Raleigh Public Utility Bike, or P.U.B. is billed as a bike on which to go for coffee or burritos. The color combination is called "stout", which translates to brown and yellow. A nice design feature is that Raleigh decided to place the seat tube at a more obtuse angle, which moves the crank set forward and allows the rider to put both feet on the ground and still get the proper fit. Combined with the long handlebars, an upright riding posture is assured.

The frame is aluminum, shod with 26X2.125 road tires. Braking is supplied by a Joytech coaster brake. The front forks are a springer design, which effectively dampen bumps in the road, working in concert with the heavily sprung seat. The result is a retro-utilitarian cruiser styled bike that is easy to pedal and comfortable to ride.

Raleigh did miss the boat on a couple of points though. A fully enclosed British style chaincase would have been sweet, as would fenders. For some untold reason Raleigh mounted alloy platform pedals to the cranks. I quickly swapped these out for the old fashioned rubber type. There is no provision for a rack on the rear fork ends. Thus, I sought out an alternative method for carrying cargo. Mounting the rack up front allows me to see what I am carrying as I tool along, plus, it adds to the British flavor of the bike. Powdercoating the handlebars, forks and crankset would have added finish durability, but the alloy underneath will not rust. Instead, as the finish wears, I expect a nice patina of use will emerge. This bicycle was not meant to appear new, after all.

The Public Utility Bike is a fun and relaxing bicycle to ride. It easily conquers the streets, and it can handle light trails. It turns heads and garners attention anywhere I stop. It makes people smile. Sadly, Raleigh produced this bicycle for only one year, 2006. I do not know why it was discontinued, perhaps it was because of the oddball frame hampering mass production of multiple models using the same basic frame. For whatever reason, it is disappointing. Other manufacturers are testing the waters of retro styling, Electra with the Amsterdam, and Felt with the 1903, and of course, there are always the Raleigh Retroglides. The Raleigh PUB, though is unique, in that it took the best of modern construction, an aluminum frame and a forward crankset design, and styled it as a retro/utilitarian bicycle. Plus the beer opener frame gusset is just plain cool.

The PUB gets waterskirts.

The Raleigh PUB 1 Year Later

More Laughing At Ourselves

Louisiana HB 869

Louisiana State Representative and Mom'n'em poster child Cedric Richmond (D-New Orleans) has introduced House Bill 869, which would establish historic restrictions on semi-automatic firearms (dubbing them "assault weapons") and ammunition magazines. HB 869 affects every firearm modified to conform with the now defunct Clinton Gun Ban plus many other semi-automatic firearms that have no lineage to those rifles or any military orientation whatsoever.

Like the failed Clinton Gun Ban that sunsetted in 2004, this bill is about demonizing certain firearms based on how they look, not about crime fighting. But unlike the previous federal law, which banned the manufacture and sale of many commonly owned semi-automatic firearms to civilians after the effective date of the act, HB 869 goes much further. HB 869 would require current owners of such firearms to register their firearms with the State Police, obtain and renew a license annually to keep them, restrict how and where they may be used or transported, and allow the State Police to inspect private homes for compliance. HB 869 has been referred to the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.

Apparently Cedric Richmond did not learn the lessons of New Orleans. It's time he learned the lessons of the polls. If you live in Louisiana (or if Mom'n'em do), contact the committee members below next week in Baton Rouge and urge them to oppose HB 869:

Chairman Danny Martiny
larep079@legis.state.la.us

Rep. Alex Heaton
larep095@legis.state.la.us

Rep. Damon Baldone
larep053@legis.state.la.us

Rep. Beverly Bruce
larep007@legis.state.la.us

Rep. Roy Burrell
larep002@legis.state.la.us

Rep. Don Cazayoux
larep18@legis.state.la.us

Rep. Charlie DeWitt
larep025@legis.state.la.us

Rep. Eric LaFleur
larep038@legis.state.la.us

Rep. "Romo" Romero
larep048@legis.state.la.us

Rep. Jane Smith
larep008@legis.state.la.us

Rep. Warren Triche
webreps@legis.state.la.us

Rep. "Bodi" White
larep064@legis.state.la.us

Rep. Ernest Wooton
larep105@legis.state.la.us

The Raleigh PUB or.....Where has Xavier been?

Several months ago, I began to think.........How best to regain abs of steel while preserving my knees of pasta? At 6'1" and 268 pounds, the old leg benders are beginning to feel the strain. It is time to lighten the load they carry. I used to swim as well as run for exercise and fitness. Running was out as an option due to the inability of my knees to take the beating. Years of training with 70 pound packs and combat boots have taken their toll. Swimming, likewise, is out. I refuse to pay fees to a health club just to dodge kids in the lap lanes. My wife-mate refuses to allow me to swim in the river. Something about moccasins and undertows.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, while on the pawn shop circuit, I noticed a bike. Hmmmmmm.....says I. It was a Wal-Mart mountain bike, but not too much of an investment. Perhaps.....I discussed it with my wife-mate, who suggested we check at the local bike shop (LBS) to take a look at prices. That sounded good. I had not ridden in years, so I had no idea of current prices.

I quit riding back in the late eighties. I was staying in shape in the military, traveling a lot, and bending over a ten-speed road bike decked out in spandex just wasn't a sailor's idea of a good time. In the succeeding years, I sneered at the skinny rawhide boys pedaling along at high speed, mounted on carbon fiber, wearing lycra with blinky lights on their heads. It seemed bicycling had lost it's roots in transportation and fun. It was awash with tree hugging weirdos from another planet. All was focused on speed and competition or alternative fuel to satisy Al Gore. The alternative was mountain biking, or break dancing on a BMX bike. Neither of those made sense either. I just wanted a road worthy bike to ride at my speed for fun and fitness, and maybe to stop at the grocery store for a six-pack on the way home. Where the hell were the bikes for a fellow like me? Surely there are more everyday Joe's like me.........Surely there is a market!

I discussed my desires with my wife-mate on the way to the bike store. It seemed I was doomed to either accept a mountain bike or rebuild a garage sale bike, but she agreed to join me in my quest for riding. At the LBS, I learned the new breed of bike was designed for people like myself. It has a mixture of the road bike's speed and hill conquering ability, while allowing an upright riding posture ala' the bikes of old. In the store, I found the hybrid to be the bike for me, and I purchased a Raleigh Passage 4.0. My wife ordered an Electra Townie 3s for herself, and we ordered a purple Raleigh Mojave 2.0 for Little Darling. Expect reviews on those in the future. Not yet owning a bike rack, I rode my new bicycle home.

The Raleigh Passage was a good riding bike, but the complexity of the derailleurs and suspension wasn't quite cutting it. As an old fart, I desire simplicity in my life, and I yearn for the icons of my childhood. (That is one reason I chose a Raleigh, even though they are now constructed in China, not Nottingham.) Like many people who purchase new items, I had bought first, and then went to the internet to research. The Raleigh Passage 4.0 got rave reviews. Good. It still did not fit my desires. I clicked on the Raleigh Cruiser icon, and I found the P.U.B, or Public Utility Bike.

Wow! That was it. Masculine brown in color, with an aluminum frame, and a more obtuse seat tube angle, moving the pedals forward while lowering and moving back the seat. The styling was that of a basic bike, indeed, a rental bike, with a retro flavor. It had one rear sprocket, only a coaster brake, wide, uncluttered handlebars, and a springer front end. Fat tires on yellow rims and springs beneath the seat rounded out the package. Hell, it even had a bottle opener on the bike! Even better, it had been discontinued by Raleigh in 2006 after only a year, a sure rarity in the years to come. Apparently Raleigh did not really want the old fat beer swilling market after all.

But how could I justify another bike? Had I made a mistake purchasing the Passage? I finally came to the conclusion that this was like a Combat Masterpiece. They ain't makin' it any more. Get it now, or regret it later. I decided the Passage 4.0 would be the bike for group rides when I needed extra gears to keep up. The PUB would be the bike for me. I could not find any consumer reviews on this bike online. None. Nada. I was buying blind, but I have invested much more on a hunch. I went back to the bike store and placed an order. I waited with anticipation...............

The Raleigh PUB Review

If We Can't Laugh At Ourselves........

Hat tip to Paul Simer

Don't Mess With Texas

In the wake of the massacre at Virginia Tech, Texas Governor Rick Perry has chosen to stand with many free thinking gun owners. On April 30, Perry met with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, who was traveling about the country to decide how the government can better prepare schools for these types of murderous rampages. In response to Leavitt's bureaucratic data whoring, Perry stated Texas should consider allowing licensed citizens to carry their authorized weapon anywhere in the state.

"I think a person ought to be able to carry their weapon with them anywhere in this state if they are licensed, and they have gone through the training," Perry declared.

When pressed, Perry explained himself. "Whether they're in church or whether they're on a college campus or wherever they are," Perry added. "The last time I checked, putting up a sign that says, 'Don't bring your gun in here,' for someone who has ill intent on their mind; they could care less."

In Texas, all handguns, licensed or not, are currently banned from bars, 51% restaurants, schools, sporting events, correctional facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, amusement parks, places of worship, racetracks, polling places and courthouses.

"The idea that you're going to exempt them from a particular place is nonsense to me," he said, "I think it makes sense for Texans to protect themselves from deranged individuals."

Can't Beat A Woman.........

Hat tip to Tam.

Buy the shirt here.