Patients Patience

Jumping the Pearly Gates

Forty years ago, while in Las Vegas, Nevada, to watch Dick Tiger fight a middleweight title fight, Evel Knievel first saw the fountains at Caesar's Palace and decided to jump them. To get an audience with the casino's CEO Jay Sarno, Knievel created a fictitious corporation called Evel Knievel Enterprises and three fictitious lawyers to make phone calls to Sarno. Knievel also placed phone calls to Sarno claiming to be from ABC-TV and Sports Illustrated inquiring about the jump. Sarno finally agreed to meet Knievel and the deal was set for Knievel to jump the fountains on December 31, 1967. After the deal was set, Knievel tried to get ABC to air the event live on Wide World of Sports. ABC declined, but said that if Knievel had the jump filmed and it was as spectacular as he said it would be, they would consider using it later.



Knievel used his own money to have actor/director John Derek produce a film of the Caesar's jump. To keep costs low, Derek used his then-wife, Linda Evans, as one of the camera operators. It was Evans who filmed Knievel's famous landing. On the morning of the jump, Knievel stopped in the casino and placed a single $100 dollar bet on the blackjack table, which he lost, stopped by the bar and got a shot of Wild Turkey and then headed outside where he was joined by several members of the Caesar's staff, as well as two scantily clad showgirls. After doing his normal pre-jump show and a few warm up approaches, Knievel began his real approach. When he hit the takeoff ramp, he felt the motorcycle unexpectedly decelerate. The sudden loss of power on the takeoff caused Knievel to come up short and land on the safety ramp which was supported by a van. This caused the handlebars to be ripped out of his hands as he tumbled over them onto the pavement where he skidded into the Dunes parking lot. As a result of the crash, Knievel received a crushed pelvis and femur, fractures to his hip, wrist and both ankles and a concussion that kept him in a coma for 29 days.

Evel Knevil, dead at 69. How about an encore?

More on Joe Horn

The Smith & Wesson M-13 Aircrewman

Experts say there are more fakes of this revolver on the market than real ones. The value is so high that fakers are willing to risk felony time just to alter a serial number to get a fake gun lettered as authentic. The Smith & Wesson M-13 Aircrewman was produced from 1953 to 1954 with an aluminum six shot cylinder. In 1954, the cylinder was changed to steel. There were approximately 40,000 produced, with nine known variations, and almost all were destroyed by the U.S. government. The cylinder had an objectionable habit of turning into a grenade when the cartridge inside it ignited. Production ceased in 1957.

M-13 Aircrewman revolvers were given serial numbers within the range of other production K frame revolvers such as the Model 12 Airweight. Some of these commercial models, with serial numbers in the correct range, where given fake markings to make them appear similar to an Aircrewman. Unscrupulously reproducing the stampings on the aluminum frame is pretty easy. The barrel markings are more difficult to forge. M-13 Aircrewman barrels were marked on the right side with "AIRCREWMAN" over the ".38 Special CTG". The caliber marking is in smaller type than commercial models. Serial numbers range from C247,000 to C405,363, but serial numbers of genuine demilled examples are best kept secret lest a felonious faker usurp the numerals for his "representative example" and then seek to have result lettered by Roy Jinks. Suffice to say, Aircrewmen with an AF prefix change hands in the $5000 range.

The M-13 Aircrewman and holster pictured here are genuine, the real deal. Alas, they are not mine. Most of us will never be so lucky as to find this revolver gathering dust on a pawnbroker's shelf. Marilyn Monroe is more likely to knock on our door and lavish us with a lifetime supply of ammunition and free gun cleaning services.

I was, however, fortunate enough to receive a M-13 Aircrewman. Mine, is regrettably the result of John Kennedy's administration trying to protect our fly boys. It was crushed to insure it would never be fired. Then it was sold off as scrap.

The "Property of U.S. Air Force" markings on the backstrap and the "Revolver, Lightweight-M13" markings on the top strap are still intact, as is the inspector's mark. The C prefixed serial number falls within the correct range. Because it is a crushed example, it is almost certainly the real article. It is inconceivable that a faker would fake a crushed frame. I will guard the serial number to prevent it from being used fraudulently. I was offered this chunk of aluminum by a friend who spotted it at a gun show. I happily accepted it, and placed it into my collection of revolvers, right beside a crushed Victory Model.

If you believe you have an Aircrewman in your possession, one of your best recourses is to post photos of the revolver on the S&W Forum for evaluation. Then consult the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson for more information. Finally, get the revolver lettered. If you are buying even then confirm and consult as much as possible.

As I was photographing my M-13 along with an ejection handle I had brought home from my military service as a souvenir, I noticed the "Smith & Wesson Lifetime Service Policy" emblazoned on the blue counter mat. I wonder.........

The Republican Candidates on Guns

Draw your own conclusions.

Sheriff Kim Cooke Speaks Reads

Candy, the Teton County Sheriff's Office dispatcher predicted people might change their minds when they hear the other side of the story about the shooting of the Barboza family dog, Bobby. In fairness, here is what Teton County Sheriff Kim Cooke had to say read:

"On November 12, 2007 Teton County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence regarding a vicious dog. The dog was shot at that time in accordance with section 8 and 11.4 of the Teton County Ordinances. Which State [sic], "It shall be unlawful for any person to own, harbor, or have in his/her possession any dog or dogs which, when unprovoked, acts in a manner consistent with the definition of a vicious dog as defined in the Section 2 of this Ordinance. Any person who violates the provisions of the section is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished in accordance with Section 16 of this Ordinance. Such dog or dogs shall be prohibited any may be subject to impound and destruction as pursuant to Section 8 of this Ordinance." Sec 8 "....that if any vicious animal so found at large cannot be safely taken up and impounded, such dog may be destroyed by the Animal Care and Control Officer or TCSO."

"Deputies have been told in the past by the Humane Society that they cannot accept pitt bull breeds which are aggressive in nature or have.[sic] TCSO responded to this animal on three different occasions within a five day period. November 8, 10 and 12, 2007. We also responded in reference to this dog on October 25, 2007. Each of these calls consisted of this animal attacking a mentally disabled woman and ripping the clothing on her body, leaving self defense marks on her hands and chasing her into her residence. On November 12, the deputy responded to find this dog injured with a laceration to the left hind leg and not with in the confines of the yard, The alleged owner stated that the laceration to the dog was obtained in a fight with another animal somewhere in the neighborhood and that another deputy had warned him to keep the doge[sic] in their yard.

"The alleged owners of the unregistered dog were warned to keep the dog within their yard. The alleged owners of the dog were warned that if the dog attacked the mentally disabled woman again, it may be destroyed. They did not heed these warnings. The previous citation in 2006 was dismissed at the victims request. The victim is the same woman.

"The actual shooting of the dog by the deputy is under investigation and cannot be discussed further at this time. The Deputy is suspended at this time pending the Tri-County investigation. Mr. Barboza's actions and practices with this animal are also being looked into.

"Mr. Barboza never contacted the Sheriff's Office regarding the shooting or the fact that after laying in his yard for two days, unattended, someone noticed the dog was alive. Upon hearing through the grapevine that the dog was alive, the Sheriff personally contacted the veterinarian that the animal had been taken too.

"This is an unfortunate event which has occurred. Teton County Sheriff's Office is considering it a learning experience that we can learn from and improve policy and procedure in dealing [with] vicious animals. We appreciate all those who have expressed concern in this matter in a mature constructive manner; we are taking your suggestions into consideration. Teton County Sheriff's Office does not have an animal shelter or a full-time animal control officer."

There you go Sheriff Cooke......Blame the dog, blame the owner, but refuse to accept respionsibility for your deputy's actions. Bobby's owner, Leo Barboza, says he's very familiar with the accuser. He states she frequently reports false stories about dogs in their neighborhood. "A lot of my neighbors have had problems with her in the past because she says peoples dogs have bitten her and stuff like that." Mr. Barboza states the lady's allegations simply aren't true and she has made them up about other people but their dogs were not shot.

Teton county Sheriff Kim Cooke went on to say "Teton County Sheriff's Office is considering it a learning experience that we can learn from and improve policy and procedure in dealing with vicious animals."

Apparently the dog was compliant when his owner chained him in the front yard and when Deputy Joseph Gutierrez shot him. If Bobby was compliant then why not quarantine him for rabies if he attacked somebody? IF he attacked somebody right Sheriff Cooke? Yeah, you need to improve your P&P on dealing with animals nimrod.......

TOZ-35 Hole Punch

I finally took possession of my TOZ-35 yesterday. I had ordered it from CDNN on Tuesday the 20th, but shipping was slowed by the holidays. My FFL is kind of slow as well, as guns are not their primary business. I was on call at the hospital forever it seemed, so busy I just came home and crashed. I'm still recovering, but I now have the TOZ......

I will be doing a range report soon, but for anyone that wants to order one, they are $499 plus $13 shipping, with the wooden case. My case came with an odd double tin of lubricant, and little else but a Xeroxed English version of the manual. I have not shot the pistol yet......gotta wait for Saturday, but if you are interested in ordering one, they seem to be a solid deal. These are Olympic quality Free Pistols manufactured by the Russkies. It's a solid, well built pistol, and it appears to be unfired. I look forward to being the first to fire it.

What Is Xavier Reading?

I finally received my copy of The Great New Orleans Gun Grab-Descent Into Anarchy by Gordon Hutchinson and Todd Masson a few days back. I say long awaited, not because the book took a long time to arrive, but because in September 2005 I knew this book would be written. My copy actually arrived within days of being ordered from Louisiana Publishing.

It is odd that many gun owners still refuse to believe the reality of the US Constitution being raped on the streets of New Orleans and the surrounding areas in the days after hurricane Katrina. If you have a gun owner friend in denial, this book is a most illuminating Christmas gift. Many gun owners say "It could never happen here." Guess what.......It did. This book dispels a lot of the Rambo vote from the rooftops chest beating, and places the reader directly into the reality of confiscations.

Last night, I pored through the introduction and first chapter before I had to put the book down to get some much needed sleep. I was not at all surprised to find the first chapter to be Ashton O'Dwyer's tale of survival. Ashton lives in one of the antebellum mansions on St. Charles Street. He spoke for thousands when he went on national television and said "Treat me with benign neglect! Get out of my neighborhood, get out of my life, get out of my ******* city!" Ashton was living a resolute existence of survival at the time. To help preserve his sanity, with black humor, he proclaimed his property sovereign, the territory of the Duchy of Kilnamanagh, seceding from the United States as Peter Sellers had in "The Mouse that Roared". On the fateful morning of September 19, 2005, Ashton O'Dwyer drove to Baton Rouge to file the first Katrina related class action lawsuit against Governor Kathleen Blanco, Mayor Ray Nagin, and New Orleans Police Superintendent Eddie Compass. Then he drove back to his home on St. Charles Street.

The wild proclamations from his driveway made Ashton the media darling of the hurricane. The lawsuit brought him the attention of those in power. Most people who saw Ashton O'Dwyer broadcast around the world on CNN never knew what happened next.....Until now. Ashton O'Dwyer was taken into custody, caged like a dog, pepper sprayed, and shotgunned multiple times in the groin with beanbag rounds.

Obstinate and unswayed, Mr. O'Dwyer remained in New Orleans. Today he represents other confiscation and eviction victims. Tonight, I move on to the next chapter, the next victim.......

"The Great New Orleans Gun Grab - Descent Into Anarchy" by Gordon Hutchinson & Todd Masson is available from Louisiana Publishing, The Louisiana Conservative or Amazon.com for $19.95

Breda's on a Roll!

The irrepressible Breda takes her brother to the range.

Ricochet Lies

Wadesville, Ind. (AP) -- A woman who was fatally shot Thursday while trying to coax her dog from a neighbor's yard was hit by a bullet that ricocheted off the ground and under a plastic fence before striking her shoulder. The bullet from a .357 magnum pierced both the lungs and heart of Nicole Stroud, 29, Vanderburgh County Coroner Don Erk said. The Evansville woman was leaning down, trying to get her Shih Tzu dog out of a neighbor's yard and through a hole in the bottom of a fence when she was shot.

The neighbor accused of firing the gun, Melinda Lindauer, 41, was arrested on preliminary charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide. She was still being held in Posey County Jail on Saturday. Posey County Prosecutor Jodi Uebelhack said she believes Lindauer fired from a back window of her house at a dog that was loose from a neighboring house, where Stroud was visiting her grandmother. The Lindauers live directly behind Stroud's grandmother. Wadesville is about 15 miles northwest of Evansville.

The prosecutor said Lindauer might not have seen Stroud and probably didn't intend to kill her, but criminal charges still were warranted. Indiana law states that a person can only fire a gun at a dog if it is threatening an individual or livestock. "After we got all the statements, it was pretty clear this was a criminal act," Uebelhack said. "It's never an accident to pick up a gun and shoot it."

Uebelhack said a statement given to police by Lindauer's husband, Lonnie, indicated that there was an ongoing dispute between the neighbors over the dog. She said he told authorities the dog had previously dug up a cat that was buried in the Lindauer's backyard. Melinda Lindauer's attorney, Nick Hermann, said he could not comment on the specifics of the case. But he said that the Lindauers are distraught over what happened. "Their thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the lady who died in this incident," he said.

Bullshit. The bullet did not just hit Nicole Stroud's shoulder. It drilled into her torso, searing it's way through one lung, her heart, and then the other lung. It extinguished her life as surely as it destroyed the lives of those around her.

I have a hard time visualizing a 357 magnum bullet that could change direction underneath the fence so radically as to strike someone in the shoulder, laterally penetrating both lungs and the heart as it went through the chest. in the news stories.

357 magnum bullets do not ricochet off dirt, fly underneath fences, radically change direction to strike a person's shoulder and then penetrate through every vital organ in the chest cavity. Especially a person standing on the opposite side of the fence, as close as Nicole Stroud appears to have been standing. Bullets do skip and ricochet. They do change course or expend energy after impact. A .357 magnum bullet has a lot of energy to expend. The course this slug would have apparently been forced to travel to avoid the fence, strike the shoulder of a person standing 5-10 feet away, then change course again to laterally penetrate one lung, the heart, then the opposite lung, makes one wonder who the hell was investigating this shooting in Wadesville, Indiana. The Warren Commission? Bullets do not do magic tricks! There has been no official statement concerning whether or not a hole was present in the fence, but that is immaterial. Ricochet bullets you fired recklessly are as poor an excuse as not seeing the innocent bystander behind a plastic fence you shoot through. They do not diminish your culpability.

People who have just unwittingly shot someone, through ignorance, recklessness or carelessness, claim strange things. It is not uncommon for such a person to try to diminish their responsibility and liability, both emotionally and legally. Shooting a human being is an irreversible act. You can not get those bullets back. They are yours, and the damage they do belongs to you as well. The sudden realization that you have a person drowning in their own sanguine stew because of you actions often causes people to squeal "It just went off!" "I didn't know it was loaded!" "I didn't see him!" or "It must have ricocheted!" These self serving squeaks in the face of unrelenting reality do not mean that law enforcement or anyone else has to believe the excuses uttered by a person who just took a life.

I don't like little decorative dogs. It's OK if other folks want walking, yapping fashion statements in a furry bag, but they ain't my style. I like them even less when they crap on my yard. That doesn't mean I have a right to shoot the vile critter. A Shit-Sue dog isn't going to rip my trachea out and take my head off like the evil rabbit guarding the cave of Caerbannog. The animal was not a threat unless you believe Shih Tzu poop to be as lethal as land mines. A dog scratching under my fence simply means I need to block the damned hole with a cinder block or something. Just because dogs crawl under fences doesn't mean bullets do too.

Rule Four: Be sure of your target and what is behind it.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found Nicole Stroud in her grandmother's backyard, surrounded by onlookers as volunteer firefighters performed CPR. Blood gushed from her mouth and torso with every chest compression. Posey County deputies detained and questioned the suspected shooter and her husband, Lonnie Lindauer. Nicole Stroud was air lifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. Deputies said they found a .357 magnum handgun on the bed in the Lindauer's bedroom. Nicole Stroud was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Deputies arrested Melinda Lindauer on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide. Neighbors who didn't want to talk to media, say Melinda Lindauer had fired her handgun in the neighborhood several times in the past. She is being held in the Posey County Jail Friday. Bond is set at $100,000. No court date had been set. Yet. Nicole Stroud is survived by her husband, her grandmother, and her eleven month old daughter.

You are responsible for every bullet that leaves the muzzle of your firearm. Ethically. Morally. Legally. Every bullet has a lawyer attached to it. Melinda Lindauer is responsible for her actions, her decisions, and her bullets. They are hers. She owns them. She pointed that gun. She pulled that trigger. It's a shame she was not mature and intelligent enough to manage that responsibility better. If she had, Nicole Stroud would still be alive.

SS BHP

Mauser Medic does Ugly Gun Sundays, and I enjoy looking at the trashed guns he finds. Now imagine........what would happen if Bubba joined the skinheads and began engraving handguns?

Yeah,that's right, the Neo Nazi Browning Hi Power. Starting at $4,800.00 on Gun Broker. More pics there.
Damn that's ugly.

Dog Killing

A Teton County, Idaho family is outraged after they say a sheriff's deputy tried to murder their dog in their own front yard. The Barboza family has owned their dog Bobby for five years. A few days ago they say a Teton County Idaho Sheriff's Deputy knocked on their door demanding to see the dog. Leonel Barboza, Dog Owner: "He says, 'I'm here to put him down. I'm here to kill him.'" The officer told Leo Barboza there had been a complaint Bobby had bitten someone.

Barboza: "I said, 'Do you have any proof or anything?' He says, 'I don't need any proof.'" So Leo got the dog while the deputy pulled out a rifle from his car. They walked a few feet from the Barboza's home where Leo's wife and his three year old son were inside. Leo and the officer tied the dog to a pole when the deputy fired three shots. The dog then collapsed. Leo's son heard the gunshots and opened the front door. Meanwhile...

Barboza: "A bunch of kids just got off the bus and they were all on the street. All the kids were watching the officer shooting the dog. My heart was broken seeing an officer killing my dog." The deputy then got in his vehicle and drove away leaving the dog bleeding profusely from his head almost dead.

Barboza: "I came back inside with my wife and hid. We were hugging each other crying about our dog because we were gonna miss him. He's been with us for five years." That night Leo's father-in-law, who witnessed the whole thing, had a nervous breakdown and had to be hospitalized. When the family returned home from the hospital a few days later, they were shocked to see their dog alive.

Barboza: "My wife called me up and she's like, 'Hey, the dog's alive!' I was like, 'What are you serious?' I was happy my dog was alive." The Teton County Idaho Sheriff wouldn't say much about this case except that it's still under investigation. He also said there's been numerous complaints about the Barboza's dog. But when I checked court records, I could only find one complaint filed last year and that was dismissed.

Nate Eaton, Channel 3 Eyewitness News: "Did your dog ever bite anybody?"

Barboza: "Not to my knowledge. No."

Eaton: "And this was the first time you'd ever heard of any complaint?"

Barboza: "Yes, this is the first time. I still think about it. You know my kid thinks all the cops are bad because an officer came and shot his dog. Honestly when I think about it I get mad too and I don't trust that officer any more."

The Barboza's took Bobby to the vet. He's now on medication to get the wounds taken care of. The holes in his head will be sewn up after Thanksgiving. The family has hired attorney Josh Garner. I spoke with him this evening and he says, "If the facts are as they appear, the deputies behavior is disgusting, troublesome, and appalling. The officer needs to be held responsible." Several sources say the officer is still on duty and still working in the county.



To support the Barboza family legally or financially, email their attorney Josh Garner at garnerlawoffice@gmail.com.

By Nate Eaton, Kidk.com

But wait, it gets worse.........

Local residents are also talking about the story. Justin Frandsen says he was in the sheriff's office the night before the dog was shot and he heard deputies talking about the animal.

Justin Frandsen: "They were joking and laughing about what weapons they wanted to shoot him with and how they were gonna shoot him. At the end of the conversation, they were almost feuding over who got to shoot the dog." Shocked by what he heard, Frandsen says he spoke up to the deputies.

Frandsen: "You guys must feel like you're real big cops, real tough guys, to have to go out and basically assassinate somebody's house pet."

excerpt: By Channel 3 Eyewitness News Team

"This is unacceptable to treat an animal in this way, regardless of what the animal has done." Dr. Joseph Rosenthal, Idaho Humane Society stated. "This is an act of cruelty and to find out that later the dog was discovered to still be alive and suffering it’s just an example."

Not only is that an unacceptable way to treat an animal, it's a abhorrent way to treat a citizen. Deputy Joseph Guitierez compelled Leonel Barboza to take part in and witness the staking out and attempted execution of his dog. There was no reason for that. Even if the dog were dangerous, even if it had a documented history of biting people, the proper way to handle the situation would have been to capture the animal, then contain and quarantine the animal until rabies observation could be completed. Shooting a staked out animal is nothing short of cowardice. Shooting a staked out animal suspected of biting a human is nothing short of ignorant.

Further, on watching the videotape of the Kidk.com story, it is apalling to consider that an officer of the law, who was unable to effectively hit a target 15 feet away, was shooting a damned rifle in mobile home park. I have no idea what caliber of rifle was used, but a .22LR bullet will rip through both sides of most mobile homes unless it strikes something in between. Something like a person's head. To think this idiot official representative of Teton County Idaho may have been firing a .223, a .308, or even a 30.06 strikes me as not only completely reckless, but dangerous as hell in regards to the safety of the people who lived there. If the Teton County Sheriff's Office sent him, they are responsible for jeopardizing every person in that trailer park. Deputy Joseph Guitierez was on official business as a Teton County official, and those wounds on that dog may have been debrided as the result of veterinary attention, but they do not look like .22LR wound to me, and I am not unfamiliar with gunshot wounds. I seem to recall another law enforcement officer shooting at non-threatening animals and causing the death of a human being.

Deputy Joseph Guitierez has been suspended. The Tri-County Sheriff's Organization is now investigating the shooting. That is not enough. This entire sheriff's office needs to be scrutinized for their policies not only of animal control, but of protecting the public through more intelligent and informed leadership and instruction of their deputies.

Irene Brown, the Animal Services Manager for the Idaho Falls Police Department states, "We would only use a weapon against a dog if the dog came at us viciously." She goes on to speak about the need to quarantine an animal that has bitten a person for rabies observation. Sound familiar? Of course, Leonel Barboza may not live in Idaho falls, and as a result this case may not fall under their jurisdiction, but it certainly appears the resources are available close by for Teton County Sheriff Kim Cooke to take a look at.

Let Sheriff Kim Cooke know what you think.
Sheriff Kim Cooke
89 N Main St
Driggs, Idaho 83422
(208)354-2323
208-354-2463
kcooke@co.teton.id.us

Still On Call.........

Where's Xavier?

I've been on call since Tuesday, the 20th. I've been called out every night, every day. I've had at most four hous of sleep each 24 hour period. You would think the highways would run out of drunks. Be safe out there. I go off call on Monday 11/26/07 at 1500. If you bust yourself up on the interstate until then, come see me. I'm the Zimmer repair man......
I'm getting some sleep.

Training

Courtesy Oleg Volk

Glenn Beck on Joe Horn's case

Georgia Theft Thwarted

In the Highland Park subdivision, they’re calling Eddie and Pam Cole "Dirty Harry and Dirty Harriet." The Flowery Branch couple put a halt to a rash of auto break-ins last week when they held two suspected teenage bandits at gunpoint.

The string of thefts from unlocked cars prompted a homeowners’ association meeting earlier this month. Among the victims was the Coles’ next door neighbor, who had a Global Positioning System stolen from his truck. A few days later, a couple of teen suspects were able to get away after being chased on foot by a neighbor and a sheriff’s deputy.

Then early Friday, Pam Cole, a 46-year-old orthodontic technician, awoke at 3 a.m. and got out of bed to turn down the heat in the house. As she walked past a window, she spotted two young men wearing black hooded sweatshirts walking down the middle of Wilmington Way. "I told my husband, you might want to get dressed and check out what these people are doing," Cole recalled.

Then she saw that the two dark figures were rummaging through her PT Cruiser. "I said ‘You better get your gun. They’re already in my car.’" Eddie Cole, dressed only in his bathrobe, grabbed his Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver and headed outside to confront the teens.

"Hold it right there. I’ll drop you where you stand," Cole said, as he pointed the nickel-plated, six-inch barrel in their direction. One hand gripped the gun, the other the loose sash of his bathrobe.

"They stopped right away," said Eddie Cole, a 41-year-old mason. Both suspects, one 15, the other 18, put up their hands and sat down on the edge of the sidewalk as instructed. Pam Cole dialed 911 and told an operator her husband had two suspects at gunpoint. Eddie Cole then asked his wife, "Baby, go get me some pants."

When she returned to the driveway, he handed the gun off to her while he put on pants and a pair of slippers. She kept the revolver trained on the young suspects, their heads hung low. "I knew this was a bad idea," the younger one said, according to the Coles. Within 10 minutes, Hall County sheriff’s deputies had arrived and put handcuffs on the two suspects.

Anthony Joseph Cerny, 18, and a 15-year-old male whose name is not being released because of his age, were charged with two counts each of entering auto, Hall County Sheriff’s Maj. Jeff Strickland said. Nearby, deputies found a Toyota Camry filled with stolen items, according to the Coles. The car belonged to the mother of one of the suspects, they said. Since then, the couple, who moved into the home with their two daughters two years ago, have been hailed as neighborhood heroes. "I’ll never gripe again about him watching those police shows," Pam Cole said of her husband.

Eddie Cole said he’d draw his gun again in an instant. "I wouldn’t hesitate to use it, either," he said. "I work too hard for my stuff for anybody to steal it. I would have gone out there buck naked if I had to."

Said his wife, "This shows that just because you’re old and married, it doesn’t mean you won’t stand your ground."

By Stephen Gurr
Gainsvilletimes.com

Holding a criminal at gunpoint is one of the most unpredictable situations a gunowner can find themselves in. Kudos to Pam & Eddie.

ABC News Reports on Joe Horn

James Walton No Billed

James Walton is vindicated. He will not face charges for shooting and killing two burglars on his property in October. A Grand Jury determined the actions of James Walton were justified. Walton shot the two criminals in two separate burglary attempts of the salvage yard where he works and lives. Police responded to at least 42 calls for burglaries and thefts at Walton's place before the shootings.

After the second shooting, Walton was hounded and harassed by an agenda driven Fox 4 roving reporter Rebecca Aguilar. The reporter has been suspended indefinitely for her parking lot ambush of an old man who simply wanted to protect himself from thieves in the night. Aguilar has been self righteously unrepentant. Aguilar needs to go.

Way To Go!

Way to go Monica!

Way to go Breda!

Take a novice shooting this week.

Free Pistols

There is a sublime beauty in form following function. Perhaps this is why Glock pistols, and the M1911A1 seem to be the two handguns shooters eventually gravitate towards. Both are unadulterated in a quest to get shots on target as quickly as possible. There is another style of shooting however. Shooting for absolute accuracy. Shooting a handgun as Robin Hood shot a bow and arrow. Placing a hole exactly where one wants, and then placing rounds through the same hole.

Free pistols are used in 50m Pistol, an ISSF and Olympic event. Free pistols only have a few limitations. They must have open sights. The grip can not lock the wrist in any way. Caliber must be .22 caliber rimfire. The pistol must be loaded and fired as a single shot pistol. Anything else is permissible.

For several years I have enjoyed shooting my Ruger MKII Government Target Model. I has a Volquartsen/Clark Custom action, an anatomically formed Nill grip, and a Volquartsen compensator, added primarily for weight. With Ruger's competition barrel, the gun is accurate, darned accurate. Still, the trigger is not adjustable, and it is not a true single shot. Competition is possible only with a modified magazine.

My IZH 46M was produced by the Russkies for the 10m air pistol event. It is an extraordinarily accurate pistol. With a fully adjustable trigger and swappable sights, it is probably my most accurate pistol.

Still, the IZH 46M was an air pistol. While handy for killing mice, and for winning a few bucks in a friend's back yard, I continued to lust after Pardini K22s and especially the Hammerli 162. Let's face it, old Xavier ain't to awful bad at hitting paper plates on the run with his 1911, but I'm not a world class Olympic shooter. The precision and purity of calling and placing a shot exactly where you want to fascinates me though. The esoteric and functional beauty of a tool designed for that type of transcendental shooting captivates me as well.

Today, I placed an order for a TOZ-35M Free Pistol with the wooden case from CDNN.
$512 with the case.

Shooting in Pasadena Texas

A 911 dispatcher instructed Joe Horn to stay inside while two thieves made off with his neighbor's property. "I ain't going to let them get away with this. They stole something. They got a bag. I'm doing it.".

"Don't go out the house," the dispatcher cautions in a measured voice. "You're gonna get yourself shot if you go outside that house with a gun."

"Wanna make a bet? I'm gonna kill 'em."

"Stay in the house......"

"They, they're gettin' away!"

"It's alright. Property's not worth killing over, OK? Don't go out the house. Don't be shootin' nobody. I know you're pissed and you're frustrated, but don't do it."

"They got a bag of loot!"

"Which way are they going?" the dispatcher asked.

"I can't......I'm going outside, I'll find out," replied Horn. The dispatcher protested, trying to keep Horn inside his home. "Here it goes buddy, you hear the shotgun clicking, and I'm going."

"Move...You're dead!" BLAM! BLAM! Blam!

Officers arrived several moments later. Two men criminals were recently deceased, shot by a 12 gauge at approximately 15 feet. One was across the street, and the other had collapsed two houses down behind a bank of mailboxes in the Village Grove East subdivision.

Texas Penal Code states a person can use deadly force to defend another person's property if he reasonably believes he has a legal duty to do so or the property owner had requested his protection.

"Any loss of life casts permanent devastation over the lives of everyone involved," Horn said. "The events of that day will weigh heavily on me for the rest of my life. My thoughts go out to the loved ones of the deceased."

Read more

More on Megan

I was speechless, horrified, repulsed when I first read and blogged on the story of Megan Meier. I was not alone. Even the snarkiest among us sought time for reflection upon consideration of Megan's story.

I am still repulsed and angry over this heinious act of barbarism. It goes beyond malevolent. It goes beyond vicious. It is obscene.

I find myself still without words to express my sheer outrage at these degenerates. It seems that Lori and Curt Drew have been outed. The blog, Death By 1000 Papercuts is continuing with the story. Go there. Let the chips fall.


MySpace Suicide: The Story Of Megan Meier

Police Report at The Smoking Gun

Three Responses

Recent surveillance video from The Rowan County, North Carolina Sheriff office shows the beginning of an armed robbery of a convenience store just off Interstate 85. As the clerk turns to face the criminal she finds a gun in her face. She slaps the gun away, taking herself out of the line of fire, but then she crumples as her attacker brings it back to bear. she is ushered off to a back room, or to the cash register, the video does not show subsequent events.

In the interest of learning, I would like to examine these actions. At one time, the attacker had both hands spread apart, with the victim in between them. He was wide open to a blow to the throat. Prior to that, in sweeping the gun to the side, the victim had her hand or arm on her attacker's arm. Gaining control of the firearm was an option. A semi-auto handgun pushed out of battery will not fire. A revolver with a death grip around the cylinder will not fire. A finger caught in the triggerguard will be quickly fractured when an adrenaline pumping victim wrenches it from the attacker's grasp.

This victim, however, quickly assumes her role in the robbery after her initial resistance and follows her assailants directions as he orders her off camera. I hope she lived.

One cannot expect every grandmother to respond like Bruce Lee. Or can you? Often it is not the slick move that overcomes the opponent, it is the will to persevere and prevail. It is the will to take advantage of an attacker's weaknesses and mistakes, and fight for one's life. When a victim willingly submits to an attacker's threats and demands, they try to control an unreasonable person with reason. They take on a dependent role, depending on their attacker's generosity for their very survival. I will not judge how any person decides to lead their lives, and I can not judge how any person manages to survive an attack, but one must acknowledge that submission is placing one's very life in the sanctum of a sociopath's benevolence. That is a personal choice, but the reality surrounding it must be recognized.

Compare the first video with these two.

Superb!

From Matt G.......Shoot Out Lessons:

......."one Franklin Ortiz Castro, made a damned fool decision that could easily have cost him and his partner their lives-- he began shooting at the patrol officer with his single-action revolver."

Read more.

Credit Security

via 20/20

Gun Store Robbery

The ATF is helping investigate the armed robbery of Southern Gun Inc. in Collinsville Virginia on November 13, 2007. Three men participated in the robbery. Two entered the store armed with handguns, while one stood outside. The two men then forced clerk, Robert Farley to the floor and hancuffed him. Farley says he had no other choice but to cooperate.

The criminals then filled backpacks they were carrying full of handguns from the store. The ATF says a total of 75 handguns were stolen, worth more $50,000. 22 are revolvers, 53 are semi-automatic pistols. Brands were taken included Glocks, Smith & Wessons, Kimbers and Rossies. Police have not released additional information on the guns, saying it could hurt their investigation.

The men ran from the store, and got in a mid sized burgundy getaway car. One suspect, armed with a chrome revolver, is described as a man in his early 20s. He appears to have a mustache and is between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 140 to 160 pounds. He is wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark pants and carries a backpack.

A second suspect, armed with a chrome semiautomatic handgun and sporting cornrows, appears to be in his early 20s. He is slightly taller, at 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, weighing between 170 and 190 pounds. He was dressed is a dark shirt, dark pants, and wears black and white shoes. Investigators continue to search for the bandits. Farley was not hurt.

The ATF is offering a reward of $5,000 dollars for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible. Anyone with information is urged to call the ATF at (540) 983-6920, or toll free at 1-800-800-3855; the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 638-8751; or CrimeStoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463).

Heavy Seas.

My ship, the USS Midway was an aircraft carrier that started out as a battleship. It was well known for rolling in calm seas, especially after it was converted to an angle deck. Of course, calm seas were not always the order of the day. Being of a Shellbacking nautical type, I just can't let a wog like PhlegmFatale out do me. Here ya go ye scurvy wogs!



Here's another



And another.



Keep in mind these are supertankers. Enjoy the ride!

Plovers vs Preservation

Galveston, Tex., Nov. 13 — Jurors heard opening arguments on Tuesday in the trial of a bird-watching enthusiast who fatally shot a cat that he said was stalking endangered shorebirds. The defendant, James M. Stevenson, is the founder of the Galveston Ornithological Society and leads bird-watching tours on this Gulf Coast island 60 miles southeast of Houston. If convicted on animal cruelty charges in the shooting last November, he faces up to two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Mr. Stevenson, 54, does not deny using a .22-caliber rifle fitted with a scope to kill the cat, which lived under the San Luis Pass toll bridge, linking Galveston to the mainland. He also admits killing many other cats on his own property, where he operates a bed and breakfast for some of the estimated 500,000 birders who come to the island every year.

In her opening statement, Paige L. Santell, a Galveston County assistant district attorney, told the jury of eight women and four men that Mr. Stevenson “shot that animal in cold blood” and that the cat died a slow and painful death “gurgling on its own blood.” She said that the cat had a name, Mama Cat, and that though the cat lived under a toll bridge, she was fed and cared for by a toll collector, John Newland. He is expected to testify.

Whether the cat was feral is the crucial point in this case. Mr. Stevenson was indicted under a state law that prohibited killing a cat “belonging to another.” Prompted by this case, the law was changed on Sept. 1 to include all cats, regardless of ownership. Ms. Santell argued that because Mr. Newland had named, fed and given the cat bedding and toys, the cat belonged to him and was not feral.

Mr. Stevenson’s lawyer, Tad Nelson, admitted in his opening statement that his client went to the San Luis Pass toll bridge with “an intent to kill.” but that he had planned to kill a wild animal that was preying on endangered piping plovers. “This man has dedicated his whole life to birds,” Mr. Nelson said, pointing at Mr. Stevenson.

The case has prompted emotional commentary on the Internet. Cat enthusiast blogs have called Mr. Stevenson a “murderous fascist” and a “diabolical monster.” Birding blogs have defended his right to dispense with a “terrible menace” and have set up funds to help pay for his defense. In an interview in a courthouse elevator during a break in the trial, Mr. Stevenson said heatedly that cat fanciers who have condemned him and sent him hateful correspondence “think birds are nothing but sticks.” “This is about wild species disappearing from your planet,” he said, adding, “I did what I had to do.”

Testimony followed from police officers and the veterinarian who performed the autopsy on Mama Cat, a white and gray tabby mix. The jurors were shown several photographs of the bloodied cat, reminiscent of an episode of “CSI: Miami.”
Pictures of the crime scene showed trays of cat food, blankets and cat toys hanging from strings under the bridge. The .22-caliber rifle Mr. Stevenson used to kill the cat along with his magazine full of Remington hollow-point bullets were also on display.

The prosecution and defense wrangled repeatedly about whether witnesses could accurately assess the cat’s state of mind. “He’s not qualified to know what the cat was feeling,” said Mr. Nelson, when a police officer, John P. Bertolino Sr., testified that the cat was in terrible pain when he arrived at the crime scene. The cat died en route to a Humane Society facility.

The trial, which is expected to take a week, had few spectators save a handful of bird lovers and cat lovers who sat on opposite sides of the courtroom. One side nodded emphatically at Ms. Santell’s arguments, and the other nodded whenever Mr. Nelson objected. “How people feel about the trial depends on who you talk to,” said Victor Lang, a local historian, adding that bird-watchers and cat fanciers obviously had the strongest views. Though others may argue passionately about whether Mr. Stevenson should be punished, Mr. Lang said he did not have strong feelings about the case. “But you see, I’m a dog person,” he said. “If he had shot a dog, then I’d be more upset.”

Kate Murphy, New York Times

I'm not a cat person. I don't care for their aloofness, and their dander causes my nose to run. My family sometimes hear feral cats fighting underneath our home. That being said, I do not think shooting and killing cats is a good means to a solution to this problem. The cat may have owners. The cat may have someone grieving for it's absence. It's really not a question of humane treatment of cats, or of preserving plovers. It's a question of respecting our fellow man. It's a question of knowing the laws that govern us and following them. Mr. Stevenson assumed the cat, which he describes on the website for the Galveston Ornithological Society as being uncatchable, "lame" and "hunting endangered Piping Plovers" did not have an owner. He was wrong. The cat had someone who cared for her, someone who will miss her. That's about as close to an "owner" as any cat will ever tolerate. Most cats are uncatchable. Catching a cat is near impossible. They are, however trappable, especially hungry, lame cats.

The respectful means of dealing with a feral cat is to live trap it. Then try to ascertain whether it has an owner. If none can be found, take the animal to a shelter where it can be euthanized or given a home. If you cannot afford a live trap (about $45 to $60), then contact your local shelter. They will be happy to loan you one.

To me, this is not about plovers, cats or brotherly love really. It's about keeping gun owners from looking like jackasses in mug shots and preserving our right to keep and bear arms. Thanks a lot Mr. Stevenson. I have no sympathy.

Feral Cat Assistance Program

Unspeakable

If there are not criminal charges to prevent this from ever happening again, justice has failed.

If this community does not absolutely shun these miscreants they are culpable.

Read Megan's story at the risk of never viewing MySpace in the same light again.

CNN's Gary Tuchman video report.

The Cell Phone

I've been using the same old cell phone for the past five years or so. It was a beat up silver flip phone that had escaped my pocket in search of pavement numerous times as I exited my car. It steadfastly refused to give up the ghost and I reveled in the luxury of not being able to pay a thief to take the ugly device. I usually kept the ringer turned off unless I was awaiting a return call.

A couple of days ago my dear wife-mate presented me with a new cellphone.....Seems her contract was up for renewal, and she wanted a more debonair device to make noise in my pocket. A Motorola V365 it is.....constructed so tough that even the Samsonite gorilla would wail over it's inextirpable good looks. I hesitantly swapped in my SIM card and lit that puppy up. The personal phone numbers of over 100 physicians and surgeons were vaporized, along with the numbers of an equal number of friends. Crap. So, that's where Xavier has been.....I have spent the last two days retrieving the numbers and trying to force this monster into submission.

One advantage is the Motorola has a camera. Perhaps that can assist me with getting photos for the blog if I can figure out how to get the dammed telephone to puke them up into the computer. The silly thing has mobile email and text messaging.....Like I'm going to use that. I have no idea what they are for. The ideal cellphone for me would have no incoming calls and a rotary dial. Today the damned thing emitted that irritating series of electronic tones while I was scrubbed in. Sherry the Circulator dug under my gown, fished it out of my pocket and held it to my waiting cheek. Some customer service rep wanted to know if I was pleased with my new phone and service. I related my displeasure at having to respond when I was up to my wrists in bloody skeeter stats, and I banished the thing outside to my labcoat.

Tonight when I got home, Little Darling showed me how to turn it off, and she put her picture in it for me. I'm starting to like it better already.

Diagnosis Wenckebach

Ain't That America?!!

Swinging an ax she retrieved from behind the counter of a Long Island convenience store, a diminutive clerk fought off an armed man who tried to rob her. The confrontation was captured by a store surveillance camera. As seen on video, Hafize Sahin, 27, reached for the ax after the robber moved away from the counter of Southaven Convenience in Brookhaven. Suffolk County police described the suspect as a six foot tall male between the ages of 28 and 30, with a medium build. Sahin is five feet tall and weighs 90 pounds.

Those Mil-Spec Springfield 1911s

My first 1911 was a Springfield Armory pistol. Back then, I had not yet experienced the allure of the Colt product, but I wrote about the Springfield Mil-Spec as a review online somewhere. Fortunately, I still have that review in my files, as well as a subsequent review on the pistol that would become the Springfield GI45.

I still heartily recommend the Springfield 1911 to people who want to explore the 1911 and all it's potential. the Springfield has a forged frame and slide. Less expensive 1911s lack this quality. I believe forgings to be important on an old design that fires a substantial cartridge if the firearm is to remain durable in the long term.

I still own these Springfield pistols, and they still shoot beautifully. I would not hesitate to purchase another one at the right price. I paid $499 for my NIB Mil-Spec years ago, and $400 for my GI version. Not surprisingly, the prices have since gone up. Last week I saw a new Mil-Spec in a gun store priced at $663. They had a GI45 for $499. I present the rather dated reviews, with current photos, here for your enjoyment.

The Springfield Mil-Spec

I became interested in handguns during the height of the Wondernine Revolution. I was in the military when we transitioned from the venerable old 1911 to the M9 Beretta 92FS. Sidearms in particular are a personal thing to a man in the military. I heard all the arguments from the old salts who wanted to keep the 1911. Like most changes, the troops did not like the change to an unproven sidearm. When I got out of Uncle Sugar's Yacht Club in late 1991, the first major purchase I made was a Beretta 92FS. It took me years to see the wisdom of the old salts I had fought with.

A decade later, my son acquired a Colt 1991 Officer's Model, and I was amazed at it's accuracy. I was also intrigued by it's utilitarian business like design. Then one afternoon at my local gunstore, I noticed a Springfield Mil-Spec in the case. It was a rather uninspiring looking pistol, with black plastic grips and a dull black parkerized finish. I listened while the counter guy gave me the standard internet rumor that the NM serial number meant this pistol had a leftover National Match frame. I looked at the $499 price tag, and decided that perhaps it was the day to buy a 1911. The NM rumor ended up being horse hockey, the pistol ended up being a diamond in the rough. The pistol came with two magazines, a coupon for a bunch of goodies, but best of all, a lifetime warranty.

The Springfield Mil-Spec is a Series 70 type pistol, meaning it has no firing pin safety. Instead, Springfield uses a lighter titanium firing pin. This is the only proprietary part. All other parts can be replaced with Colt Series 70 parts. The Regular Mil-Spec (as opposed to the WWII model) has a lowered and flared ejection port. It has generous three dot sights that are quick to acquire. It also has a slightly extended tang on the grip safety that effectively eliminates hammerbite. At the time of this writing, the Springfield Mil-spec is available in Government length as well as Commander (Champion), and Ultra Compact (3.5 inch). There have been reliability problems reported with the Mil-Specs in Ultra Compact length, but nothing that the factory could not iron out. The Mil-Spec now comes in several finishes....parkerized, stainless steel, two toned (parkerized slide, stainless frame), olive drab Armor Kote, Springfield's teflon based coating.

The frames and slides of the Springfield Mil-Spec are forged. The barrel is a two piece barrel, a reservation for some, but a non-issue for others. Some have a Chamber Indicator Slot cut into the barrel hood to allow a shooter to see brass in the chamber. All have the Integral Locking System built into the mainspring housing. The ILS is a rather ingenious locking device that only takes a turn of a discrete keyway to lock the weapon's hammer in place, thus disabling it. What's ingenious about that you ask? Well you can get rid of it by changing out the mainspring housing, mainspring, and the mainspring cap. The housing is routinely swapped out by 1911 shooters anyway. The cap is a three dollar part. Thus you have a choice of whether you want the device. Springfield has preserved the original format of the 1911 while still incorporating a drop safety as well as an integral safety. Both Kimber Series II and Colt Series 80 pistols have extra mechanical mechanisms for a firing pin safety. Springfield's solution is simple, elegant and smart.

My Springfield Mil-Spec was a decently accurate gun out of the box. It would shoot average two inch groups with an occasional flyer at 25 feet. An experienced 1911 shooter could have done better, as I was new to the caliber and platform. One of the first things I did was change out the stainless steel bushing my Mil-Spec came with. I just did not like the silver bushing on a parkerized gun. I ordered a King's bushing and slowly went about fitting it. Over 3000 rounds later, it still requires a wrench to remove. The King's bushing had the Midas effect on this gun. It went from scattered groups to single holes. The change was so immediate that I have to credit the bushing and not my growing experience with the gun. To date I have well over 3000 rounds through this pistol with only one stovepipe in the first fifty rounds. That was likely my fault, from limpwristing. I use Wilson Combat magazines in the pistol, but it functioned fine with the stock Springfield magazines as well.

Out of the box trigger pull was a crisp 5-6 pounds. To lighten the trigger pull, I installed a Colt trigger from my Commander, an 18 pound mainspring (along with a 20 LPI checkered mainspring housing to get rid of the ILS) and a bit of Brownell's Action Magic grease on the sear nose. I installed a King's wide spur hammer, simply because I like the looks of it. After a night of dry firing the pistol at liberals on the television, the action polished up to a crisp three pound trigger with a light take up and no creep. After I lightened the mainspring to 18 pounds, I received the occasional lightstrike. I rectified this by cutting two coils off the firing pin spring, thus lightening it as well. The lightstrikes were eliminated.

I really like the teardrop shaped thumb safety on a concealed carry 1911, but this 1911 was not to be a CCW gun. Thus I installed an Ed Brown extended ambi-safety. I went through several sets of grips before I finally settled on Kim Ahrends cocobolo checkered grips. They will stay on the pistol. I rarely change grips again once I find a set that I like for a given pistol. I also installed a Chip McCormick drop in rear sight.

I would recommend the Springfield Mil-Spec right alongside the NRM Colt as the perfect choice for the 1911 novice. It is affordable, reliable, durable, and incredibly addictive. Even if you never loosen a grip screw, you will find this pistol to be an incredible value. People have taken it straight from the counter to IDPA matches, with little more than a squirt of CLP on the rails, and found it to be 100% reliable. In the past, Springfields have taken a hit compared to Colts and Kimbers at the trade-in counter. I expect this to stabilize in the future. To take the hit, an owner must trade in the pistol. I don't ever expect to trade mine in, so it's a non-issue for me. For the person who wants to venture into the world of John Moses Browning's 1911 brainchild and see if they will enjoy a gun of infinite possibilities, undisputed effectiveness, and incredible value, the Springfield Mil-Spec is a $500 ticket to never seeing any handgun in the same way again. The 1911 raises the bar for all handguns. The Springfield Mil-Spec raises the bar for affordable 1911s. Get one. You will not regret it.

The Pistol That Became The Springfield GI45

In 2003, Springfield decided to release their own version of a military style 1911A1. Rumors of this had circulated the 1911 forums for a couple of months, and some buyers, like myself were chomping at the bit for this pistol. We all wanted a GI style 1911 as a shooter, and the Auto Ordnance version just did not measure up. The Colt reproduction was just to expensive, and many thought to pretty. Sistemas seemed to be a crapshoot and hard to find. Norincos were even tougher to find. Forget about Remington Rands and Switch & Signals and other real GI guns, they are just to valuable to be shooters. The market was ready for a durable, decently fitted and inexpensive GI styled 1911 that could shoot out of the box. I ordered mine the day after Springfield released them. I had no idea what to expect. The ads showed a gun with brown plastic grips and a stainless barrel. The initial MSRP was $489. My cost was $400, and it seems as if you can now find several Springfield WWII Mil-Specs at any gunshow for $399.

When my WWII Mil-Spec arrived, it had Springfield's ILS system, a teardrop thumb safety, standard trigger, and black plastic checkered grips. It also had a parkerized barrel with a loaded chamber indicator, and the older blocky Springfield front strap. I found it to be acceptable for $400 though.

I have listed the differences between the two Mil-specs below, as this often confuses people. My WWII Mil-Spec had "IMBEL BRAZIL" buzzpenned under the dustcover, indicating it was finished in Brazil. The good thing is that it had a GI style ejection port, straight slide serrations, and a parkerized barrel and bushing. The slide and frame are forged.

The first thing on mine to be changed were the grips. I went with walnut double diamonds. Basically what I wanted to do was not to reproduce a certain pistol, but to make my pistol have the feel of a military 1911. I located a GI trigger, a GI abbreviated thumb safety and installed them. Next, I installed a checkered magazine release and slide release. The ILS system had to go, so I bought a lanyard loop mainspring housing off ebay and installed it. I also picked up a couple of GI magazines. I like a wide spur hammer, so I installed one of those as well, and polished up the action.

This pistol is a surprisingly good shooter once you adapt to the military sights. It is as accurate as the regular Mil-Spec. Make no mistake though, military sights are not Novaks. This pistol looks even better with finish wear (imagine that!). After approximately 600 rounds, I began to have feeding difficulty on the last round of a magazine. I swapped magazines to no avail. I finally resorted to putting an 18.5 pound recoil spring in the pistol, and it has been chugging along ever since. I'm not positive of my round count, but I know it is between 1500 and two thousand, mostly Winchester White Box with a smattering of reloads. This pistol does ding the brass a bit on ejection, but not badly according to a reloader friend. It will eject a live round. I had no stovepipes. It will shoot JHP, although I only ran one magazine of HydraShoks through it just to see if it would. Others report no problems with JHP as well.

The Springfield WWII Mil-Spec is a great buy if you want a military style 1911 that is a shooter and can be beat around. It won't fool a WWII buff, but if you swap in a checkered slide stop, checkered mag release, a GI thumb safety, put on brown plastic or walnut grips and get rid of the ILS mainspring housing it is pretty darned authentic. I would rate it as a best buy for a novice 1911 buyer. Many experienced 1911 shooters are buying this pistol and having a heck of a lot of fun with it. Most are trying to figure out how Springfield is turning a profit. This is certainly one 1911 that gives you more than you pay for.

A semi-accurate compilation of the differences between these two 1911s is listed below. Some changes have occured since, such as the improved rounding of the frontstrap and the dustcover to bring the pistols closer to the classic 1911 profile. I have not kept up with all the changes.

Springfield Mil-Spec
PB9108LP (parkerized 5 inch)
N or NM serial number
Around $650 now
Lowered and flared ejection port
Slanted slide serrations
Stainless barrel with chamber indicator
Three dot sights
Stainless bushing (some are parkerized)
Rounded front strap
Less machining marks under slide
Has crossed cannons logo on slide
No lanyard loop
Serrated slide stop and mag release
Civilian teardrop safety
Short serrated trigger
Sear and hammer pins are flat on right side
Black checkered plastic grips (later changed to crossed cannon logo wooden grips)
Comes in parkerized or stainless
Blue plastic box

Springfield WWII Mil-Spec (GI45)
PW9108LP (parkerized 5 inch)
WW serial number
Around $500 now
GI style high ejection port
Straight slide serrations
Parkerized barrel with chamber indicator (chamber indicator omitted on later models)
Military sights
Parkerized bushing
Blockier front strap (later models have the rounded frontstrap)
More machining marks under slide
No ".45 Cal" or crossed cannon logo on slide
Lanyard loop
Serrated slide stop and mag release
Sear and hammer pins are domed on right side
Civilian teardrop safety
Short serrated trigger
Black checkered plastic grips (later changed to US logo wooden grips)
Comes in parkerized, stainless olive drab, various sizes and even high capacity
Cardboard box (Later changed to green plastic)

Over the past few years, some of my preferences have changed, and Springfield's packaging and pricing of these pistols has changed, but I never felt the need to upgrade among Springfield Armory's products. Springfield makes some excellent high end pistols, and I understand their Custom Shop is second to no other manufacturers. I also understand their service is second to none. I have never had to use either.

I have purchased a used stainless GI45 at an excellent price. It, too, has been an excellent pistol. So, in the end, if you are a person wanting to try the 1911 platform, here's your meat. In my opinion, the Springfield 1911 is the best product available for the 1911 newbie who wants a durable, accurate and inexpensive entry gun into the 1911 arena.

How to remove the ILS.