Mark@Sea

Class III license? Is that bovine fertilizer I smell?

Made in 58, its' Belgian. Wish he weren't on the opposite end of the state!

Probably 20 years ago, Norfolk, very small apartment, my room mate opened the door when someone knocked one night. 3 (or maybe 4) guys rushed in as soon as he opened the door. The first one through cold-cocked him with a crescent wrench. I happened to be standing in the walk-in closet where I stored my pistol. I grabbed it and spun around to find myself face to face with mr. goodwrench - I practically stuck the pistol up his nose and told him to take his best swing. After a few seconds of yelling that seemed to last hours, they all took off. After that, I always kept my pistol loaded. I'm now lucky enough to live somewhat rural. My wife had never fired a gun before she met me, and had refused to consider a carry permit until, while I was at sea, the unwelcome advances and wandering hands of a so-called neighbor convinced her that sometimes the only "no" that gets respect comes from the business end of the muzzle. She now carries every time she leaves the house, and answers the door with a pistol in hand. Lessons learned: Rural location is no barrier to crime, and an unloaded gun is downright dangerous.

Rabbi, I'm certain we could find something to disagree on. The boys in the sandbox are getting a real education on social shotgunning. You might investigate what they're ordering for the task...

"small, bobbed" sounds like the original design. Pic?

Norfolk Scope...

Matt, I may be able to make it home for a weekend early in May. If so, and if you'd care to drive over to Kingsport, you can shoot one of mine. I have my own range, it'll cost you just what I paid for the ammo (about 50 cents a pop, I think). Wideners, in JC, has the K31's - walk in price is about $200, and they usually have 4 or 5 on the rack so you can do your own 'hand-pick'. They also have the ammo, at about the prevailing rate. Three things going for the K31. The rifles are (as I'm sure you've noticed) very well designed and machined. They were also well maintained - hard to find one with a bad bore. Lastly, the ammo is incredibly consistent, which means repeatable accuracy. Okay, four things - forgot the fun factor. Straight-pull bolts are a hoot. PM me with contact info if you're interested in shooting one of mine... Mark

Finally in port for a fun show, in Norfolk. Did something happen the last year or so to make prices triple, or were there just a bunch of really optimistic sellers? I don't make it to shows very often, so I don't know if this is normal, or if these guys just had their bandit masks hidden under the tables. Just a few off the cuff prices I noticed - rack grade Inland M1 Carbines marked between 900 and 1300.... M1 Garands at 1200 and up - way, way up. P38's at $350, when my buddys' shop here in Norfolk has 'em unissued for $269. What really hurt were the broomhandle mausers. Being a little off in the head I've been sort of looking for one. Not at 4 grand, though! M4's at $990+, just like the one I put up for sale on this board at $650 (no takers:cry:). Looked around for one of those $300 AK's I read about so often in the papers, but they must have all sold out . I did buy an old military coleman lantern (I only have 300 or so coleman lanterns, good thing I found it) just so I wouldn't have wasted the door charge for the show... So, is this normal these days, or what?

Figured I'd beat him to the punch.

No worries on the Thermos, Mars... She uses it quite a bit, but she has a smaller one she is using meanwhile. They come in very handy. By the way, the wally world in Norfolk has them on their clearance shelf - the 1 quart size - for 20 bucks, and I picked up a couple.

Mars, the ship is about to go into the yards. I may get a weekend at home the end of the month, but I don't expect any real time off until maybe July. I'm going to try to swing a couple weeks home then. Sue can dig it out for you, though. Hey, if you drop by, do you still have her thermos? ***Just called the house, Sue dug it out. Still in the case, with all associated paperwork, etc. She wants $275 for it - it has less than a box of ammo through it.*** The Ruger (is it a mkI or ???) $250 I may put the medallist up for sale, will have to think about it. Those aren't what you'd call easy to find, and I have a real soft spot for that one.

Oh Geez, another 1911 fan. You ought to wake up and join the 21st Century, and get some tupperware. You know the design is so old, it probably doesn't even work anymore, plus you don't have a 19 round magazine so you're never gonna be able to get one on target. Don't you know you can't hit a target farther than 5 feet away with one of those? That gun is too complicated to actually use, you know - I mean, it has a safety. Besides, it was designed by JMB ages ago. It can't stand up to any abuse, it'll jam on you, probably fall apart first time you take your eyes off it, and you won't find it in any new video games, so it must be a real clunker. Welcome to the fold! Remington Rand Springfield Officers Model Springfield mil-spec Springfield WWII Norinco w/GI barrel, NM bushing, Millet sights

He works at Coal Creek Armory, has a blog at http://coltcco.com/ There is always a big flap when someone says they want to exercise their right to open carry. Before it starts this time, can anyone correct and attribute the following quote? "Those who do not exercise their rights have no complaint when the authorities follow their example."

Order the whole center pin assembly - $8.30

IDPA matches, maybe 15 years ago, in North Carolina... Saw a gentleman in his 70's draw and perforate 3 targets (2 shots each) with a revolver - in well under two seconds. Lady I had trained won the novice trophy at her first match, outscoring her ex-USMC husband by a VERY comfortable margin. She insisted I sell her the BHP I'd loaned her for the match, and after they got home he was so upset that he took it to pieces and gave it to her in a shoebox. Needless to say her next lesson was detail-stripping and reassembly. Navy rifle matches, Dam Neck - kid spotting for me told me he could watch the bullets go downrange from the 500 yd line, and proceeded to tell me exactly where each one went. He was dead on, too.

Frankly, I see little useful in publishing names and addresses, and several ways that information could be abused, to the serious harm of the individuals on the list. People keep saying you can't shout 'fire' in a theater, or libel someone. Well, you can, but you are liable for civil or criminal penalties. How about a ruling that any permit holder whose information is published may sue the paper for real or potential damages? As in, for instance, victims of abuse who have gone to some lengths to relocate and keep that information from their abuser, suing for costs of relocation and damages? Or burglary victims? Reasonable to believe that a burglary occuring within a short time of the publication is connected, if guns were stolen. Again, damages should be assessed, as the publication of sensitive information certainly raises the risk levels of permit holders. If you want to go tit for tat, the paper should publish the editorial board/writers name, address and SSN. Surely no one would object to publishing that not-terribly-private information, and surely no criminal would use that information for personal gain. After all, ID theft is just a ridiculous bogeyman, right?

The ruger is fine with hi-vel ammo. The only real issue is that the original mag holds only 9 rounds, but new ruger mags will work and hold 10. All of them will function with hi-vel, but it does (to some extent) accelerate wear. Also, hey, Green Tag is more accurate.

Mike, I may - again, may - be home for a couple of weeks in July or August. Will take payments or trades, I have really no use for another 22 pistol. Lets' see, the Medallist, the Woodsman, the Ruger, the Buckmark, another buckmark (silhouette), an ancient 4 barrel derringer in 22 short...... Now, one I would LIKE to have is the old Llama 22 (looked like a miniature 1911). The same gun was made in .32 acp and .380. I have the .32 version and it shoots straight. That, a Colt WWI repro, and a C96 are about all that are left on my 'want' list. Well, and any 1911 needing a good home. Fortunately for my financial health, everything that pops up on the 'for sale' forum starts with "Customised". It took me 3 pistols and 10 years to figure out that JMB was a better gunsmith than I'll ever be. Original recipe is the way to go!

Hey Mike, I've got a Ruger (original recipe) I'll sell ya. And/or a Buckmark. The Browning was Sue's first pistol, but after I came home with a woodsman she doesn't want it anymore. Has maybe 1 box through it.

I saw a little lever-action Henry with a big bow lever in the shop the other day... made me wish I had an excuse. Unfortunately, no children and no nephews... Ah well.

Cherry Blossom That is the stain I was henpecked into applying on my wifes' latest... Well, it was mine until she shot it and decided it was hers. What would you call that? Anyway, cherry blossom stain makes a credible pink on a walnut stock, if that information is useful to you. Thankfully, it was a commercial M1 receiver and not one of my GI carbines. I call it her "San Francisco Militia" rifle.

Hi Guys Cody, to answer your question, about 60, I think. Been a while. Hope it doesn't rain on you guys! Black Powder - If Sue will dig them out, and you want to try, I have a couple flintlock pistols. One (boarding pistol) is more of a blunderbuss, actually. Even has a folding bayonet. You may need 4f for the priming pans, though, so if you don't want to fool with it... OTOH, if you do, let me know so I can call Sue. On late watches here now, regret the reply delay. Shoot straight!

Hi All, Hope you guys have fun at the shoot. Bet I can make you jealous, though - I'm on a combat stores ship. In addition to big grey or green things that fall down go boom, you wouldn't believe how much small arms ammo is on board. Think really big numbers. And for those who know of my coleman hobby, we pumped just over a million gallons of fuel (kerosene in one form or another) yesterday. Yeah, thats' what I thought. I'd rather be at the range too...

Directions Marswolf has it right - follow his to Netherland Inn Rd. Once you've turned on Netherland Inn, you will go less than 1/2 mile. Just before crossing the old bridge at Rotherwood Mansion, take a left turn onto Big Elm Rd. Stay on Big Elm. When the road splits or turns, stay with the river. When you get to a 'T', take a right (staying with the river). You are looking for Clicktown Rd on the right. If you miss it, you'll see a brick church in front of you, eventually, so turn around. Once turning on Clicktown - Go approx 200 feet - the road will T. Take the left (gravel). Drive 1/4 mile. You will be back on pavement. Stay on the pavement until you see the range on your right. Thanks Marswolf, for standing in!

Cold Steel hands down.