Pirate with a Permission Slip

A day that will live in infamy

2011-12-07T18:00:00.002-06:00

The words spoken by FDR to Congress, asking that we declare war on the Empire of Japan in direct response to their sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Maybe we should read the whole thing:

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

Take a moment to remember the sacrifice those words would cause for a large number of Americans, as we fought to stop the Axis Powers...

Humpday Hardware: is that a pistol in your pocket?

2011-12-07T12:00:00.000-06:00

Let's continue the cowboy theme for a bit...

One of the other things that was fun in CAS were the side matches: derringer matches, long range rifle, and pocket pistol.

Since my persona was a gambler, the pocket pistol matches intrigued me. So I set out acquiring the needed equipment. This is NOT as easy as it sounds.

My first attempt was the pictured H&R. Now granted, I picked it up for a song (think I paid $50 for it), but I made a serious mistake: I didn't check the lockup. Even with the trigger pulled (at which point, the cylinder shouldn't wobble at all), there's a good 2mm of play. Should only require replacing one part, but Gander Mountain doesn't generally stock parts for obsolete pocket .32s...

So we continue on the search, moving forward to the year before last.

I had gone to a local funshow with a young friend and his mother: she wanted to buy him his first centerfire rifle, and asked me to tag along and help him find a good deal. While browsing the tables, I spied this:

That would be an Iver Johnson version of the same pistol (both based on the S&W pocket pistols). And again, offered for a song (I had $100 on me, it was marked at $150. He took the Franklin). And this time, I had learned my lesson: lockup was checked before discussing price, and it locks up like the frame and cylinder are one piece.

Haven't gotten a chance to fire either yet, but hopefully my next range trip I'll bring the Iver J along to test. Here they are with my EDS:

Recoil therepy

2011-12-06T14:38:00.002-06:00

So Spoon and I decided to hit a (somewhat) nearby indoor range last night, to try and distract ourselves a bit. Best idea ever.

Didn't take too much with us: mom's Mustang, Spoon's Kimber, dad's Ortgie, and one of the pocket .32's.

She did fairly well with her Kimber, but we REALLY need to replace the magazines.

Dad's Ortgie has issues, but that's ok: it'll never be used as a carry piece again. Actually, it'll be passed on as a gift to someone who'll truly appreciate it.

The pocket .32, I'm kinda pissed about. Need to replace the mainspring: a full cylinder of light strikes tells me that. Or maybe the hammer.

The new surprise was Spoon with the Mustang. Only went out to 10 yards, but kept every group at the range under 8 inches. To me, that's good enough for a pocket pistol: she's gonna be taking it as her new carry piece. I think mom would approve.

0355

2011-12-05T03:59:00.001-06:00

Miney just came out of Dad's room, and asked me to come in. Dad is gone

Change isn't always for the better...

2011-12-05T02:18:00.004-06:00

New Jovian Thunderbolt comments on something posted over at Tam's place.

I know where they're coming from.

When I got into shooting, I was all about the new and uber-tacticool. ARs, HKs, Berettas... all that was "cutting edge". Then, something changed...

Now, the pistol on my hip most often is a Smith 19-5. And I'm looking into an Uberti Schofield copy, that will also be added to the rotation. One of the prizes of my collection is a Winchester 1887 shotgun. And at gun shows, the table of "old things" draws me much more readily than whatever the newfangled gizmo of the day is.

They really DON'T make 'em like they used to. And that's a shame...

Up all night, sleep when I'm dead

2011-12-04T07:06:00.002-06:00

Well, I suppose I should just tell folks what's going on.

Dad returned from Thailand, again with his COPD hitting hard. And has been in a long spiral down since, to the point that we're currently keeping a 24 hour watch on him. Guess who gets the night shift?

Honestly, I don't expect him to make it to Christmas. And at this point, would rather he didn't: felons in solitary have a higher quality of life at this point...

Humpday Hardware goes cowboy

2011-11-30T23:22:00.002-06:00

Ok... been promising this for months now. Unfortunately, I did NOT get pics of Spoon actually holding her pieces: too much life going on right now (will post about that later)

Anyway... before we got involved in BACA, Spoon and I had discovered the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting. For those unaware, this is a game where you dress up in your best approximation of Olde West Garb, and see how fast you can miss a set of targets. It's played with two single action pistols, a lever or pump action rifle, and one of a limited number of shotgun designs (all pre 1899 designs)...

We never got a chance to get too involved: our BACA chapter got started shortly after that, and our finances got screwy around the same time. To the point that my cowboy pistols got sold (the very last guns I ever sold). But the plan has always been to get involved with that sport again.

We had already picked up Spoon's first pistol before then: an American Western Arms Longhorn.

The funny story with this pistol is, it's her second one. Took the first one to the range, and it locked up tight on her: part of the frame behind the cylinder had broken. But they made it right almost instantly, so good on AWA

The second pistol was actually provided by a friend for her Christmas present last year (and I still owe him on it: I haven't forgotten, bro). It's an Uberti Peacemaker knockoff:

My frined Matt was looking to get rid of it (and a side by 12 ga), and we talked about it. The fun of this one was the gunstore employee who claimed he had shipped it, but didn't: that caused a LOT of fun on both ends.

So here they are: my wife's pair of single action slugthrowers

New Feature

2011-11-28T23:56:00.002-06:00

Ok... gotten back into Humpday Hardware (honest, Spoon WILL be goin' cowboy tomorrow). And suddenly, another possible feature presents itself: The Tuesday Drunk Barrista. Some background...

A friend of mine is a barrista at the local java joint. And he's a... colorful... character. Who, when he goes out on weekends, has been known to spout some priceless lines. Or find himself in priceless situations. We'll call him John.

Now... John is a gay liberal. But I'm a tolerant soul. And I've talked several friends into aiding and abetting, by reporting back whatever humor happens when I'm not along.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So I got invited along this weekend past. There's only the four of us guys, and discussions are wide ranging. Including discussion of John's visit to the submarine (I STILL haven't gotten all the details, but he often says "so I desecrated a national monument"). As the night goes on, the discussion turns to child support, and the ridiculus levels some men are made to pay.

John, swaying slightly, proclaims quite loudly "well, if some guy knocked me up, I would want to be getting some scratch from him!". We all just sorta looked at him, before busting out laughing...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So that's the start... I have a few stories saved up, for the rare weekend they don't go out. And y'all can read about it every tuesday!

... and blood will run in the streets!

2011-11-27T04:14:00.003-06:00

Well, we're 27 days into the era of legally armed Wisconsinites, and coming to the end of the opening weekend of Idiot Season (Christmas shopping).

Just did a quick Google search, looking for any cases of shootings here in Cheddarland during the Black Friday stupidity. Now, I've heard of all kinds of asshattery from Friday, but oddly enough, nobody pulled their heater and popped some caps to secure the X-Box for Lil' Timmy.

We were promised blood in the streets, damnit. Where's our blood in the streets?

Pimpin' ain't easy

2011-11-23T22:53:00.006-06:00

Many moons ago, a reporter asked Patton about his pearl-handled pistol. His response has become somewhat legendary: "Only a New Orleans pimp, would carry a pearl-handled gun."

Ummm... sorry, general

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had picked up Smitty a few years back, wanting a .357 in the locker. When I bought him, he had oversize Pachmyer grips, which didn't fit my tiny paws all that well. Over the next year or so, I spent lots of time looking for a good set of grips that fit my hand. Various rubber grips were tried, none felt right. And when I considered the idea of keeping him in my colors, they got worse.

Then came the Fon du lac gunshow, and a table that had all KINDS of grips. I was hoping for a nice set of smooth wood. Instead, I found what you see on him.

He's a Smith 19-5, with a 2" bbl. Shoots well, and carries ok in either of the rigs pictured. I'm hoping to replace both with a Flatjack from Dragonworks Leather, debating between the Gadsden inlay, or stingray with eye. And finances to be a lil' better...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And no, really, next week Spoon will cowboy up!

And Wisconsin joins the United States

2011-11-19T01:35:00.003-06:00

As most people know, some form of concealed carry has been available in 48 of our 50 states for many years. Well, as of 01 Nov, Wisconsin FINALLY joined the rest.

It has been a long fight to get here, but we FINALLY made it. And today, 18 Nov, I got my permission slip in the mail:

YAY!!!

Too much irony. Needs some starch

2011-10-06T16:58:00.001-06:00

So... Steve Jobs has shuffled off this mortal coil. Although never a fan of his products, I never wished the man ill, and admit he revolutionized things.

The joke now is the Westboro Baptist Idiots. They've announced that they'll be protesting Jobs' funeral. And they made the announcement on Twitter, via their iPhones.

Words fail

Meanwhile, on the east coast...

2011-08-23T21:03:00.001-06:00

... Mother Nature decided to shake things up a bit. Unfortunately, She made a mistake, and did NOT swallow DC...

Damnit

In the mind of a pedophile...

2011-08-22T01:29:00.002-06:00

Ok... go here. Read the post, certainly (and the post linked back at Peter's place). But most importantly, read the comments...

There, folks, is a pedophile (you'll know who he is).

This is seen regularly, where someone starts posting to a blog or discussion group, defending pedophilia as "simply sex between people who love each other". We're left to imagine children, enveloped in the overwhelming love of the person embracing them, and that love being shown in a tender, heart-warming fashion.

BULLSHIT

Yes, quite often, the victim (a child, not fully mature) DOES "consent" or even "desire" what the pedophile is doing. That's because the scum do something called "grooming"... a fancy term for "brainwashing". They convince the child that they want this, that it's ok. That it's acceptable to have happen.

Children also have a desire to try alcohol, and tobacco. Haven't heard the outcry about THOSE rights "being infringed", probably because the only people who would benefit from such would be businesses, and those businesses have morals.

When you encounter these people, they will go to great lengths to convince you that what they do is harmless, that there really is no victim, that children genuinely WANT these things. And they can sound OH SO REASONABLE, just wanting these poor children to have their "sexual rights".

Call them on it folks. Someone who would defend the actions of a pedophile, probably is one themselves. Show them NO mercy, just as they show none to their victims...

Of flash mobs

2011-08-21T19:09:00.003-06:00

Yes yes, I know... I've been lazy. Working on that.

The big news items out of Wisconsin this year has been the passage of concealed carry, and the flash mob phenomina in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, it seems the police and politicritters of Milwaukee are refusing to look at the racial component of the mobs: almost exclusively black youths, targeting white victims.

Now, CCW goes into effect in November, and the first Wisconsin permits are expected to hit the streets by 15 December. And I'm going to make a small prediction about the combination of these two facts:

Sometime between 15 December 2011, and the same time 2012, there will be another flash mob in Milwaukee (again a group of predominantly black youths). Only this time, there will be an armed citizen amongst the chosen victims, most likely a white male. Said victim may or may not survive the encounter, but there WILL be casualties.

When this occurs, Milwaukee is going to blow, sky high, as the various race baiters and idiots in paleomedia turn this into some racial crime.

You heard it here first. Gawds, but I hope I'm wrong...

Words fail

2011-05-04T22:50:00.002-06:00

Cue red tint on your computer moniter when you read this.

Back from the homicidal rage? Ok.

For those who didn't mash the link: couple has house searched in connection with a burglary. In the house, the police find two children: a month old baby boy "in good condition", and a girl of 5 or 6 locked in a crib and so malnourished she was attempting to eat her own skin. AND, (if that wasn't enough), authorities found the remains of another child buried on the premises.

*RAGE*

And the money quote, for me:

"He was really a nice guy," Brian Gore's ex-girlfriend, Sandy, told WTKR 3 News in Norfolk. "He went to church and everything."

They go to church, so they MUST be good folks.

People, some of the WORST things I've seen have been done by people with more religious artwork on their walls that your average church.

Y'all will excuse me, I have to go hit something now. Like my head against the wall

Eva

2011-05-04T17:42:00.006-06:00

MANY years ago, my father told me a story about my grandmother. She was a full blood Apache woman, who had a bit of an attitude.

Story goes, that a door to door salesman interrupted her favorite gameshow. She politely excused herself from the door, went to the kitchen, snagged a tool, and chased the guy down the street brandishing her meat cleaver over her 4' nothing frame.

Why do I bring this up?

Well, it's been time to replace the "longboat" of the HMS Privateer. I WAS going to pick up a sidecar equipped Goldwing from a brother out of state, but I found something else instead.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I'd like to introduce you to Eva, my new scoot:

'91 Sportster 1200, with a bit less than 15K on the odometer...

She's going to be getting some cosmetic work done on her: a face-lift, so to speak. Pics will come when she's all finished.

Why "Eva"? Because she's small (Sporties are the smallest of the HD line), but has guts WAY beyond her size. Seems fitting she should be named after my slightly psychotic grandma...

Back aboard

2011-05-04T17:39:00.001-06:00

Ok... someone (again) reminded me that I've got this thing. Working on making regular posts again...

Of lunatics, guns, and polite discourse

2011-01-10T17:00:00.002-06:00

So... by now, I'm sure everyone's heard about the wackjob in Arizona who pulled a gat and mowed down several people (including a congresswoman, a judge, and a small girl).

And the media frenzy began before the gunsmoke had cleared, with many stations immediately claiming that the shooter was some "Right-Wing Teabagger, pushed over the edge by Sarah Palin's rhetoric". We've also heard some in Congress calling for more gun control (at least the smoke had cleared before those statements were made, although the bodies had not yet reached room-temp).

Excuse me, but did IQs suddenly drop while I wasn't looking?

Access to a gun didn't make this loser go on a rampage. If guns were licensed, registered, and heavily restricted... he would have bought one illegally (the way gang-bangers in Chicago get theirs). but hey... let no tragedy go unused, right?

As for the cries against his political ideology: first, evidence is pointing him to be more Left than Right. and either way, there's no way of predicting when someone is going to look at their personal mental map, and take a turn for magnetic due what the fuck...

The guy was a wackjob, who snapped and decided to kill some folks. Nothing further need be said about him.

One facet that ISN'T getting much news: one of the people who nabbed and held him was a concealed carry licensee. Funny, that...

Do people have brains?

2010-12-03T14:09:00.001-06:00

I'm being forced to conclude "no".

We recently had some unpleasantness at Marinette High School, wherein a 15 year old (one Sam Hengel) took a teacher and 25 students hostage. Things finally ended with the hostage-taker shooting himself in the head.

Now, I field badly for the family. They've lost a son, and that's only the start of their problems that will stem from this (reports are that the guns used belonged to the parents). However (quoting from the local paper):

[Quote]The Sam Hengel Memorial Fund has been set up...[/quote]

Since when does a hostage-taking sociopath get a memorial fund?

What kind of message does this send to other sociopaths?

Whatever IS the world coming to?

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Grails

2010-11-19T04:27:00.002-06:00

A few around the blogosphere have commented on their "Grail Guns": guns that are hard to find, usually expensive, but what you desperately "must have" in your personal collection.

Sad thing is, my list of "grails" has gotten awfully thin: two of what *I* considered grails, I've already gotten. One of which I've already written about. The other will be in an upcoming installment of Humpday Hardware.

But there are still a couple guns that, given the chance, I'd sell a brother for (ok... I'd sell Rev. That counts, right?).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First off would be "the other Mack Bolan gun": the Beretta 93-R

This is the subgun/machine pistol Mack used to put the hurt on the bad guys in SO many different "men's action/adventure" books. We actually lost count of how large the man's body-count was.

The 93-R is a select-fire subgun built on the frame of the 92 series pistol. From World Guns:

Beretta 93R automatic (or machine) pistol has been in development during the second half of the 1970s, and first appeared circa 1977. The index 93 stands for "9mm, 3rd model", and the suffix "R" means "Raffica" - burst[-firing] in Italian language. This special purpose sidearm was intended for police and military forces who may require improved firepower in compact weapon during the close-quarter combat, such as room-to-room search or VIP protection. Because the compact size and relatively powerful 9mm Parabellum ammunition necessary resulted in high cyclic rate of fire, Beretta designers decided do limit the practical rate of fire by introducing a burst limiter, which allowed only for three shot bursts, in addition to the standard semi-automatic fire. To further improve the control during the burst fire, the pistol was fitted with folding forward grip, and the detachable folding shoulder stock. Early production pistols also featured a ported barrel to decrease barrel climb, but later this feature was dropped. The Beretta 93R is no longer listed in Beretta military & law enforcement catalogs, but it is used by some Italian police and anti-terrorist forces, such as Carabineri's GIS and NOCS, and by some other paramilitary forces. The burs fire mode is of dubious value for anybody but the most professional shooters, who need the improved effectiveness at very short to short ranges; the folding shoulder stock probably can help for long range single shot accuracy.

The basic design of the Beretta 93R machine pistol is based on the famous Beretta 92 pistol; The 93R uses the same short recoil operated, locked breech system with vertically cammed lock. The slide retains typical Beretta-style open-top design. The trigger mechanism, however, is somewhat different from Beretta 92, as it is a single action only, with non-ambidextrous frame mounted safety and additional fire mode selector (both mounted on the same axis, with the selector lever pointing forward and safety lever pointing backward). The mechanism which controls the length of the bursts is located behind the right grip panel. Beretta 93R pistol is supplied with proprietary 20-rounds magazines but also can use standard Beretta 92 type magazines.

Yes... burst firing, but can use standard 92 mags. What's NOT to love?

Oh yeah... the price tag. Last time I heard of one selling at auction, it went for $30K. At the same time, a suppressed MP5 ran $15K... :(

Sad to say, I doubt I'll ever own one. But if the possibility ever manifest, I would be hand-delivering the form 4.

I DID have an airsoft version (back when I did costuming for cons). From an Eagle shoulder rig to ready to fire (including flipping out the shoulder stock) was roughly 3 seconds...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another that MAY qualify as a grail would be the Le Mat. Although I'm not sure it quals, as reproductions are available (and at a relatively reasonable price).

From Wikipedia:

The LeMat revolver was a .42 or .36 caliber cap & ball black powder revolver invented by Dr. Jean Alexandre LeMat of New Orleans, which featured a rather unusual secondary 16 gauge smoothbore barrel capable of firing buckshot, and saw service with the armed forces of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War of 1861–1865.

Basically, it consisted of a shotgun barrel surrounded by the cylinder of a nine-shot revolver. Oddly though, it points rather well: I've handled several examples, and am always surprised at how well it points.

The hammer is hinged in the center: you cock it, then pivot the front portion down so it will engage the shot barrel's cap. Making your first shot, well, shot... followed by 9 shots of .42 or .36 caliber lead goodness (or badness, if you're on the other end)...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Odd as it may seem, that's it for my "Grails". There's a LONG list of other guns I WANT to have in my collection... but they're all fairly possible, if not easy (being nothing more than a matter of financing)...

Returning to some regularly scheduled posting...

2010-11-19T03:27:00.003-06:00

Just went through some of my old posts, and bringing back some things that I've let fall by the wayside...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Humpday Hardware returns next week. Probably won't be a weekly feature (I only have so much hardware), but I'm going to continue through the Privateer's arms locker.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gonna cheat a bit for the other "return": Going to go ahead and (like I said I would) steal my brother SOB's "Nostradumbass Award". This SHOULD be a weekly (being posted sometime Friday). This week's took a bit, but only because I already stated that I refuse to cover the TSA's stupidity.

Take a read here. Basic facts of the case:

Off-duty cop in his cruiser, and on his way to a second job, does 26 mph over the posted speed limit. Hits a 12 year old boy, leaving him a quadriplegic in need of constant medical care. Sentence? $185 fine for speeding...

Oddly though, the cop is NOT the Nostradumbass: we've all seen stories of cops doing REALLY stupid (and illegal) things. No shock there.

No... I'm looking at the judge, who had the audacity to declare that this officer wasn't responsible for the child being paralyzed.

Some on the 'net have argued that he wasn't responsible. However, if he hadn't been going almost twice the posted limit, this (most likely) wouldn't have happened. Instead of the non-story of a child crossing the street, we have a story of a child who's life is ruined... and a cop getting a slap on the wrist.

So, Montgomery County District Court judge Whomever (they don't list his Dishonour's name), congratulations! You've just helped perpetuate the "Us v. Them" mentality so many are feeling in our country. And thereby gotten yourself declared this week's Nostradumbass!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh... want to learn more about the "Thin Blue Line" thing? Check out this post over at Matt G's place. That's one peace officer I can have respect for!

BACA news

2010-11-17T14:33:00.002-06:00

I'm a little late on the announcement, but I'm proud to let y'all know that BACA has expanded again.

At this past year's International Conference, Italy was granted temp charter status. Well, it seems they have done the work and met the requirements: last week, a representative group from the International Board went over, and granted full-charter status.

Congratulations to my new brothers from Italy! Welcome to the fight!

Around the blogosphere...

2010-11-16T21:23:00.002-06:00

It seems that all the blogosphere is afire with calls for the TSA to be disbanded (or prosecuted, tarred and feathered, and other assorted violations of their persons).

Not going to take time and link every last post I've read about it: would take most of the night.

However, who exactly is surprised that a government agency, given basically limitless power with no oversight or controls, has gone off the deep end? Seriously folks: we saw this coming, if we thought to look.

Here's hoping that we can get away from security theater now...

update 6

2010-11-02T22:15:00.001-06:00

And we're closed. Will post the new balance of power in Wisconsin a little later.

For now, time to go work out.