New Year Old Rifle

In fact my first one. Winchester Model 290 acquired with S&H green stamps! Mailed directly to the house. Here with it's original rug marked "SEARS". 

I'm running it tomorrow! 

 

Ouch!

Want to feel bad? Find this in your bookcase and read.

Nice Trigger!

Everyone that shot my M1 Garand said that at the Blogshoot last weekend. While I can say "I did that myself" that is technically true but the Instructors at the CMP watched everything and tested everything we did during that 3 day class. They had the tools and knowledge to insure you left with a great M1. 

Here is a link to the first post on that class. You want a Garand? Better hurry. 

 

Stuff You Don't Know

Huh. I just talked to Mr. Curmudgeon about the Winchester Model 94 Classic in 30-30 here. He reports he acquired it *cough* 30+ years ago and has never shot it.

We will rectify that tomorrow!  And yes it is a shunned after 1964 Model but guess what. It is here. We will go shoot it. Shooting long guns in a 25 yard indoor range is sorta like kissing your cousin. You don't want anyone to know you did it, but at least we can see if the thing functions and if it does, well. I'll stretch it out at Murph's Blogshoot! 

Oh, I will not be shooting these though! They came with the rifle. 

 

A Rifle!

A Winchester Model 9422. In .22 WMR. This thing has been around for over 40 years. I remember shooting this rifle in my early teens. Glad it is still here. 

 

It's Good. Very Good!

So although I have an original plate for the 1964.5 Mustang under glass I decided to order one. From here. 


They did not disappoint! 

If that video was too boring, try this one. 



Good looking plate for sure! 


 
 

The HMS Prince of Wales

New to me but I'm sure not to some here I just read an analysis on the death of this British Warship. State of art for the time, lost with one torpedo hit. 

World powers were painfully figuring out that what was the preferred projection of power on the seas was dated and prone to aircraft attack without air cover. General Billy Mitchel proved this long before this happened. I guess institutional inertia prevented everyone from figuring this out until grievous loss of life and capitol ships.

I read this today. "A Re-Analysis of the Tragic Loss of HMS Prince of Wales."  

A torpedo hit at 1144 hours was fatal. At 1210, she hoisted the "Out of Control" signal. 

If any of this interests you I suggest reading the investigation linked above.

   
 

Anybody Got a Magazine for This?

It's a Femaru Model 37M. Or FEG 37M depending on how you look at it. In .32 ACP, with the German proof stamp. The magazine in it is stamped "MEXICO" and really does not do well and is incorrect. I'm looking for a repro or the the real thing. Tamera clued me in for a repro, but just got notification its back ordered. 

Help?

What Does This Do?

What does this do? 

It allows you to flip the chassis on one of these to work on it. 

 

It is a Firestone 4-A-30 Air Chief. It belonged to my grandparents. I was very simple in my efforts to bring it back to life. I recapped it and restrung the dial cord. The tubes are what they were then.

I remember pushing the buttons on it back in the early '70's even though it was no longer the entertainment/media center of the house then. It was kept and cleaned though, representing the expense of such an item around 1947 for a mill worker. 

For now, it will stay here with me as it was a gift to me from my parents some time ago. When the time comes though it will go back to where it belongs. My Grandparents house being restored by one of my Cousins. 

Aside from the broken bezel and missing pushbuttons, it is in great shape! Anybody know where I can get some?




 
 

Not Dead Yet!

Whatever this thing is that has vexed me for several weeks truly sucks. 



I'm feeling a bit better though!

Here. Have a picuture of a Colt 1902 Semi Automatic in .38 Auto. 

Happy New Year everyone!

 

 
 

Hey! OLD NFO! I Found Your NAV Chart!

Hey, NFO, My Father found one of the first nav charts you were issued. 

He thought it might be handy right now for ya! 

Seriously, does this look like the real deal? 

 

What's in Your Closet?

My friend Brigid has a wonderful post up tonight on Pieces of History and as happens occasionally I was rummaging around here tonight as it is a rainy day here. 

I found this:

 I bought this little train set from Monroe Hardware when they announced they were selling everything and moving out of downtown Monroe. Sad really. The building is still there and I remember walking down the wooden floors so worn down by many shoes over the decades. 

A faithful reproduction of the "Hooker Chemical" scheme from back in the day, but sadly I think that would mean silicone and meth now. 

Then this:

See the difference in packaging? Doesn't the "Southern" look so much more appealing than the box below sitting on a retail shelf? This was made during the much derided "MPC Era". Another footnote in history. Inside we find this:

And everything else to run a train set. At least it says "Made in America" as Lionel is made in China now. 


"Pieces of history" my friend said. She wondered who in the future would cherish or discard items. This train is one of my most cherished possessions.

Not even a cataloged set. Apparently the hobby shop cobbled up something for my parents to buy from loose rolling stock. A much derided "Scout" engine to the purists. No matter. To me it is priceless for what it is and what it means. My Mother kept this train for decades and presented it to me a few years ago. I thought it lost in the haze of my youth. 

So now we do still run across some items of interest. 

  

 































ZW and KW train transformers. The largest made. They command a premium now as actually putting 275 watts of AC power on some metal track laying in the floor of the living room would make a corporate lawyers head explode now.

I fear in the age of Xboxes, PS, tablets, etc. that the era of these is done. I don't know who if anyone will be stewards of these pieces of history in the future. Sad, but I am glad they are here to remind me of the sacrifices made so long ago so I could run over green army men with my train! 

Talented and Stupid

At the same time. It killed him and injured others. Louis Slotin was working on supercriticality experiments on a fission plutonium bomb.  

I'm thinking this is how NOT to do a test with live Plutonium.

The screwdriver slipped and the mass went critical. He stopped the reaction but he was dead already. In fact nine days later. 
 

Colt Collectors Annual Convention

So I wander up to Concord, NC today and whip out my tricked out name badge to see what is going on. It has been three years or so since this event was here. 

Your humble host! I suck at selfies it seems =)

We get to it. There was a sign prohibiting concealed carry and so I went back to the car and dumped the Bodyguard. There were many CMPD and other LEO there. 

I always choose times when the event is open to the public instead of members only. It gives me a feel for how relevant the Colt name is to the public. They did advertise on at least WRFX in Charlotte NC for some weeks, but a classic rock FM station? Perhaps clever in targeting that (me) age demographic or money wasted. 

There were exhibits and vendor tables. There seemed to be less than the last time of both. Exhibits there were impressive. I apologize for the craptacular iThingy photos. 

Everything is expensive. RIA is there of course and there was an auction tonight for members. I vacillated on staying and going to the dinner and auction, but. There were NO younger people there. That is saying something as I am no spring chicken. What I bought 3 years ago for 300 or so was going for 900. I came with a mission though. Find grips for my Python. 

Score!

 




























Of course they cost WAY too much, but look much nicer that the aftermarket things that were on it. 

Before

 After


A young friend of mine asked me over a year ago what will happen to Colt when all us old dudes die off. He sorta asked it in jest and he owns and appreciates them too. That is a profound question. The Historian was not there this time that I could see. Historian letters take SIX months and that is after your check cleared? There is little to no retail presence here for new Colt's. 

I seem to be in an abusive relationship. They always meet me with disdain and ask more of me. Yet I come back. I really have no answer to someone that asks why they should pay the premium price new Colt's demand except that they have that rampant pony on them. I hope this is not a dead horse. 

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the convention and the vendors and exhibitors were really pleasant. 

I left and had a cheeseburger with my Mother.  

Uh...

Today did not go as planned. There is always something around here that needs attention though!

So after some rubbing we get this:

A Ruger 3 Screw Super Blackhawk and a Puma knife. This has been in the family for at least 40 years. 

That's better! 



 

 

The Horse Snake is Here!

Sorry, I meant the Colt Python. I have shot others and listened to all the praise lauded on this storied revolver. 

So one night a couple of weeks ago one is on auction and about to close. I call a friend and he says "looks good don't go over X dollars." I realize that the guy whips out hardware that amazes me when I actually get to shoot with him and I should have run away then. 

We watch the auction and I ended up at X + 180 dollars. After some delays (USPS sucks and why are you sending this hardware in this method anyway.) I end up with this today. 

 4" barrel Colt Python. To me in really good shape and my friend sent the short version of the Colt Revolver Shop Manual for checking timing. The one thing that has to go is this:

The craptacular aftermarket grips. We try these repos. 

They suck out loud and off key. Some fitting will be needed to get them where they need to be if that is possible at all. I rummage around and find these:

I have no idea where they came from or why they are here. I do not have the correct hardware to attach them to the revolver and the right side grip has some damage. Sigh.... This revolver needs the correct grips for such a storied handgun. Anybody got grips with the gold medallions for a Colt I frame?

Shoot it tomorrow and a joke for ya. There are only certain people I can talk to on a Friday night and tell them "I'm rubbing my Python" and they don't think I'm a sick perverted person! Thanks for talking tonight my friends and for the advise.

So why do these objects attract people? Or me specifically? There are many modern firearms that have advantages over this Python. They are lighter, cheaper, and have more capacity than this revolver. Easier to drive too I might add.  Much like the 50 year old cars here. 

Still. It is a siren song I cannot ignore. The cars just as the Firearms are machines. I do appreciate the skill and talent in creating these relics as opposed to hitting "play" on the CNC machines. 

This is why I find all the background noise about "my gun vs. this gun" so much noise.

   

For My New Found Hometown Friend

BadgerMedic is a paramedic in my home town of Winston-Salem. He has been there for eight years or so. He comments on the Blog here occasionally yet I cannot find his if it exists. In an effort to help him assimilate I present the following map of downtown at the zenith of RJR Tobacco's reach. This is the actual map handed to me by the personnel department at the RJR building showing me where to go for the verbal interview after having passed the written test for my skill set:

Then we get to the new plant. I was part of the commisioning team for it.



I have lived here almost as long as I lived there. I miss it. 

I don't know if you get to the north end of town on your duties, but there are people there I care about still.

Enjoy your newly adapted City! Next time I'm up I need to give ya a tour =) 


















 

Hey Murph!

Murph! We need to check this out! It is close to ya and I can teach you how to wear a sport jacket after 5PM if you want to hang out there =)You can teach me about "driving."

The CMP AMC- Addendum

So the rifle and other ancillary items arrived. 

First, thanks for the positive reviews of my humble attempts to document the class and yes, I had a new camera with me! There was a growing "Camera Gap" I had to fix. 

Here is day one, day two, and day three. 


First came the class picture via E-mail. 

I'm the socially inept dude on the front row in the white shirt BTW =).


Here is the paper work including a certificate to add to the "I love me wall" on heavy stock and in color. 

The certificate is filled out BTW. I just tried out my humble Photoshop skills to clone blank paper instead of the blur tool.

Oh, now with 100% more stabby! After the class I had to get a bayonet for Emily. Why? Because I can! Here is a repro of the M1 10" one. 

 























Oh, Weaponsman. Thanks for the link and great review! I concur with your statement over there (whom we don’t know, but think we might like). Thanks to Tam as well for a Tamalanch run over here. 

You might be saying this is cool and all and you want a M1 Garand but don't want to hang with my new friends in Anniston Al for three days. That's a shame as the natives are friendly and the food is great! Suppose you decide to just get one from the sales department. Ok. You can do that online right here.

After some modicum of paperwork on your part, one of these will be at your door (in a cardboard sleeve)!

 

 





















A perfectly serviceable hard case for your rifle and all this stuff.

A Certificate of Authenticity, empty chamber indicator, a clip, and other stuff. Of interest however to me is one of the best owners manuals I have seen in a long time. If you are new to the Garand, that little manual will get you up to speed in no time!

I have come a long way from somewhere in WV when a friend I just met in real life on a range picked up an empty clip left by someone and commented that I needed it for my Garand. I told him I did not have one. I hope I have atoned for that my friend! There is a CMP service and a special grade Garand here now. 

   


 

The CMP AMC Class Day Three

The CMP Store personnel were kind enough to open it just for the class before opening to the public at 7AM. We of course went! 

Yes, that is correct. 2.5K for a Garand! They are National Match Grade though. I now know what that means =).


Then after the store, we go back to the Armorer's shop for final preparation for test firing. One of the Armorers is giving my rifle the once over and declared that the first stage of my trigger was "mush". He suggested I get another trigger and hammer and try again. This of course meant I also had to do the "trigger job" over. I hesitate to use that term. The purpose of this activity is to retain the proper two-stage trigger yet remove the creep in the second stage and retain the spec of at least a 4.5 pound trigger pull. Luckly I had time to do that and the Armorers had enough time to offer tips and other guidance to the other 19 students before we went to test fire. It is obvious that they want us to leave here with a "Special Grade" rifle! 

So right before lunch we travel to the test fire facility. A heavily modified shipping container with all the stuff on it. 

Oh, I also got the cool T shirt you see here on other students. 

The head Armorer performed the test firing of 8 rounds. He hands the rifle back with the first casing fired from it. A nice touch. Then back to the shop for a class photo. It will be emailed to me. 

Then lunch and after that we talk about the stuff that requires attention that has a tendency to loosen up over time, lubrication, and other items related to keeping it running. 

Then, a glass bedding demonstration:

 



  






















The idea behind this is to fill in the gaps between the wood and metal with epoxy to insure a repeatable relationship between the two during a course of fire. I will probably never do this as I fear the rifle will shoot better than me right now anyway =).

After that, the formal portion of the class was done, but the Armorers said they they were at our disposal for the remainder of the afternoon! I dropped off an M-1 Carbine for a complete technical inspection and 100 yard sighting in. 

Then I placed my rifle in a hard case and shipping box for the ride home. I COULD have taken it with me, but the sales tax in AL is higher than my home state and the 24.95 shipping rate was agreeable. 

I received an e-mail Monday with the shipping number from Deshay at CMP and the rifle arrived Tuesday. 

I of course had to forgo the canvas sling supplied and go with a Turner 1907 leather sling. 

Above: CMP Service Grade M1 Springfield.  Name is Charline!

Below: CMP Special Grade M1 HRA. Name is ??? I think it looks like an Emily, what say you?

I cannot say enough about the class. My thanks to the Armorers John, Ryan, and Chris. My thanks as well to the person that herds the cats around the Custom Shop and made sure our paperwork was in order and all the other ancillary tasks that made sure the class went well, Deshay. The entire organization treated us with the utmost respect and made sure that we were completely happy with our rifles and the class.   

There is no way you can pick up John Garand's masterpiece of design and not feel the history behind this storied rifle and the people that carried them into harms way. If you desire to own one and learn more about it, I cannot say enough about this class or the CMP. They have both the passion and the knowledge of these tools and it shows. It is one thing to be a subject matter expert and another to relay that knowledge to others. They have that down pat too. I was not expecting that pleasant surprise.