Ballseye’s Gun Shots 64 - Gun Show White Plains, NY

While this may continue some of the pain I just wrote about, that relative to money being wrenched out of my hands, there is a good chance I will be at this gun show, on June 19, with a decent sized wad of cash (whom am I trying to kid, it probably will be paid for with plastic if I buy anything). There has not been a gun show at the Westchester County Center in White Plains in many a year now, so I am looking forward to attending this one. For more info about it go here and here. For a $1 off coupon, go here.

If you are a New York State resident, who supports the RKBA, you ought to seriously think about attending this show. The more gun shows we have in New York, the more we get our point across, to those who may not be into guns but who are not anti-gun, that we are the good guys. That is as long as the gun show goes off like others in the state - without any major problems. So please, if you are a legal gun owner in NY and can go to this show - GO! If you go, please don't be a jerk but do try to politely and responsibly promote the RKBA. Think of it, a show in White Plains after years of its absence. We must be gaining ground in NY to have this venue back for a show, let's try to make it last. Next thing you know we will have the show at Yonkers' Raceway back too.

All the best,
Glenn B

Ballseye’s Gun Shots 62 - Remedial Shooting

Last month, I attended my agency's quarterly firearm's qualifications. I shot my issued Sig 229, my agency authorized personally owned Glock 26 and my issued Remington 870. I shot a 241 with one of the pistols, I think with the Sig, and a 249 with the Glock. Those score are out of a possible 250. I shot a perfect score with the shotgun. As you may realize, from reading my blog or knowing me in person, I can be one picky son of a gun! I bitch and moan about this and that and complain about almost everything that other people do. Well truth be told, I often hold myself to those same standards grumblings. I figured that a 241 was abysmal and I also figured that a 249 was not as good as it gets either because not all that long ago I was hooting scores like 249 and 250 at each qualification. Of course, age and eyesight have probably played a role in my scores going down on average by a few points at quals over the past couple of years but I figured if I tried I could do better.

So what to do to try harder? I attended a couple of remedial shoots that our firearms instructors held in conjunction with this quarter's quals. During both of them I shot pretty darned good. Now as my office's Primary Firearm's Instructor will tell you, I probably shoot better than 95% of the agents in my office, even when I get scores like 241 but I wanted to hold myself to a higher standard so I went to do some extra practice of the self remediating sort. It was not like anyone was telling me how to shoot at these remedial shoots although others were getting some instruction. I was left to my own druthers and my own corrections. One of the other agents, one whom I used to instruct, who saw me at one of the current quarter's remedial shoots raised an eyebrow and asked me, in a sort of surprised tone, what was I doing there. I don't think she ever expected to see me at a remedial shoot since I used to be an instructor and since I used to help her to shoot better. I just told her that practice is how I keep my edge and since I am getting on in age and going down in score I could use it. Heck, truth be told, since I carry for work and for self defense I could use it regardless of my scores - we all could.

In addition to the time spent at my agency's remedial shoots, I also have gone to the local range near my home a couple of times in the last month. The result of all that extra shooting was that at the first remedial shoot I shot a 246, a 249 and a 250. At the second one, when I only shot one qualification round, I shot another 250. THOSE SCORES WERE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER MY SCORES OF THE LAST YEAR OR TWO WHICH HAVE BEEN A FEW POINTS LOWER ON AVERAGE, scores more like 243 or 241, even scores in the high 230s. While at my local range, I shot some pretty tight groups during slow fire and some pretty decent groups while shooting rapid fire - so much so on my last visit to have impressed a guy, who was in the lane next to me and who was shooting some really expensive pieces of target shooting type hardware, start talking to me and he also offered me one of his pistols to shoot. I declined but only because my index finger was getting a blister on it from the Glock 26 trigger after having fired a few hundred shots in less than an hour. As a matter of fact, he recommended a trigger replacement to a smooth combat trigger from the combat trigger that came with the 26. Nice guy, I hope to see him there again and maybe he will offer me a shot or two with one of those target shooting beauties next time.

Why do I mention this. Well, not to brag, that is for sure. I am not good enough a shot to brag - believe me you! I know there are many faster and more accurate shooters out there than me. I mention it though for a couple of reasons. First of all, I guess because that other agent asked me why I was at remedials? I was there because I was not satisfied with how I have been shooting just as all the other agents who were there probably felt about their own shooting. I was also there to practice regardless of whether or not I was shooting well enough. And I was there because the ammo is not being handed out like it once was for us to practice on our own at private or public ranges. So I take advantage of the fact they still will give me practice ammo albeit if only while at a remedial shoot run by my agency's instructors. Of course, the few extra hours I spent at the range over the course of a couple of days were better than the regular grind in the office or out in the field. I also mention it because if you own a firearm and intend to ever possibly depend upon it for defense or for hunting or just for target shooting fun - well then - once you are adept with it you ought to keep yourself at least at that level with it. If you are not yet satisfied with how well you shoot, well then don't only practice but get some help at it with the goal of improving yourself (a professional instructor is probably best but another shooter and one who is a good shot and used to helping other shoot safely is often okay). Once you reach a level at which you are satisfied that you can usually remain there with practice. You may also be able to even regain that level if you lose your edge a bit, often all on your own once you have held a level of proficiency for awhile. Practice and training are good things when it comes to firearms, it is virtually a given that you cannot get enough of either - unless of course you do it enough to get a blister on your trigger finger.

Let me tell you something about blisters and shooting skills. Both blisters and good shooting skills are temporary. One of those conditions you get from over use and one will be lost because of not enough use. Try to find a balance and you will be better off for it. If you don't find the balance, then when you need your skills to be at their best, such as if you are ever called upon to actually defend yourself in a life or death situation, well then you may wind up with something more permanent than a blister. You may wind up with another guy's bullet as a sort of souvenir as the loser in a gunfight. That would not be a good thing. So I highly recommend that you enjoy yourself at the range as often as you can, at least quarterly if a good shot, although monthly would better, and weekly or more often would be better yet especially if you think your shooting skills could use improvement.

Safe shooting,
Glenn B

Ballseye’s Gun Shots 61 - My Glock 26 & My New Glock Armorer Skills

Well, despite not having any extra parts for it, I decided I would chance losing a spring or breaking something and take my Glock 26 apart down to the bare bones by doing a detail strip of it this morning (golly is it really almost 3 AM), that is all except for removing the sights.

I did it the smart way and did not depend on my muddled middle aged memory but used the armorer's manual to go step by step for disassembly and reassembly. I have to say it was a good thing I took it down, it needed a detailed cleaning badly. I have been shooting it a lot lately and even though I field strip it to give it regular maintenance type cleaning after each shooting session, it truly needed more than that because it was filthy inside the works. It isn't dirty anymore though, it almost sparkles now. Besides knowing it is clean, I now also know that all internal parts are in good working condition. I imagine I will strip it down like that for another cleaning in about 6 months or so.

I have to point out again, it is absolutely amazing at how easily this gun can be detail stripped using only a single tool, a steel punch at that!

All the best,
Glenn B

Ballseye’s Gun Shots 60 - Yugo M24/47

The Yugo M24/47, that I ordered from Classic Arms, arrived today. I am beginning to think that either I do not understand the NRA Firearms Grading standards or that this dealer does not. First I ordered an Enfield that arrived in what I thought was less than specified condition or possibly just at the extreme low end of the condition in which they claimed it to be, in addition to which it was damaged. Now I receive a rifle that was supposed to be in Excellent condition, in addition to which it was supposed to be 'hand select' which was to guarantee 100% blue and...well let me just quote their C&R web page:

"AND SELECT WILL GUARENTEE (their spelling)100 % BLUE AND A REALLY NICE TOP END STOCK AS WELL AS A PRISTINE BORE AND CROWN."

Sorry but they seem to have been wrong again. While the bore looks to be excellent, I would say this rifle is in about 98% blue, and that is not the guaranteed 100% by a long shot! The stock is dinged slightly and has scrapes but all have been covered up whenever it was that the stock was obviously refinished. That is another thing, the metal has also been refinished and there is evidence of prior pitting - though minor it is definitely there - this immediately takes it out of the class of excellent condition let alone hand select. This is apparently an arsenal refinish job. That would have been okay if that is what they claimed it to have been. That would have been okay had I not paid extra for 'hand select' which guaranteed the above. That would have been okay if it had not been advertised as excellent. It would also be okay if I could call them and tell them I am dissatisfied and they should refund me me my money for the 'hand select' BS, but chances are I will notbe able to do that because I may be forced to send this rifle back because it seems there is a possible serial number error.

The original serial number of the rifle (as taken from the receiver) was B7733. That number was stamped into the receiver. Now even though the B is faint it was obviously stamped into the receiver and it is not a V. The same number was also stamped into the barrel and it too begins with B. The same number was also stamped onto the bolt and it too begins with B. A new serial number, almost the same as the old, was electro penciled (etched) onto the receiver either when this rifle was arsenal refinished or when imported. The new number is V7733. To me it seems someone read the letter B and someone else heard it as V instead of B and then etched it onto the receiver. The serial number beginning with the letter V is the one they put on the invoice and therefore it has been noted as the official serial number for purposes of this sale with ATF. I have to wonder if this will cause a problem with ATF, or other authorities, if I ever am called upon to document my ownership of this rifle. Maybe it is something they do with imported mil-surp rifles but I have not seen it on others I have purchased. Note that the B7733 serial number is only on three parts, all other serialized parts do not match that serial number which is further evidence of this being an arsenal rebuild.

The rifle really does appear in very good shape but certainly not the guaranteed 100% blue and definitely not a top end stock though a fairly to very nice one at that and probably not actually excellent condition overall since it seems to be an arsenal rebuild with mismatched parts and evidenc eo old pitting on some parts. Still, I will gladly keep it if they refund my money for hand select and if the serial number difference is not a problem. I imagine they can fix the paperwork for the serial number but also imagine that will take some doing on whatever forms they had to submit to ATF. Not my problem though, I will give them a call about it on Monday and let them figure it out. If it sounds as if they give me a run around on the serial number, I will call ATF to inquire about it but I am pretty confident they will be straight shooters when they explain why they used the serial number beginning with V on the paperwork. I hope so, I do not want to go through the pain in the butt of having to rewrap a rifle and then bring it to UPS again.

There is one problem with this rifle, the barrel band was almost impossible to remove. I think the wood may have swelled on the handguard sometime while in storage or maybe when refinished. I got it off though and cleaned the cosmoline out of the rifle. Luckily there is not much reason to ever take the rifle down that far again except maybe once or twice a year at most so long as it does not get a mud bath or something similar while out afield. I will be shooting it tomorrow with Brendan. I hope that will not void their return policy, I do not see it stated anywhere that it would do so. As I said though, I'd like to keep it, it is in very good condition despite all I said above and if it shoots well, then it is definitely a keeper.

I may seem really picky, or full of complaints, but I have to say I like getting what I pay for and I paid for a rifle advertised to be one way and it arrived in another condition than as advertised. As I said though, I am willing to keep it if certain things work out. Hopefully they will. Wish me luck with that please.

All the best,
Glenn B

Ballseye's Gun Snots Shots 59 - The Science Of Picking Boogers Squeezing A Trigger

There I was, at quarterly qualification for my job, for about the 122nd time, and once again, for about the thousandth time, I was listening to a range officer telling us how to squeeze the trigger on a pistol to help assure that the bullet would go to the same point at which we would be aiming. Not only was he describing how to squeeze the trigger but he was also telling us that squeezing the trigger did not mean that we should also be squeezing the grip of the pistol. Some argue that use of the word squeeze it a terrible thing to do regarding pulling the trigger on a handgun. Why? Well, because when some people are told to squeeze the trigger they also do what the instructor was telling us not to do, they start to squeeze the grip simultaneously. This can cause a shot to go just about anywhere on the target or in the vicinity of the target other than where you want to hit it. What is strange about this is that the instructors on my job have, for the most part, only been telling people this for the past year or so although shooters, those who have a problem with trigger control, have been doing it a long time, probably since shooting began.

When I was a firearms' instructor, many moons ago, one of the problems that I encountered most frequently was that shooters seemed to be trying to choke their spouses a chicken they were squeezing the grip that hard. It was hard enough, that after a few to several seconds, their arms would begin to tremble from fatigue. This was especially evident with one handed shooting but happens both when using a one or two handed grip, it just takes longer to fatigue both arms in the two handed grip. Now, I should point out that gripping a pistol with too much force is not necessarily caused by anything to do with squeezing the trigger but when it happens, it always happens in conjunction with it if you are taking a shot. Quite often a shooter starts squeezing the grip harder and harder in hopes of holding better on the aiming point without yet starting trigger squeeze, thus the hard squeeze on the grip is often if not usually caused by a shooter trying to hold aim on target. This is counter-productive because if the shot is not taken quickly the arm or arms will start to become fatigued and possibly will also tremble enough to throw of any shot that is then fired. On some otheroccasions though, it is obvious that as soon as a shooter starts to squeeze the trigger they also start squeezing harder on the grip as if the whole action of trigger squeeze actually causes them to squeeze the grip harder. There is a reason for it to seem so and that reason is because it is in fact so.

As is the case with just about anything that you can be told, one person can interpret it one way, another person another way and yet another maybe another way. Thus it is with the action known as trigger squeeze. When a firearms instructor tells a student shooter to firmly, steadily, slowly, and continuously begin to squeeze the trigger until the shot goes off - well some shooters immediately understand that the instructor meant to squeeze the trigger with the booger picking finger (this nomenclature is important, do not forget it, you will see why later) and that the instructor did not mean to also start to squeeze the grips with the rest of the hand including the other fingers, after all the instructor already described how to grip the pistol and it had notjing to do with squeezing the trigger. Some new shooters though do not understand it that way and start to squeeze the whole trigger and grip areas as if they were hanging onto to something for dear life and if they let it go it would cost them dearly. They are wrong about that (this too is imporant to remember as you will soon see).

Truth be told, the whole operation of squeezing the trigger of a pistol is actually very much like the action involved in picking one's nose. When you pick your nose (yes you do, you didn't think anyone driving by on the highway at 65mph noticed but you forgot that you don't have tinted windows on your car and I saw you) you place your booger picking finger (same as the trigger finger) inside your nostril (like inside the trigger guard) then find the spot on which to place it on the booger that needs removal (like placing it on the trigger that needs squeezing) then begin to curl the finger down (like the backward squeezing motion of the finger on the trigger) as if you were summoning someone (or a booger) to come to you with your index finger (as if you were curling your finger with squeezing pressure on a trigger to fire a gun).

Now remember I said that some people not only squeeze the trigger but also start to squeeze the grips too as if holding onto something for dear life. Well, you wouldn't do that when picking your nose would you? And why not? Because if you did that you would likely wind up with a bloody nose because you gripped down on it with your booger picking finger implanted inside of it. I mean squeezing down on the nose too hard while the finger is on a booger would just ruin everything (just as squeezing down extra hard on the grips would rruin a shot). What you want to do instead is to firmly, steadily, slowly and continuously make a picking or backward curling motions with your booger picking finger on the booger (backward curling and squeezing motion with your trigger finger on the trigger) until your objective is complete.

In the case of nose picking the objective is to have your finger come out of your nose with a prize snot stuck to the end of it and with shooting the objective is to completely depress the trigger to the rear to fire a shot having a bullet come out of the gun. Get that and do not forget it, snot out of nose, shot out of gun. While those were the objectives the job is not yet finished. While the booger is out of the nose and on your finger the job is not yet done because, as you well know, you do not want to hold onto a booger for dear life. What you want to do is follow through and allow the booger picking finger to uncurl in a smooth but rapid motion thus sending the booger flying off of your finger so you can, if necessary, start the process all over again to dig out another snot. This is pretty much the same in shooting as after the shot, you follow through with the action of the trigger finger and allow it to move smoothly and rapidly forward allowing the trigger to reset in case another shot needs be fired.

Remember as you carry out either of these fine motor skills, you do not want to jerk the finger performing the operation because both actions, jerking a booger out of your nose or jerking the trigger on a pistol you are firing, could have unwanted consequences. In one case it could be a scratched or bloody nose, in the other it could be a missed shot resulting in a ragged and bloody hole in you because the bad guy had better trigger finger control than you. I could go on with further in depth analysis comparing jerking the trigger with jerking a booger but one lesson like this should be enough for anyone's day.

All the best,
Glenn B

What Would A New Rifle Be Without Ammo

As you know, if you read my recent post about the Yugo 24/47, I just ordered said rifle from Classic Arms. I also just placed an order for 100 rounds of ammo for this rifle. I placed the ammo order with Natchez Shooter's Supplies of TN (nope I cannot spell it so I used the abbreviation).


Items Ordered:
[QTY] [PROD_NUM] [PROD_DESC] [PRICE]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] [60N] [NATCHEZ CATALOG] [ 0.00]
[5] [ZYV331762A] [8X57 JR 196GR SP 20/BOX] [19.00]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Order Totals:
Subotal: $95.00
Shipping: $14.38

Insurance: $ 0.70
Hazmat: $ 0.00
---------------------------------------------
Total Order: $110.08

You opted to contribute 0.92 to the NRA's Shooting For The Stars Foundation via the RoundUp program. Thank You for your contribution! Shipping Preference: UPS Ground Residential

The way I have been ordering guns and ammo lately you might think I am loaded (pun alert) but I am not. As a matter of fact my finances are at a low point because of the recent new car purchase but I did manage to have a bit of my savings stashed with the sole purpose for it to buy a gun or three and ammo for them. Luckily for me, I was able to sell some surplus ammo (not mil-surp but my-surp) and I got a bit more cash on hand than I had. So, I decided to spend it quickly on guns and ammo rather than wait a few days and then realize that I had spent it on things like household expenses. I don't think I will regret the decision; quite the contrary, I think I will come to realize it was the wise decision to have made. Of course that is if and only if the latest rifle I ordered is in as good a shape as they claim in the advertisement for it. I am keeping my fingers crossed on that one. If it is in that good a shape, as opposed to the Enfield I just got from them that seemed not in as good a shape as their ad said it would be, well then I may buy another one for collector value.

Of course, I will have to do that quickly, not only because funds have a way of disappearing quicker than homemade fudge brownies when I am on the prowl for a snack but also because my C&R FFL is about to expire and the darned BATFE has not yet sent me the forms to apply for a renewal. I have all of 3 weeks to get those forms in on time - heck I should have received them and sent them in well over one month ago. Now they have supposedly sent them to me twice but they never arrived in my mailbox. I have to call them again tomorrow. I would hate to have to go through the whole process from scratch instead of just getting it renewed. As I recall the renewal process was somewhat streamlined compared to a first time application (but since it has been 2 0r 3 years since I did it I could have that wrong). Oh well, hopefully I will find the application in tomorrow's mail.

All the best,
Glenn B

Glock Armorer's School

I attended Glock Armorer's School on this past Wednesday. I am almost a certified Glock Armorer but suppose that will not really be the case until they send me the official certificate saying so. Thanks to the good instruction from a seemingly very competent instructor, I did fairly well at it too. During the practical exercises, each of the students took down and reassembled a pistol several times. I got one thing wrong once and had to ask for help but learned from that mistake and did not repeat it nor make any others. I was not the fastest to disassemble and reassemble one of them but nor was I the slowest even though I deliberately took my time. No need to hurry like some of the younger guys who seemed to be having a contest among themselves to see who could get it done fastest. Then again nor was I slowed down by not knowing how to get it back together like one or two of the other guys, who during the test portion at the end of the class seemed to be having some real difficulty figuring it out. They got it done though, on their own and did it well, so they also passed. I am guessing that everyone passed although no one was saying anything either way. As for me I got the practical portion of the test done perfectly and I also scored 100% on the written portion of the test.

Truth be told, it is truly amazing at how few parts a Glock has when compared to an older style more conventional pistol. For instance, I doubt very much that I could learn how to disassemble and reassemble one of my Beretta 92 series pistols during an 8 hour course of study. I have seen the parts diagrams for them and they have more parts by far. Besides that, Glocks use all drop in parts. I think the Berettas may do likewise but many pistols such as a standard 1911 would probably require fitting therefore necessitating the expertise of a qualified gunsmith to exchange some specific parts. Take a look at the 2 diagrams, one of a Glock and one of a Beretta 92FS and you will see what I mean about the Glock being simpler by virtue of using less parts (bear in mind I cannot vouch for the correctness of either of these exploded parts diagrams).

The simplicity of the Glock makes it much easier to work on than a more complex pistol with more parts or so they say in Glock Armorer's School. By the way, they did not mention other pistols by brand, I brought up the Beretta only because I own a few of them and they are near and dear to me so they came right to mind when thinking of another pistol to use as an example. They are definitely made up of more parts and I figure probably would be much more complex to work on than something like a Glock 26. I am not, in any way, putting down the Berettas - they are finely crafted psitols indeed - otherwise I would not own 3 of the model 92 series, one of the 70 series and would not have owned the several others I have owned over the years.

Back to the Glocks, a lot of them can use parts interchangeably between different models and a lot of those parts simply drop into place. There are new Glocks coming out and those will not have as wide a parts interchange capability with older models but if I remember right some parts are still interchangeable (never interchange parts between models unless you are a Glock Certified Armorer and you know that the parts are actually interchangeable). The interchangeability of some of the parts certainly makes it easier for an armorer when stocking parts and easier when diagnosing and fixing problems. Another thing that makes Glocks a pleasure to work on is that the virtually whole gun (with the exception of the sights which require other tools) can be disassembled and reassembled using a single tool, the Glock Armorer's Tool, which is basically a punch with a plastic handle. Two other tools, a small screwdriver and a small pair of needle nosed pliers can make some things easier but probably are not really needed to detail strip and reassemble these pistols. Well, really there is one other tool you need, that is the knowledge of how to do it and get it done right. If you want that, take the course if you meet the elligibilty requirements, it is worth it. In order to take the course, Glock requires that: "...you must be an active law enforcement or military officer, private security, GLOCK Stocking Dealer/Range Program Employee or current GSSF member.".

I did it on my own dime instead of asking work if they would pay for it. Training of an employee that benefits the job is often paid for by my employer but I figured I would help both stimulate the economy and save the tax payer some money by paying for it myself. Besides, this way I am not beholden to anyone regarding owing them the benefit of my newly learned skills. Of course, if they ever need help during the annual detail stripping and cleaning of personally owned government authorized Glocks for my fellow agents, I will be happy to lend a helping hand. Mostly though, I am hopeful that my new skill set will allow me to do 2 things. One I am certain about, the other is a wait and see kind of thing. The thing I am certain about is that now I will be able to fully service my own Glock 26 pistol. That alone was well worth the $150 it cost me for the 1 day class. I will, of course, also be able to service any other Glock pistol I may buy, or that my son may buy. He turns 21 late this year and is hoping to get a pistol permit for target and hunting.

What else I am hopeful of though is that I will be able to make a few bucks now and then servicing other people's pistols. If I make enough to pay for the cost of the Glock Armorer's course 3 years from now, when my certification expires, then it will be all well and good because the next class will have been paid for ahead of time. I imagine by then it will go for around $175 or $200 but that should not be hard to make with a few charged for repairs. Now if I do that, I guess I will need insurance and a business license and all, and that will cost too, so I'll have to do a few more repairs. Time will tell if it is a money maker or not. if not, well as I said, it was worth the cost of the course just to be able to have the knowledge of how to repair my own Glock. Before even think of taking my own apart for a detailed cleaning I will pick up several of the parts that are most likely to need replacing either because of need for repair or because the parts got lost when the gun was stripped down. I could be very easy to lose one or two of the parts so best to have them on hand if need be. Also not a bad idea to have a supply of parts that may break such as an extra ejector or two, maybe couple of extra coil springs and maybe some other springs too. I really do not anticipate any breakages but better to be prepared now before all such things are banned and I can no longer get em later if and when something does break.

All the best,
Glenn B

YUGO M24/47 8MM

The order is in, with Classic Arms, for a YUGO M24/47 8mm bolt action rifle. I was a little hesitant in placing this order because I have not yet received the promised return shipping label for the Enfield I just got from them that was not to my liking but I ordered it anyway. The description of the M24/7s that is on their website is absolutely clear that I will be, or should be, receiving a rifle with 100% blue, an excellent stock and a pristine bore and crown. If such is not the case then this one will go back to them also and I will not order from them again. I tend to think it will be just as the ad says it will be but only time and and inspection of the rifle will tell. I'll let you know what happens once I receive it. I placed the order today, online, so I am guessing i should have it by this coming Thursday or Friday.

All the best,
Glenn B

Enfield #4 MK1

So, on Tuesday, I received the Enfield #4 MK1 that I ordered from Classic Arms. On Wednesday I called them to ask how to return it for an exchange. They readily said they would send me a return shipping label. The lady who helped me only asked 3 questions. The first was why I wanted to return it. I told her that the gun was not in the shape I thought it should have been given the add said they were NRA Good to borderline Very Good condition and this one seemed at best maybe just reaching borderline good condition. There was a good deal of rust and some pitting but the bore looked okay and there was some repair work on the stock. The so called sling that came with it was an old crappy belt that lloked as if it had been put on the rifle by a moron but granted they only said it would come with "some type" of a sling and I suppose you could stretch it to call a belt a sling if you stretched it really far. Now, I could have lived with it all even though in the claimed condition it should probably not have had any pitting or repairs.

So why want to return it? As I explained to the lady, there was also a very small bit of damage to the outside ring of the muzzle where white metal was exposed. It looked as if someone dinged or gouged the end of it, maybe someone dropped it. She then asked question 2, did it look to have been damaged in shipping. I had to say it did not appear so because the rifle had been packed very well, in fact the bubble wrap placed on it had been done better than I had ever seen before with some extra at the receiver and muzzle end. The only other question she asked was my mailing info so she could send me a shipping to return it. I am hopeful they will have another by the time this one gets back to them.

Now I have to admit, the damage while obviously new was minimal. The thing is though it was damage to the area that probably gets exposed the the second highest amounts of pressure in a rifle and I did not want to take the chance of that damage having weakened the muzzle at all. So back it goes once I get that label. While I am waiting to get the label, I am pretty sure I am going to order another gun from them. They also offer YUGO M24/47 8MM BOLT ACTION RIFLE in excellent condition and they claim, and this is a quote from their website, that:

"BLUE WILL BE AT LEAST 98 % BUT MOST ARE 100% WITH A MID GLOSS FINISH AND A BEAUTIFUL YUGO CREST. STOCKS AND HANDGUARDS WILL MATCH NICELY. BORES HAVE ALL BEEN BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL WITH DEEP SHARP LANDS AND GROOVES AND REALLY NICE CROWNS"

That is a darned nice sounding rifle for only $209.95 plus shipping. If I add $10 then they guarantee:

"AND SELECT WILL GUARENTEE 100 % BLUE AND A REALLY NICE TOP END STOCK AS WELL AS A PRISTINE BORE AND CROWN. "

I think I will order one today. I sold some ammo recently and have a bit of cash on hand to make the purchase so why not! After all - I have been wanting a new rifle for quite awhile now. The only sticking point is they also offer Swiss Schmidt-Rubin K-31 Carbines and Schmidt-Rubin K Model 1911 Carbines too. Decisions - decisions!

All the best,
Glenn B

The Great Uromastix Escape took place today but...

I should have known better than to let it happen. Then again, sometimes we all goof up and I guess I goofed up today. I did it by starting off doing something I do every year once the nice weather rolls around. I did it only with good intentions but sometimes good intentions are not enough so I took precautions when I did it and thought they were enough but I should have known better. The precautions apparently were not enough.

What I did was I put my tortoises and one remaining Uromastix out in the yard to sun themselves. No, I did not just plop them down out in the middle of my yard. Although I well could have done that with my female Hermann's Tortoise and maybe even with my newly acquired male Hermann's Tortoise, there was no way I was about to allow my three small Redfoot Tortoises or the female Uromastix to roam around out there. The Redfoots are small enough to possibly get under my gate (though it would be a squeeze) and the lizard (the Uromastix is a lizard) could have easily squirmed through anything or climbed over anything to escape. So I put them all into a pen, that I built a few years ago, just for the purpose of housing my animals outside so they could bask in natural sunlight now and again. Being it was a few years old and made of painted plywood, let me just say the weather, the sunlight, the termites and time have all had their effects and there are a few eaten away spots. One hole near the top where the hinges for the screen cover were screwed in and one in the bottom front corner. I had no worries about the hole up high, none of my animals could get to it to get through it. The lower one was right at ground level so I covered it over with a few bricks snug against the wood. Nothing was getting out, that is at least not without help and there was no one to help them get out so they were just not going to get out that way. I was satisfied and left them in there but I should have known better.

Then the dogs heard the lizard scampering about and the tortoises plodding back and forth and they got curious. I had to shoo them away a few times but then they lost interest. To make sure they would not pester the lizard, the tortoises usually are not bothered by the dogs unless they try to use them as chew toys, I decided to put the dogs in the house. Then I went outside to enjoy some left over BBQ while sitting on the patio. Once I was done, I went inside and puttered around online in a gun forum. When I went out later to try to talk my wife into taking an evening ride, or to go to Home Depot to buy some flowers for the garden, I also decided to check on my critters. I noticed a much bigger hole in the front corner of the pen. It was dug away, or so it looked, from outside. Then I realized my wife had let the dogs back outside to join her in enjoying the nice day. I suppose, that as usual, if they are not barking up a storm she pays them little attention as they roam around our postage stamp sized backyard. She had been reading a magazine, about dog training of all things, and also had been relaxing and just taking it easy. Then she chatted to one of our next door neighbors over her fence. I guess she had not been paying much attention at all to the dogs. I thought she knew better, but I should have known better. I know the blame is not hers and I am the one who should have known better. You see, about 2 years ago, one of the dogs chewed up one of my tortoises, putting a few nice grooves in its shell, after my wife left the dogs outside unattended with my tortoises. I warned her that time but must admit today I did not but I should have known better. I just thought she knew better even though I was the one who was responsible for them but I should have known better. I guess I just figured all would be well but I should have known better.

Well anyway, it looks like the dogs, or at least one of them, went at the corner of the pen paws flailing and dug out the old hole, making it bigger, and knocking away the bricks that had been flush against the inside of the pen while doing so. That done it wound up that help actually had been there for the lizard to escape. I thought there was no chance of that but I should have known better. As it turned out they really did help one of the inmates to escape, specifically the Uromastix. I thought it was secure but I should have known better. When I came in either I should have insisted that the dogs stay inside or I should have brought in my little sun worshippers and put them in there inside enclosures but I left them outside thinking all was well but I should have known better.

Now we have a lizard on the loose all because I should have known better and done something in a different way. Hopefully it will not terrorize the neighborhood. Even better would be if a neighbor sees it and calls me to come rescue it. I do not have a lot of hope but then again until all hope is dashed to the rocks below the cliffs, hope springs eternal but I should have known better in which case I would have still had the Uromastix and not needed to depend upon hope to make things better.

Later for you, I have a lizard to look for.

All the best,
Glenn B

Memorial Day - Do Not Forget Them Though They Be Gone...

...for it was only through their sacrifice that we have carried on.

Many youngsters, today, and even many adults (usually those newly arrived in this country but sadly some who were born here and lived here all their lives) would not understand what I mean by the words I just have written above. Too many times in my life I have encountered people who have no idea of the reason for or the significance of Memorial Day. For many memorial Day is the event that marks the official start of open beaches, for others it starts the BBQ season, for others it an excuse to have a good time celebrating the nicer weather, for others it still have some significance tied into our military and they go to a parade or other such event. Yet, some do not even recognize it as a holiday by way of purpose and others simply are totally ignorant of it. Over the years the meaning of Memorial Day has become watered down, especially during long periods of peacetime and during our modern age when anything old or traditional seems to need change in the eyes of some. It has become a day of convenience, convenient to use as each person sees fit. So much so that Memorial Day is indeed a prime example of something that those who rewrite history would seemingly like to change to fit their own agendas. Politicians use it as a day to gain the support of veterans, veterans use it as a day to gain support for veterans' services, religious leaders use it as day to impart the wisdom of their teachings about morality, commercial businesses use it as a day to fill their tills, and others - such as revisionists or progressives - use it simply as a way to spread their message to us about whatever their agenda may be. If you do not think I am correct about how our interpretation of Memorial Day has and still is changing, or about how some would like to change it, then go to Wikipedia and read, what in my opinion, is one of the saddest descriptions of Memorial Day I have ever seen:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

It is somewhat wrong from what I can tell, starting in the first paragraph, when it says Memorial Day commemorates those who died while in U.S. military service. As if that were not bad enough, that statement is backed up by a reference from, of all places, the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs! Even the government seemingly has gotten it wrong but is that any wonder under our current and extremely liberal administration that seemingly wants to change everything!

Allow me to be blunt at the cost of upsetting some who have wrongfully but innocently believed otherwise for years: Memorial Day does not honor those who died while in the military service of this nation; at least it was never meant to do so by so broad a definition and should not be used to remember any but those whom it actually was intended to honor no matter how noble our intentions. Memorial Day was meant to, and should, honor only those who have died in U.S. military service who have lost their lives during time of war. Let us not forget that last and very important aspect of Memorial Day, that it honors they who have perished in our country's service, DURING TIME OF WAR.

Some though, despite others trying to change it, still have it right. They have not forgotten the true meaning of this day. Read about the significance of Memorial Day here, a piece prominently displayed on the web site of the Veteran's of Foreign Wars site as I write this post:

http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=5492

The VFW asks us a very important question, a question that in essence describes the significance of memorial Day:

"Do most non-veterans really recognize the importance of the day honoring their fellow Americans killed in war?"

As for its history, Memorial Day is a shoot off of Decoration Day. Decoration Day was in essence a day on which people came out to honor the dead of war, specifically the Civil War (but some believe the practice went further back) by placing decorations on the grave markers of those who fell in combat serving our country. This remembrance was done in the south and the north and was a popular practice during the Civil War and gained in popularity after the Civil War. In short time it became a popular day of importance through all of the states and was soon adopted on state levels as a state holiday. There is no wonder that it should have done so for the Civil War tallied up the highest amount of war dead our nation has ever suffered in any war. Whether known as Decoration Day back then, or as Memorial Day now, or by any other name throughout its history, there was one theme that ran throughout and that was that this day was to honor the servicemen and women who died during wartime for the United States of America.

It was never intended to be a holiday to celebrate those who served in the military, never a holiday to celebrate those who fought in the military, and never intended to be a celebration of anything at all. No, it was not meant to be a celebration but rather to be a solemn remembrance, an honoring of, and a memorial to those who perished while serving during wartime while in military service to our country. Yes, many have tied to capitalize on this day and change it to fit their needs whether due to politics, religion, economics, entertainment, a feel good attitude about the military, national pride or whatever else but we must never forget that this day was set aside to honor they who, while serving in the United States military, made the extreme sacrifice during time of war. They are whom we honor today and we should not forget it, not ever. Let us not dishonor their memory by clouding it with other things though of great import themselves, things that would best be remembered in their own light without stealing the glow of twilight's last gleaming from they who made the ultimate sacrifice. Let the memory of their great sacrifice, of their final sunsets' last glow, shine on forever.

All the best,
Glenn B

Top Kill By Another Method

Now that the the attempt at 'Top Kill' to shut down the leaking gulf oil well has reportedly failed, I have a suggestion. It may seem extreme and granted it is extreme but as they say extreme conditions call for extreme measures. As I recall, oil wells that go out of control and spew oil everywhere are often subjected to explosive charges to close off or cap the hole. Now, I realize that this particular well is something like a mile underwater so I suppose it would be pretty difficult to get a charge placed so as to do likewise with it. However I do have a fairly active imagination and I imagine that it might be possible to deliver an explosive charge to the well head, or to the areas adjacent to it (at the proper angle and all that) with the hope causing it to cave in upon itself and hereby shut it down.

My delivery method would be torpedoes using conventional warheads. Is it worth a try? I would think so if torpedoes can be used at those depth and fired with a decent chance of hitting at where they are aimed. I know little to nothing about torpedoes so someone with more knowledge than me would have to think this one out. Sound crazy, well maybe it is but it sounds better to me than BP, the rest of the oil industry, President Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Navy, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard and anyone else who should be involved just all doing nothing for another three or four weeks while they build this magical bell covering that they say will be the next attempt.

Now maybe for a saner idea. Why not use a deep sea submersible to place explosive charges in such a manner as to try to close the well head? It may have a chance. Of course if that is not possible then I go right back to the original and maybe crazy idea of mine and all I can say is Fire one, fire two and fire three if need be because this has the potential to be the worst man made environmental disaster that we have ever faced.

Maybe crazy and maybe not but at least it is a suggestion and I sent it into BP via:

http://www.horizonedocs.com/artform.php.

I also sent it to the White House, and to my two senators.

All the best,
Glenn B

Welcome Back To Blogging

Quidni pro quo is back at blogging again, apparently started again in April after having been absent over a year since January 2009.

All I can say is welcome back - hope all is well.

http://qquidni.blogspot.com/

All the best,
Glenn B

Spiders - I do not mess with them...

...maybe because of something I read once in a book:

"If you wish to live and thrive,
allow the spider to remain alive."

That little ditty just makes sense. You let them live since they eat other bugs like flies and mosquitos that spread disease. While I may move spiders from a location in my home to outside if they look big and nasty enough, I am more likely to move them only if they are interfering with something while web building. For instance, I had one spinning a web on the front of my TV screen in the basement the other night. I was going to move it after my show was over but for some reason it gave up and moved elsewhere on its own. I got rid of what little web it had spun. Other times I have removed them from in the tub/shower because they wind up falling on me or someone else in the family when we take our showers. They don't hang on all that well once the water starts flowing and I sure get creeped out if one lands on my head unexpectedly.

Otherwise, for the most part, if I see a spider in the house it stays where it is and so does its web if it is a web builder. Just like when I see em outside, I usually just leave em alone even when inside. Why? Well, because they are beneficial to have around - at least if not something like a Black Widow or a Brown Recluse that could put a hurting one you. That way, the beneficial ones can catch any pesky flies or moths or whatever other type of pesky insect may find its way into the house in the warmer months. We sometimes have spiders all year round in the basement, but they are usually most abundant in the Spring through early Fall when they can be found throughout the whole house. Take for example the one pictured here. He was on the basement wall when I came downstairs to watch TV. I have no idea what type it is and the pic did not come out that good but maybe good enough so I can check my field guide and figure out just what it is. Of course, it could be an exotic species from abroad as spiders often come into the country in shipments of plants and other commodities, they are great hitchhikers. In that case the field guide will do me no good since it only cover North American Spiders. As for the one pictured here, after I took the shots, I just left it alone. Hopefully it is gobbling up a fly or a silverfish or something like that by now and it won't be looking for a bigger meal like me when I am slumbering in front of the television.

All the best,
GB

A Hero Has Fallen...

...and I mean a real hero, not some guy who hits home runs, not a drunken actress who tries to live her real life in a fantasy world, and not some mealy-mouthed politician who evidently lies about having a record of service in Vietnam (as actually on the ground in the country during war). I mean he was a real hero. I mean a man who did things that were over and above the call of duty, a man who did so much more than most during a situation that his actions not only deserved recognition but demanded them. I mean a man who put all he had on the line despite overwhelming odds while. A man who was awakened while in bed with his wife by the sound of low flying aircraft and machine gun fire. A man who got into his car and drove to the scene of the fight, then got out afoot, grabbed a weapon and ammunition, and ran into the fray of a bloody battle. He was armed with a .50 caliber machine gun - what almost amounted to a pea shooter compared to the amount of planes attacking with machine gun fire, cannon fire, and bombs which were going off around him. Yet, he courageously fought an enemy despite it all and when he was wounded he kept on fighting. Not only was he wounded once but he was wounded several times by gun fire and shrapnel and probably by other flying debris but he kept up the fight. He kept up the fight with pilots firing machine gun and cannon fire at and all around him. The planes strafing the area sometimes got so close he said he could see the faces of some of the pilots as they zoomed by but he kept on firing against all odds from a position completely out in the open. He was shot in the arm and kept returning returning fire keeping up his end of the fight. He was shot in the foot and a bone in his foot was broken as a result but he kept up the fight. He was barefoot and could barley walk, let alone stand, on the coral dust but kept up the fight. He fought on against dive bomber after dive bomber - plane after plane - dropping bombs around him. He received shrapnel wounds all over his body including his head, chest, stomach, right elbow and thumb but he kept on fighting. He was wounded so badly and was so bloodied that all others around him thought he was sure to die but he kept up the fight receiving 18 to 29 wounds (different reports give varying numbers) but he recalls it like this: "I picked up quite a few hits--18 to 21...". He kept up that fight for 2 1/2 hours and it is believed he brought down at least one enemy aircraft in that time although no one knows how many he also may have damaged or how many of the enemy he may have wounded. He only sought medical attention for himself after having been ordered to do so. Then after finally receiving first aid what did he do? He went on to do his regular job, but now under wartime conditions, and he supervised the rearming of returning planes so they could continue the fight despite the horrific pain he must have endured.

This man was a hero not a mealy-mouthed politician, nor a glamor grabbing movie star nor a steroid using sports star and people should wake up, see the facts and learn the difference. He actually exhibited valor (boldness or determination in facing great danger, esp. in battle) and courage (the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery) and devotion (profound dedication) against all odds and so much more so than would have the average man by far. What he did was merely considered to be heroic, it was extraordinary (beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established, exceptional in character, amount, extent, degree, remarkable) heroism above and beyond the call of duty (something that one is expected or required to do by moral or legal obligation). Get that last part right - he did not just do his duty, he elevated himself by way of his actions to the point of extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty. He put up a fight against his enemy, our enemy, the enemy of our great nation and he did so with complete disregard for his own life.

His name was John W. Finn, he was a Chief Petty Officer assigned as Chief Aviation Ordnanceman to the Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay on the island of Oahu in Hawaii; the date was December 21, 1941. Kanehoe Bay was actually attacked minutes before Pearl Harbor and Finn was in the middle of it because he put himself there. Many others fought bravely that day, so bravely in fact that 15 U.S. servicemen received the Medal of Honor for their actions that day during the sneak attacks by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor and other bases on Hawaii. Finn was just one them. That is him with his wife admiring his medal. He received that medal on September 14, 1942, awarded to him by Admiral Chester Nimitz aboard the USS Enterprise in Pearl Harbor. He was already a 15 year Navy veteran when the action of December 21, 1941 took place (I think 32 years old at the time). After that he stayed with the Navy for many years and retired as a Lieutenant.

So how is that I learned of him and why is it that I mention him today? I learned about him because a friend of mine just sent me an email telling his story. His story will be all over the Internet today - hopefully his story will also make national headlines today on the TV news shows. Hopefully those shows will be in his honor even though it will be posthumously. You see, John William Finn passed away yesterday at the age of 100. He was the last surviving MOH of the 15 in total who received the MOH for their actions during the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor and other bases on Hawaii on that single day. He was also the oldest living recipient of the MOH and he was the only aviation ordnanceman to have ever received the medal. Upon his death, fellow World War II veteran Barney F. Hajiro became the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient.

The following is the citation associated with his MOH:

"FINN, JOHN WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, U.S. Navy. Place and date: Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii, 7 December 1941. Entered service at: California. Born: 23 July 1909, Los Angeles, Calif. Citation: For extraordinary heroism distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, on 7 December 1941, Lt. Finn promptly secured and manned a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy machine gun strafing fire. Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man this gun and to return the enemy's fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard for his own personal safety. It was only by specific orders that he was persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention. Following first aid treatment, although obviously suffering much pain and moving with great difficulty, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the rearming of returning planes. His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."

He was a real hero, no mistaking that, whether he thought so or not. It is well and good that we honor him and others like him and that we do not forget the chances they took nor the sacrifices they made.

All the best
Glenn B


References:

http://www.homeofheroes.com/pearlharbor/pearl_2finn.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_William_Finn

http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-a-f.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-john-finn-20100528,0,5720051.story

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/us/28finn.html?src=me

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hsPAxYxDQu8RBHGksGVhCkAagLmwD9FVGHC03

Today In History - The Sinking of the Bismark

If you know anything about the history of naval battles during WWII then you will realize that one of the most sought after ships of all times was the Bismark. Named after Otto von Bismark, a one time chancellor of Germany, it was, to my limited knowledge, one of only about seven German battleships of WWII and it was formidable. Yet, despite it being the largest warship of WWII, and despite an early victory in an unintended battle (at least by the Germans) of Operation Rheinübung, specifically the battle of The Denmark Strait, its life upon the open seas was short; very short indeed.

On May 18, 1941 the Bismark and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen attempted to break out of the North Sea into the Atlantic. They were spotted and reported to the British who assembled a sizable force to intercept them. On May 24, after having been shadowed by a smaller British ships, the heavy cruisers Suffolk and Norfolk, the Bismark and Prinz Eugen were sought out and engaged by the British in the form of the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser HMS Hood along with a destroyer escort. Their destroyer escort proved almost useless in aiding the Brits because of extremely rough seas. In addition, the two cruisers, that had been shadowing the Germans, had temporarily lost contact with the German battleships and were now far from the battle. The Hood opened fire on the Prinz Eugen, at about 0552 hours, mistakenly with the belief that it was the Bismark. Shortly thereafter it engaged the Bismark. At 0600 the Bismark fired a salvo at the Hood and a 15 inch shell fired from a distance of 9 miles (get that - 9 miles) hit the Hood and apparently ignited one of her magazines. It caused a huge explosion and parts of the Hood rained down on another British ship about 1/2 mile away. The Hood actually broke in two and sank about 3 minutes after being hit, she took with her 1,415 men, including Vice-Admiral Holland who was the commander of the British attack forces. Then the Prinz Eugen and the Bismark targeted the Prince of Wales and that ship was fairly to heavily damaged before it turned and retreated under cover of a smoke screen. After news of this attack reached British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, he gave the order: "Sink the Bismark". As the HMS Hood was one of the prides of, if not the pride of, the British navy, this resulted in the great majority of England's available naval and air forces searching out the Bismark.

Bismark and Prinz Eugen were also damaged in the battle of The Denmark Strait. The Bismark taking some pretty hard hits, one resulting in a serious leak of fuel. When the Captain of the Bismark, Ernst Lindemann, requested permission from Admiral Gunther Lutjens to pursue and destroy the Prince of Wales, Lutjens denied it. After a repeated stronger request, Lutjens again denied it apparently following orders to avoid unnecessary contact with warships and risk of damage in order to fulfill Bismark's intended mission of hunting down and destroying enemy merchant ships. What happened though was not that. Instead, the Bismark turned toward Brest, France for sanctuary because of the fuel leak, it was a serious one. She was shadowed by the two British cruisers and the damaged prince of Wales. The Prinz Eugen, not badly damaged, was then ordered to continue on its hunt for merchant ships and the Bismark, at about 1830 that night turned on the British ships allowing the Prinz Eugen to slip away. Later that night, at about 2200 hours, HMS Victorious (an aircraft carrier) sent several Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers at Bismark. They engaged her but did little damage with only one torpedo hitting the Bismark in its heavy armor. The Brits, both their ships and aircraft lost contact with Bismark but it was regained on May 26 and Bismark was still too far off for Luftwaffe cover. HMS Ark Royal now took over and launched an attack on the Bismark that was almost catastrophic for the Brits in that the planes attacked one of their own ships. Luckily they missed with many torpedoes and the others failed, exploding prematurely, due to unreliable detonators. Ark Royal soon launched another attack on Bismark in terrible weather and this time the torpedoes were equipped with much more reliable detonators. Two or three torpedoes found their mark and a critical hit was registered on the steering mechanisms of the Bismark.

With her steering out she was not maneuverable. The British took advantage of this on May 27 and attacked Bismark with battleships HMS Rodney and HMS King George V. They inflicted heavy damage causing Bismark to list severely but the Bismark did not sink. The British battleships, low on fuel, retreated and the HMS Doretshire, a heavy cruiser, then attacked with torpedoes. Despite three torpedo hits, the Bismark still did not sink but did sustain very heavy casualties. At 1040 hours, in an irony of ironies, the Germans scuttled the Bismark and she sank. Only 111 German sailors were rescued by the British who soon fled the area upon receiving reports of U-Boats operating nearby. One of those survivors died of his wounds while on the British ship. A German U-boat later rescued 3 more and another German ship later rescued 2 more. There were, in total, only 115 survivors; in all 2,085 of Bismark's crew perished. Churchill was very pleased with this result but I would guess that he never, not for even a moment, thought it would be the Germans who would be the ones to follow his order to "Sink The Bismark".

The above post heavily relied on the Wikipedia article about Operation Rheinübung.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Rhein%C3%BCbung

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BUE/is_5_135/ai_n18614613/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Swordfish

http://www.kbismarck.com/ottovonbismarck.html

http://www.beyondcurricula.com/wwii/europeantheater/bismarck.html

http://www.kbismarck.com/

http://www.kbismarck.com/photo035.html

http://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/bismarck_menu.html

http://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_survivors_list.html

To read an interview with a survivor of the Bismark, click on this link:

http://www.kbismarck.com/crew/interview-brzonca.html

All the best,
Glenn B

Hermann's Tortoises - Got a New One...

...and that means my female of several years now has a potential mate because the new one is a male (click the pic to enlarge). He has not shown one bit of interest in her mating-wise since I got him a few weeks ago from Gary B of upstate NY. That is okay for now. They can get used to each other this season, then will be hibernated for the winter, and I am hopeful that once they emerge from hibernation next spring they will be cycled, ready and eagerly willing to do their thing. For now they are getting lots of good food and a lot of exercise, a few days a week in the backyard and a few walking around freely in the finished part of my basement. They sleep inside the house in their enclosure each night. While outside they have to be watched because the fence between our and our neighbor's house is literally falling apart. She is having a new fence erected next month and after that these two will be out much more often, probably daily.

Once I get a new turtle pen constructed they will be out there all day long each and every day. My old pen got destroyed by termites and even though it looked solid and sound it surely was one heck of a mess as I discovered much to my chagrin. That is a project I hope to get done by mid June at the latest and I do not dare leave the torts out overnight if not penned because of raccoons and possums. I am not worried they could be eaten but that they could be injured and catch a disease so as I said, they sleep inside for now. Once the pen is done, they will share it with three Red Foot Tortoises (who will only be out there during warmer months as they come from warmer climes in SA).

All the best,
Glenn B

Surgery...

...is all over with and I am still alive and kicking. In the hospital at 0700, in the operating room about 8:58 (my doctor was 58 minutes late supposedly due to meetings during which he told me the other doctors liked to hear themselves while he just sat there and sipped coffee (while I waited for him of course). Right after that, as he was writing down a synopsis of what would be the procedure, saying it out loud as he did so, he said he would be removing a cyst from the left side of my neck instead of right side. I was about to correct him but he was then immediately questioned by the male nurse. I had already told the nurse it was on the right side (which was right). I sort of figured the doc should have have had more coffee at that meeting, or figured maybe he ought to have had a better night's sleep at a Holiday Inn. In my experience (3 other surgeries by him) he is a good doctor. As is always the case though, even a good doctor can goof but you can bet I am extremely happy they did not wind up cutting up both sides of my neck. Then again, I have to wonder if he was goofing around because he has a great sense of humor but he was so straight faced and seemed genuinely surprised by his apparent mistake that I think it really was just that - a mistake. Anyway, it was caught right away and corrected. The doc soon marked off the correct area with a purple magic marker and they took me to the operating room, gave me a shot of a sedative, had me lay down on the table - but first I asked them if the newspaper laying on it was for me to read and they moved it (how sterile). After that I remember about 5 seconds and remember no more until just about 1 hour after I got to the first recovery room. I was awake when I got there according to a nurse and told her I would need a few pillows under my head, as per doctor's orders, but I have no memory of that - she told me about it later.

Then wide awake at about 1050 and I asked some questions. Surgery was probably about 45 minutes to 55 minutes long. The surgery was done on the right side (whew). Soon after that I was off to the second recovery room. The doc saw me there and set me up for an exam on this coming Tuesday. here I got some juice, some water, some jello (what would a hospital be without jello) more water, hit the head, had a headache (no I did not hit my head and then get a headache), had a sore throat, had a bit of pain in the neck, WAS ASKED IF I WANTED A PAIN KILLER TO WHICH I PROMPTLY SAID YES NOT WANTING THE THEN VERY BEARABLE PAIN TO GET WORSE (HEAD IT OFF AT THE PASS SORT OF A THING), got a couple of Percocet, and started to feel amazingly good in about a half hour after the second one. Sill feel the edge cutting effects of the Percocet even though I took one of the pills at about 1130 and another at about 1245. Good stuff, wish I had more in case the pain returns but got a scrip for Vicodin instead. Oh well, I will have to settle for that even though I do not like it and it does not work as well. I suppose it will work well enough with some whiskey (only kidding).

I am hopeful they did a good job inside and got it all out so that it does not return. I am also hopeful that the biopsy will come out negative or benign for any really nasty stuff, as it is expected to be negative. I am happy the incision must be about 1/2 to 3/4 the size that the surgeon explained to me it would be when he went over the procedure with me in his office. I was told it would go from below the corner of the right jawbone down to the middle of the front of my neck. The only downside to that is that the scar will not look as much like someone slashed my throat so it will be less effective as a yarn spinning prop for future stories told to numbskulls in bars in hopes of a free round or two of drinks for me. I think though, I still maybe able to get some mileage out of it this way though. Time will tell. Think of it, that scar, me having had a career as a federal agent and having worked along both borders and in Haiti, and Jamaica, having arrested numerous drug smugglers, money launders, and even suspected (so called anyhow) terrorists by the scores, having been on several other agency details such as to the Secret Service and as an Air Marshal right after 9/11, all added to my actual scuffles such as my off duty shooting that got me the Ballseye nickname, and real on the job injuries - it could be a productive scar. I may not even have to weave into any of the stories the fact that it was the day of a full moon when I got cut (actually the full moon would be the day after the surgery but who will be telling these tales and which sounds better in a tale meant to get me a free beer or Irish Whiskey). When I think of it, I can just imagine any stories I tell, about that scar, being even better than the story telling competition in the movie Jaws. That was when they compared scars aboard the Orca when they were tossing a few back below deck while fishing for the big shark. Yep, I think my new scar (or the scar sure to develop) will likely be good for at least a few rounds at several bars sometime in my future, probably also will be good around a campfire when telling tall tales, and most definitely will be good to flash like a shiny lure to get the attention of, and awe struck looks from, some fishing buddies on my next shark fishing trip (okay I'll settle for my next bluefishing or seabass trip).

I gotta go to do the ice pack thing. Later for all of you.

All the best,
Glenn B

Enfield #4 MK 1 Rifle - The Order Is In...

...and soon I will be out around $265-$270 including shipping but that will be okay because I will have myself an Enfield #4 MK 1 Rifle. I can only hope it will be as nice as either of the top two in this pic, which is a pic of some of the actual rifles that have been available at Classic Arms. I sent them a copy of my C&R FFL last week and today when I called it took all of about 3 minutes, maybe , for me to place my order for this fine piece of British military history.

I will also be out another $81.19 for 100 rounds of .303 British 180 grain, soft point, brass cased, boxer primed, non-corrosive ammo. I could have done a lot better buying mil-surp ammo with corrosive primers but I figure if this rifle comes with a nice bore - why ruin it or take the chance of ruining it. Chances are though the bore will be dark as opposed to shiny and if so then later rounds may be the surplus stuff. The particular ammo I ordered is coming from an outfit called Ammunitiontogo.com and was manufactured by Prvi Partizan in Serbia. Ammo from Serbia will be a first for me, hope it is fairly good quality.

It took me a long time to save up for this rifle and most of my money went on our new car so I consider myself lucky to be getting anything. I have some more cash stashed away for a more modern gun but am waiting on that for now and can have fun with this one when it arrives. I had debated on an Enfield or another Mosin Nagant (actually was thinking of getting 2 of them) but Classic Arms has exactly zero Mosin Nagants despite a web page making them seem available. That was a disappointment because their site shows some really nice ones with all matching numbers. I hope they get them again soon but tend to doubt more of them on on their way. So, as I said, I'll have fun with this one. Only one by the way because it was about double the price of a Mosin Nagant for one of these.

I'll put out more on it when it arrives, probably next week. I hope to shoot it next weekend but don't know if I will be able to do so, I may have to wait 2 weeks before going to the range again. That is because I am going under the knife tomorrow to have a cyst removed from inside my neck near my carotid artery. Oh joy - that may put a damper on things depending on how long I take to recuperate. I am hopeful it will not be all that long because my trigger finger is already itching for some range time fun with the Enfield


All the best,
Glenn B

New Gun Blog Link

Found another good gun blog tonight by way of a comment left at The Breda Fallacy in a post about a newt. I would not have figured breda for keeping a newt but have to admit the I like her even more now. One of the folks leaving a comment in her post about the newt also has a good blog. See it here:

http://gungeekrants.blogspot.com/

I also placed a link to the site on my blog roll.

All the best,
GB

If This Turns Out To Be The Policy of ICE...

...all I can say is, in my personal opinion, that it will be an absolute disgrace. The 'it' is this: "Top Official Says Feds May Not Process Illegals Referred From Arizona". Bear in mind that President Obama, and his political appointees such as Mr. Holder, Ms. Napolitano, and Mr. Morton seemingly keep on telling us what a great job the federal government is doing in stemming the tide of illegal aliens crossing our borders. Now we have Mr. Morton, an underling of Ms. Napolitano, reportedly saying, in essence, that one of the main agencies tasked with enforcement of Immigration and Nationality laws may not do its part to enforce the laws of the United Sates of America IF THOSE SAME LAWS ARE ENFORCED BY A BORDER STATE and the border state wants to turn over illegal aliens to the custody of the United States of America!

Oh please tell me, as a private citizen, that these people will be out of office come the January following the next presidential elections or sooner (by way of some legal means). As a private citizen, I have never been so disgraced in my life by what my government has been doing. As if that were not enough, can you imagine, even for a moment, being pro-legal immigration, strongly against illegal entry into the U.S. by aliens (I will not call them immigrants because I will not insult those people who legally immigrate here nor will I insult those waiting to come here legally), very much pro the United States of America, a federal law enforcement agent who is an employee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a person who started his career in the Border Patrol! I can because that describes me.

I have to do what they tell me to do at work, within legal and ethical guidelines, and I do my job without prejudice or reservation as long as it is legal and ethical because it is my duty. Yet, I do not have to like it personally. Personally I am ashamed to admit to anyone that I am part of, what I see in my opinion, as this huge immigration mess that I believe will lead to the downfall of our nation if not reined in soon. Not enforcing the laws already on the books, and allowing illegals to remain here without threat of removal or deportation, is not helping at all as I see it in my personal opinion.

I just said I do my job because it is my duty but I have another duty as a private citizen and that is to vote. I cannot tell you how to vote, I cannot endorse a candidate nor can I endorse a party. I can tell you though what are my hopes for our government and how I will vote and I will vote to get these folks out of Washington, DC because I hope for a better America where the people who come here do not commit a crime as their first act on U.S. soil. I can also say this, you should remember things like, what I believe are, the immigration failings of our current administration. Remember them all the way through the next two major elections, the first for Congressional seats and the next for the presidency.

All the best,
Glenn B