Last week saw the posting (mailing) of my State-required firearm forms, declaring my possession of a dreaded "Assault" type carbine (short rifle), a 9MM Beretta, CX4 Storm, as well as all of my various magazines that are capable of holding ten or more bullets.
Just what, in the sweet dreams of Hercules, the State of Connecticut is going to do with those forms, (DPS-414-C (Rev.10/02/13) & DESPP-788-C (Rev.10/02/13), is anyone's guess. If there was ever a concrete example of red tape, government waste, duplication of effort, privacy infringement, and erosion of Constitutionally guaranteed rights, poorly hidden under the veil of "common sense", this idiocy is it.
The State should already know I have the Beretta, they asked me to provide them with a copy of the DPS-3 form that they already have. That form was filled out at the time of purchase in quadruplicate. It was then sent to them, and my local police department. The retailer got another copy, and I got the last copy. Holy hewn hemlocks!; that's a lot of paperwork. Where did their original copy go? Golly-gee-willikers, is THAT a rhetorical question.
As far as listing all the High Capacity Magazines I own, what does that accomplish exactly? Well, for one, it gives the Gub-mint an all-knowing-all-seeing type of self-satisfaction. "Ha-Ha! We know where you live, and we can come and get those nasty folded sheet metal contrivances any damn time we want...ahem...after we change/skirt the laws."
Can you imagine for a moment, the stacks of 8 1/2 X 11 sheets of paper in some poor bastard's office. There are nearly two hundred thousand legal gun owners in Connecticut. I'll wager a good portion of those "law abiding citizens" have at least one magazine that can hold more than ten bullets. THAT my friend, is a lot of paperwork. The good side of this paperwork nightmare is that the criminals, hoodlums, and maniacs will not be bothering to register their "Assault" weapons or "High Capacity Magazines". Comforting, isn't it?
Again, the purpose of all this is....? I thought so, not an easy question to answer. The GOV and Democratic legislators would explain it as "common sense" measures. Really??? Most of them would not know which end of an AK-47 the bullet comes out of.
In my opinion, the last time "common sense" and the government were used together in a cogent way was back in 1775, when Common Sense, a pamphlet written by Thomas
Paine, inspired people in the Thirteen Colonies to
declare and fight for independence from their tyrannical Government...
Those of you that might stumble upon this missive and deplore the idea of common citizens bearing arms, or possessing firearms for self-protection, please take a moment to think about the idea of self-defense. It is THE most basic right. You are readily and gladly ceding that right, in hopes that someone else, (the Government namely), will protect you when evil comes knocking at your door. In the meantime, you sit and cower, cell phone to your ear, hoping the 911 operator gets your address transmitted to the prowl car properly. Good luck with that. Those citizens back in 1775 sure as hell did not sit and cower.
Sorry, that last paragraph was off topic. I just couldn't help myself. Correction, I actually CAN and WILL help myself, if necessary. Can you say and do the same? If the answer to that is no, start practicing your cower position. I suggest butt on the floor, knees to chest, whimper into cellphone. This is more comfortable than the kneeling in the closet position.
Merry Christmas to one and all! To steal a line from Dickens; "God bless us, everyone." Especially bless the townsfolk of Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Why not go out and do something nice for someone, to honor them, and to remember that awful day one year ago, when evil came knocking at that school door.
Gaff
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
The Marvelous Mechanical Marvel
Since my last post, where I threatened to go out and procure a "plastic gun", a.k.a. Glock 19, I was presented with three rare buying opportunities and handled an heirloom. The first buying oppourtunity, was stumbling onto a "Talo" edition of the Ruger SR 1911 pistol. I have two of these already, in Stainless Steel. A Full Size and a Commander version. I think they are a very nice representation of the modern M1911 and a great "first" 1911 for a would-be buyer.
This Talo limited edition, "One of 500" DLC coated black beauty is Talo's tribute to the Navy SEALS. $100 of the purchase price goes directly to the Navy SEAL Foundation. It has wonderful French Walnut Basket Weave Grip Panels, and the Black DLC (Diamond Like Coating) finish is stunning. Gold Ruger and Navy SEAL medallions are etched/stamped onto the rear of the slide which really make them POP!
There goes the Glock for now...
Next, while searching for info on semi-custom 1911's, I came across a new Dan Wesson Valor (Bobbed) for sale. This Stainless Steel "V-Bob" is a .45 ACP piece of heaven. Its Burl grip panels were fabulous. The reason for its rarity, was the fact that a fire consumed part of the Dan Wesson Factory in Norwich, NY., last November. This put the facility "out of production" until March of this year. With back orders, customer's pistols in need of service, and the constant demand for these hand tuned quality firearms at an all time high, the availability of these sought after weapons is virtually nil. I snatched it up. What a fabulous find.
No Glock yet...
Finally, well, not quite, I came across a new Colt .45 Rail Gun. Another hard to find, much in demand full size M1911 with tactical rail and Black Cerakote finish. I had been in search of one for about two years when this one was foisted upon my wondering eyes at my local gun store. It went home with me.
Still no Glock...
I did have an opportunity last week to detail strip a friend's Korean War era, Ithaca made M1911A1. This Olive Drab "Parkerized" US Army Sidearm is a classic, and it is in great condition, albeit a bit lacking of lubrication. I took care of that for the most part in my disassembly and lubrication of the combat pistol. While doing so, I marveled at the condition of this weapon, and how it may have saved the original owner's life (my friend's father). And, that thought reminded me of something the great defensive pistol guru Jeff Cooper once said of this John Browning design, and hence, the title of this blog:
This Talo limited edition, "One of 500" DLC coated black beauty is Talo's tribute to the Navy SEALS. $100 of the purchase price goes directly to the Navy SEAL Foundation. It has wonderful French Walnut Basket Weave Grip Panels, and the Black DLC (Diamond Like Coating) finish is stunning. Gold Ruger and Navy SEAL medallions are etched/stamped onto the rear of the slide which really make them POP!
There goes the Glock for now...
Next, while searching for info on semi-custom 1911's, I came across a new Dan Wesson Valor (Bobbed) for sale. This Stainless Steel "V-Bob" is a .45 ACP piece of heaven. Its Burl grip panels were fabulous. The reason for its rarity, was the fact that a fire consumed part of the Dan Wesson Factory in Norwich, NY., last November. This put the facility "out of production" until March of this year. With back orders, customer's pistols in need of service, and the constant demand for these hand tuned quality firearms at an all time high, the availability of these sought after weapons is virtually nil. I snatched it up. What a fabulous find.
No Glock yet...
Finally, well, not quite, I came across a new Colt .45 Rail Gun. Another hard to find, much in demand full size M1911 with tactical rail and Black Cerakote finish. I had been in search of one for about two years when this one was foisted upon my wondering eyes at my local gun store. It went home with me.
Still no Glock...
The Dan Wesson Twins
I did have an opportunity last week to detail strip a friend's Korean War era, Ithaca made M1911A1. This Olive Drab "Parkerized" US Army Sidearm is a classic, and it is in great condition, albeit a bit lacking of lubrication. I took care of that for the most part in my disassembly and lubrication of the combat pistol. While doing so, I marveled at the condition of this weapon, and how it may have saved the original owner's life (my friend's father). And, that thought reminded me of something the great defensive pistol guru Jeff Cooper once said of this John Browning design, and hence, the title of this blog:
"Pistols do not win wars, but they save the lives of
the men who do. The noble 1911 is a mechanical marvel, whose ruggedness,
dependability and ferocious power have comforted four issues of GIs, and which,
unlike any other instrument you can name, is as much superior to its rivals as
it was in 1917." -Col. Jeff Cooper, about the 1911 Pistol, January, 1968
The Glock is going to have to wait awhile. Maybe, a long while.
Best wishes to all, shoot straight;
Gaff
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Do It Yourself Thumbprinting
It happened today. One of my many e-mails contained two attachments. One was a form to register all of my "high capacity" firearm magazines, the other was to register any "assault weapons" I might possess. These two forms were provided by my gun club as a "value added membership perk". It happens to be the oldest Gun Club in these United States, and has many members from every walk of life you might imagine. Including a few barristers. The forms were sourced at the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; Division of State Police. (An Affirmative action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer)
I admit, I stared at the "assault weapon" form for some time. It, form DPS-414-C (Rev 6/30/13), contains two rectangular boxes into which my right thumbprint must be imprinted. I not only need my signature to be witnessed by a notary public, I need to fingerprint myself, and make a good job of it. (No rolling of the thumb, not too much or too little ink, black ink please, not too much or too little pressure, and be sure the whirls are readily visible.)
The "high capacity" magazine form DESPP-0788-C (New 5/7/13), requires that I sign an affidavit to affirm that I was in possession of these "devices" before April 4, 2013, and then list each one, its designed caliber, capacity, manufacturer, and how many of the little buggers I own.
Well, I'm guil...ahem, I qualify to be required to fill out both of these forms. I own an "assault weapon" (actually a Beretta 9mm Carbine) purchased before 4, April, 2013, and I own various "high capacity" magazines (able to hold more than ten rounds of ammunition) also owned before 4, April, 2013.
The total tonnage of stupidity that comes out of our legislatures, local, state and federal would sink a heavy carrier. The above requirements were legislated and rammed through our state system because of the awful, awful, despicable, insane actions of a deranged 20 year old maniac.
Because "we must do something", they did something. Something that will unfortunately, not prevent unspeakable tragedies from happening again. Oh! that I wish it might.
Average citizens must now jump through a myriad of red tape hoops to become "legal" possessors of the two above mentioned, previously legal items. +10 round magazines, and any weapon that is semi-automatic, looks like it might be military, SWAT, Tactical, or have a pistol grip (there are many more characteristics that have been deemed "assault").
Just how many gangsta's and hoodlums do you suppose are downloading those forms? How many do you think are going to fingerprint themselves, or have their BFF help them keep their gold necklaces from smearing their right thumbprints? It is tough to print yourself while keeping your Glock 19 horizontal and fixed on your intended target or innocent bystander.
As you can tell by now, I'm just venting a bit here. I will get my forms in, I will comply with "authority" and do what a "law abiding" citizen is asked to do to comply with the new laws. However inane they may be. The laws were legally legislated, and signed into the books by the governor.
The legislation still remains to be litigated however, the constitutionality of these enactments is being questioned by a bunch of those aforementioned barristers. Besides, I have until January 1, 2014 to get my non-smeared thumbprints into some digital storage silo deep in the bowels of Wallingford, Connecticut. Now, where did I put my black stamp pad? How long does it take for that ink to wear off? Don't they have my prints already? I remember back in Boy Scouts we went to the police station...
I admit, I stared at the "assault weapon" form for some time. It, form DPS-414-C (Rev 6/30/13), contains two rectangular boxes into which my right thumbprint must be imprinted. I not only need my signature to be witnessed by a notary public, I need to fingerprint myself, and make a good job of it. (No rolling of the thumb, not too much or too little ink, black ink please, not too much or too little pressure, and be sure the whirls are readily visible.)
The "high capacity" magazine form DESPP-0788-C (New 5/7/13), requires that I sign an affidavit to affirm that I was in possession of these "devices" before April 4, 2013, and then list each one, its designed caliber, capacity, manufacturer, and how many of the little buggers I own.
Well, I'm guil...ahem, I qualify to be required to fill out both of these forms. I own an "assault weapon" (actually a Beretta 9mm Carbine) purchased before 4, April, 2013, and I own various "high capacity" magazines (able to hold more than ten rounds of ammunition) also owned before 4, April, 2013.
The total tonnage of stupidity that comes out of our legislatures, local, state and federal would sink a heavy carrier. The above requirements were legislated and rammed through our state system because of the awful, awful, despicable, insane actions of a deranged 20 year old maniac.
Because "we must do something", they did something. Something that will unfortunately, not prevent unspeakable tragedies from happening again. Oh! that I wish it might.
Average citizens must now jump through a myriad of red tape hoops to become "legal" possessors of the two above mentioned, previously legal items. +10 round magazines, and any weapon that is semi-automatic, looks like it might be military, SWAT, Tactical, or have a pistol grip (there are many more characteristics that have been deemed "assault").
Just how many gangsta's and hoodlums do you suppose are downloading those forms? How many do you think are going to fingerprint themselves, or have their BFF help them keep their gold necklaces from smearing their right thumbprints? It is tough to print yourself while keeping your Glock 19 horizontal and fixed on your intended target or innocent bystander.
As you can tell by now, I'm just venting a bit here. I will get my forms in, I will comply with "authority" and do what a "law abiding" citizen is asked to do to comply with the new laws. However inane they may be. The laws were legally legislated, and signed into the books by the governor.
The legislation still remains to be litigated however, the constitutionality of these enactments is being questioned by a bunch of those aforementioned barristers. Besides, I have until January 1, 2014 to get my non-smeared thumbprints into some digital storage silo deep in the bowels of Wallingford, Connecticut. Now, where did I put my black stamp pad? How long does it take for that ink to wear off? Don't they have my prints already? I remember back in Boy Scouts we went to the police station...
Monday, May 13, 2013
1911 Afterthought
I decided to write this post after having looked over the drawings of the 1911 pistol. According to the parts listing on the exploded view page, plus the magazine components, I count sixty components total in the original design.
Going over the parts page by page, and looking at the complexity of some of the parts, I have to retract my previous statement about the comparison of the 1911 to most modern pistols. The statement I made said that I thought the 1911 was a simpler design, with fewer parts and less machining to produce. That may not be the case, depending on the manufacturer and the manufacturing process chosen. If castings and forgings are used versus machining billets, then the statement holds I believe. If however, machining from solids is chosen, then the production costs, required machinery, tooling, and skilled machinists necessary to produce the parts becomes very costly and complex.
The tolerances called for in the drawings require very skilled machinists, set-up personnel, and quality machines to produce and hold within those limits. Today's computer controlled machines would have little difficulty producing the parts well within the tolerance limits, but the quantity of different machined parts in the 1911 design makes it inherently more complex than a composite framed competitor such as a Glock.
I will delve further into this as time goes on. I may have to purchase a Glock, M&P, or Beretta and dissect the design for a proper perspective on composite frame designs. I can tell you my CZ 75B is by far more complex than Browning's 1911 Government Model. The CZ shares similar functions with the 1911, and it is a wonderful handgun, accurate, ergonomic, and well crafted. It just has a lot more parts than JMB'S combat pistol. The CZ seems to make my point about the relative simplicity of the 1911. Then again, the CZ 75B has a single-action or double-action trigger group. That's oranges to nectarines. Yep, time to go get a plastic pistol and see what's shakin'...
Gaff
Going over the parts page by page, and looking at the complexity of some of the parts, I have to retract my previous statement about the comparison of the 1911 to most modern pistols. The statement I made said that I thought the 1911 was a simpler design, with fewer parts and less machining to produce. That may not be the case, depending on the manufacturer and the manufacturing process chosen. If castings and forgings are used versus machining billets, then the statement holds I believe. If however, machining from solids is chosen, then the production costs, required machinery, tooling, and skilled machinists necessary to produce the parts becomes very costly and complex.
The tolerances called for in the drawings require very skilled machinists, set-up personnel, and quality machines to produce and hold within those limits. Today's computer controlled machines would have little difficulty producing the parts well within the tolerance limits, but the quantity of different machined parts in the 1911 design makes it inherently more complex than a composite framed competitor such as a Glock.
I will delve further into this as time goes on. I may have to purchase a Glock, M&P, or Beretta and dissect the design for a proper perspective on composite frame designs. I can tell you my CZ 75B is by far more complex than Browning's 1911 Government Model. The CZ shares similar functions with the 1911, and it is a wonderful handgun, accurate, ergonomic, and well crafted. It just has a lot more parts than JMB'S combat pistol. The CZ seems to make my point about the relative simplicity of the 1911. Then again, the CZ 75B has a single-action or double-action trigger group. That's oranges to nectarines. Yep, time to go get a plastic pistol and see what's shakin'...
Gaff
Thursday, May 9, 2013
One of My 1911's
Since I started this post about John Moses Browning's classic 1911 Combat Pistol, I thought I might as well show one of mine that I have done a bit of handiwork to. The biggest change I made was to customize the Hogue grips I purchased. I wanted to increase their "grippiness" (is that a word? NO!).
To accomplish this, I checkered the inside of a simple triangle pattern on each grip half. In addition, I inlet a small personalized disc into each side of the grip. The Hogue is a split grip (two halves), and attaches with the standard 1911 grip fasteners in place of the factory grips.
The 1911 pistol is without a doubt, one of the most modified and customized pistols in the world today. It is also one of the most recognizable. There are many, many manufacturers of the design from all parts of the globe. For the most part, main parts of the pistol are interchangeable from manufacturer to manufacturer. This is due to the drawings of JMB's original design being in the public domain. However, it does not guarantee that all parts are exchangeable, will necessarily fit your particular 1911, or for that matter, function properly.
Modern manufacturing practices allow drawings to be directly input into Computer Numerically Controlled Machines (CNC) and the machines can then produce the part using that drawing's information. Tolerances of the finished parts are a different matter all together. Tolerances become a manufacturing decision, how tightly the parts will be held to the original specifications is a bottom line thing. It's all about time, and money (cost). Back in JMB's day, 1911 originals were machined and then hand fitted by craftsmen, the best of the best craftsmen. Come to think of it, tolerances and or lack thereof, could be an entire new post.
Checkering is by far, not a hobby for folks with a short attention span. It requires fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and laser focus at times. Come to think of it, most of the time really. Mistakes are not easily hidden from a discerning eye. However, it is a most satisfying carving accomplishment. It looks wonderful, and is functional. Pretty cool for a form of art. Functionality, that is.
I have not yet attempted engraving. Now that, I reckon, would be a magnitude above checkering in the concentration and motor skills departments. Wood is a bit forgiving, stainless steel, not so much.
Here it is...My full size (5 Inch) Ruger SR-1911 with my modified grips.
& My Ruger SR1911 Talo Edition Navy SEAL Special Edition 1 of 500
Do the right thing!
Gaff
To accomplish this, I checkered the inside of a simple triangle pattern on each grip half. In addition, I inlet a small personalized disc into each side of the grip. The Hogue is a split grip (two halves), and attaches with the standard 1911 grip fasteners in place of the factory grips.
The 1911 pistol is without a doubt, one of the most modified and customized pistols in the world today. It is also one of the most recognizable. There are many, many manufacturers of the design from all parts of the globe. For the most part, main parts of the pistol are interchangeable from manufacturer to manufacturer. This is due to the drawings of JMB's original design being in the public domain. However, it does not guarantee that all parts are exchangeable, will necessarily fit your particular 1911, or for that matter, function properly.
Modern manufacturing practices allow drawings to be directly input into Computer Numerically Controlled Machines (CNC) and the machines can then produce the part using that drawing's information. Tolerances of the finished parts are a different matter all together. Tolerances become a manufacturing decision, how tightly the parts will be held to the original specifications is a bottom line thing. It's all about time, and money (cost). Back in JMB's day, 1911 originals were machined and then hand fitted by craftsmen, the best of the best craftsmen. Come to think of it, tolerances and or lack thereof, could be an entire new post.
Checkering is by far, not a hobby for folks with a short attention span. It requires fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and laser focus at times. Come to think of it, most of the time really. Mistakes are not easily hidden from a discerning eye. However, it is a most satisfying carving accomplishment. It looks wonderful, and is functional. Pretty cool for a form of art. Functionality, that is.
I have not yet attempted engraving. Now that, I reckon, would be a magnitude above checkering in the concentration and motor skills departments. Wood is a bit forgiving, stainless steel, not so much.
Here it is...My full size (5 Inch) Ruger SR-1911 with my modified grips.
& My Ruger SR1911 Talo Edition Navy SEAL Special Edition 1 of 500
Gaff
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The Browning Insult
I moved this entry from my other Blog about encoders because it was just way-too off topic...
The following has nothing to do with optical encoders, far from it, but it does deal with another of my interests. I might go as far as to call it a passion. Modern firearms.
Somehow I got pulled into an on-line discussion about semi-automatic pistol designs. Specifically, the .45 caliber 1911 Combat Pistol. The reason I was sucked in...well, the discussion got a bit ugly at one point with severe criticism of the 1911, its reliability, its "old" design, etc. Here is an excerpt of one of the comments:
"The 1911 is, at its core, a dogshit design. I’d never trust my life to one of those crapfests, no matter how ‘tuned’."
Being an admirer of John Moses Browning, I had to jump in with both "guns a blazin'". My response was the following:
"100+ years ago, a genius named John Moses Browning gave the US Army what it was asking for. A reliable combat pistol with one shot knock down power. In order to “pass the test” the pistol needed to fire 6,000 rounds continuously, only stopping to eject and insert magazines. It did just that flawlessly.
As far as the design being less than good…I might suggest that when any other combat pistol gets 100+ years of experience under its belt, then the design comparisons can be drawn.
Mr. Browning does have a couple of designs that seem to be classics. Take the MA-2 .50 cal. Heavy Machine gun. Is that a piece of shit design too? Or, his .30 Cal Light Machine Gun, which I believe still holds the sustained fire record of around 48 minutes at 600 rounds a minute. Nearly 29,000 bullets sent downrange. The only reason it stopped then, was it ran out of bullets in the pre-made bandoleer.
Are there better semi-auto pistols available in the marketplace today? Undoubtedly. However, I would posit that their designs are more complex, require more machining, and contain more components than JMB’s “classic” 1911."
O.K., so I should not have gotten sucked in. It's too late now. Why did I come to the defense of a design that needs no defense? The man that designed it had a sixth grade education. Yet, he holds more firearm patents than any person living or dead.
In my slightly less than humble opinion, when the .45 ACP, 1911 pistol is manufactured as it was in John Moses Browning's day, by craftsmen, machinists, and armorers that are the "best of the best", and used with ammunition it was designed to fire, there is no better, more lethal, more ergonomic, more reliable hand held firearm on the planet. Again, that is just my opinion. Which, I have come to accept, carries very little weight...I'm jiggy with that.
Until next time, or not.
Gaff
The following has nothing to do with optical encoders, far from it, but it does deal with another of my interests. I might go as far as to call it a passion. Modern firearms.
Somehow I got pulled into an on-line discussion about semi-automatic pistol designs. Specifically, the .45 caliber 1911 Combat Pistol. The reason I was sucked in...well, the discussion got a bit ugly at one point with severe criticism of the 1911, its reliability, its "old" design, etc. Here is an excerpt of one of the comments:
"The 1911 is, at its core, a dogshit design. I’d never trust my life to one of those crapfests, no matter how ‘tuned’."
Being an admirer of John Moses Browning, I had to jump in with both "guns a blazin'". My response was the following:
"100+ years ago, a genius named John Moses Browning gave the US Army what it was asking for. A reliable combat pistol with one shot knock down power. In order to “pass the test” the pistol needed to fire 6,000 rounds continuously, only stopping to eject and insert magazines. It did just that flawlessly.
As far as the design being less than good…I might suggest that when any other combat pistol gets 100+ years of experience under its belt, then the design comparisons can be drawn.
Mr. Browning does have a couple of designs that seem to be classics. Take the MA-2 .50 cal. Heavy Machine gun. Is that a piece of shit design too? Or, his .30 Cal Light Machine Gun, which I believe still holds the sustained fire record of around 48 minutes at 600 rounds a minute. Nearly 29,000 bullets sent downrange. The only reason it stopped then, was it ran out of bullets in the pre-made bandoleer.
Are there better semi-auto pistols available in the marketplace today? Undoubtedly. However, I would posit that their designs are more complex, require more machining, and contain more components than JMB’s “classic” 1911."
O.K., so I should not have gotten sucked in. It's too late now. Why did I come to the defense of a design that needs no defense? The man that designed it had a sixth grade education. Yet, he holds more firearm patents than any person living or dead.
In my slightly less than humble opinion, when the .45 ACP, 1911 pistol is manufactured as it was in John Moses Browning's day, by craftsmen, machinists, and armorers that are the "best of the best", and used with ammunition it was designed to fire, there is no better, more lethal, more ergonomic, more reliable hand held firearm on the planet. Again, that is just my opinion. Which, I have come to accept, carries very little weight...I'm jiggy with that.
Until next time, or not.
Gaff
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