Another Pony Enters The Stable

May 1st, 2014, a day that will be retained in memory as the Royal Colt Remembrance Day. Again, perusing the glass cases filled with sidearms, I saw the second most beautiful Colt I have ever laid eyes upon. The first being the M1911 reproduction described in an earlier post.

This Colt is another limited edition (one of three hundred), I also have a Ruger Talo SR1911. This one, is a Colt/Talo edition of a series 70 Government Model. The finish is Royal Blue (Gloss Army Black), polished frame and slide, laser etched, minimalist markings, jeweled hammer and barrel port, and extraordinary stocks with inlaid silver Rampant Colt cloisonné. Oh man, a Colt Series 70, M1911A1 Government Model, and it's a beauty.

Out comes the VISA card, and home comes the pistol. This has been an expensive year for M1911 acquisitions for me. These opportunities keep foisting themselves upon me and cannot be ignored. Looking on GunBroker that evening, I saw another one of the 300 "Royals" at a bidding price of $2,200.00! Wow, I made money already (not really). No depreciation on this baby, I just got a 40% return on investment. That is really pretty sweet. I think this is another "safe queen".

I have plenty of M1911's to shoot, this one is so damned fine looking, that it will remain in factory new condition. I have not, and will not, rack the slide or drop the hammer on this pistol. That will be for another day, and perhaps another family member to do. Heirlooms are like that you know.

Shoot straight, and do the right thing...

Gaff

Well, the little spring goes in there, and goes around and around, whoa, whoa...

I may have made a mistake, or, I may have overestimated the 1985 stand-in for the M1911. I am now, the slightly less than proud owner of a Beretta 90 Series automatic pistol. I say that, because I have now owned this pistol for a few days, I have since field stripped it a couple of times, and I have felt its worth. Granted, this is not the exact pistol chosen by our military in 1985 to replace the M1911 as the standard sidearm of the US Military, but it is virtually the same design.

This Beretta, is a 96A1. It is a tactical version of the 92F, the civilian model of the military's standard M9 service pistol. The 96A1 is chambered in .40 Smith & Wesson, where most of the series 90 pistols are exclusively 9mm Luger (Parabellum). It also has a 1913 Picatinny rail dust cover that the 92F is lacking. I chose this caliber on the recommendation of my ex-military son. He carried an M9 in Afghanistan during his deployment there, in 2006.

My oldest never liked the 9mm as a pistol round, and thought the .40 S&W would perform better in the Beretta platform. He was interested in shooting the Beretta again, and I was interested in obtaining the pistol that dethroned the M1911 after nine and a half decades. My thought process lead me to believe that this pistol needed to be part of my M1911 collection, because of its winning the US military's testing of a replacement battle pistol. In fact, a Sig Sauer P226 won the contest/test, but it was "too expensive". This decision, from an entity that spends $600.00 on a claw hammer.

But I digress. I have the bloody thing now, and as God is my witness, I am not impressed. It is comfortable, it is lighter than an M1911, due largely to its forged aluminum frame. But by golly, there are a lot of little springs, and pins, and plastic, and a de-cocker, a rolling firing pin thingy, and more plastic. I look at it, field stripped, and I wonder to myself how long it would take to completely disassemble this thing. I'm thinking, a long time, a very long time. I bet those little springs are hard to find when they shoot out from their retaining place at the most unexpected time. I have not counted the parts in the exploded parts drawing yet, but I guaran-damn-tee you, it is a heck of a lot more than sixty. The M1911A1 has sixty parts, total. I can completely disassemble it in about 20 minutes (less the sights and plunger tube), with a .45 ACP cartridge and the firing pin or hammer spur.

In a previous blog entry, I said that I might purchase a Glock, to see how it compared to the M1911 in complexity. If the Austrian is anything like this Italian made pistol, well, let's just say, too much mustard for one hotdog. I will get back to you on that, in a later missive.

For now, I want my son to put 100 rounds down the pipe, then I will fire 100 rounds, then HE will clean it, I will watch, then I will put it in the safe. My opinion will need to coalesce further. Right now, as I type this, I am muddled. I need to see this gun do its thing in MY testing. I hope it does it perfectly. John Browning's design did.

Be well, and do the right thing.

Gaff

The End of the Beginning

Today was a special day.  Saint Patrick's day, March 17, the year of our Lord 2014. It is a great day to be Irish, and to acquire a WWI M1911 Colt reproduction pistol.

I happened to be at my local firearm purveyor yesterday looking at a Dan Wesson Valor in Black Duty-Coat finish. After which, I asked to look at a Springfield Armory M1911. The owner said ..."if you want a "real" M1911, I just got two in from Colt. I ordered one in "Army Black" with display case for a customer in August, 2011, and it came in three days ago. The customer backed out of the order, so, it's available"...

I could not believe my ears and eyes. He opened the cardboard box, slid out the blue Colt box, opened it, and out fell the period correct, early twentieth century, military M1911 manual. Beside it, still wrapped in the brown crispy vapor paper, was the pistol. Correction, "The Pistol", one of four thousand. A factory polished, deep black, exact replica of the pistol test fired in March 1911 for the army by John Browning. And later, taken into the Great War by America's Dough-boys. The original M1911, with all it's simple elegance, and it's shortcomings too. The tiny sights and dainty thumb safety being the most obvious.

I might not get another chance like this, I think it was fate, or some other such romantic rationalization...it's pricey...but not crazy...screw it...I'll take it (tomorrow). I have been threatening myself to get a "real" M1911 for my collection for sometime now. This pistol would mark the beginning of the over 100 year old design, the bookend next to Genesis, so to speak. Well, this would be one fine way to accomplish that. It looks exactly like a new M1911 purchased in, say, 1913. This is before they, Colt Firearms, needed to pump them out for the war effort in 1916. Around that time, Colt needed to boost production and started to back off on the fine finishing and polishing they had been doing to each pistol. The pistols that went to war, for the most part, functioned perfectly, they just lacked the finer finish and polishing that was given to Colt pistols up to that time.

The Browning/Colt pistol in this box/display case is really quite special to me. I will field strip the new pistol, lightly coat it with Mil-i-tec oil, grease the rails, reassemble, and then remove the factory checkered walnut stocks. In their place, I will install a set of pre-ban ivory stocks that I have saved for just such a special piece. It will look thrilling. White grips on the black frame, understated yet elegant. After applying Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax to the ivory grips, I will repackage it, and place it gently on the top shelf of the gun safe. I have decided not to shoot this pistol. For the time being that is.

I think my grandson might be really excited to fire the first magazine out of it in about fifteen years or so. His father and I will teach him the correct way to behave around firearms, and the great respect needed for their power and lethality. He will also feel the deep satisfaction of placing controlled fire onto a target with accuracy and poise. I hope to be at his side that day when the M1911 roars to life. Seven hits in the ten ring...that'll be something, especially with those tiny sights. Ah...to have young eyes...

Thanks to Mr. Browning, and Saint Patrick. You guys really made my day.

Gaff

The Most Unforgettable Character I've Never Met...(Sorry Readers Digest)

I mentioned and quoted someone in my last post that I have been pondering and studying for a while now. As I learn more about this man, I am more and more impressed with his 86 orbits of the sun.

Lieutenant Colonel John Dean "Jeff" Cooper is this man. A battle tested marine of two wars, a hunter of African big game, trainer of kings and presidents from around the world, mentor to the common hand-gunner, historian, inventor, innovator, race car driver, pilot, author, and on and on. Renaissance Man? Well, I think he closely approaches that appellation's definition, and in many ways achieves its meaning and stature. Oh! and he loved John Moses Browning's M1911 pistol.

The legacy of Col. Cooper is varied and widespread. He left us with a universal approach to proper behavior with a firearm that is now, de rigueur globally. "A firearm is ALWAYS loaded." Sound familiar? "Never point a weapon at something you don't intend to destroy", "Do not put your finger on the trigger until your sights are on the target, AND you have identified the target, AND what is beyond." That's him.

His ideas about the "Combat Mindset", and preparing for the unexpected in everyday circumstances, is the basis for his curriculum concerning survival during a lethal encounter. Yes, having certain self-defense skills is important, but the ability to keep a cool head (the mind), is the difference between living and dying when the "Goblin" is dead-set on your demise. Turning fear into anger, if you have a defensive firearm, focusing on the front sight and threat/target, aiming "center mass", and squeezing the trigger for the "surprise" break. These things are meant to STOP the Goblin's threat, NOT to kill. When firearms are part of the encounter, death is most likely the final outcome to that deadly situation, but in Col. Cooper's mind, KILLING is the purview of the criminal felon, STOPPING threat is the primal reaction of the human being. Providing the skills, and more importantly, the trained mindset to STOP lethal threats is what his later life was dedicated to.

Over the years, from the late 1950's on, Col. Cooper developed his "Defensive Pistol Techniques" which are used worldwide. He developed the "Scout" type rifle from his extensive hunting experience in Rhodesia. He also was prominent in the development of competitive pistol design (the Bren Ten), and practical use pistol competitions.

Col. Jeff Cooper made a very good living getting paid for his knowledge, and using his experience and abilities to train men and women to protect their own lives, the lives of their loved ones, and or the lethally threatened. His training grounds, "Gunsite", and home "The Sconce", in Arizona, is used to this day to instill his ideas and practices into the minds and bodies of paying customers. I hope someday to pay a visit myself, and learn what I can in one week's time, from the devoted employees and followers of his way of training and preparation for the deadly situation we all hope will never come to pass.

I will close this entry with a quote that is engraved over the mantel of Col. Cooper's home, "The Sconce":

"Mind must be the stronger, heart the bolder, courage must be the greater, as our might lessens."

From the manuscript of Otho A.xii, The Battle of Maldon

If this entry peaked your interest, look him up...he's the real deal.

Happy New Year to One and All!

Gaff

Common Sense? What does it all mean?

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

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...

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

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...