I almost forgot to mention that I handled an ancient Le Mat revolver at the gun show today.  It's long history was etched into it--worn, and battered, and as tired as an old warhorse.


This is a picture I found on the internet.  An interesting gun that was used during the Civil War and afterward, and if I can remember the details correctly, was a cap-and-ball affair with a 9-shot cylinder that fired .40 caliber balls.  That big tube under the barrel is another barrel of .65 caliber that was loaded with a charge of shot.

The one I saw was much more weathered than this one, and was without a price tag--apparently being of interest only to collectors.  I didn't ask.  I only hefted it, sighted down the barrel, and wondered if it had really been there amidst the echo of rebel yells and the roar of gunfire.

Just received by email.  Yes, I've seen it before, and you probably have too, but I thought I'd make a joke about it anyway.  I'd install a small bookshelf somewhere, as well.  And probably a small refrigerator.

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.  I took a little time out today to dig into the templates and figure out where and how to change the link colors.  Having all the links the same color as all the regular text was bugging me a little.  I hope the colors aren't annoying for anyone.  I was having problems spotting links in my own posts sometimes.  Maybe it means I'm old fashioned, but links that don't change color according to status just ain't right.

I went today just to get some specific ammo and browse the Tiny Nines.  My daughter came along with me this time.

I picked up a value box of Remington .22 LR (525 rounds for $10.95) and a brick of those Super Colibris that have no gunpowder, but work on the priming only.  I just stepped outside for a few minutes and tried them out to see how loud they really are.  They do require hearing protection.  I tried them in my 6" barrel Single Six as well as my NAA mini.  However, my wife reported not being able to hear them from inside the house.  My goal is to use these for backyard practice that won't disturb the local peasantry.  The Remington ammo is just to replenish my Walther supply for extended range shooting.  I also got one box of 7.62x25mm, cost this time was $9.95 per 50, which I think is higher than last time.  I plan on taking the ol' CZ-52 to the range next trip and torture testing all those other guys' range-issued hearing protection.

I would have purchased more ammo, because I still could have carried several more pounds, but I am pacing myself because I am looking at another gun.  It looks like it's going to be a Kel-Tec.

Yeah, some people sneer at Kel-Tecs.  I used to own a P-32.  I didn't get rid of it because I didn't like it or could find anything wrong with it.  It was absolutely reliable and more comfortable to shoot--and more accurate--than some might think.  I bought it just for a deep carry gun that would really fit easily and comfortably in my pocket.  I have a small nylon belt holster which served as a pocket holster for the P-32 perfectly.  Eventually I bought the SP-101 and learned to carry it very comfortably IWB.  So the P-32 became a sort of backup pocket gun.  Then one day I neglected to don the SP-101 and in the middle of wherever I was, I suddenly thought, "What the heck am I doing walking around with a frikkin' .32 in my pocket--and nothing else?"  I came to think that the SP-101 was good enough on its own, and at the time I was really getting a hankering to acquire a mini-revolver.  I didn't have the cash to buy one, so I just went and did a trade.  Nagel's Gun Shop got the Kel-Tec, and I walked out with a pretty little stainless steel mini-revolver.

I have never regretted this trade, except that it left a hole in my caliber collection.  But I suppose I will remedy that someday with some old C&R .32.  I had made up my mind that I would never carry anything less than a 9mm for personal defense, and for the past several months have been looking at some of the tiny 9mm pistols that are out there.  Due to price, size, and light weight, the Kel-Tec is going to the top of the list.  Based on my past experience with the P-32, I have no qualms about getting a new one in 9mm.  They have a new single-stack version (PF-9), with a 7-round magazine, but it is only slightly thinner and lighter than their old P-11, which is a stagger-stack magazine that holds 10 rounds.  The PF-9 hasn't yet hit the gun show, but the P-11's were in abundance, priced from $216 to $235 (for the one stainless steel slide model).  Being able to do side-by-side comparisons between the P-11 and P-32, I'm certain it will fit easily in the pocket.

Always keeping an eye out for Makarovs, I found a Baikal .380 ACP just like the fellow at the range had yesterday for $209.  These are turning out to be more common than 9x18 Makarovs at the gun show lately, and are starting to tempt me as well.  Not because I have any practical use for it, but just because I like those little guns and I don't have a .380 in my caliber collection, either.

I mention my "caliber collection."  Right now the most obvious missing calibers are .25, .32. and .380.  Of course there are many other more obscure calibers that I will probably never own, and don't want to that much.  But I would at least like to cover these three, just because.

I handled a NAA Guardian in .380.  Those suckers are heavy.  They are small, but they are so dense I don't know if they would make a good pocket gun.

I also handled a scandium .357 magnum.  Now, if I were at the range and someone else there offered to let me shoot his, I would.  But I would never buy a gun that light that shoots a caliber that potent.  It seems barely heavy enough to use as a paperweight.  Recoil must be brutal.

Someone had some real, traditional black powder guns.  I momentarily lingered over a very nice percussion-cap .50 caliber single-shot that would have matched my Hawken quite well.  It was priced just a little over $200.  He also had some absolutely beautiful rifles, and plenty of cap-and-ball revolvers.

I should be ready to buy a pocket 9 in a couple more months, depending on how much money I spend on ammo between now and then.  And for the curious, it will not replace either of my larger guns.  It will just be a little something extra.

This will mean I'll have two 9mm's.  I momentarily considered trading my Ruger P-95 for another gun, but when I came to realize that I wanted the Kel-Tec, I changed my mind.  I'll spend cash for a Kel-Tec, but I won't trade a Ruger for it.  Besides, I think that big Ruger should make a fairly good training gun.

Blah blah blah...

Glendale News-Press: Close loopholes in weapons sale laws

Choice quote:

I, for one, am a believer in the 2nd Amendment, which gives Americans the right to bear arms. What I do not agree with is the National Rifle Assn.'s unwillingness to come to any compromise. The NRA, for years, has been lobbying against all and any gun-control-related bills.

Next time please explain exactly how to compromise an unalienable right.  You might also provide examples as to how the right of free speech, the right to free exercise of religion, and the ban against slavery, and the right of women to vote may be compromised.

All the same old tired arguments.  No such thing as a slippery slope, ballistic fingerprinting works, gun show loophole, blah blah blah...

It's the first weekend of the month, and that means...I'm going to the gun show!