New (to me) Old Army - First Year of Production

Oh yeah, for $220 or so shipped I got this first year of production Ruger Old Army and it is, although sans box and nipple wrench, in very good condition, excellent even. There is a hint of pitting (but it is blued without a reblue, is it really pitting or manufacture flaw?) on the forward edge of cylinder circumference. The gun locks up tight but the rammer is noticeably looser than my Lyman Remington New Model Army I bought in 1974. For what it is worth that was two years after the Old Army was made. I killed game in Texas with the Lyman which was purchased in San Angelo. The "new" gun came to me from Pennsylvania but who knows where it has traveled in the years since "birth".

I have bought a nipple wrench but still need to get the proper size balls, a Ruger hard case and a holster for the gun.

Long Gone but...

As I've been to Houston and Pensacola on family business I've not been posting for the past week. However, I did manage to score a Ruger Old Army and 9 boxes of .25-35 factory ammo for $65. Good times.

Got to see my son. He should lay off the fast food but it sure was good to see him.

.41 Mag Data but not Mine

A friend asked me to post some scanned data his dad, J. Kenneth Chapman, used in a an article on the .41 Mag. I've been messing about with this to get the jpegs posted. I'll make no comments as it isn't my place to do so. To see a larger version, click on the photo.

These loads are from my dad's files and pretty much match the Handloader Magazine article.
While these are safe in my rifle and handgun, they may not be safe in anyone elses weapon. Please be sure to only follow the powder manufacturer's recommendations when working up loads, and only use the loads I'm giving, for comparison and reading enjoyment.
Ray

Older Books - Nostalgia Reigns

I've been looking at some of the older books I have that hooked me on shooting, hunting and, along with my grandparents, the outdoors in general.

The first of these is "Herter's Famous Professional Guide's Manual" (the abridged edition) by George Leonard Herter and Jacques P. Herter. A wealth of knowledge and marketing.

George wrote/co-wrote several books including, "How to Live with a Bitch", "Bull Cook and Authentic Historical Recipes and Practices", and "Herter's professional course in the science of modern taxidermy" among others. This man was a character to say the least. Very fun to read, each and every time.

If you're old enough you no doubt remember the Herter's catalogs. When I was assigned to the Defense Language Institute, my first roomate's father worked for Herters and was from Waseca. I thought that was too cool.

The second is "Hunting-Fishing and Camping" by L. L. Bean. Wow! This one really sucked me in. You can tell when you look at the guns I hunt with and how I prefer to dress!

The hunters in Mr. Bean's book use classic leverguns, side-by-side shotguns and wear wool as well as Mr. Bean's famous Maine hunting shoe! Lots of good photos in black and white but the book is very Maine-centric as Mr. Bean says right up front. He allows as game generally behaves everywhere the same.

The front endpiece is a map of Baxter State Park often referred to in the naming of LL Bean products. The back endpiece is a map of Maine with the by county 1941 deer kills. Given as 19,881, I wonder how many deer were killed in 2005...

Places to Go

I have to admit that I don't enjoy travel. To me, travel by plane, car, train, bus, or whatever is a necessary evil to allow me to move to someplace where I can do something I want or, worst of all, need to do. However, I can have some good trips. You read of one that I did last year where we pulled the RV through 19 states in 25 days and got to see the Alamo, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Yellowstone National Park, and the Little Bighorn Battlefield.

Those were the highlights for me. You might see a pattern developing. If you don't now you will.

Several years ago, I can't tell you when without looking at my passport, my wife "took" me to England. We stayed at a B&B in London and saw Edinburgh, Stonehenge, the Roman baths at Bath, the Royal Armories (in Leeds), the Tower, Westminster, and the Imperial War Museum. Oh, we saw other stuff as well. Gardens, pubs, ghost tour, Parliament, London Bridge, Tower Bridge (which is interesting) and so on. That stuff just wasn't as interesting to me.

We've even taken a couple of bus tours to Canada. One went through Maine, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and returned through New Brunswick. The other went through Toronto, and north through Timmons and Sudbury to take the train from Cochran to Moose Factory, Ontario. In general this was interesting, mostly mildly so, and the wife LOVED both trips. What I enjoyed was seeing the forts, LL Bean, James Bay, the Canadian shield, lakes, thousand islands area, National Museum of Man and such.

I also wanted my dear wife to see where my father came from in upstate New York and we went to Lake George, Cooperstown, Niagara Falls, Corning Museum of Glass, and the Erie Canal. I liked, Lake George (I've always loved going to Lake George), Fort Ticonderoga, Old Fort Niagara, the Erie Canal (we actually toured the canal at Lockport), and the glass museum.

Why am I going on about this? Because every summer my wife, the teacher, wants to travel. She has 2½ months to do it and now that I'm retired, so do I. This summer we'll be going to Pensacola, Houston, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Charleston and points in between. We'll be riding trains, planes, truck, boats, RAFTS, and busses. At least I won't have to drive it all.

National Concealed Handgun Bill - S.3275

Senator George Allen has introduced S.3275, a bill that would make a concealed handgun or weapon permit valid in all 50 states!

There are 13 co-sponsors as of now:
Sen Burns, Conrad R. [MT] - 6/5/2006
Sen Burr, Richard [NC] - 5/26/2006
Sen Craig, Larry E. [ID] - 5/26/2006
Sen Crapo, Mike [ID] - 5/26/2006
Sen Dole, Elizabeth [NC] - 5/26/2006
Sen Ensign, John [NV] - 5/26/2006
Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] - 5/26/2006
Sen Lott, Trent [MS] - 5/26/2006
Sen Martinez, Mel [FL] - 5/26/2006
Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] - 5/26/2006
Sen Sununu, John E. [NH] - 5/26/2006
Sen Thune, John [SD] - 5/26/2006
Sen Vitter, David [LA] - 5/26/2006


Here is the text of the bill for those interested:

A BILLTo amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a national standard in accordance with which nonresidents of a State may carry concealed firearms in the State.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. NATIONAL STANDARD FOR THE CARRYING OF CERTAIN CONCEALED FIREARMS BY NONRESIDENTS.

(a) In General- Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 926C the following:`Sec. 926D. National standard for the carrying of certain concealed firearms by nonresidents

`(a) Definition- In this section, the term `another State' means a State other than the State from which a person holds a license or permit described in subsection (b)(2).

`(b) Authorization- Notwithstanding any provision of the law of any State or political subdivision thereof, and subject to subsection (c), a person may carry a concealed firearm (other than a machinegun or destructive device) that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce in another State if the person--

`(1) is not prohibited by Federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm; and

`(2) is carrying a valid license or permit that--

`(A) is issued by a State; and

`(B) permits the person to carry a concealed firearm (other than a machinegun or destructive device).

`(c) Licensing-

`(1) IN GENERAL- If another State issues licenses or permits to carry concealed firearms, a person may carry a concealed firearm in that State under this section under the same restrictions that apply to the carrying of a concealed firearm by a person to whom that State has issued such a license or permit.

`(2) NO LICENSES BY STATE- Except to the extent expressly permitted by State law, if another State does not issue licenses or permits to carry concealed firearms, a person may not carry a concealed firearm in that State under this section--

`(A) in a police station;

`(B) in a public detention facility;

`(C) in a courthouse;

`(D) in a public polling place;

`(E) at a meeting of a State, county, or municipal governing body;

`(F) in a school;

`(G) at a professional or school athletic event not related to firearms;

`(H) in a portion of an establishment licensed by that State to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises; or

`(I) inside the sterile or passenger area of an airport.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections for Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 926C the following:

`926D. National standard for the carrying of certain concealed firearms by nonresidents.'.

Call, write, e-mail your Senators and get them on board with this bill.