Collecting Relics

I must be a sucker for old things. Last year I bought a Springfield 1842 musket from a friend of a friend for $80. It probably wasn't even worth that much but it was still neat. It was sporterized and in poor shape. The modifications look to have taken place quite some time ago if the patina is any indication. The barrel is in poor shape so I will need to find out if I can ream out that .69 bore. Suggestions would be welcome. It appears that if I get the barrel smooth again along with a replacement nipple that I would be able to actually shoot this one as the rest of the weapon works.

Last week I just purchased a Czeck vZ 52 and a Russian Mosin Nagant 1942. Both of these are in good shape. The 52 looks quite clean while the Mosin looks like a servicable unit. These I picked up from a friend's son who needed some cash. I have no particular use for either but it seemed like a good deal so there you go!

I need to get to the range now as I need to sight in the new scope (2 CDS dials to work with) on my 300 Win Mag, sight in the modified VariX IIc (new CDS installed) on the 30-06, try out the Mosin, and see where the 52 shoots.

The 52 has two magazines and a fine old leather holster.  I wonder if the 7.62x25 is considered minor or major for a bowling pin shoot?

Color Blind

John Derbyshire worked for the National Review until he was fired for writing the following:

• Avoid concentrations of blacks not all known to you personally.
• Stay out of heavily black neighborhoods.
• If planning a trip to a beach or amusement park at some date, find out whether it is likely to be swamped with blacks on that date (neglect of that one got me the closest I have ever gotten to death by gunshot).
• Do not attend events likely to draw a lot of blacks.
• If you are at some public event at which the number of blacks suddenly swells, leave as quickly as possible.
• Do not settle in a district or municipality run by black politicians.
• Before voting for a black politician, scrutinize his/her character much more carefully than you would a white.
• Do not act the Good Samaritan to blacks in apparent distress, e.g., on the highway.
• If accosted by a strange black in the street, smile and say something polite but keep moving.

It was a poor idea, at best, for a writer to put this out. Can you say, “Career decision?” There are some very small glimmers of truths in the statements above but it need not be applied to just one group. I think that it is best to follow Primeval Papa’s rules.

• Avoid concentrations of people not all known to you personally, period. It could be a zombie horde and you would normally not be carrying enough ammunition.
• Stay out of any neighborhood where you stand out like a sore thumb. A stranger is bait regardless of color in some neighborhoods. Even though you may have adequate ammunition, baiting is illegal in most states.
• If planning a trip to a beach or amusement park at some date, find out whether it is likely to be swamped with any specialty group. Shriners are probably OK but watch out for water balloons and clowns.
• Do not attend events likely to draw a lot of single minded people unless you are part of that single minded group.
• If you are at some public event at which people suddenly swell, leave as quickly as possible. Sudden swelling can be a sign of disease and it might be contagious.
• Do not settle in a district or municipality run by politicians. They are the bane of your existence.
• Before voting for any politician, scrutinize his/her character much more carefully than you would a normal person.
• Do not act the Good Samaritan to anyone in apparent distress, e.g., on the highway. This is a standard setup for robbery or worse.
• If accosted by a stranger in the street, smile and say something polite but keep moving. I have never met anyone on the street who wanted to talk to me just to chat for a while.