Winchester Model 24 SxS

I have my father's old Win 24 SxS. It is not a highly valuable SxS like some others. This one was made between 1939 and 1958. It was designed to be an affordable SxS to compete with the Stevens 311 and the Savage/Fox Model B. About 116,200 were manufactured.

Most of the blue was gone from it but it still worked and looked pretty good if you kept it oiled up. I did an original clean-up on it when I got it out from under Dad's bed. It did not look like it had been touched in decades. It was open and there were dust bunnies in the barrels. I do believe that was the first time that I ever blew dust bunnies out of 12 gauge!

I have decided to keep this one of Dad's and fix it up a touch. The metal has been redone in cerakote black. I will do the stock up with the Minwax Antique Oil Finish. Well...........I got the gun back and the left barrel does not cock and it did before it went in. The finishing shop was embarrassed as they were giving up on it and did not charge me for the work. Nice dark black finish but non-functional. An order to Numrich went out for every spring, replacement sears and cocking levers.

Sunday morning was a good time so apart it came. Everything is reassembled except for the last plate that goes in which secures both firing pin/springs and the release level spring. It is still apart for the moment. The keeper holes on the spring shafts are not far enough back. You have to compress all three springs to be able to get the mounting bolt in. I think that this requires about five really little and exceptionally strong hands. I will post some after pictures as soon as I get this complete.

Were are the Wee Free Men when you need them?

Dove Hunting

I had mentioned in an earlier post (Now For Something Entirely.....Cheap) that I had picked up this Leinad Cobray FMJ 45LC/410 derringer and was going to try my hand during dove season.

The second day of the season I decided to give it a whirl. There are always some of the doves that fly low along the brush/tree row by where I hunt. I found a nice little spot, put the 20 ga shotgun down, and stood there waiting to ambush a dove. One finally flew by that I took a shot at. The first thing that I realized was that I missed (like that's a big surprise). I then thought, "Dang, that was loud!". While my ears were still ringing the third thought was that it was a good thing that I had a good grip on it as this thing really kicks and moves. What a hand and ear full. My ears rang like it was a .357 revolver. I have shot one of the .357 and a 44 Mag without ear protection in my youth. The .357 was the worst. I decided pretty quick that hearing protection was required back then.

I decided that I would not try this again until I had a set of electronic muffs on that I could wear with my hat. I am not giving up sun protection. I want to be able to hear as many times you can hear the dove's wingbeat from a distance. I did not try again this season but I will get better prepared for next season so that I might gather some bragging rights about taking a dove with a derringer!

Body Anomalies

Transgender woman says TSA detained, humiliated her over body 'anomaly'

TSA screeners thought and set the machine for female. That "anomaly" was Mr. Wiggly showing up. Hahahahaha! I have no compassion for her stupidity. What did she think was going to happen aside from confusion.

I only start here as a segway to a similar topic. TSA scanners suck to go through. I have gone through the scanner twice in recent travels and got to get felt up after both. The second time the agent asked if I wanted a private screening. "Huh, what? No, just go for it.", I said with a smile. He seemed a little tense. 

He had me turn around at one point in the touchy feely session and I could see the readout screen. Every place that I have loose skin shows in a different lighter color. This is probably due to the density difference without muscle inside a couple of folds of skin. I have some loose skin on my lower abdomen and upper inner thighs from loosing the 130 pounds. Heck, I have more places than that but those are the ones of notice. All of these areas showed up on the scan and he felt all of them up. I imagine it was the upper inner thigh area (woohoo) that prompted the question on private screening. I could also see my Mr. Wiggly just fine on the screen (JK).

I asked him if he had seen that appearance before and he said no. OMG he actually spoke to me! I told him about the weight loss and what he was looking at and patted down. He commented that it made sense. I told him to have a nice day and that I enjoyed our little date. He actually smiled and had to catch himself from laughing. He would not want to give away that he had escaped the procedure of surgically removing his sense of humor as a job requirement.

As a warning to any people that go through with a substantial weight loss program, you will get flagged at the scanner for the loose skin anomaly. Be prepared for the following session of feel-me-up.