Ruger's Auction To Benefit The LIght Foundation

Once in a while one of these auctions come along and makes me feel like a real winner.  Ruger is offering a 3" GP100 from 1988 that was never listed in their catalog.  Bidding as I write this is up to $1325; just a little bit north of my price range.  I have a very nice S & W Model 66-1 with a 2 3/4" barrel, purchased decades ago that is always close at hand around home.  That fine old Smith right now is saving me over 1300 bucks, and I'm loving it more every day.  If you have a hankering for a solid, stainless, short-barreled .357 revolver for packing around the homestead, this Ruger is meant for you, and I promise not to jack up your bid.  100% of the proceeds will go to the Light Foundation.  CLICK HERE to place your bid.  This fine, rare revolver will sell mid-day, Wednesday, August 13, 2914.

$1475!!

Tuesday Turbo Boost

Turn it up LOUD for the first ten seconds!

What brought this song to mind? My little brother sent a video link to me of a real turbo fan. Here you go, real TURBO madness!

The Magic Is Gone

Great War Centennial: Early Actions As The War Begins

August 7, 1914, the first British soldiers arrived in France, and the Battle of the Frontiers began. No-one knew at this time what this war was going to become. German forces were initially pushed back, but British and French armies were soon to retreat toward Paris, and the Battle of the Marne. Lots of information is out there on the web, and I have included a few links for you to begin your research. This little description is greatly over-simplified, and new developments were happening every day during August of 1914. 

Robert Service obviously knew men who were there, if he wasn't there himself.  "appy days. The days too good to last."



The Red Retreat
Tramp, tramp, the grim road, the road from Mons to Wipers
    (I've 'ammered out this ditty with me bruised and bleedin' feet);
Tramp, tramp, the dim road -- we didn't 'ave no pipers,
    And bellies that was 'oller was the drums we 'ad to beat.
Tramp, tramp, the bad road, the bits o' kiddies cryin' there,
    The fell birds a-flyin' there, the 'ouses all aflame;
Tramp, tramp, the sad road, the pals I left a-lyin' there,
    Red there, and dead there. . . . Oh blimy, it's a shame!

A-singin' "'Oo's Yer Lady Friend?" we started out from 'Arver,
    A-singin' till our froats was dry -- we didn't care a 'ang;
The Frenchies 'ow they lined the way, and slung us their palaver,
    And all we knowed to arnser was the one word "vang";
They gave us booze and caporal, and cheered for us like crazy,
    And all the pretty gels was out to kiss us as we passed;
And 'ow they all went dotty when we 'owled the Marcelaisey!
    Oh, Gawd! Them was the 'appy days, the days too good to last.

We started out for God Knows Where, we started out a-roarin';
    We 'ollered: "'Ere We Are Again", and 'struth! but we was dry.
The dust was gummin' up our ears, and 'ow the sweat was pourin';
    The road was long, the sun was like a brazier in the sky.
We wondered where the 'Uns was -- we wasn't long a-wonderin',
    For down a scruff of 'ill-side they rushes like a flood;
Then oh! 'twas music 'eavenly, our batteries a-thunderin',
    And arms and legs went soarin' in the fountain of their blood.
For on they came like bee-swarms, a-hochin' and a-singin';
    We pumped the bullets into 'em, we couldn't miss a shot.
But though we mowed 'em down like grass, like grass was they a-springin',
    And all our 'ands was blistered, for our rifles was so 'ot.
We roared with battle-fury, and we lammed the stuffin' out of 'em,


    And then we fixed our bay'nets and we spitted 'em like meat.
You should 'ave 'eard the beggars squeal; you should 'ave seen the rout of 'em,
    And 'ow we cussed and wondered when the word came: Retreat!

Retreat! That was the 'ell of it. It fair upset our 'abits,
    A-runnin' from them blighters over 'alf the roads of France;
A-scurryin' before 'em like a lot of blurry rabbits,
    And knowin' we could smash 'em if we just 'ad 'alf a chance.
Retreat! That was the bitter bit, a-limpin' and a-blunderin';
    All day and night a-hoofin' it and sleepin' on our feet;
A-fightin' rear guard actions for a bit o' rest, and wonderin'
    If sugar beets or mangels was the 'olesomest to eat.

Ho yus, there isn't many left that started out so cheerily;
    There was no bands a-playin' and we 'ad no autmobeels.
Our tummies they was 'oller, and our 'eads was 'angin' wearily,
    And if we stopped to light a fag the 'Uns was on our 'eels.
That rotten road! I can't forget the kids and mothers flyin' there,
    The bits of barns a-blazin' and the 'orrid sights I sor;
The stiffs that lined the wayside, me own pals a-lyin' there,
    Their faces covered over wiv a little 'eap of stror.

Tramp, tramp, the red road, the wicked bullets 'ummin'
    (I've panted out this ditty with me 'ot 'ard breath.)
Tramp, tramp, the dread road, the Boches all a-comin',
    The lootin' and the shootin' and the shrieks o' death.
Tramp, tramp, the fell road, the mad 'orde pursuin' there,
    And 'ow we 'urled it back again, them grim, grey waves;
Tramp, tramp, the 'ell road, the 'orror and the ruin there,
    The graves of me mateys there, the grim, sour graves.

Stay Focused Monday Morning!

Jump through the hoops, Grind out your work, but stay on your feet!  Grandstanding will get you nowhere.


Gotta love the Grinder Girl!

Not My Victrola: Fill Your Head With This One!

Moon and June and You!  Room Enough to Dance! Singing Little Love Songs To My Baby!  I always bump the player back for a couple extra plays on this one.  Rudy Vallee, Dancing In The Moonlight.

Weekend Steam: American Thresherman Show, August 14-17, 2014

The annual show at Pinckneyville is just one week away!  See steam engines, gas engines, antique tractors, sawmilling, threshing, and more.   Below are a couple videos by our friend Gary Bahre, and a couple of mine.

Crankin' It Up; Brat Has A Tired

Brat just wanted to lie under the lights and rest when we played Lee Morse.  I guess he had a busy day.  Lee Morse and Her Bluegrass Boys are great on "Under the Ukeulele Tree."  She was a remarkable artist as the recording studios made the switch from megaphones to microphones.

The RENDEZVOUS, GBR IX, Is Less Than One Month Away!!!! Sign Up NOW!!!!

The Gun Blogger Rendezvous (NOT just for bloggers) will be happenin' September 4-7 in Reno, and is the best time of your life.  It is for folks like you, who enjoy firearms, shooting, and fellowship with the nicest folks you will ever meet. They are YOUR people!  You will have the time of your life with three days of range activities, good food, and stimulating conversations.


Gun Blogger Rendezvous, Let Us Count The Ways by TrueBlueSam

The Rendezvous will be raising funds for Honored American Veterans Afield this year, and you may rest assured that Mr. Completely and his helpers pay into the fund, same as everybody else to raise money for our veterans.  Friday and Saturday will be outdoors at the Washoe County Shooting Range.  Check out the Sunday range event!


The Mrs. and I live in the middle of Nowhere, Illinois, and we have to drive over 100 miles to visit a facility like this for real-life scenario practice. This ia an opportunity you can't afford to pass. Go to the GunBloggers site and register right away! Reserve your room at the Silver Legacy and make your travel arrangements to attend Gun Blogger Rendezvous IX. Meet Mr. C, Engineering Johnson, Liz, Kevin, Dirt Crasher and all those other bloggers you have been visiting online. Do IT NOW!

Negligent Handling, Negligent Discharge

Negligent discharges make the news every little bit, and the blame is usually placed on the firearm; as in "The gun went off."  Whether you use the NRA first rule of 'Keep your gun pointed in a safe direction.' or Jeff Cooper's first and second rules of 'All guns are always loaded.' and 'Never let the muzzle cover anything you do not want to destroy.' , you won't have a negligent discharge that hurts anyone if you apply the rules as hard as you can, and use proper mitigation for those times when you must work around the muzzle of the gun.  This all came to mind when I saw this link again recently.  This individual placed his hand in front of the muzzle of a fully assembled firearm and pulled the trigger in preparation for disassembly.  I don't know any good reason to put part of your body in front of the muzzle when you pull the trigger, but not everyone has a tight grasp on that concept.  Watch the following video, which is a very good tutorial on the disassembly and reassembly of a 1911 until the final functionality test at 14:28.  I know that he knew the gun was empty, but doing what he did creates a level of comfort in his mind with dropping the hammer when his body is covered by the muzzle.  I don't want to go there, and you shouldn't either.  There are a couple other good ways to do that test without muzzling yourself, and you can point the gun into a sand bucket while you do it, if only to reinforce safety procedures in your brain.  Be careful out there, and be thoughtful when your hand is on a gun.