Ruger's Auction To Benefit The Scholastic Action Shooting Program

                                                                           $2525
Here's a neat one from Ruger!  It is a straight pull bolt action Mini-14, made in 2000 for sale in the UK. It is brand new and has never left the factory.  It is stainless, with a Zytel stock, rubber butt pad, bayonet mount, flash suppressor, and one 5 round magazine. You are not going to find one of these at the local gun shop, so CLICK HERE, read all about it, and place your bid.  This fine little rifle will sell mid-day, Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

Tuesday Torque: Novo Engines With Water Pump Are Rare!

We sold our 8 HP Novo to our friend Gary many years ago, and he put it back in running order pretty quickly in spite of some challenging problems.  It came with a two cylinder, single acting water pump that is still frozen up tight, so Gary has not put it back with the engine.  I looked around on YouTube and I can't find another like it, though I did find this 6 HP model with a similar pump arrangement.


Farm engines often survived because they were stashed away in a shed or barn, but industrial engines were parked out in the weeds or sold for scrap when their useful days were done.  Maybe some day Gary can figure out how to make that iron move again without breaking.  It's a challenge, that's for sure!

                                                         That's Snaggle, a fine little cat.

New Gun Owner? Watch This Before You Unbox It!

Be Sharp!

We have a bunch of cleanup to do in the yard, and wood to cut for next winter.  File away those bright spots.  They don't cut, they eat power, and they make the chain wear. A good edge is invisible. Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam: Myanmar; Engines Blessed By Buddhist Monks!

Merle is knocking them out of the park every week!  Many Thanks, Merle!

Weather Has Been A Good Show This Week.

The temps have been coming up and tonight we are letting the basement stove go out.  We have burned nearly all our firewood, so tomorrow I need to get out and cut a hickory log and bring it to the splitter.

The fog yesterday had visibility down to 100 yards, and it is good to be retired on mornings like this.  Today we had a hot little cell come at us from Mt. Vernon, and we got some pea-size hail.  It lasted a bit over a minute and ended suddenly.

We Totally Missed National Puppy Day! Better Late Than Never!

National Puppy Day was on Monday and here it is Wednesday already.  We will catch up with a little post about Pete the Pup from Don Marquis in The Lives And Times Of Archie and Mehitabel.

pete at the seashore

i ran along the yellow sand
and made the sea gulls fly
i chased them down the waters edge
i chased them up the sky

i ran so hard i ran so fast
i left the spray behind
i chased the flying flecks of foam
and i outran the wind

an airplane sailing overhead
climbed when it heard me bark
i yelped and leapt right at the sun
until the sky grew dark

some little children on the beach
threw sticks and ran with me
o master let us go again
and play beside the sea
                                       pete the pup

The Great Outdoors: Gun Itch Flareup

We stopped in Larry's Gun Shop, McLeansboro, IL before the lockdown to see what was good, and drop a little coin to show our support. As usual, we checked all the trade-ins for interesting guns.  This Ruger Flattop Blackhawk is a .44 Special made in 2014, and it looks absolutely new.  There is not even a drag mark from the cylinder being turned!  The price is quite reasonable, especially considering that single-action fans all crave a .44 Special. These are no longer in production, and I think this one is calling me!

Ruger's Auction To Benefit The Scholastic Action Shooting Program

                                                                             $1375, Wowsers!
Ruger is offering a New Old Stock GP 100 this week.  It was built in 2002 and has been residing in Ruger's vault ever since. Click Here to read all about it and to place your bid.  This fine revolver will sell mid-day, Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

Tuesday Torque: Pioneer Prairie Tractor

I first saw a Pioneer Prairie Tractor in the Iron Men Album, back around 1965.  They are a fascinating old tractor with a four cylinder opposed engine that lies horizontally on the frame.

 This one was at Pinckneyville in 2015 and that was the first time that I was ever encountered one in the flesh.

Believe it or not, a new one is being built! Someone needed some major parts and that project has evolved into building the entire tractor. One of the obstacles has been finding a foundary with the talent and knowledge necessary to make intricate castings needed for century-old technology.

Here is a look at one being started that I pulled off of YouTube.