Dance Macabre

 

River Birch Bites The Dust

 We think this river birch was struck by lightning.  It has a large dead area where the bark is falling off, and the crown has been receding for a few years. We got it on the ground and bucked up, ready to split for firewood. 

Fall Has Fell!

 The fall colors ease us into the dark time of year, but the rain and cold remind us what comes next. The stoves offer necessary comfort. We fired up the basement stove yesterday.

Wednesday Windage: Five Minutes To Better Shooting

Re-post from 2011.

 If you shoot a Ruger Single-Six, Blackhawk, or Super Blackhawk you can cut your trigger pull in half by installing an aftermarket trigger return spring. They will give you trigger pull around 35 to 40 ounces, which makes hitting much easier when you are aiming small. 

After you have your spring in hand, clear a small work space, unload your revolver, and gather your tools.  The tools you need for this task are:  a small screwdriver for removing the grips, a small pin or punch to push out the pin that goes through the trigger return spring, and a set of small pliers or needle noses.

I like to remove the cylinder when I am working on one of these guns so that it is obviously unloaded without having to repeatedly check the chambers every time I pick it up.  Replace the cylinder pin so the action can be cycled easily, without the transfer bar catching on the firing pin.

 The little pin in this photo has to be pushed out with your punch.  Set it aside in a safe place so you don't lose it.  Unhook the back end of the trigger return spring from the grooved pin at the back curve in the frame.

 Rotate the spring downward so it is parallel to the mainspring, and bring it out of the frame.  Insert your new spring.  You will need to watch through the pin-hole to see when the spring is lined up properly.  The mainspring spreads the trigger return spring so it tends to catch as you wiggle it in, and I like to stand the gun on its muzzle so I can get my fingers on both sides of the trigger return spring as I do this. 

Replace the pin, hook the back end of the spring over the grooved pin, and cycle the action.  Replace your grips, and the cylinder, then take it out to the range. 

Wolff springs can be purchased from Brownell's and Midway, and Wolff Springs. (Thanks to JLM in comments!)

Tuesday Torque: Potpourri

All the above are courtesy of our video spotter, Merle. Many Thanks, Merle! Below is a Vice Grip Garage video that popped up while I was grabbing the embeds for this post. Stuck engines, rodent-eaten wiring, brake pedals falling to the floor, none of that stops this guy.

 

Another Monday, Back To Dark Time Next Sunday

Back To The Old Grind!

 

Weekend Steam: Coonrod Engine

 I remember seeing this road locomotive by Coonrod when I started attending Old Threshers regularly in 1965. Mr. Coonrod was in the construction business, with cranes, heavy duty truck transporters, and etc. He was instrumental in moving engines to Mt. Pleasant to be installed in the stationary steam building.  He tragically was killed on icy roads one winter when travelling to Mt. Pleasant for a board meeting of Old Threshers.  Thanks for the link, Merle! (PS...While reminiscing one time about past acquaintances, a royal smart person asked, "Does everyone you know die?"  Hmmm. Looks like that might be.)

Dusty's Son Dawson Made A Perfect Shot!

 Dusty's son Dawson came to hunt yesterday evening, and made a perfect shot on this nice buck just before sunset. Please note that Dawson put his arrow at the neck/shoulder junction, through the heart, and out the lung on the other side. That shot will bring an animal down quicker than any other except for a central nervous system shot. I bragged on him.  We like to see hunters who take the craft seriously and prepare themselves so animals are not wounded, but are taken quickly and ethically. Congratulations, Dawson!

Al Jolson, May 26, 1886-October 23, 1950

Al Jolson passed away 75 years ago. He was known as The World's Greatest Entertainer for his music, Broadway shows, silent movies, and being in the first talkie. He was performing before microphones, and his voice could fill a hall, reaching all the way to the back rows. His most well known songs came from the acoustic recording era, and his career waned quickly when microphones came on the scene. Crooners took over the popular music scene, but he made a comeback in the Forties with electrical recordings. His final gig was in 1950 when he went to Korea to entertain troops.  He died of a heart attack shortly after returning to the states.

 

Meanwhile, Over At The Groundhog Hole...

 Deer, Squirrel, Skunk, and a Cat.

Sixty Degrees Today, Turtles Catching Some Rays...

 ...Frost warning for tonight!

Wednesday Windage; Safety Review by Hickok 45

Reviewing firearm safety is a good idea anytime.  We have featured these videos by Hickok45 before on this blog, and Mr. Hickok's instruction is always worth watching again.