8/31/10

Why does August seem to take so long every year? OK, so only last year and this year have I noticed that it seems to take forever, but still. Anyhoo, I mentioned that I was going to await Larry Shuttlebus’ call Sunday morning before going back to the gun show. Unfortunately, I'd blown $100.00 on that print Saturday night at the “Pirate Thing” in Granbury. I still had a fifty in my wallet but really wanted that leather “butt-cuff” for the Lever Gun and would be at least ten short for that purchase. I went to mom. I told her I'd really hoped someone would outbid me on that print and that, while I could afford it, it did run me short on that day’s plans. She offered to pay for half of the print and gave me fifty bucks. I waited for Larry to call. Just as I was about to give up on him and head out, he did call. We met up at the Credit Onion downtown and rolled to the gun show in his truck. We walked the show. I still never saw the Auto 5 barrel I'd seen at the last show. There were a few barrels there, but they were all way over my price range. I bought the leather “butt-cuff” and a black tactical nylon/elastic/Velcro “butt-cuff” for the Auto 5 as I came across them. Once we had walked half the show we decided to break for lunch. We went to Benito’s. Oops, I'm probably going to catch hell from John for giving him a hard time about eating Mexican food every meal now. Oh well. Back at the show we walked the second half. I found a sling I liked for the 7.62x39 Saiga and bought it. Larry found his CZ-52 guy and bought a CZ-82 and an Enfield I believe. I talked to a guy who had a few shotgun barrels but none for the A-5. He said he’d just sold a couple to a guy at another table and gave me directions to it. I went over there and had a word with him. “What are you looking for?” he asked in reference to the type of choke and length and stuff. I said, “One to cut down to eighteen inches.” He wouldn't even let me see the ones he’d just bought. He said he had some back at his shop which were more suitable for that purpose. He even thought he might have one already cut down! I took his card and said I'd call. (I sent him an e-mail yesterday and I'll call later.) Larry and I left the show and he dropped me off at the Credit Onion. I took my toys and went home. I installed and filled the tactical “butt-cuff” on the A-5 and the sling on the Saiga then got to work installing the leather cuff on the Lever Gun. Oh man, I really like that gun. I really like it a lot more now with the leather “butt-cuff” on there. It looks so cool. It got me to thinking, “If I had the guy make me a leather cuff thingy for the fore end with a 1” loop on it, I could mount a flashlight up there.” That got me to thinking, “No! It needs to be a kerosene lantern with a reflector!” I have it all designed in my head. The leather cuff on the fore end would have four holes in a square that a leather thong would thread through. Tied one way, the thong would hold the kerosene lantern upright as an 1890s Tactical Weapon. Tied another way and it could hold a modern 1” tactical flashlight. If I ever find a very small, like 1-2 inch diameter by six to eight inches tall, kerosene lantern with a reflector I'm going to do it. Hell, it’ll be funny if nothing else. Wild West SWAT! I'd need some 45-70 ammo to put in the “butt-cuff” for pictures since .45 Colt wasn't available in a lever gun in the 19th century. Of course neither was a “Tactical Lever Gun” so why am I worried about being an anachronism with ammo? Who knows? Yeah, I probably won't be doing that. We'll see.