May 29, 2015

Weapons of Choice: Lee-Enfield Rifle

Lee-Enfield MKI
The British Lee-Enfield rifle was designed after the similar black-powder rifle used in the American Civil War by Confederate troops, while most of the Union army used the US made Springfield rifle of similar cap-and-ball design using the newly introduced “minié ball” bullet introduced by Frenchman, Claude-Étienne Minié. The newly designed cartridge Enfield rifle was designed with a rear-locking bolt system like Mauser, but quicker to operate. It was fitted with a 10-round magazine and became the British military rifle beginning in 1895 until 1957 with variations in its design and using the .303 British cartridge. It is a valued rifle among collectors no matter what period it was made.

May 27, 2015

Western Adventures of Louis L'Amour

An American icon for Americana stories of the Old West, Louis Dearborn L'Amour is among the greatest authors of United States literature. Born 22 March 1908 and died 10 June 1988, his last name spelled as LaMoore, is known for his Western novels, but also wrote historical fiction like The Walking Drum, poetry and short stories. He even wrote one science fiction novel entitled The Haunted Mesa. In 1954 he was nominated the Academy Award for Best Story.

Heroes: Christian F. Schilt, US Marine Corps

Christian F. Schilt … 1895-1987, first Marine Corps aviator to receive Medal of Honor for using his biplane to evacuate wounded Marines under fire in Nicaragua. Schilt served active duty in World War I, World War II, Haitian and Nicaraguan campaigns, and Korean War; retiring after almost 40 years of active service. Promoted to rank of four-star general at retirement. Born in Illinois he enlisted in the US Marine Corps on 23 June 1917.
General Schilt also received the Distinguished Service Medal for his actions in Korea War. 



Medal of Honor Citation:
During the progress of an insurrection at Quilali, Nicaragua, 6, 7, and 8 January 1928, 1st Lt. Schilt, then a member of a marine expedition which had suffered severe losses in killed and wounded, volunteered under almost impossible conditions to evacuate the wounded by air and transport a relief commanding officer to assume charge of a very serious situation. 1st Lt Schilt bravely undertook this dangerous and important task and, by taking off a total of 10 times in the rough, rolling street of a partially burning village, under hostile infantry fire on each occasion, succeeded in accomplishing his mission, thereby actually saving 3 lives and bringing supplies and aid to others in desperate need.

May 21, 2015

Recall: Winchester SXP Shotguns and Safety Review

Winchester Repeating Arms has discovered that a limited number of SXP (3 ½” chamber) shotguns (also called the Super X Pump) may, under certain circumstances, unintentionally discharge while closing the action. Failure to return any affected shotguns for inspection and/or repair may create a risk of harm, including serious personal injury or death. If you own one of the following firearms, please immediately contact our Winchester Consumer Administrative Center to find out if your firearm is affected and should be returned. Please be prepared to provide the serial number of your firearm.

Recall: Taurus Curve Pistol

Taurus has issued a recall for the Curve pistol that has no bearing on safety or quality. It seems that some pistols left their facility without the caliber marking, required by federal firearm manufacturing  laws.
If your Curve pistol does not have the caliber marking, contact Taurus and they will arrange for you to ship it and corrected, and also offers a free T-shirt for your inconvenience.

Recall: Weatherby SA-08 28-Gauge Shotgun

Weatherby has issued a Product Safety Recall for the SA-08 28-gauge semi-automatic shotgun. The affected shotguns display serial numbers on the receiver ranging from AN00001-AN02802.
The safety recall is based on reported incidents of accidental discharge upon bolt closure and chambering of a live shot shell. A corrective safety upgrade has been identified, which will be fully implemented upon completion of testing to achieve assurance that the safety upgrade prevents occurrences of accidental discharge as reported. Accidental discharge of any firearm can result in severe injury or property damage if the muzzle of the firearm is pointed in an unsafe direction at the time of accidental discharge.

May 13, 2015

May 2015: Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day

Armed Forces Day is 16 May, a day set aside to honor all those who are presently serving our nation.

Memorial Day is 25 May, a day set aside to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, buried home and abroad from the Revolutionary War to present.
PLEASE, do not insult a veteran (making him/her uncomfortable or angry) and wish him a "Happy Memorial Day".

May 12, 2015

Heroes: Irena Sendler

Heroes are not always combat personnel, as the story of Irena Sendler demonstrates.
Irena Sendler (1942)
Born on 15 February 1910 and died on 12 May 2008, she was a Polish nurse and social worker in the Polish Underground when Warsaw was occupied by the Nazi. She was the head of the children's section of the ghetto, Żegota – a Polish Council to Aid Jews organization that was active from 1942 to 1945.
Along with about 24 other Żegota members, Sendler smuggled about 2,500 Jewish children out of Warsaw Ghetto, providing them with false identity documents and safe haven outside the Ghetto, saving them from the Holocaust. It is estimated that Sendler rescued at least 400 children out of the 2,500 saved.
When Sendler was discovered in 1943, sh was arrested by the Gestapo, tortured and sentenced to death. She managed to evade execution because her comrades bribed one of the guards. She hid from the Germans during her escape, but returned to Warsaw under a fake name and continued her service with the Żegota.

May 5, 2015

Popular Internet Misquote

"You cannot invade mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass." Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto 
This quote, along with another misquote attributed to Thomas Jefferson, is one of the two most frequently used on the Internet and now available as a T-shirt at Patriot Post.
Although the comment he made after the successful surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, describes his assessment of fighting the United States on its homeland: 
 I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve. 

May 2, 2015

Amazing World-Wide Support for Nepal Earthquake Victims

AmeriCare relief worker in Nepal
As you must be aware by now, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Tamang, Nepal with great devastation, over 6,000 dead. Over the past couple of days, searchers look for victims still buried in the rubble whose agonizing silence brings no hope of saving anyone else buried.
Nepali immigrants – naturalized citizens (estimated at 30,000) in United States are concentrated in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey with smaller populations in Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, and California. There are 5,000 Nepali in the Queens district of New York City. A makeshift candle shrine has been put up to honor the dead and missing in the aftermath of the worst earthquake of this century. It is hard to believe that a week has passed (April 25th) since the quake hit, but I am sure the time has been slow for the victims.