Nipples, Prickers, & Rough Old Holes ..

I see the TASMANIA Govt. is complaining that feral deer are causing 53 Million Dollars of annual damage in that State and they forcast 1.4 BILLION DOLLARS costs over the next 30 years in trying to control them ..

It will be similar here in New Zealand with Captain Cooker Pigs, Possum, Deer, Wallaby, Feral cats etc - now that they have made it an expensive problem to legally own a firearm.

Put the "Defence Forces" onto it and just charge-up these costs to the Anti-Gunners .. No, don't bother 'cos they won't be able to hit anything, and will be falling out all over the bush from their five new 2 BILLION DOLLAR MH-60R choppers.

I opine that NZ will have to revert to the old lifetime Gun Licences eventually and offer a bounty for ears again. I also suggest that BLACKPOWDER guns of all kinds should be completely OFF-LICENCE and free of restrictions ..

___________

I cut, bent to shape, and sharpened a piece of springy piano-wire to use as a 'POKY THING' - a pricker to recall the right terminology, to try the nipples on my English made antique pepperpot pistol.

It worked fine on five of the six chambers, but one of the nipples is peened-over and my pricker won't enter .. Naturally - this is the one flash path that I can't blow through like a crazed trumpet player.

 

I got out the endoscope-smartphone to have a look down the .34" caliber bores, and have been reminded that I am still dithering about if/when to chelate these bores with my Oil of Wintergreen. - I would really like to get a soft scouring device down to the bottom (if I had something).

I will superglue some nylon Pot-Scourer to a length of small pine dowel and give it a go ..

Then the Wintergreen Oil followed by BOILING WATER. - Then work on that blocked nipple ..

______________________

Many old percussion pistols look to have been handed down to a 'boy child' as capguns to play with - naturally these old pieces become hugely battered and damaged before being left to rust-away into relic condition.

Not so this pair ..

Freshly Acquired PAIR of Percussion Pistols by BLISSETT of LONDON

Mid 19th Century Uncleaned

Annoyingly, I didn't take a pic before poking at it with a wooden toothpick - but the fine checkering on this pair looked to be crushed flat in a 10mm area on the top pistol .. but this proved to be a splodge of grunge that came off, and joined the other dirt in my carpet when scraped & puffed at.

DIRT IS NOT PATINA: You don't have to be grubby as you get older.

This pair of pieces have 45mm (21/4 inch) turn-off, breech-loading barrels with smooth bores in shiny condition, good threads. Fine 'Dolphin Hammers' and working 'half-cock safeties'. - No bad corrosion.

- Most of the antique pistols I find to buy here are generally lower quality pieces in poor condition and in need of repair-restoration but this pair above seem to be nice quality, - grubby but not too bad. One of them, the action is at fault and waiting for some attention .. a mainspring issue?

Antique Antics: Cleaning-up, to Show Clear Proof Marks

Life is Good

Are You Fit and Proper? Are NZ Police 'FIT AND PROPER PERSONS'? - SEVEN Police Commissioners have retired/resigned in disgrace - The Executive Director of the FIREARMS SAFETY AGENCY The Firearms Register has "retired" - so should we now expect things to improve?

 Immaginative President of NZ Police Association - CAHILL has "stood down" on long service leave .. 

- NOW Police Commissioner CHAMBERS is the EIGHTH Senior Administrator to be subject to investigation.

In the interest of Public Safety

FIREARMS LICENCES FOR NZ POLICE.

Marty K.

A Strangely Long Percussion Pistol .. and

Well YIPPEE .. Elon Musk has made-it as a Trillionaire - his next step is to be anointed as a GOD eh, - possibly a great step for mankind.

Oddly, I just discovered that I am to be labelled as one of THE SILENT GENERATION. - I like girls and all kinds of butch "man" stuff. - Am I queer or something?

It may have been my lucky day - as I'd just got (redeemed) $60 from my Mobil SMILE card at the petrol pumps, - plus an extra $15 Voucher redeemed at the Supermarket checkout on 'Gold Card Old Fart's Discount Day' .. Whatever's Next?

- A fast, overnight, delivery from NZ Post Courier. - It's MINE, my precious .. Well it looked - so interesting .. I just had to buy it - and I think that I got lucky again ..

Is this a 'BOOT PISTOL' or perhaps a cut-down "Cane Gun" ? There was something called a 'pocket rifle'..

Naturally there can be benefits gained from using such a long barreled pistol - a longer sight radius (if it had any) for improved accuracy, increased mass for reduced recoil, and, dependent on load, increased velocity from a more complete powder burn, for harder hitting on target, - and possibly a quieter shot from reduced gas pressure at the muzzle. - Short barrels can be very loud.

Little & Large - not a Pocket Pistol ..

 This strangely long barrel, big bore box lock Percussion Pistol has the cryptically gouged "R A J-226"  markings on it's rough barrel .. while the right side of this 'rustic' barrel carries five facets - inexplicable draw-filed flats - this thing has a history ..

'R A J - 226' Obviously stands for Romeo & Juliet .. or Remington Armory J-226 ?

Look - enough already, but this big-bore box lock pistol made me grin SO widely when I saw it, - I just had to buy it. - Smiling Makes You Happy - Does that work for you too - your facial nerves pulling your lovely face muscles? 

- A twelve inch hand-filed barrel - the bore measures around .517 inch.

Half Inch Bore - Not a Pocket pistol.

- Is it 32 Gauge? - Either way, I'd assure you that there are some UGLY sights to see when you use an endoscope camera around the place at home .. but at least this barrel wasn't loaded.

Getting to the BOTTOM in this 12 inch (305mm) Barrel.

How would any of us look after around 175 years?

There's a heads-up for folk dreaming about test-firing one of these worn antiques .. Don't.

I might call this antique "A GAMEKEEPER GUN" - or a poacher's gun designed for poking behind a sleeping pheasants ear. - Or a cut-down "Buggy Rifle"?? Dunno, but it's mine now.

Many users of defensive ballistic machines like to benefit from concealed carry CCW, in a pocket, holster or waistband - while an alternative, historic choice back in the day - was open carry - perhaps of a walking cane that might serve double duty as needed ..

Do you have a clue there Sherlock?

Link to another one .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBxRjuju-Xs

Now my point is - This old thing is reduced at the muzzle to fit something .. ..

Fascinating stuff,

Here's a tale that's full of it - but it may help pass the time .. 

https://usa.kenhnhadep.com/phamdathtv/the-cane-gun-the-walking-stick-that-fired-bullets/?fbclid=IwY2xjawP8kEpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFibHdnVGFsM3Q5UFJxak1Gc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnyZZE8f6CQxwmps3mhGEPF4E6VswLU-pmzL8xsRJD-Kr8rRY9u5HV8f1vRo_aem_RQ-6w8bpkXN8PxdETuLlHQ

Life is good,

Are You Fit and Proper? Are NZ Police 'FIT AND PROPER PERSONS'? - SEVEN Police Commissioners have retired/resigned in disgrace - The Executive Director of the FIREARMS SAFETY AGENCY the firearms register has "retired" - so should we expect things to improve?

In the interest of Public Safety

FIREARMS LICENCES FOR NZ POLICE.

Marty K.

SERVING the KING - or The People of Aotearoa?

Do New Zealand citizens pay for the NZ Police Service out of their taxes .. or does the English Monarch send over the money to pay for them?

New Zealand Police constables swear the Oath of Allegiance to the reigning Sovereign, as prescribed by the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 and the Policing Act 2008.

"I, [Name], swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, His heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God."

Currently there are only just over 10,000 NZ Officers sworn to serve KING CHARLES III of England.

Some 6 years back, Superintendent Andrew Sissons stated that NZ POLICE have: 3,021 GLOCK PISTOLS, 2,913 AR15 MSSA RIFLES, 53 Semi-Automatic MARKSMAN RIFLES, 10 Bolt Action MARKSMAN RIFLES, 74 Fully Automatic SUB-MACHINE GUNS, and 40 GRENADE LAUNCHERS .

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2019/11/nz-police-weapons-reply-to-oia-request.html

The exact, up-to-date total fluctuates, but official responses to government inquiries have placed the number of firearms in operational service at approximately 6,470

Frontline patrol cars carry two Glock pistols in a lockbox near the front seat and two Bushmaster rifles in the boot.

- The 'lockbox' is opened by the ignition key.

I assume that NZ Police will also have around 6,000 plus RESTRICTED High Capacity Magazines registered for these arms?

None of these police employees are required to qualify for or to maintain a New Zealand FIREARMS LICENCE.- Why are NZ Police EXEMPTED from the firearms regulations by section 3(2)(ii) of the Arms Act 1983. ? - Are our Armed Police not required to act lawfully and safely at all times?

New Zealand Police are required to have a DRIVERS LICENCE but ARE NOT required to have a FIREARMS LICENCE.

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE MUST INSIST THAT all NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, - OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we fit & proper citizens are required to. - How can NZ Police claim to be SAFE & well trained without achieving a Firearms License?

Is it possible that Senior Police Administrators fear that their employees might not be able to qualify as FIT AND PROPER PERSONS for a NZ Firearms License?

https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/compensation-package-announced-following-tragic-death-halatau-naitoko

INDEPENDENT POLICE CONDUCT AUTHORITY REPORT

https://www.ipca.govt.nz/Site/publications-and-media/2012-Media-Releases/2012-April-03-Naitoko-Report.aspx

Incidentally .. Back six years ago, Government stated that we had 12,000 sworn police but currently the numbers are much less - being 10,000.

Marty K.

Brassed Off ..

Just playing-aboot while Breaking-In new $100 Czech Army Boots

 Kick 'em OUT ..

So .. .. Seven Senior New Zealand Police COMMISSIONERS have left in disgrace. 

Cahill, the imaginative President of the Police Federation has gone, on extended leave - Brazier, the Chief Executive of The Firearms Register has resigned/retired, and now, - the latest noxious sewage bubble to burst in "corruption free" New Zealand, is the arrest of 20 persons accused of drug dealing corruption in the "Corrections" Department, PRISONS SYSTEM. link: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzQgLsBnppbSpfnpWgsljZSppBSL

REFORM IS NEEDED: We might start by having the New Zealand Police employees change their oath, from serving King Charles III of England - to swearing to serve the citizens of New Zealand.

- Then we might make it a criminal offence to LIE in the country's Highest Court, PARLIAMENT - in the same way it is in all other Courts of Justice, - PERJURY and CONTEMPT OF COURT.

________________

You will have noticed that I like COPPER and it's alloys ..

Top and bottom I've put brass bodied Powder Flasks .. and you'll suss what's in between.

BRASS has greater tensile strength than copper - it is also harder, - and it is easier to machine. Choose brass for durability, corrosion resistance, and structural strength.

Naturally Steel is stronger, harder, and durable - but Bronze alloy beat Iron for utility until steels were developed ..

An original 'Spiller & Burr' Revolver with GUNMETAL Frame 

Dating from after 1862:

Is Gunmetal the same as Bronze? - What about Pewter? Do your own research eh ..

"BRASS FRAMED" REVOLVERS:

NOW - WE don't want to get into the detail differences between Gun-Metal, Bronze, Brass and Pewter, - do we? (not to mention phosphor-bronze)

Exactly how much COPPER, Tin, Zinc, Lead, went into the various alloy mixes back in the day? - Do we need to chat about why & wtf do the Italians, Uberti, Pietta & Pedersoli, think they are doing with their brass framed reproductions eh .. Because this linked piece does a much better story, than my introduction might ..

https://irp.cdnwebsite.com/043285e3/files/uploaded/Brass_Frame_Revolvers_Realities_and%20Myths.pdf

I try to introduce issues into the daylight and have - for some twelve years now - attempted to stimulate attention and debate about misguided and mistaken political attitudes and laws about guns.

I hate to ask - But my blog posts are being restricted because of my PRO GUN, pro LAWFUL SHOOTER views - Please share my posts:

I challenge everybody to read ALL of my scribbles .. each of 1,756 of my stories, - and point out any falsehoods therein. PLEASE go over everything I have said and publicize any lies.

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE MUST INSIST THAT all NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, - OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we fit & proper citizens are required to. - How can NZ Police claim to be SAFE & well trained without achieving a Firearms License?

Marty K.

Banging About, 'BB' - & 3 Dice in an Ale Flagon:

This is my Christmas Special   - I thought that I should celebrate early - as you never know how things may be later in the year ..

Did I mention that I like Copper and Brass?

Looks like that silver lining could take a second 330 ml bottle..

Repurposed item below - but not extinguished ..

Two different but freshly arrived Copper items - a Repurposed SIMPLEX Fire Extinguisher to use to stand Walking Stick GUNS and other Canes .. (dusty antique Hot-Water Bottles in background (Patina).

and a 'Tavern Gambling Tankard' with three dice in it's bottom

Eight Georgian copper Farthings dated 1799, inset through the tankard sidewall. - I had no idea such a thing existed until I saw this one and bought it ..

- but I do understand this "18th Century" flagon likely was a 'second generation' made at the end of the 19th C by the 'ARTS & CRAFTS' Copper movement based in Newlyn, Cornwall UK. - Either way it's an antique beer sipper with shaky dice in it's bum - encouraging me to drink more beer ..

NEWLYN.

So beautiful before the emmets flood-in & crawl over everything ..

_______________

The 4kg heavy 'Fire Extinguisher' is perfect as a stand or holder for umbrellas and cane stick guns and is looking better after a quick clean-up ..

More Distinguished than Extinguished ..

Yeah - there are still a few things that turn-me-on (even at my age) .. Old Copper & Brass, Gun Stuff, cold beer on hot days, - & Brigitte Bardot movies.

__________________

Further to 'Pocket Pistols' being triggered by loose stuff like KEYS carried in the same pocket .. Here is a sorry tale:

- Getting ready for bed at around midnight I threw my jeans on to my clean clothing pile, in my unlit  bedroom, and thought that I saw a flash of light through the window - so I shuffled the pants around and my parked car again flashed it's lights at me .. Ah said I, one of my eleven keys (police regulation security, doors, approved safe, disapproved safe, transport-lockboxes, ammunition safe etc.) has triggered my remote key fob - then - "Oh feck - does that mean the bloody thing is unlocked?". - Now me being nekkid, in the dark of night - I left the house, without the exterior LIGHT - to avoid partial exposure, 

She's Gone .. aged 91

and, racing like an 82 y.o. - I tripped down the last of three concrete steps - bounced off the car and fell to the concrete.  - Thrown like a wooly ewe, in searing leg pain - I struggled-up from the wet concrete, locked the car, and listing badly, climbed back, into the house - to clean and bandage my skinned knee, - shinbone, - and foot - which did all heal OK after some scabby weeks.

Life is good eh

Season's Greetings

Marty K.

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE ALL MUST INSIST THAT all NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, - OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we other citizens are required to. - How can NZ Police claim to be SAFE & well trained without achieving a Firearms License?

 

UNDERHAMMER GUNS: The Book and Guns ..

 I hate to ask - But my blog posts are being censored and restricted because of my PRO GUN, pro LAWFUL SHOOTER views - Please share my posts:

First I bought this antique cane gun .. then I got the book by Herschel C Logan from USA ..

I was futilely hoping to identify what I have bought ..

- Well it's obviously an underhammer Cane Gun .. but who made it, and where and when?

The book written in the 1950's is very good in all aspects, including excellent line drawings & photographs - but as the writer explains, most of these, made in America, are 'one-offs' from unidentified makers. - I did find perhaps three examples therein with characteristics that looked vaguely related to mine .. but they each were labelled Unidentified. 

There is not one example in the book of a similar shaped action Palm-Grip to my Cane Gun.

The book outlines three good reasons for building an 'UPSIDEDOWN' GUN:

1/- Placing the hammer near the trigger clears the top face of anything that obstructs the choice of SIGHTS and puts the flash-bang of the ignition blast safely away from the shooters face and eyes.

2/-  Underhammer guns have a much simplified lockwork - with fewer parts - making them much easier projects for home-constructers lacking in machinery. Indeed the cleverest designs use the Trigger Guard as the MAINSPRING to drive the hammer.

3/- STREAMLINING. This design makes the pistol free from snags and readily able to be BOOTLEGGED conveniently into a boot top.

About six years back I admired the elegant J Rock Cooper Underhammer pistol design that has only TWO moving parts ..  https://flicense.blogspot.com/2020/05/j-rock-cooper-pistol-keeping-it-simple.html

I have my eye on a likely future acquisition of a Belgian Mariette Pepperbox Underhammer Pistol - soon I hope ..

An interesting aside is that the current Italian Chiappa Rhino revolvers, - that fire from the bottom chamber .. are said, by many, to be a modern Underhammer Pistol ..

LOW RECOIL is the Main Sales Pitch for the Chiappa Rhino Revolvers:

The future is hard to tell eh,

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, & OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we citizens are required to. 

- How can NZ Police claim to be SAFE & well trained without achieving a Firearms Licence?

But Life is Good

Marty K.

HAZARD Cartridges could be Dangerous ..

Old Stuff Comes in mixed Shapes & Sizes Eh

I hate to ask - But my blog posts are being censored and restricted because of my PRO GUN, pro LAWFUL SHOOTER views - Please share my posts:

Both the HAZARD Powder Company and the BARTHOLOW Cartridge Manufacturing Co made 'Waterproof' Cartridges during the American Civil War 1861-65. - These cartridges were an alternative for loose powder and ball and the self contained paper cartridges - and consisted of a conical charge of compressed Black Powder glued to the base of a bullet or ball - sealed with a waterproof coating.

Paper Cartridges were somewhat FRAGILE ..

These waterproof solid cartridges are getting close to being "Caseless Ammunition" and you smart buggers will note that these look a bit like grannies' suppositories.

The black powder typically might be mixed with 5% Dextrin and 5% water (as a binder) or collodion (nitrocellulose used as a glue-binder) before the mixture was compressed into conical shaped molds.

Links to three articles about "Hazard Cartridges" ..

https://cdn2.imagearchive.com/muzzleloadingforum/data/attach/306/306763-Hazard-Cartridge-trimed-for-printig.pdf

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2024/09/hazard-caseless-boolits-4-blackpowder.html

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2025/09/what-load-of-balls.html

Making these convenient-to-use cartridges is an interesting process for the hobby home reloader who can focus and use her or his brains. BUT everyone needs to remember that GUNPOWDER and ammunition factories have a long history of deadly EXPLOSIONS ..

U.S. Chemical Safety Board Issues Investigation Update on Fatal October 2025 Explosions at Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, Tennessee

Using antique ballistic propellant safely is straight-forward for those of us with an IQ above room temperature - BUT never forget that exactly HALF of humanity - that's 50% - have BELOW AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE.

One: There may be some of you thinking that this "blackpowder stuff" is a load of faffing about and thank gawd for the invention of BRASS CARTRIDGES .. Well, there are very good reasons that this antique mixture of three substances remains in use to this day. - You can DIY when all the factories are empty and closed. You can find the magic ingredients all over the place in garden sheds and garages - and if you have the knowledge, - you'll never feel alone and abandoned again ..

Two: Although gunpowder CAN explode if mishandled in bulk - it is very forgiving when loaded into a gun .. because charcoal gunpowder is such an "inefficient" gas generator (around 50%), it makes pretty low pressures. - If an idiot was to overcharge his pistol or well made rifle with this antique blackpowder - he likely will get-away with a bigger cloud of smoke and a miss on target - because much of the surplus powder will be blown-out of the muzzle due to that 'inefficiency'. - Please DO NOT TRY THAT EVER WITH MODERN SMOKELESS POWDERS AS THEY WILL KILL YOU.

Three: 'Modern' BRASS CARTRIDGES were just as much faffing-about back in the day when they were introduced .. watch this video from 'Cap'n'ball' about how they did it then .. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKfolYV_0Xk

The main requirement to start making 'Hazards' at home is the MOULDS (or MOLDS). - Clever New Zealand folk will be able to 3D-Print their own molds, - as the U S expert does not export. - Another possibility is to machine your own split moulds or maybe adapt old bullet moulds.

CROSSEN Molds:

- OR you might come across some solid brass gang-moulds offered for sale on-line that could be useful 

44/45 Caliber .. 36/38 Caliber Brass Moulds.

- What could a daft old bugger do with these?

The moistened, weighed, propellant/binder mix would be inserted into the mould and pressed-down using a shaped punch - perhaps in a small press.(A brass dowel, flat one end for conicals - rounded t'other for ball) to compress - and then left to 'set' before extracting from the cavities and completely drying, before waterproof coating and gluing to the pill .. sunny window sills are an asset for the happy Kiwi.

I am talking about REAL charcoal blackpowder - NOT substitute nitro propellants.

"Navy" Caliber

The rounded conical form of the powder cake is such that when pushed into a revolver's cylindrical chamber and compressed - it's base is crushed and conforms to the chamber.

_________

These Vintage Medical Instrument Brass Suppository Moulds were offered on trademe sparking my interest ..

A suppository is a small, solid piece of medicine designed to be inserted into a body opening—most commonly the rectum, vagina, or urethra—(OUCH)where it melts or dissolves at body temperature to release medication. 

Or, - for forming "Hazard" blackpowder cakes to glue to the base of blackpowder balls, improvingthe reloading process by eliminating handling loose powder & ball.

Owning old tech pop-pops and knowing how to use them, makes me feel all cuddly & warm -happy to be alive - and sort of reassured and confident in these 'Interesting Times'.

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we fit & proper citizens are required to. - How can police claim to be well trained without achieving the same Firearms Licence that is essential for all fit & proper persons?

Here is a question: Are British, European, & Commonwealth Weapons & nuclear Scientists and Technicians required to obtain a Firearms Licence? - They control awful deadly weaponry. - If NOT .. Why not?

Marty K.