Jerky, Six-Shooter & Rope:

  After that morning cup of 'Arbuckles' and a mouthful of cold beans with a chew on  a piece of blackened 'jerky' * - our saddle hardened, bandy legged***, weather tanned hero would check his Colts, saddle and rope while likely cursing in Spanish, German or Gaelic - before catching his chosen mount from the 'Remuda ** or string of horses.

* Jerky is dried meat - often salted & spiced to improve preservation.
** Remuda is from the Spanish for 'change of horses'.
*** You can bet your ass that there's a good reason these boys walked a bit bandy-legged after a long day in the saddle eh.

Lassos are also referred to as a lariat, riata, or reata (all from Spanish la reata), It is a loop of rope designed as a restraint to be thrown around a target and tightened when pulled. It is a well-known tool of the American cowboy. The word is also a verb; to lasso is to throw the loop of rope around something.

 Although this tool has several proper names, such terms are rarely employed by those who actually use it -  nearly all cowboys simply call it a "rope," and the use of such is "roping."

 - To most cowboys, the use of other terms — especially "lasso" — identifies the user as a dickhead.

A lasso is made from stiff rope so that the noose stays open when the lasso is thrown. It also allows the cowboy to easily open up the noose from horseback - to release the cattle because the rope is stiff enough to be pushed a little.

- As a kid I remember using mums washing line to try make a lasso - without much luck or ability - almost certainly my failure was due entirely to my small floppy rope.

 A high quality lasso is sometimes weighted for better handling. The lariat has a small reinforced loop at one end, called a honda or hondo, through which the rope passes to form a loop.

Many thanks are due to Wikipedia for all their reference materials.

This 'remuda' all seem to have a star on the face (- Not a "blaze" - which is a stripe).

I truly admire horses as beautiful animals - But I keep well clear since once helping load race-horses onto a cargo plane.

 It has been said that horses are damn dangerous at both ends and bloody uncomfortable in the middle. (Much like revolvers eh).(- I felt the wind from that percussive steel shod hoof flash just inches past my face as I ducked).

Life is super good,

Marty K.

Politically Correct CAMP COFFEE Essence:

Dating back to 1885, this thick black syrup, a ‘secret blend’ of sugar, water, coffee and chicory essence, was originally made in Glasgow by R. Paterson and Sons Ltd. It came in a square, eight and a half fluid-ounce glass bottle - rather like HP Sauce. The original label showed a moustachioed Gordon Highlander sitting on a cushion drinking a cup of Camp.

No Tray. 

Major General Sir Hector MacDonald was the model for the Gordon Highlander. The son of a crofter, he had worked his way up through the ranks of the regiment, serving with distinction 

Later he was given command of the regiment’s troops in Ceylon - where charges of homosexuality were brought against him. - He shot himself in a Paris hotel in 1903.

ORIGINAL.

Can you spot the difference between the old bottle image & the later, (upper),  politically corrected image? - Yup, in the original bottle label the Sikh is obviously a 'servant' with a tray.

There might be a link here with homosexuals being known as "camp" - This was before they re-branded and re-launched this form of population control as 'Gay Liberation'.

Mum would sometimes buy a bottle of Camp coffee essence to make a post-war milky treat for us kids. She could sometimes even be persuaded to buy some reserved oranges.

UK Rationing formally ended in 1954.

 - as long as we promised to let them decorate the table in a bowl for at least a week - but she would never buy apples for us, as " You'd only eat them"!

Even Later - the Camp image was further revised to show the two seated 

together sharing a quiet moment of friendship.

- Historical Revisionism eh.

Kiwis will confirm that there is/was a competing locally made version (still made in Australia) from Bushells. - A beverage made from this coffee essence - like powdered soluble "Instant Coffee" - is a distant relation to real coffee made from freshly ground beans - but it can be better than nothing when a drink is needed eh.

Marty K.

After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?


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Gun Controls:

This story from GUNNEWS.com

Carol Browne had a violent ex-boyfriend named Michael Eitel who had threatened her life in the past. She followed the laws of New Jersey and petitioned for a restraining order, which she got against him. She also applied for a permit to own a hand gun on April 21, 2015.

Browne was killed last week by her ex—not with a gun, but with a knife. He waited for her to return home and stabbed her to death. She went as far as going in person to the police department two days before being murdered to check on the status of her application. Browne also had video surveillance cameras installed at her home, which tragically recorded her murder.

Where were the police?

The answer is simple — they were delaying her gun permit application. Why in the hell does she need a permit to exercise the most basic human right of self-defense? Nothing is more important than one’s safety. Without it, you don’t need food, clothing, or shelter.

_______________

- and from the BBC:

A loaded pistol was uncovered on Monday 11th November after officers in Brisbane, Queensland, discovered a second handgun in a suspects car.

A body search revealed the biker connected with the Rebels Gang - had the handgun "secreted between his buttocks", Queensland Police said.

He was charged with weapons and drug offences.

______________

- It does seem that banning or controlling guns does not .. A/- Stop people being killed.- and

 B/- Stop criminal scum getting guns for illegal purposes.

According to the US Center For Disease Control & Prevention there were 33,636 firearm deaths in USA  2013 - of which 21,175 were suicides (two thirds).

- For comparison, the US road deaths for 2011 (lowest since 1949) were 32,479.

- Before you go, consider this - In INDIA in 2014 - the National Crime Records Bureau recorded 27,571 deaths from train accidents !

- Could be that Indian (and American) gun control is better than their 'train' and car control.

Marty K.

Cowboys, Campfires & 'Arbuckles' Coffee:

Just about every cowboy story has the six-gun toting heroes drinking coffee at a camp fire:

Actually - I'd rather a cup of Twinings Tea Please

 - Brewed with Fresh Spring Water, Milk & One Sugar.

Cookie's Sock Method:
Also known as “hobo” or “open-pot” coffee, this calls for putting the grounds into a (clean?) sock and chucking it into the coffee pot. - Bring to a slow boil; immediately remove from fire (allowing coffee to boil will result in an acrid, burnt taste),- and steep for one minute. Add eggshells if there are loose grounds, - and allow grounds to settle. Right before serving, add a bit of cold water to the pot to further settle grounds.

Flat white, Latte or Mocha? - Naah, As it Comes.

- But where did the Frontier coffee come from? - earliest records for coffee drinking are from the 1400s in the Yemen area of Arabia - with the coffee having been introduced from East Africa. - By 1640 the first European coffee house was open in Rome - coffee was smuggled into India to be planted & grown in 1670 and was established in Brazil by 1727.

Independent Americans made-up their minds not to drink any more "English" tea after the Boston Tea Party tax protest of 1773 - so turned fairly exclusively to coffee on the Frontiers.

Green (un-roasted) coffee beans were bought in 100 pound sacks from Arbuckles Company - and after roasting on a skillet were ground in a hand turned grinder fixed to the side of the Chuck Wagon.

But after the Civil War in 1865, Arbuckles developed pre-roasted beans in airtight packages - each packed with a peppermint candy stick. One hundred packs per wooden crate. John Arbuckle, The King of Coffee owned the ships importing coffee from South America.

The cooks shout of "Who wants the Candy?" would result in a brawl for the rights to grind the beans .. and munch the sweet peppermint.

Industrial Complex Behind The Chuck-wagon.

Their roasted beans were glazed/coated in egg white and sugar to seal in the flavor into the airtight packs. Ground coffee was later sold in small metal containers.

The name "Chuck Wagon" comes from 17th century English 'chuck' for meat - you can still buy 'chuck steak' for stews etc.

Marty K

P.S. The most expensive coffee in the world is KOPI LUWAK. - The coffee berries are fed to caged  palm civet cats to eat - and the part digested beans are collected from the scat (feces). The $30 plus a cup coffee is said to have a rich, slightly smokey aroma and taste .. Go for it Cowboy.

M.K.

P.S. It's rumored that somewhere near Brokeback Mountain there's a "Starbutts" that offers cold leftover coffees .. Are you ready for your enema now Ennis?

New Zealanders Right To Be Armed For Self Defence:

- Not being a lawyer (but a mere retired forklift driver) - I do not understand how it is that the NZ Police can repeatedly state that "Self-defence is not a valid reason to possess firearms."  - when our Bill of Rights clearly states that we may have arms for our defence.

(as Reprinted by NZ Parliament at 26 March 2015)

.. Article 7 of our British AND New Zealand Bill Of Rights clearly states:

Bill of Rights 1688 (February 13).

" Subjects’ arms.

That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions, and as allowed by law:"

_____

____________

One version of the incorrect Police claim regarding the use of arms for self defense appears on page 41 of the printed booklet 'Police Arms Code' - first published in 1975:

" Self defence

Important note: Firearms for self defence

Self-defence is not a valid reason to possess firearms. The law does not permit the possession of firearms ‘in anticipation’ that a firearm may need to be used in self-defence.

Citizens are justified in using force in self defence in certain situations. The force that is justified will depend on the circumstances of the particular case. Every person is criminally responsible for any excessive use of force against another person.

A firearm is a lethal weapon. To justify the discharge of a firearm at another person the user must hold a honest belief that they or someone else is at imminent threat of death or grievous bodily harm. Discharge of a firearm at another person will result in a Police investigation and what ever the consequences of the incident you may face serious criminal charges.

Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or City or District Council for advice on how to defend yourself. They can advise you of self defence courses or groups in your area. "

--------------------------

- Now - paint me pink and throw $100 notes into my hat - but I understand that it is the function of our fine but under-resourced Police Force to maintain the peace and public order, - to protect & assist the public, - enforce and maintain the laws of the land .. NOT to make up laws as they go.

- This ARTICLE 7 is as important and relevant to us as is the 2nd AMENDMENT in USA. - Remember that up until the late 1970s / 1980 - Bank Clerks and security guards here in New Zealand were indeed armed - as are still many of our duty police officers - in anticipation of a need for self defense.

Hello - Is anybody listening?

Did you join SSANZ ?

 I need to state that I fully comply with and obey ALL New Zealand firearms rules, regulations, and laws - and have no thoughts of using any weapon for violent purpose. - However that does not mean that I agree with these regulations or accept that they are all wholly correct.

Marty K.

P.S. If anyone thinks that Article 7 might be ignored and discounted because it's old and dated from 1688 - they should consider that the wealth of the British Royals (currently a German family Saxe Coburg Und Gotha, name changed to Windsor in 1917) dates in part to the Duchy of Cornwall - annexed and written into law by Charter in 1337 and the Duchy of Lancaster - 1339. 

After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

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Shaky Isles Thoughts:

This is slightly interesting:

Every time an aftershock hits the house my cat looks at me as if it's my fault - or that maybe I farted again. - I'm convinced that felines are all basically female in temperament !

Aftershocks for you non seismic types -  up here they feel like a heavily laden but invisible B-Train truck has rammed the side of the house - followed by his mate's unit slamming into the other side.

- They get annoying after a while - especially with the phone ringing over'n'over with folk from everywhere phoning in to see if they've inherited any of my stuff - while I'm thinking about all the crap that's littering the carpet.

The floor in the loading room has an interesting sprinkle of assorted junk - but thankfully no powder.

I was 'intrigued' that our National Television 1 channel cancelled all normal programming to cover the emergency through the day following the midnight Quake - But THEY KEPT THE BLOODY ADVERTISEMENTS COMING every 10 minutes !!

Drop the programs but keep the commercials.

What has the world come to?  The land tears itself apart as the seabed rises up out of the water - homes collapse while thousands are cut-off from everything - the streets of our Capitol City-centre are too dangerous to enter with unsafe collapsing buildings - but the 'free market' keeps on grabbing at our dollars.

Kaikoura Quaked Cows.

- Not surprising that Professor Stephen Hawkins says that humanity will become extinct in less than a thousand years from now eh.

"Most recent advances in cosmology have been achieved from space where there are uninterrupted views of our universe, but we must also continue to go into space for the future of humanity. I don't think we will survive another 1,000 years without escaping our fragile planet."

I bet that the Adverts will be still playing on TV.

Marty K.

Latest Gun Numbers From England:

The UK's NFLMS National Firearms Licensing Management System has released the latest gun related figures for England & Wales as of 31 March 2016.

Pleasant Pheasant Shooting At English High Birds.

They state that there are issued 153,404 FIREARMS CERTIFICATES that relate to exactly 539,194 legally registered firearms.

 - Plus there are 567,015 SHOTGUN CERTIFICATES that cover the legal ownership of 1,331,563 shotguns by English and Welsh citizens.

- The British residents of Scotland and Northern Ireland are separately regulated and not included in this control system.

The Costly Traditional Scottish Deer Stalking

 Figures Are Recorded Elsewhere.

These permitted firearms are thought to be but a small indication of how many guns are held in UK - I see a figure of 4 Million 'off record' guns is estimated as realistic for this United Kingdom.

- When 99 y.o. Eilene Burgoyne died - builders last year found her 9mm STEN sub-machine gun under the floorboards of the quiet, ex- army spy and linguist's Twickenham home.

_____________

British City dwelling drug dealers need  "shooters" as a status symbol - but don't practice or use them much due to ammo costs.

Cocaine Dealer Babs Arogundade 'BP' owned a Maserati & a Bentley Limo Too Before His Arrest In St Johns Wood North West London (- I Come From Close By)

Marty K.

P.S. Professor Steven Hawkins believes humanity will be extinct on Earth in a thousand years.

Quaking & Buying Stuff In New Zealand - Trump Elections & Intelligence:

Before any of us get stuck into the groove mocking the Trump Election and the general state of the world (- or more likely get shaken out of the groove!) - may I contribute the following ...

I have an ongoing saga trying to buy a Ruger SP101 ex USA (in 327 Federal Magnum) which I instigated back in March 2016 - Nine months ago - Yes I am still waiting... ( prostaglandin suppositories may be called-for?).

I Believe That It May Look Something Like This.

 - However.. I seem to have done it again. - It is said that a sign of intelligence is the ability to learn from ones mistakes - So I must be a sucker - or there may be something else wrong in our Western Society.

You remember "Society" don't you?  That was something that British Prime Minister Thatcher said did not exist. - For her - life consisted only of individuals motivated by greed and their customers (prey?) who were a 'resource' or market to be drawn upon. "GREED IS GOOD" she stated. - People voted for her.

Anyway I have done it again .. After much conflicted & deep consideration I was persuaded to buy a bicycle for my own health & longevity.  - I have even bought biking gear and a helmet - plus LED lights from K-Mart.

- A current model 'Merida' Big Nine as a very special offer 

from online bargain marketers 'GrabOne' 

.. My "Velocipede".

Healthy summertime exercise was to be mine at a bargain priced $699 - a saving of $300 on retail. - Ordered and paid for October 5th - promised for delivery November 9.

  - Naah - Of course it didn't arrive. So I emailed 'GrabOne' asking where it was and was assured that they'd sort it within 24 hours. Two days later - no news but a courier delivered a small package being parcel 2 of 2 containing a bike pump and tool pack. - Package No.1 being absent - I presume to be the missing bike.

I've heard it said that "One sign of madness is to keep doing the same thing repeatedly while expecting a different result."

A message here perhaps for anyone expecting an improvement in their living conditions by having belief in a "Trump" or 'The Presidency' - or even in so called "Representative Democracy".

- Don't scoff at others misfortunes eh.

I suppose that the "Midnight Madness" Earthquake (at 12.02 on 14th Nov.) will now give GrabOne a retro-excuse for non-delivery!

Marty K.

P.S.  Bike arrived by courier Wednesday 16th Nov.. Late but it's cool.

Our Big Quake - Midnight Madness?

Good Morning - Well it's good because the house is still standing but shaking frequently still.

Since two minutes after Midnight when there was a L O N G & strong 7.5 quake it has been an interesting night. - Couldn't even check-out the extra big moon as heavy cloud cover.

- I'm wondering if the close orbital fly-pass by the moon had anything to do with triggering the shakes?

The cat has gone missing but will likely reappear.

Life is good,

Marty K.

P.S. The cat has returned just over 12 hours after running from the "big one" - so that's good.

CECIL THE LION & Peter Hathaway CAPSTICK:

This photo is (or rather was) 'Cecil The Lion' - This morning  I heard that the Zimbabwean Courts have thrown out all charges relating to the legal shooting of this mature meat eater by licensed shooter, Dentist Walter Palmer from US. - The High Court also dismissed all charges against his commercially permitted fellow local hunter Theo Bronkhorst.

You will likely remember the fuss made about this collared lions death and all the outrage directed at the folk involved in it. - Large sums of money were donated by animal rights "conservationists" screaming for the dentist hunter to be executed and/or jailed for life for the killing of a "tame" lion.

This lion 'Cecil' was found to be wearing a tracking collar after it was legally shot.

It is a happy coincidence  that I'm right now reading DEATH IN THE LONG GRASS by Capstick - A great book about hunting in Africa - and about lions. I won't go into too much detail about the sounds and smells of crunching and slurping as a lion eats into readily available human body parts & skulls - however .. A few Facts as recorded:

Peter Turnbull-Kemp recorded the age and condition of eighty-nine man-eating lions known personally to him.

Contra to sympathetic fable - that excuses Felidae man-eaters as merely furry cuddly toys that have become too old and sick to catch their usual four-footed prey - He found the following:

Out of the eighty-nine homicidal killers he personally witnessed (examined dead) - 91 per cent were in good or fair condition - only 13.3% were 'aged' and only 4.4% were aged & injured.

Mr Capstick early in the book tells of the sad incident when couples on their honeymoon trip in Wankie National Park (Rhodesia 1972) were targeted by three lions and dragged from their tent while unable to access their rifles that were locked away in compliance with the legal regulations.

 One of the party managed to start a Honda electric generator and unlock the storeroom to retrieve and load two rifles while the frantic struggle and bloody CQC feeding progressed to its eventual resolution. Len Harvey together with most of his face retrieved from the lionesses stomach was buried the following day. The others survived their serious injuries in varying degrees.


It's some twenty years since Capstick left the party early - from heart disease in 1996  - too young at only 56. Those of us who have enjoyed smoking and a malt or two should take note.

This american born "White Hunter" had a great life in his adopted continent - but here is the important bit .. he wrote about it superbly in some 13 books that can be found at a reasonable cost on Kindle.

Plenty of stirring tales to get your blood singing for sure .. but all done well and spiced with a sense of humor that lightens the tales - that are sometimes dark & bloody..  MANEATERS.

The point here is that lions - like us - are meat eaters. Man (like the lion) is a killer. It is only in the last few decades that meat started to arrive at many of our plates supermarket-seal-wrapped in clear plastic laying on a soft and redly moist tray.

Marty K.

"INSTINCT" Shooting & 'Brain Washing':

- There is a chance that I may be perceived as an crusty curmudgeon  and Old Fart but ..

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS INSTINCTIVE SHOOTING.
THERE IS NO ..


(nor "muscle memory"!)

Now I understand that 'brain washing' or conditioning is achieved by repetition. - It seems that if I were to type that above line more than ten times here - and you were to read it ten times - sub-conscious minds would start to accept it - even though you might argue that it ain't so. ( -This is also how advertising & religion can work).

I'm not going to do that - so will try to clarify reasonably: There is no instinct in a sentient human to use any tool - particularly a complex heat engine such as a firearm that requires precise guidance under stressful conditions.. It is a learned behavior.

Instinct is a fixed pattern of animal behavior in response to a stimulus - such as spitting-out a nasty taste..

Instinctive?

- However - if you were to TRAIN and repeatedly PRACTICE any set of complicated movements using a tool in a careful, precise manner - you would incrementally** establish a competence and fluidity of movement and improved results.

** It is interesting here that part of the word "incrementally" is mental - pointing to your brain.

Anyone seeing a need to excel at 'Hip Shooting', 'Point Shooting', 'Snap Shooting', 'Unsighted Shooting', "Instinct Shooting" -  and perhaps even 'rapid sighted target acquisition' - will need to train repeatedly (having hopefully started with good eyesight - excellent hand-eye co-ordination and a persistent nature).

- This all hinges on the brain developing Neural Pathways that are re-enforced by Myelin. - We develop skills by conditioning our brains.

_____________________

The reviewer of a snubby .45" caliber revolver in Guns Digest 2017 - suggests that the reader "masters instinct shooting (with this short five shot Pitbull) by ignoring the gun and its sights while firing at matchsticks or spent .22 shell cases placed as far away as you can see them."

"Do not look at the gun or think about what you are doing."

- This 'fiction writer' also suggests the .45 ACP 1911 for killing Alaskan Grizzly Bears

 .. Good Luck with that ..

Marty K.

Harrington & Richardson Premier Revolver - & Gutta Percha:

A hundred year old Harrington & Richardson 'Premier' - bought at a recent auction.

- It's so tidy** for its age - and such a neatly working ambidextrous design: My antique H&R five chamber .32 S&W cartridge 'auto eject' model was cheap-as-chips - and has cleaned-up nicely.

The markings of the MASS. address along the top of the barrel with 'USA.PAT.OCT.8.1895.' seems to suggest manufacture date around 1909 + 5 years - and the 'PREMIER 32 S&W.CTGE.' marked on the left side of barrel is said to indicate that this wee cutie was made for smokeless cartridges.

- I'm not trusting any of that information as there is more than a little uncertainty about H&R details.

- Anyone in "the free world" planning to shoot one of these needs to be VERY cautious about the revolvers condition - & the power levels of the ammunition - maybe using only black powder loads.

The Harrington & Richardson Arms Company was incorporated in 1888 but was working from as early as 1871 - and is reported to have supplied several other distributors with different marked firearms being later linked with New England Firearms.

Gilbert H Harrington invented the cartridge ejecting Top-Break revolver in 1871.

This particular revolver has a nicely blued trigger-guard & trigger - and the hammer & top-latch appear to be case hardened? - while the rest of the frame, cylinder and barrel are nickel plated.

The H&R Brand - (along with Marlin and Remington) is now part of The Freedom Group. - That square "Target" image appears on this wee revolvers black*** grips.

Again - I read that the serial numbers are no great help to determine the actual dates of manufacture as they tended to be applied erratically. My barrel is three inches long and the bore is in a good state.

H&R Premier .32" Revolver Poses With Pocket Model Colt M1903 .32"
 & old BIC Lighter.

That small 'pocket model' 1903 Colt makes the H&R five shot look petite .. Well the revolver at 12 ounces is HALF the weight of the 23 ounce Colt semi-auto. - Both 32"s but..

History shyly recalls that these small break-actions were kept close by sociable ladies as "GET OFF ME" guns.

Here's a link to hot2warm showing us his 'PREMIER' top-break:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mme7AYiqVIw

** It's just as well that these H&R Top-Breaks are 'pretty' - as they wouldn't suite shooters with large hands (and think very carefully before firing modern ammunition).

 - I can't fit my strong-hand into the space behind the trigger guard and around the grips - said to be made from Gutta Percha ***. (Or, just maybe - these grips might be hard vulcanized* rubber? - Gutta Percha tends to turn brown as it ages.).

 - Mind you, my middle finger knuckle was broken years ago and is now a lumpy swollen & crooked p.i.t.b. with "Uncle Arthur Ritis". - Not that we Kiwis are allowed to shoot any handgun with barrels shorter than four inches - they are for 'C' endorsed & licensed Collectors only here in NZ.

Read All About It. (from Amazon)

____________________

*** Gutta Percha was a natural thermoplastic polymer - a 'polyterpene' made from rigid latex harvested from a tree by chopping it up and collecting the sap. - and was used from the early 1840s to make revolver grips etc. - most famously for the Colt Single Action M1873 'Peace-Makers'.

Palaquium Gutta Tree. Malaysia & Pacific Rim.

Colt M1873  'Peacemaker' With Original Gutta Percha Grips

Spalding 'Gutty' Golf Ball.(from Mid 1850s)

Although Gutta Percha (perhaps the very first industrial thermoplastic) is not elastic - it is sort of related to Chicle (chewing gum) and to natural rubber. - "G.P." was also used to make golf balls "Gutties", - for insulating early underwater telegraph cables - and for filling root canals in rotten teeth.

* Natural rubber is 'vulcanized' and hardened by mixing & heating with 30 to 35% sulfur.(Sulphur). - Some hard vulcanized rubbers were branded as "Vulcanite" and "Ebonite". - Early car batteries had hard rubber casings.

Marty K.

After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/posts/24075745