Only Three Inches? - BOOM

 What measures around three inches - can be very active and weighs roughly one pound?

Clue: This small lump detonates at 6,900 meters per second velocity - so in 6 micro seconds it would yield 315 BILLION WATTS of energy ..

A microsecond is ONE MILLIONTH of a second:

That would be a tennis ball sized, half a kilo of TNT .. TriNitroToluene

- I'm not going anywhere near that stuff ..

a related Nitroglycerin .. Useful when you need it ..

It's chemistry folks.

But 'Black Powder' might be interesting and useable eh

- Well the Chinese, back in the Seventh Century, thought it was interesting stuff, and they have worked with it for years.

I guess we are talking "Rocket Science" here eh. The energy comes from the pressure of expanding HOT Gasses produced when the compound is ignited or detonated .. something like a car engine eh.

Making this stuff could be self limiting eh - Imagine if this was the qualifying test to become a voter .. and that you had to produce and safely explode a pound of Black-Powder solo on a test range before being registered on the Electoral Role to chose politicians. - Population control by natural selection and 'democracy' might work better. 

- Yorkshire man Guy Fawkes thought it would be useful too.

Now - the reason gunpowder dates back so early into ancient days of the 7th century is that it is a fairly simple mixture of simple stuff. - Charcoal came from Trees, Nitrate crystals came from Bat Caves & Dung Heaps, and Sulfur came from Volcanos & Blow-holes as Brimstone.

The more recently made HIGH EXPLOSIVES that our politicians delight in throwing at ordinary folk are the works of DEVILS. - All that violence, - while hypocritically banning us from owning guns for self defense or for wild harvesting free food.

You really have to be evil bastards to dedicate your existance to designing long-chain molecules and subatomic nuclear reactions specifically built to bulk evaporate and disintegrate other peoples mothers and children.

Personally I would reintroduce individual Capital Punishment to a considered range of offenders.

_______________

- "Smokeless Powders" started as modified nitrocellulose developed from 'Gun Cotton' - and they make less smoke because when ignited they produce much more gas than gun powder can, and less solid residues. The first smokeless powders were single based but then double base and triple base powders followed, while current offerings are full of additives and clever formulations.

It is accepted that the simple 75:15:10 gun powder mixture is made around 50% more dense & powerful by being compressed and granulated.

The earliest type of propellant, dry mixed black powder - NOT compressed or consolidated - is known as 'Serpentine Powder'. 

Link to "Repeater handgonne Part 1: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoYunM-z19A

Link to "Repeater handgonne Part 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRm2LZty-oU

- You gotta be clever eh ..

Current regulations are very expensive, troublesome and both REPRESSIVE and OPRESSIVE.

To get your F.Lic. now you have to rebuild your home into a hardened fortress with two strongrooms or approved built-in safes - one for guns and one for ammunition - while registering all of your lawfully owned tools. Most sworn Police officers would be unable to meet the requirements - yet they are required to carry guns to shoot offenders in public areas as needed.

It's not only firearms regulations to deal with .. but also DANGEROUS GOODS, INSURANCE, STORAGE, COURIER, & TRANSPORT rules - while finding hunting properties is more difficult.

Back in the 80's and 90's New Zealands Gun Laws were very sensible and we 'Fit & Proper Persons' were proud to have been approved, and thought of ourselves as being on-side with the police .. almost as auxiliary officers. Those little red book licences were affordable but highly valued.

If you have an urge to know everything - I'd point you towards this superb paperback book ..

History eh.

Marty K.

Working 'ON' or Working 'WITH' Guns:

My content is being removed from multiple sites & censored by Facebook. - For eight years I have attempted to write positively about lawful gun ownership .. 1,661 online posts so far.

I am being shut down and shut-up.

We can no longer buy imported U S  GUN MAGAZINES such as Guns & Ammo in New Zealand ..

If you wish me to try to continue - please SHARE and repost my pieces - otherwise it will end.

____________________

I like to try fix and improve rusty old antique pistols bought cheaply. - I have read about the issues and I am trying my best to not eff-up anything that I get my hands on.

I have watched Youtube videos of morons restoring various guns by sand-blasting them and "polishing" them using belt sanders .. cold-bluing the now scrap metal over the new scratchings before cutting-out replacement grips from firewood covered in polyurathane varnish - while videoing the whole disasterous 'assault & battery' for public show .. expecting comments to praise their workmanship.

I wonder - Could my local crash repair shop .. SandBlast & Buff this up &

get it CHROME PLATED ?? ( JOKE ) .

I've even watched a U S "professional Restoration business" take a big old Webley revolver .. grind-off every surface back to new metal before 're-finishing' it on a buffing wheel and 're-blueing' the whole machine a deep, chemical black before proudly rotating it before the camera to display the skills they offer to the shooting world.

Naturally there are 'variables' and different circumstances to consider. - A rusted old "Two-Two" being repaired and prettied-up for on-going rabbit control & harvesting, is different to a 100 year old historic Webley .. or different again from a 18th Century antique Flintlock arm - hand built with fine engraving.

To be frank - I'm personally not so worried much about DOLLAR VALUES - I've never had money & it's too late now .. but I am more interested in looking after and conserving and improving what there is in my hands. This stuff may be UNIQUE and worth cherishing eh. I believe one "essential" here is to stop all ongoing active rusting.

- Now looking at the next image - it is clear that there (someone) has been 'refinishing' and destroying much patina & original finish, of what might have been, if more cherished over the centuries, a fine antique. 

- I confess.

That is such a pretty old thing ..

.. But, - what you cannot see here is how bad this lovely old lady was before I started to scrape off lumps of encrusted rusty carbuncles and pustules of active corrosion from it's hard metal surfaces .. I truly thought that barrel was SCRAP junk ..

My pics don't really show how rotten & awful this wreckage was .. Yeah lousy photography.

Maybe I've somewhat improved a rusty relic by excising and killing the rot ? - perhaps I've made it worse and destroyed all of it's value .. dunno.

I've been working on it for weeks off'n'on using Swiss files, wee diamond files, 'P2000' waterproof abrasive paper mounted on flat backing-support .. using a small 'pick' to clean /scrape corrosion out of pitting. - I may attempt even more "restoration" in coming times.

I like it now - whereas it made me want to cry seeing it's putrid, dissolving condition ..

_____________

I would NEVER  dream of touching any antique pistol that is in an honest unbuggered state of preservation. - I understand patina and history - these qualities are precisely why old stuff is appreciated and valued.

Meanwhile I can afford to buy cheap 'junk' pocket pistols and have some fun trying to improve em eh.

_____________

I read recently that the handmade SCREWS found in antique gun actions are sometimes called "Nails" and tried to research WHY?

- It may be because the earliest screws were actually hand crafted from square iron nail stock from rolling mills, just as were the handmade nails of the period ..

Marty K.

P.S. If you like old guns & stuff - this linked site has great posts ..

http://www.cablesfarm.co.uk/repair-and-restoration-what-should-i-do/

Gun Lubricants - 'Rip-Offs' & "Marketing Spin"

 Planet EARTH is a busy sort of place with lots of people coming & going all the time .. Our NZ Police Commissioner Costerlot has just resigned. - The PM's Senior Press Secretary has also resigned ..

Irreplaceable?

Lots of stuff  we are sold is presented to seem wonderfully pleasing - when in fact - it is exactly the same stuff we've already got in the kitchen at a quarter of the price.

WE pay for the extra costs of that lying advertising every time we BUY that item.

Now I fully 'get' that referring people to my old copy is a bit of a cheat - but the facts are FACTS ..

- Firing guns does make them Gritty and DIRTY with residues that impede proper function and can be CORROSIVE - so we have to clean and lubricate them.

Fact 1/-  HOT WATER poured over the mechanism and down the barrels CLEANS & REMOVES most of the crap .. it leaves the metal hot and this quickly dries any water.

- if you use some dish washing liquid in that water and scrub it around, that will be even BETTER.

Then - ANY lubricant oils and light grease applied to a clean gun will help prevent corrosion while smoothing the gun's function.

- You don't need high temperature resistance or miracle "advanced" additives. - CANOLA OIL from the grocery department is very good for lubrication ..

IT'S CHEAP

And has a long history as a MARINE & STEAM Lubricant.

GUN LUBE OR CANOLA OIL .. Link:

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2020/03/gun-lube-or-canola-oil.html

_______________

- Next thing is BALLISTOL .. It is a useful, multi-purpose, fluid to use on firearms. - But it smells odd and the containers it comes in, cost more than the product inside. - BALLISTOL is a mix of medical Liquid Paraffin - detergent - alcohol, - and water.  Water comes out of pipes FREE.

WHAT IS BALLISTOL? Link:

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2023/08/ballistol-what-is-it.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawFa0PNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSm4lbhB0HPkJH0vqGKt44GvI-9Adk2z7k3Q2eR86M2aNIrwrPTGLUUyNQ_aem_nOiIkKKpwBgy1bEFJ2zBvA

The "good" stuff you buy can be tested and certainly works - but do you really want to give your hard earned money to Business Corporations who pay psychologists to influence & bend your mind?

These CORPORATIONS also donate money (that WE have given them) to political leaders to influence the policies and taxes imposed on us as citizen workers.

That's Life eh

Marty K.

'HAZARD' Caseless Boolits 4 Blackpowder .

- Interesting stuff comes along on-line from time to time eh

The HAZARD POWDER Company of Enfield Connecticut was founded 1835 along the Scantic River - and manufactured waterproof cartridges between 1861-1864 for blackpowder revolvers such as the Colts & Remington Army and Navy revolvers. - This was the American Civil War era.

'Hazard' was one of the Top Three gunpowder manufacturers at that time.

Modern Homemade "Waterproof" Black Powder Loads:

When I was shooting ROA Blackpowder I did experiment making Paper Cartridges and they worked fine except the nitrated cigarette papers I used left bits of unburned charred paper in the bottom of the chambers that had to be picked out before re-loading for the next shots. - I reckon properly home NITRATED paper using a saturated solution would have worked better. - Caseless balls would be even betterer as there is NO paper to worry about eh.

This process is a simple one but fiddly to manage - basically what you do is - mix your Black-Powder with a little Dextrin powder - moisten the mix with a small amount of water and scoop it into a shaped open topped cavity and press it down using a ram to PRESS & solidify - and put aside in a sunny dry window for 24 hours to dry - then GLUE together with the conical or ball of choice. (- IF you sadly are located in a high rainfall - high Humidity - grey, cold, mouldy, slimey, damp & overcrowded hole like the Poms .. you would need a drying cabinet or electric dehydrator ..)

Six or seven per cent of DEXTRIN moist-mixed and compressed to shape is great .. bearing in mind that some of the alternative coloured 'Blackpowders' and rocket fuels comprise Dextrin as their main fuel.

Links to informative VIDEOS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyoPmklwv-Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H64cgJQOLAc

Now U S based Mr Crossen does NOT accept overseas orders so we poor Kiwis will have to make our own moulds to compress and shape the antique propellants into the needed loads & calibers as required - shouldn't be a problem using a drill followed by a carbide burr, stone or reamer to shape - and polish eh.

Start off with two aluminium flat bars clamped together in your vise .. drill to depth along the 'split-line' - I plan to clamp the halves together with bolts .. open-up to shape with a taper reamer or burr - and you'll be able to press the mixture down no worries .. use a waxy mould release to ease extraction of the compressed forms ready to glue-on the 'antique' spheres or conicals .. The shape of the powder 'charge' can be tapered, round, flat, or pointed bottom (as drilled), as long as it will load & fit into your chambers eh.

I would intend to use a compression 'pusher' with a rounded bottom shape in a re-loading press - to form them to accept and glue-on forty-four caliber BALLS.

No wucking furries eh.

Or .. READ ALL ABOUT IT here ...

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

Mr Crossen has a YouTube page with lots of clever videos ..

https://www.youtube.com/@crossencartridge6403/videos

Marty K.

REMINGTON New Model Army "1858" 1863 Original:

Well I bought this antique original Remington - or "won" it as trademe likes to say .. and it landed on my doorstep on the second day of NZ Spring - after I likely - as usual, paid too much for it. - I plea temporary insanity again.

Original Remington New Model Army 44 caliber Percussion Revolver.

It's a big lump compared to a Birmingham made Pocket Pistol in the same .44 caliber

It is an early (April 1863) production gun in un-interfered 'honest' condition - holster worn at the muzzle & showing plenty of single letter inspector's stamps .. 1x R, 5x P, and 5x W. I maybe detect faint signs of a Military acceptance 'cartouche' on the L.H. wood grip - AND it has four sets of MATCHING SERIAL NUMBERS 204** - including on the back face of the CYLINDER ... That is a rarity I read - likely indicating hand fitting.

Remnants of a Two Line Patent Date & Address with 'NEW MODEL' included remain on top of the 8 inch octagonal barrel. 

T'other Side ..

Well I'm pleased with it anyway .. but at 1.55 kg unloaded - it is a heavy lump ..

In my typical way I've ordered the book from Abe Books in USA after buying the antique.

- So I will confirm eventually whether I've bought badly or well .. I did check-out overseas auction sale prices for various condition guns and while it wasn't cheap .. it was here in NZ & available.

As received - all six Chambers and the Barrel bore were very furry-dusty, that indicates some time has passed just laying about on shelves - not surprising as the vendor is a private museum & he says he bought it at auction ex Tallahassee Florida - the only Confederate Capital East of the Mississippi not to surrender to Union forces. 

- My excuse for snapping-it-up is that you don't see many original antique Remington revolvers on offer down here in New Zealand .. while plenty of Italian reproductions come-up for registered use by licensed shooters and collectors - our Police regulations certainly are distorting the market prices.

The cap nipples look original & OK condition while everything mechanical seems to function in a businesslike way.

I did get my cleaning kit open and had a close look into it's tubes after a short 'Wash & Brush-up' - and the bored metal looks free from heavy pitting & "OK" .. better in fact than any other of the antique smoke poles I have ..

Bore "OK" ish - Modified Front Sight - and 'Holster Worn' Muzzle 

Chambers aren't too potty

- Been Carried & Cared About

Gawd but it's a great big heavy lump of a thing - I'll have to get down to the gym - I have previously owned a used Italian made Uberti replica of this marque pistol which was more dinged & worn than this 161 year old Civil War era original.

Here's a LINK to a good article with great photos - about shooting an original 'New Model Army' ..

https://svartkrutt.net/articles/vis.php?id=50

Ah Yes .. THE book is superbly researched & excellent regarding historical ordnance transactions - for example I have gleaned that my Florida Remington may have been of a lot sold as surplus from the Pensacola Naval Base, in 1873, for $2.50 each (naturally it also may not have been).

Marty K.

Press - Police - & Black-Powder Parlor Pistols:

"We removed some content or messages .. your Post" - so I've altered the title ..

Most public 'news' services - the bloody  'Presstitutes' - seem to be ignoring how close the world stands to a nuclear war catastrophe right now .. naturally it might not happen .. But imagine how terrified the academic members of Gun Control New Zealand will be if they discover that they are now survivors alone and unarmed on a remote undefendable island with no oil - no power - no survival tools & no takeaway food. - Neither New Zealand's English King or Maori Queen will be offering any help when stuff gets a bit basic ..

___________

- Most experts state that between 1860-63 - around 200 of these 'Derringer' type "Parlour Pistols" were sold by Remington .. 

These wee guns were bored .177" (4.5 mm) caliber and fired a lead ball driven ONLY by the gasses produced from a copper Percussion Cap.

Note: - I spent time researching WHY the .177" is generally the smallest gun bore and how & when it came to be so - but there's absolute confusion .. I GIVE UP.

Reproductions of this antique design are available from that excellent Italian manufacturer Pedersoli that may be bought and shot for sport in USA and other countries having a sane approach to guns and their use. - they are small with an overall length just over 12 cm. (4.75 inches) - What we are talking about here is 'CAP GUNS' that every kid used to run around bomb sites & gardens pretending to be a cowboy, back in the day when we had fun outdoors instead of ruining our eyesight & mental health by staring at a screen ..

After dinner entertainment used to be civilized in the olden days with targets hung before heavy curtain material or mounted in front of an unused brick lined fireplace .. not too noisy or smokey when shot with no black powder propellant,-  the tiny lead balls would manage velocities of around 300 feet per second - but some online correspondents have added a few grains of the mixture behind their projectile to hop them up, with some loss of accuracy while claiming up to 800 ft/sec velocities.

It likely would be a total waste of time to even think about importing these reproduction Cap Guns into New Zealand under our current Police State Rules - as for example they are demanding that fully licenced & Endorsed Target Pistol shooters must join an approved & separate 'Soft Air Club' before they can buy a plastic pellet gun.

Criminal Gangs are out of control while making huge profits dealing in illegal drugs and guns .. so our Police respond by oppressing and restricting the most law abiding section of NZ Society .. Licensed Firearms owners ..

https://americanhandgunner.com/handguns/palor-pistol-perfection/

However .. elsewhere it would be an easy conversion to fit a .177" sleeve (caliber converter) into a 'Pocket Pistol' such as a Liegi Pedersoli or even a clapped-out original barrel - for some harmless indoor fun ..

The U S importers would likely be pleased to supply a spare barrel in exchange for a few dollars cash.

- All you'd then need is an old air rifle, hacksaw and access to a lathe to generate your own Parlour Pistol.

https://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_experiments/parlor_pistol/parlor_pistol.html

_______________

A Question of Law:

New Zealand Police Service heirarchy are on the record for stating that a genuine old 'gun' built before the end of 1898 - not capable of firing a 'self contained cartridge' and not being a copy or reproduction, may be owned as an "Antique" but not loaded and not shot.

Now - earlier this year I bought a large antique Flintlock Pistol  (one of two 'Ottoman Empire antiques) that was loaded - from an antique dealer who in his turn, got the gun from a "deceased estate" - and subsequently I wrote about it ..

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2024/04/working-on-ottoman-flintlock.html

No criminal offence has been charged - nor should there be - by NZ Police Service.

- Are you having a laugh? 

- Is 'NZ Firearms Law an Ass'? - Don't answer that ..

I seriously suggest that the path towards logical and effective Firearms Legislation here would be to require ALL Serving Police officers to obtain and maintain their New Zealand endorsed Firearms Licence under exactly the same conditions and regulations imposed by them on other law abiding citizens.

Marty K.

Multi Ball Pistol Loads? - Get wadded ..

Way back in time - before lawful New Zealand shooters came under fire from a punitive regime bent on BANNING GUNS .. I developed and had fun shooting DUPLEX LOADS in a couple of my pistols.

- As part of the "new" - long prepared - restrictions that were passed through parliament under eager haste - a rule was introduced banning ammunition from having multiple projectiles .. because this might be intended to defeat ballistic vests. - So I could no longer pass my tool to a shooting mate and watch the fun after firing five shots at a new paper target and counting TEN HOLES.

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2018/10/first-ever-recorded-firearm.html

I'm unsure as to whether NZ Police Heirarchy have heard of SHOT SHELLS .. but there you go - they are banned.

The two loads that I had fun with were my 10mm Glock 20 using 2 cast truncated cone projectiles loaded into the brass case 'back-to-back' .. and the second "Duplex" was for my Ruger 327 Magnum revolver where I worked-up a load using a light weight bullet PLUS a caliber sized round lead ball loaded in tandem.

Both of these (327 Mag and 10mm Auto) cartridges are great for tandem-duplex loads as they are longer cases than average - as also would be the 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum.

My initial idea was inspired by BOWLING PIN MATCHES - where the ideal 'Pin' caliber seemed to be that 'Slow Slug' .45" acp which was ideal for pushing bowling pins off the table - while my 10mm Glock splintered pins and left the shattered pins spinning around in any direction other than back & off.

My two 10mm cast lead "plates" with a light charge of powder did the trick by making "snake eyes" on target while sticking inside the pin's plastic coat to deliver a nice rearwards shove. 'BRILLIANT' I thought and I then declared this load to be perfect for IPSC 'double taps' onto the cardboard but a spoilsport IPSC Director (Thanks JD mate) said he would simply weigh each pill and declare them to be disqualified as underweight.

A couple of years back I had a laugh by asking our Club President did he think that the Police Service BAN on 'Duplex' ammunition would mean that any MUZZLE LOADER shooter who absent mindedly shoved a second ball down his smokepole barrel or into a revolver's chamber would be guilty of TREASON & the retained death penalty .. He did get a bit red in the face at my question.

ANYWAY .. I've been thinking again, - and my inspiration is that many shooters use a WAD to seperate the charge of propellant from the projectile. This WAD can be made from a variety of materials not restricted to polymer, - cardboard, - wool felt .. dry lubed or greased .. or even screwed-up paper, cotton moistened with spit, or animal skin, fabric wrapping etc.

- Where does any set of Service limitations dictate that a wad may not be made of a metal foil such as LEAD - or what thickness or shape the wad may not exceed - or again - must a wad be placed before or behind a projectile?

Just saying - but "LEAD SINKER FISHING STRIP SOFT ROLL" is offered for sale by Chinese Company AliExpress in various widths and thicknesses that can be cut to size and rolled to shape - Just saying eh. - but how many "wads" might an enthusiast punch-out from a roll of soft lead? - If lubrication is a high priority you might stick a card wad to each leaden disc and grease it for placement away from the powder but next to the ball. A 'composite wad'. - Is there any limit to what you might or might not do with malleable lead pushed out from the muzzle of a black powder charcoal burner?

Might somebody roll about and encase something in lead ? - What effect might a small 'can' of lead filled with plasticine modeling clay have on a softish target? - Who knows - not me 'cos I'm too old & past-it

Blackie Thomas is a black powder cheapskate developing his lubed wads on video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFb-UgewX8Q

INDEPENDANCE DAY ..

- Have you heard of a 'HAMMER SWAGE' ? .. For sure many projectiles commercially are made from chopped lead wire that is fed into a swaging machine to be pressed into a cavity forming the nose & tail shapes. - Shooters can use a much simplified version of this technique to cure a mismatch or shortages 

.. Imagine that you need some .36 inch projectiles but what you have in the shed are .44" caliber. - find a nice lump of steel and drill a hole through it of the right size - find or make an old bolt to fit the hole and use it as a punch to hammer your .44" balls through the hole and Voila and miraculously you now have .36" sized bullets.

Butt t  .. what if you've got .36 inch balls when you fancy a handful of .44" caliber pills? - Get out that drill and make your .44" caliber sized hole and another well fitting old bolt - drop each 36" in and give it a healthy whack with the hammer & bolt against something hard and I bet you've now got a load of light-weight fourtyfours. You could even load them two at a time .. Useful Link:

https://svartkrutt.net/articles/vis.php?id=32

There you go,

Have Fun .. Life IS good eh,

Marty K.

American Derringer Corporation M-1 in 10 MM Auto:

Back in September 1992 (Oh my gawd - that's 32 years ago) I imported from Waco Texas an unusual gun .. it was a made to order American Derringer Corporation M-1 Stainless steel two shot 'Derringer' in 10mm Auto caliber. 

As a certified FIT & PROPER PERSON I could own this gun here in New Zealand on my 'C' Category endorsed Firearms Licence .. but I was not permitted by Police regulation to shoot it. 

It is a strange situation here whereby our "authorities" forbid even licensed citizens from using their own property - while issuing semi-auto 9mm pistols and MSSA "assault rifles" to UNLICENSED POLICE to use as weapons whenever they feel justified. - Police are required to have a NZ Driving Licence to drive patrol vehicles but are not required to have a NZ Firearms Licence to shoot guns.

Equally as strange - the NZ Police management hierarchy now forbid sworn police officers from joining a Pistol Club to obtain their Endorsed Firearms Licence. I used to have a very decent Senior Detective Sergeant as a Pistol Club shooting Mate before the Big C got him.

NZ Police used also "encourage" sworn officers to obtain their Firearms Licence .. ..

Whatever .. This American designed & made derringer was finely built and I enjoyed custody of it for some years before passing it on at an auction to , I believe, a lady owner.

I chose the Derringer to partner with my Glock G20 semi-auto pistol and a S&W M-610 revolver also chambered in 10mm Auto - both guns I shot competatively and used in firearms Induction-Training Courses at the Garden City Pistol Club indoor range.

 The Texan makers of these derringers seemed to fade from the U S marketing scene - and I often wondered what had happened .. until I found a recently published story about these pistols and their maker:

https://smallarmsreview.com/heirloom-quality-backup-the-american-derringer-corporation-model-1/

The sad history is that the brilliant founder and designer of these all-american pocket pistols - Robert Saunders - developed Pancreatic Cancer and died the year following my purchase, in 1993 leaving his widow Elizabeth to decide how to carry-on.

Elizabeth Saunders knew that she was not going to let her husbands dream end there - so she went back to school and qualified with an engineering degree and determined to continue to produce these hand made beauties - albeit on a reduced scale - together with newly qualified engineer & Vietnam Veteran John Price - having let-go other employees over work issues. Link to their website ..

http://www.amderringer.com/

These are a range of high quality low volume niche weapons that deserve support from all shooters.

Please take a look at their site and consider if there could be room for one of these beautiful unique tools in your life.

Marty K.

Fabled STOPPING POWER -

I learned a new word 'TERZEROL' .. that according to Wikipedia means a small muzzle-loading pistol, offered as an 'alternative' to holster or saddle pistols. These are now known as "pocket" or "muff" pistols - but used sometimes be referred to as "Vinyard guns" employed to fire blanks as bird scarers ..

__________

Testing power levels & velocity of black powder loads will yield a range of answers due to different strength propellants, loads and the ball mass - but here is a link to some extensive testing:

https://poconoshooting.com/blackpowderballistics.html

60 foot/pounds of energy equals 80 joules (metric) 

I'm writing that (above) because British military testing, states that a projectile of this power level will consistantly disable a combatant.

The normal weight of a 22lr is 40 grains. Virtually every brand of 22lr will send this bullet at about the speed of sound, 1200 ft/second, with a kinetic energy of about 120 foot pounds, or162 Joules.

Many .22" rimfire SHORTS also achieve that 60 ft/lbs. - a .22Short launches a 29-grain (1.9 g) bullet at 1,045 feet per second (319 m/s) with 70 ft·lbf (95 J) of energy from a 22 in (559 mm) rifle barrel and can penetrate 2 inches (51 mm) of soft pine board.

In the real (U S) world of hand aimed and carried weapons - there truly is no such thing as knockdown power or "Stopping Power' despite some beliefs .. there is however always a need for accurate bullet placement & sufficient penetration as above. - Please forget "Spray & Pray".

There are some who - immediately they are winged by a shot will think that they are 'DEAD' and therefor fall to the floor and expect to die. - Others, such as Moro warriors, refused to die even though mortally wounded ..

Naturally this topic is confused by these variables .. there are those who will maintain that their target, hit by their powerful 44 Magnum will be more dead than a corpse brought to market by a bullet from a .22 "mouse gun"

Now - when focused on my current passion of small screw barrel pocket pistols - it is clear that the main factor governing velocity & 'power' would be the volume of the Powder Chamber cut under the nipple or flash pan. These vary hugely in diameter AND in length from the smallest at around 3mm dia, up to 6mm and deeply bored. - The antique propellant would also vary in it's quality ..

Every antique gun I have - I find this chamber to be RUSTY with cavities eroded into the walls from inadequate CLEANING after firing in days gone by. It is fortunate that this design puts plenty of metal into the surrounding body.

 Note: Vascular Heart Disease is pretty well the opposite of that erosion and enlargement we get in our muzzleloader barrel bores & chambers .. it being the build-up of fatty dirty grease in the body's essential blood tubes rather than the wearing away of them. - Now that is what I'd call STOPPING POWER .. SO - Due to "terrible vascular heart disease - inoperable" (a written quote from my Cardiologist-Consultant Sally, to my GP) - I now try to avoid ingesting any more corpses, - chemically preserved body parts, - and mammalian lactation calf-fattening fluids intended for rapid weight gain .. known commercially as "meat, - processed meats, & dairy products".

  ________________

Antique Muzzle Loading Propellant: This is historically made as a mixture of three powdered substances 75:13:12 (or 75:15:10) .. This mix was known as GUNPOWDER.

1/- Food Preservation Salt: Potassium Nitrate KNO3 aka Saltpetre - Oxidizer

2/- Charcoal: Fuel - Carbon C is a porous form of carbon made by 'cooking' various sources of wood.

3/- Sulfur: Traditionally used as a fertilizer due it's antibacterial properties. When included as part of the Antique Propellant mix - sulfur lowers the temperature of ignition.

Watch & LISTEN TO Jake .. he brews his own powder / propellant and uses it:

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

Marty K.

VERY Simple Old Firing Mechanism by MOSES BABCOCK:

 Now this is a simple firearms lock design ..

The single action hammer is driven/ powered by THE TRIGGER GUARD, which is a leaf spring- fixed in place behind the trigger at the rear end.

 The top extention of the pivoting trigger is the SEAR that engages into the NOTCH or BENT that is cut into the high rear face of the HAMMER below the cocking SPUR.

- That's IT .. TWO moving parts and a spring.

I accept that this is a CAP-LOCK design but it would readily adapt to a cartridge gun via a spring loaded Firing Pin or Striker.

Thanks & acknowledgements to THEFIREARMSBLOG TFB

https://www.google.com/search?q=Moses+Babcock+Rifle+mechanism+images&rlz=1C1ONGR_enNZ933NZ933&oq=Moses+Babcock+Rifle+mechanism+images&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCjMyODA0ajFqMTWoAgiwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://www.google.com/search?q=Moses+Babcock+Rifle+mechanism+images&rlz=1C1ONGR_enNZ933NZ933&oq=Moses+Babcock+Rifle+mechanism+images&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCjMyODA0ajFqMTWoAgiwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2023/02/22/moses-babcock-action-inspired-muzzleloader-poland/

Years back I was showing the different clever J Rock Cooper design to somebody and they commented "can that be adapted to firing a cartridge?" - Well I didn't see how ..

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2020/05/j-rock-cooper-pistol-keeping-it-simple.html

I know that Police State rules make our Civil Rights hard to maintain - But simple low cost design & manufacture can go a long way to reduce costs for the freedom seekers of USA etc.

What can I say?

Marty K.

How Is Your Length of Pull?

 Mmm, I know ..

In the shot gun world this refers to the distance measured from the face of the trigger to the centre of the Butt Pad - an important factor to the "fit" of a scatter gun.

But I am a crap shooter at clay birds so youse-lot can talk among yourselves about that .. What I'm thinking about is TRIGGER REACH/ Length of Pull on pistols.

Now, I'm measuring this in centimeters as this is the Worldwide Metric System standard .. even in America where 'S.I.' was "Prefered" in 1975 - but you'd never guess that eh.

So the reason I found the Glock 20 10mm and my Glock G19X (with the thick Backstrap fitted) so sweet shooting and comfortable is to a large degree because they fit my hands - because the trigger reach is good for my long fingers.

- This is the World of Variables again.

Just Look at the SIZE of that ..

Now I measure the distance from the rear of the Grip to Trigger Face on these two 'Old Ducks' as being roughly 7.5 cm and 8.8 cm.

That's two "Pocket Pistols" where the trigger reach differs by just 13 mm - but that length makes enough difference to me for one to be comfortable while the smaller tool cramps my hand and is uncomfortable.

- Sure, if I were weaving my way home through the pitch black night of an Edwardian city slum in 1850 and a couple of lowwaymen armed with cudgels and knives jumped me - I'd be pleased to shoot either or both pistols and save my silver & my life .. but the smaller piece would be much harder for me to find and point where needed.

Small Colt '1849' with My Colt 1861 'Navy'

Trigger Reaches of 9.3 cm and 10.2 cm respectively for these two original Colts certainly make a difference to the feel - but either is manageable in my hands while the .36" is better -  The shape and the girth of these stocks is the classic 'Plough Handle'.

Trigger Reach is complicated by the fatness and shape of the grips as well as the features of your own appendages ..

I often see a question from a "newb" that reads something like "I'm new to shooting and looking for a gun to carry for self defense - what is best to get?" 

- Well I'd say don't buy anything till you've been to your local range or club and shot everything you can get your hands on and talked to everyone about it for as long as you can afford to buy the beers.

It's Variables again - how small & strong are you? - how big are your hands AND your pay cheques? - Are you recoil sensitive and a 'flincher'. - Holster or 'pocket carry'? You MUST try everything you can find and do a lot of thinking about it before spending big money.

I had a shooting friend with a S&W M29 44 Magnum that he'd proudly owned for around 40 years and I only saw him shooting it twice. - I shot it once .. one round only.

What a PIG of a thing ..

Be careful how you choose your cars, guns, and women,

Marty K.

 

Percussion Pocket Pistol .. by H-NOCK:

 I've been investing again (buying) - this wee antique pistol is the kind I enjoy - and I bought it for two main reasons .. 

1/- It was cheap.

2/- It has the magic name H-NOCK engraved on the left face of it's boxlock action. - It also has 'LONDON' fainter & eroded in an oval on the R/H side.

Like myself .. it is a tatty old thing that has seen better days - and it has been covered with some chemical blacking (sprayed?) all over it's pitting, dings, and rust encrustation - but I like the type anyway, and the fact that it is fitted with a safety slider. Worthy of improvement.

The renowned Henry Nock 1741-1804, London, Gunmaker to the King, himself could not have made this pistol - as he was departed and buried some 16 years before the caplock percussion system arrived. - However his business had continued on under that name, being run by his foreman/son-in-law James Wilkinson until around 1820 before a name change to James Wilkinson & Son .. that was to later become Wilkinson Sword. Henry Nock made THE NOCK GUN .. a seven barreled Naval Volley Gun.

https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/2029

A nephew of Henry, - Samuel Nock was apprenticed to him and independently became a top quality 'Master of The Gunmakers Company' in his own right.

Whatever, - I seriously doubt this plain(ish "carry gun" was made by the firm - as it has Birmingham Proof Marks  - but quiet likely it was bought-in from 'the trade' & retailed from their shop. Henry had learnt his trade in Birmingham before establishing his business in London.

'LIPSTICK ON A PIG'? ..

Expert collectors warn that - much like "DERRINGER" in America, - the names of respected European Gun Makers were sometimes added by entrepreneurs to guns from other factories to increase the price, and that 'H. NOCK' script carries great kudos. Further 'Expert' comment suggests that the small pocket pistols were very unlikely to be faked as many were low cost items resulting in small return for adding 'a name'. 

So my issue is "what to do?" - as there are rusty raised encrustation lumps under the applied "bluing". - I think that it all has got to come off. Take the barrel for instance .. that has a very good .44" bore - it had filing marks, rust and gouges on the outside of the barrel UNDER the blacking. - Now, me being an ignorant old bugger, - I've no idea whether this, when new, was supplied 'rust blued' or bright metal .. but for sure, after knocking about for two hundred years it wouldn't have much finish remaining eh. 

Showing It's Worst Side: Cleaning-off the "Blacking" 

- ALL that loose rust on the 'wet'n'dry' came from the barrel under the black coating:

And the rust pitting is much worse on the right side than on the left side .. maybe Nocky was made to lie that way by his Doxy, on the damp patch ..

Two screw threads are stripped and the hammer spring is weak & faulty so I'll be occupied for a few days.

Marty K.