A Gripping Tale part2

 This old wee thing is quiet lovely (Yes I know .. it's another one) - It ought to be good, for the price I paid - but that grip is unusual, 'rare' even?

It's a mid 19th Century antique Turn-off barrel, Boxlock, brass bodied, Percussion Pocket Pistol, 44" caliber smooth-bore, with Birmingham UK Proof stamps.

There's a name, S LAMBERT stamped on the lock ..

This old pistol will for me, be forever called Slambert*. - I love it, BUT it is the most uncomfortable thing to get a grip on - because it seems to be built as a "ladys' or childs' model" with a tight trigger guard and that unusual but pretty grip shape.

Yeah, - I need a good woman with a duster and polishing cloth .. Anyone know a good woman?

If one accepts that two fingers is good-enough, - wee 'Slambert' can be held with the pinkie under the butt heel and managed that way - but it's not the best. 

- Perhaps it's a good thing that here in NZ, police say we must not shoot an unlicensed 'antique' unless we want the full weight of the law to pile-drive us into the Timpendean clay.

Note: NZ Police, - themselves armed with unregistered guns, are UNLICENSED and have a policy to terminate the employment of any sworn officer who choses to develop his/her shooting ability by joining a (police approved & certified) Pistol Club.

'Slambert' has a small 4mm diameter powder chamber so would have a low velocity "silent-but-deadly" gas release .. but, might readily be opened-up by a disrespectful shooter with a drill or carbide Dremel burr, to a reasonable 44" power level.

Nice & Original

Always use only soft lead balls in a blackpowder gun to ensure safe & effective result. No 'Hard Cast'.

We are 'into' variables again here .. this thing about a handgun fitting your hands is complex, as the size and shape of the handle thingy is obviously important - but an often unspoken issue is TRIGGER REACH - just where your finger comfortably contacts the "go button" . - If you need to turn the gun at an angle sideways to reach the trigger, you are on a looser before you start. - And if, 'long shanks',  like me, you mostly have to fold your trigger finger like a step ladder fallen on it's side in order to poke it's tip inside the trigger guard you either need lessons as a circus performer OR a different bloody gun .. or at least a different set of grips.

For decent accuracy and fire control - the fingerprints PAD is the bit needed to press the trigger.

To overcome that l o n g  trigger p u l l, - or a rotten HEAVY double-action pull (or an awful rusty antique lump) .. the DISTAL JOINT gives best strength.

Controlled ACCURACY at all times is the MUST HAVE when using any handgun under any conditions. Full Stop. 

NOTHING ELSE is acceptable.

As Dave Tipple of Gun City once said to me - "You don't have to shoot every gun you own." 

- But I say, - the one you are serious about needs to fit your grippers properly.

*slambert means something rude (asshole) in Danish ..

FIT AND PROPER?

FIREARMS LICENCES FOR NZ POLICE

Marty K.