Sam Colt and the Law of Self-Preservation

American Thinker ^ | December 29, 2012 | Glenn Fairman

[neverdem]

"God made man but Sam Colt made them equal."

Yet is said that the 2nd Amendment follows hard upon the 1st so as to serve as its bodyguard -- providing the added incentive of coercive force by a wary citizenry to guarantee that those initial cherished liberties, expounded by our Founders, did not go the way of the 10th Amendment. The 2nd Amendment, interpreted as the right to bear arms by a free people, has not escaped that yawning chasm that has opened up between the political Right and Left, and the rationale behind this stratification falls along the same familiar tensions of individual vs. collective.

--snip--

We now see in Great Britain, a country that has elevated to the status of fetish the disarmament of its society, a towering crescendo in property and violent crimes, as men and women even possessing rifles and shotguns are fearful of using them for fear of being charged for killing or maiming thugs in self-defense. Within the milieu of such a nation of rabbits, the fabric of trust and safety erodes and sends a subliminal message to society that emboldens the brazen and terrifies...

--snip--

Perhaps the best indicator of where the 2nd Amendment is the booming sale of handguns; this barometer is rooted in the anxiety and trepidation that Americans feel for both the safety of their families in perilous economic time, while it is a hedge against the predations of a regime that has forgotten its minimalist confines and spilled over into the imperial, the unilateral, and the arbitrary. Gun manufacturers have mockingly named Barack Obama as their Man of the Year for his contribution to a veritable tsunami of firearm sales. This, in itself, might evoke a good belly laugh if the stark implications of it weren't so damn depressing.

[umgud]

The American people are on a gun buying binge, but all we hear is the elite chattering class trying to set the national perception.

[tet68]

Drove by the Pawn and Gun yesterday, there wasn’t
a parking space to be had and they have a BIG parking
lot.

[carriage_hill]

My 1974 Colt Trooper Mk III .357 Magnum (pristine):

Thank you, Mr Colt!

[Cuttnhorse]

Stopped in a small pawn and gun store in local town and the place was packed and the owner told me that he was not selling any firearms to persons without a CCW permit because they couldn’t get an answer to the background phone system.
He said the last time anyone answered the phone a few days ago the person on the other end said they were swamped and days behind.
CCW permit holders do not require immediate verification.

[patriotsblood]

That’s one of the best-looking handguns ever made. I first laid eyes on this model in the front window of a jewelry store in 1969. I think the price was $349.99. Shoulda woulda coulda.

[umgud]

My only Colt.

[Tijeras_Slim]

With diamond checkered Herretts no less.... old school.

[Cuttnhorse]

Yes indeed, thank you Sam Colt:

[umgud]

It’s a good thing I’m well stocked, cuz I can’t get into any of my local gun stores. People are outside waiting to get in.

[PapaBear3625]

Yet is said that the 2nd Amendment follows hard upon the 1st so as to serve as its bodyguard -- providing the added incentive of coercive force by a wary citizenry to guarantee that those initial cherished liberties, expounded by our Founders, did not go the way of the 10th Amendment.

Put another way, you don't really have a First Amendment if you have to live in fear of mob violence if what you say annoys people. In such a case, if the government sides with the annoyed people and withholds effective police protection, then the unarmed person has a problem.

[Cuttnhorse]

I packed that very same pistol in Viet Nam when I was on Swift Boats 1965-66.
All we were issued were AR 15s and it was hairy trying to board bouncing boats and junks with a rifle flopping around, so I bought a .45 on the local black market for $45 USD. I wanted to bring it home but was afraid of getting caught so I sold it for $45 when I left country.

Was a great weapon then and always will be...even though I also have (had) a Sig 1911 which I am (was) really fond of.

But that was before I was in a boat on a local lake drinking beer and cleaning allllll my guns and a rogue wave came up and swamped the boat and I lost everyone of my precious firearms...all to the bottom of this very deep lake; I mean really deep, honest.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I had a chance to buy one of those new for $115.00 back in 1968.

When I came back with the money a few days later the price had gone up to $130.00 so I did not buy it.

Big mistake.

[Tupelo]

Your Trooper & my Highway Patrol make pretty fair pair.

[OregonRancher]

Mine are on the bottom at the other end of the lake....damn

[DesertRhino]

I think the big eared kenyan has kicked a hornets nest and doesn’t even know it yet.

I visited a huge gun store in my southwestern city today. First time for me since the Sandy Hook murders were exploited by the blood dancers.

I was shocked like never before. It was utterly different than the Clinton assault rifle ban days. The store looked like a swarm of locusts had come through. Only a few tired 50 year old sporters, antiques, and a few revolvers were left. NO magazines of any kind, and ammo was almost gone. They were rationing out ammo a box at a time to buyers so everyone coud get a few of the remaining rounds.

Rattled, i went to another store just to see how bad it was. They also have an indoor range. It was the same story, only worse. All the rifles and pistols were gone. All the ammo was gone. The range was filled on all lanes, and 6 parties were waiting in line for their turn.

Everyone was a little pissed off. Polite to each other, with grim nods to strangers to say hi, holding doors for someone carrying something, etc. But there was a perceptable and unmistakable anger in the air.
People aren’t plunking down hard earned money for something they intend to turn in a month or two from now. Something feels different. Defiance is floating around.

People are flat pissed off. The politicians had better take fair warning, apologize and never go this route again. I think any moves to register or confiscate or interfere with private sales will likely be met by violence. Just a feeling i get. I defy anyone to belly up to a gun counter and listen for 5 minutes and see if you don’t get the same vibe.

This is bad bad bad,,, Obama has gone too far.

[Cuttnhorse]

Ohhh, so that was you cursing and hollering...I thought maybe it was an echo.

Happy New Year to You

[carriage_hill]

I’ve been offered $950 for mine; won’t part with it. I have the original box and receipt for $175.

[Eaker]

That is beautiful!

[Cuttnhorse]

Same experience in Sportsmans Warehouse in the NW. Two days ago I bought the last 1911 .45 magazine on the hook; there was not one round of .223 in the entire place and a month ago I bought a couple hundred rounds for a decent price.

It is worse than when Erkel, the big-eared kenyan was first elected and I thought that was a disaster. I remember not being able to even buy .22 ammo in Wally World.

[carriage_hill]

I’m guessing we could hold our own in a gunfight.

[Tupelo]

If your Colt shoots as well as my Smith, I know we could.

[carriage_hill]

Those 1911s are sweet! (I like my 2 1911 Kimbers, too.)

[carriage_hill]

All original; about 1,500 rnds thru it over the years.

[carriage_hill]

Thanks. Only thing I regret is not getting any of the original .357 SpeedLoaders for it. They’re impossible to find, except in crappy plastic now, and sold-out if you can even locate some. Any suggestions?

[Eaker]

I unloaded my special ammo from my .357 and put them in my one speed loader then went to a shoot out of town.

I still can't find the damn thing and this isn't the ridiculous canoe accident crap.

If you find any of the good ones remember me. ;<)

[Texas56]

I have my late father’s off-duty pistol which is a Colt 38. My daughter keeps it with her at college for protection. She is a pretty good shot with it.

I just bought another Colt 38 at a gun show. It is almost identical to my father’s 38.

[carriage_hill]

HKS reputedly makes some nice units, but I’d want to try them out on my unit, personally:

http://www.hksspeedloaders.com/Index.html

I’m still poking around...

[45semi]

Freep this poll, I didnt want to make a original post so the libtards could see it!
The poll is a bar right under the picture.

[Eaker]

Rather than looking anytime soon I’ll stay back and let a few more million people buy guns next week.

[RitchieAprile]

from the looks of that cylinder you must a) never fire it or b) just had a new blue done. what a swell piece!

[carriage_hill]

I’m staying away from any stores for another couple weeks. I’m “extremely well-supplied” on ammo & mags, from 10yrs of cumulative purchases. I can wait until the crowds wane.

[Gritty]

I went by the gun counter on my local Wally World today.

The gun rack was partially empty, with only a few hunting shotguns, a couple of bolt action rifles, and several .22 rifles in stock. A grim looking customer was carefully filling out the required paperwork to buy at least one of the remaining and there were three other customers quietly waiting in line for their turn.

The ammo was almost completely cleaned out. There were 8 or 10 boxes of 30-06, a half dozen of .308, a single box of .44 magnum, and little else except a few scattered boxes of odd calibers. No .22 of any amount. Shotgun ammo was gone except for about a dozen boxes of small birdshot.

Basically, the place was almost cleaned out to the bare walls. I have never seen the inventory this low and I go by regularly.

[Eaker]

Myself as well.

[RitchieAprile]

only purchase I need is some of the surplus French 7.5x54
that recently landed, to feed the MAS49/56.

[carriage_hill]

Actually, that’s the original bluing and it’s got an easy 1,500 rnds thru it. I just take extremely good care of all my equipment. They did good quality production work back then, too. It’s in pristine condition.

[Marcella]

I have a Colt 38 special that is years old but don’t know how old since it belonged to my husband. In perfect condition in drawer by my bed. First bullet is bird shot, the rest hollow points.

[carriage_hill]

This?

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=OQ&prodID=OQPP71&prodTitle=7%205x54%20French%20MAS%20FMJ%20139gr%2020BX

[carriage_hill]

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/prvi-7-5x54-french-mas-139gr-fmj-20rds.html

[Tijeras_Slim]

I think we ought to post a Revolver Porn thread soon... I’ll start uploading pics of my collection.

Eaker, I missed wishing you and yours (The Mom), a Merry Christmas.

[tumblindice]

Boss Spearman: Man's got a right to protect his property and his life, and we ain't lettin' no rancher or his lawman take either. `Open Range'

[Eaker]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Mrs. Slim!

[donaldo]

Yes, that 1911 is a beaut, but lest we forget, that’s a John Moses Browning creation. Ditto, virtually every lever action Winchester up to the very early 1900’s. He was the greatest gun designer in history. No one comes close to the Mormon from Ogden. Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-OzdgIXGRE

A longer version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZxKOBmO4aU

There’s a poster somewhere that includes all of his creations. It will blow your mind!

[donaldo]

Yes, that 1911 is a beaut, but lest we forget, that’s a John Moses Browning creation. Ditto, virtually every lever action Winchester up to the very early 1900’s. He was the greatest gun designer in history. No one comes close to the Mormon from Ogden. Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-OzdgIXGRE

A longer version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZxKOBmO4aU

There’s a poster somewhere that includes all of his creations. It will blow your mind!

[donaldo]

The guns of John Moses Browning:

U.S. M1895 Colt-Browning machine gun
FN Browning M1899/M1900
Colt Model 1900
Colt Model 1902
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer (.38 ACP)
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless (.32 ACP)
Colt Model 1905
Remington Model 8 (1906), a long recoil semi-automatic rifle
Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket (.25 ACP)
Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless (.380 ACP)
FN Model 1910
U.S. M1911 pistol (.45 ACP)
Colt Woodsman pistol
Winchester Model 1885 falling-block single shot rifle
Winchester Model 1886 lever-action repeating rifle
Winchester Model 1887 lever-action repeating shotgun
Winchester Model 1890 slide-action repeating rifle (.22)
Winchester Model 1892 lever-action repeating rifle
Winchester Model 1894 lever-action repeating rifle
Winchester Model 1895 lever-action repeating rifle
Winchester Model 1897 pump-action repeating shotgun
Browning Auto-5 long recoil semi-automatic shotgun
U.S. M1917 water-cooled machine gun
U.S. M1919 air-cooled machine gun
U.S. M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)
U.S. M2 .50-caliber heavy machine gun of 1921 (the famed “Ma-Deuce” weapon)
Remington Model 8 semi-auto rifle
Remington Model 24 semi-auto rifle (.22) Also produced by Browning Firearms (as the SA-22) and several others
Browning Hi-Power (Grand Puissance or GP), the standard sidearm of many military and police forces
The Browning Superposed over/under shotgun was designed by John Browning in 1922 and entered production in 1931
Ithaca Model 37 pump-action repeating shotgun

He didn’t just makes guns, he also developed the following cartridges:

.25 ACP
.32 ACP
.38 ACP
9mm Browning Long
.380 ACP
.45 ACP
.50 BMG

[Figment]

At what point in our history was it made illegal for an individual to own artillery? It had to be legal at some point

[tony549]

Cannons, recoilless rifles, mortars, bazookas, land mines, and grenades were all legal until the 1968 gun control act. Thereafter these items were reclassified as destructive devices falling under the purview of the ATF and required the same registration and clearance as machine guns. In addition, each round of ammunition required the same registration and transfer tax. Prior owners were grandfathered, but had to register each weapon and round of ammunition.

[tony549]

Cannons, recoilless rifles, mortars, bazookas, land mines, and grenades were all legal until the 1968 gun control act. Thereafter these items were reclassified as destructive devices falling under the purview of the ATF and required the same registration and clearance as machine guns. In addition, each round of ammunition required the same registration and transfer tax. Prior owners were grandfathered, but had to register each weapon and round of ammunition.

[carriage_hill]

JMB was definitely the most prolific.

[carriage_hill]

Wow; that’d be one helluva poster!