This quote alone made it worth the $3 in 2007:
“I know of Bacchus the god of wine, for he smells of nectar, but all I know of the god of beer is that he smells of a billy-goat.”
Saved one from "Bubba!"
Several months ago, Mr. Shiver and I took a guy we work with, named Mr. Kiser, shooting. It was cold and snowing, and we had gone to the public range at Skyline, near Scottsborough, AL.
I brought my Mosin Nagant M44, my Swiss K31, and my “Ishapore” Lee Enfield 2A. The M44 threw a HUGE fireball in the cold, thin air.
Mr. Kiser said that his dad had a rifle that was remarkably similar to my Enfield, but that he’d never shot it. A month or so later, Mr. Kiser came to me elated. His dad had given him the rifle, a very important milestone in any man’s life! Mr. Kiser’s rifle turned out to be an excellent condition Santa Fe 1943 Standard “Jungle Carbine.” It looked really good, and I couldn’t help but to feel proud for him. These Santa Fe models were cut-down Lee Enfield No. 4 rifles, made to look like Lee Enfield No. 5 rifles. Far and away from what usually happens when people try to “sporterize” a milsurp rifle, these are works of art in their own right. They were made better by the fact that Golden State Arms never tried to misrepresent these rifles as original Lee Enfield No. 5s.
My Ishapore 2A is chambered in 7.62×51 NATO, but after I bought that one, I made the mistake of reading “The Man-Eaters of Tsavo.” I also saw brother Robb sock a clay bird at 100 yards with his Long Branch No. 4 Mk I with his first shot. It took me about 20 to do the same with the Nagant (Robb was spotting for me, and complained that every time I pulled the trigger, the “World Exploded” and he couldn’t see where it hit)! Then I read the story of “Breaker” Morant and Rule 303.
The 303 British bug had bitten, burrowed under my skin, and was beginning to cause a rash. Permanent scarring was guaranteed, unless… The hunt was on. I searched high and low. I set my sights on one of two rifles: A No. 4 Mk I, marked “US Property” or a No. 4 Mk. 2. I couldn’t find anything satisfactory online, within my price-range (under $200) and in a condition that I knew I’d be happy with.
Last weekend, there was a gun show in Huntsville. It was packed-out with people. I went in prepared. Cash was in hand. Curio and Relic license copies were at the ready. There were several plain-jane No. 4 Mk I rifles at different tables at prices ranging from $180 to $250. Most of them were junk. Some had been “sporterized” (read “ruined”) by Bubba, stocks stripped, sanded-down, and painted camouflage. I couldn’t even read the markings on some.
We’d been there an hour an a half, and I was ready to leave. One table left, and there it was. A very clean 1949 No. 4 Mk. 2 built at the Royal Ordinance Factory, Fazakerly. The serial numbers don’t all match, but the bore looks unused. It looks to have about %90 original finish, and the wood looks great too… grooved hand-guard… I talked the guy down from $175 to $160, C&R licenses were exchanged, and we were both happy. The best part about it was when he said that he’d bought it to “sporterize,” but had never gotten around to it. It was his rifle, and he could have done what he wanted to with it, but I’m glad he didn’t. The second best part is shooting it. Okay, maybe that’s the best part. The third best part is that I now am entitled to walk about, throwing around the word “Fazakerly” like I have good-sense.
I also ended up with two boxes of 1985 marked Greek HXP .303 British surplus. $44 for 100. A little pricey, but cheaper than buying two boxes of 20 Federal at Gander Mtn. I didn’t know what I was buying there, but it turned out to be boxer-primed, and non-corrosive. Heaven.
Tuesday, Mr. Kiser and I took our Enfields out to the range. I must say, that Jungle Carbine has quite a bark! Mr. Kiser shot up the remainder of his 7/53 marked Radway Green surplus. This turned out to be good, because most of them split at the neck. I also took this chance to try out my bowling pin challenge… Three bowling pins from three different field positions at 100 yards, with iron sights.
I did pretty well, considering this was the first time I shot my No. 4 Mk 2. Rounds 9 and 10 each knocked-over a pin. Round 3 from my K31 found the third pin, using GP-11 ammunition (that stuff is great). All three were done from the kneeling position, which I feel I have the best handle on… Sitting position seems quite difficult for me to do, and I’ve never tried shooting prone.
I’m quite happy with my No. 4 Mk 2, and I’ll eventually find that No. 4 Mk. I marked “US Property.” At least I’m in the .303 B club. Now, where did I put that pith-helmet?
The Tot of Steele
As most readers are already aware, Amy is about thirteen weeks pregnant with our first child, hereafter referred to as the “Tot of Steele.” We don’t yet know the child’s sex, but we are sure that even at this point it is a child. We’ve seen heart-beat, head, fingers, toes, etc in the sonogram images. The mind boggles and the heart humbles as new parents marvel at the first life signs of their newly formed child. Such an experience surely must be incompatible with a world in which abortion exists. Nevertheless, as the atrocity at Virginia Tech has shown us, evil still slithers among us.
Most every one that Amy has talked to is predicting that the Tot of Steele will turn out to be a girl. I knew that Amy was pregnant before she told me, and by that same clairvoyance, my money is that it will be a boy. Regardless, we just pray that our little miracle is happy and healthy. Neither of us care which our baby turns out to be, though Amy likes to point out that girls get to wear “cuter” clothes. I’ve had to remind her that our expected child is neither a doll, nor a stuffed-animal. I’ve forbidden her to dress our child in any clothing that has ears or a tail sewn-on, except in the event of Halloween.
Talking of which, the Tot of Steele is due near Halloween on the 27th of October, 2007, some 149 years to-the-day after our hero of San Juan HIll, Theodore Roosevelt. This portends well for our child, but I’m afraid it will mean a rough ride for my loving wife, when the time comes.
Let it never be said that we do not look after the little darling, even before birth. Last weekend, we purchased the child’s first set of books: “Scuffy the Tug Boat” and “The Poky Little Puppy,” two of my childhood favorites.
We’ve seen several bedding sets that we like, for both little boys and little girls. Soon as we know for sure, we’ll rush out and pick-up the appropriate set. I have been somewhat amused and annoyed at the fact that all of the children’s clothing and bedding that features a “wild animal” motif, never displays the any of the animals as having teeth. Is it really fitting to teach children that Rhinoceroses and Crocodiles are cuddly? If we were on a different continent, this could have great potential for tragedy! If you don’t know what I mean, you should immediately rush out, and purchase a copy of Peter Hathaway Capstick’s “Death in the Long Grass.”
