Nov 2006
Well, I suppose it beats actually DOING something...
From Michael Bane's blog we learn
of the new "accessory" CZ is
offering.
Sheesh.
Let's see if I've got this right: instead of devoting time to producing Dan Wesson revolvers, they're spending their time on junk like that?!?
CZ bought Dan Wesson almost two whole years ago. In that time all they've been able to do is assemble a few SuperMags from apparently leftover parts; the .357 frame guns, which for every other maker are the "bread and butter", are nowhere to be found.
Supposedly they've been spending their time doing "market research" (no kidding, that's what they said) on the revolver line. One would think they would have done that before plunking their money down for an acquisition, but maybe the Czechs work differently in that regard. They obviously don't work terribly quickly!
But hey - they'll gladly make you a bayonet for your autoloader. Yessirree, that's certainly gonna contribute a whole lot to their market share! (That's sarcasm, in case you missed it.)
-=[ Grant ]=-
Let's see if I've got this right: instead of devoting time to producing Dan Wesson revolvers, they're spending their time on junk like that?!?
CZ bought Dan Wesson almost two whole years ago. In that time all they've been able to do is assemble a few SuperMags from apparently leftover parts; the .357 frame guns, which for every other maker are the "bread and butter", are nowhere to be found.
Supposedly they've been spending their time doing "market research" (no kidding, that's what they said) on the revolver line. One would think they would have done that before plunking their money down for an acquisition, but maybe the Czechs work differently in that regard. They obviously don't work terribly quickly!
But hey - they'll gladly make you a bayonet for your autoloader. Yessirree, that's certainly gonna contribute a whole lot to their market share! (That's sarcasm, in case you missed it.)
-=[ Grant ]=-
|
Hunting & gun control: what's the correlation?
First, there was
this article on the decline of hunting
in Newsweek. Great
article, and poignant - surprising treatment from the mainstream
media.
However, we must also realize the necessity of divorcing the subject of hunting - whatever we make think of it - from the topic of Second Amendment activism. As this article on Michael Bane's blog reminds us, the 2nd "ain't about duck hunting" - or any other kind of hunting, for that matter.
Great reading.
-=[ Grant ]=-
However, we must also realize the necessity of divorcing the subject of hunting - whatever we make think of it - from the topic of Second Amendment activism. As this article on Michael Bane's blog reminds us, the 2nd "ain't about duck hunting" - or any other kind of hunting, for that matter.
Great reading.
-=[ Grant ]=-
FRIDAY SURPRISE: Spray paint isn't just for graffiti anymore!
Friday, November 24, 2006 Filed in:
Friday
Surprise!, Completely
irrelevant
Way back when, I spent a short
amount of time as a commercial photographer. It was a short amount
of time because, though I was technically proficient, I just wasn't
terribly creative on a daily basis. This guy, though, is!
Check out the videos - the creation of art from spray paint. Man, I have a hard time spray painting a tricycle!
Painting #1 - video
Painting #2 - video
Painting #3 - video
Will his work be ultimately be considered in the class of Mondrian - or "Velvet Elvis"? I don't know, but it sure is neat to watch!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Check out the videos - the creation of art from spray paint. Man, I have a hard time spray painting a tricycle!
Painting #1 - video
Painting #2 - video
Painting #3 - video
Will his work be ultimately be considered in the class of Mondrian - or "Velvet Elvis"? I don't know, but it sure is neat to watch!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Sad fate for an innocent Anaconda
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Filed in:
Revolvers, General gun
stuff, Ammunition, Techniques &
Training
This
article over at the GunZone alerts us to the sad end of a nice
gun. Be sure to read the owner's narrative - and note the reloading press
used.
I've been following such stories of gun blow-ups for several years, and in the cases I've run across a huge percentage - a majority by far - have been the result of ammo reloaded on a Dillon RL550b press.
No, I don't think the RL550b is inherently dangerous, nor do I believe that it should be blamed; blame always rests with the person doing the work. However, that particular machine does make it easier for a momentary lapse of concentration to result in a catastrophic failure, because it doesn't auto-index. Relying on the human being to remember whether or not he/she advanced the shellplate makes it far too easy to end up with either double charges or squibs. I've documented this happening with relatively new reloaders, and with very well experienced reloaders.
If you own an RL550b, you need to make absolutely sure that you are not distracted when reloading; this means no radio, television, screaming children, or talkative friends in the room when you are operating that press. (This is good practice regardless of the press you're using, but absolutely imperative with the 550b.)
Reloading is generally safe and rewarding - as long as you supply the appropriate vigilance!
-=[ Grant ]=-
I've been following such stories of gun blow-ups for several years, and in the cases I've run across a huge percentage - a majority by far - have been the result of ammo reloaded on a Dillon RL550b press.
No, I don't think the RL550b is inherently dangerous, nor do I believe that it should be blamed; blame always rests with the person doing the work. However, that particular machine does make it easier for a momentary lapse of concentration to result in a catastrophic failure, because it doesn't auto-index. Relying on the human being to remember whether or not he/she advanced the shellplate makes it far too easy to end up with either double charges or squibs. I've documented this happening with relatively new reloaders, and with very well experienced reloaders.
If you own an RL550b, you need to make absolutely sure that you are not distracted when reloading; this means no radio, television, screaming children, or talkative friends in the room when you are operating that press. (This is good practice regardless of the press you're using, but absolutely imperative with the 550b.)
Reloading is generally safe and rewarding - as long as you supply the appropriate vigilance!
-=[ Grant ]=-
You're gonna love the new Revolver Liberation Alliance t-shirt!
Monday, November 20, 2006 Filed in:
What's
New!, Accessories
There's a new t-shirt for you, and
this may be my favorite so far!
Since the original Revolver Liberation Alliance t-shirt took a pot shot at the venerable 1911, I thought it only fair that the Glock (and its polymer progeny) come in for some well-deserved ridicule. After much consideration, I decided that a play on the famous line from the movie "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" was in order:
Available in both short and long sleeve versions, and - for the first time - both white and ash grey! See and order the new shirt here!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Since the original Revolver Liberation Alliance t-shirt took a pot shot at the venerable 1911, I thought it only fair that the Glock (and its polymer progeny) come in for some well-deserved ridicule. After much consideration, I decided that a play on the famous line from the movie "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" was in order:
Available in both short and long sleeve versions, and - for the first time - both white and ash grey! See and order the new shirt here!
-=[ Grant ]=-
FRIDAY SURPRISE: Yet another flight of fancy
Regular readers may have noticed
that I have a "thing" for flying. This is somewhat contradictory,
as I simply cannot abide flying in an airliner. However, the
thought of flying a personal aircraft is immensely exciting to me -
and the more personal the craft, the more it intrigues me!
Back in the 1950's and 1960's, the Army experimented with personal flying machines as a way to increase troop mobility. Several different approaches were tried - some were even successful - but the Army ultimately decided that the concept itself had sufficient drawbacks to keep from being adopted.
The most recognized of the entries - and my favorite - was the VZ-1 "Pawnee":
The Pawnee, though, was only one of several designs. This article at Damn Interesting gives you all the poop on the various approaches to the Army's requests.
(Oh, and of course I want one !)
-=[ Grant ]=-
Back in the 1950's and 1960's, the Army experimented with personal flying machines as a way to increase troop mobility. Several different approaches were tried - some were even successful - but the Army ultimately decided that the concept itself had sufficient drawbacks to keep from being adopted.
The most recognized of the entries - and my favorite - was the VZ-1 "Pawnee":
The Pawnee, though, was only one of several designs. This article at Damn Interesting gives you all the poop on the various approaches to the Army's requests.
(Oh, and of course I want one !)
-=[ Grant ]=-
What is it with the reloading press fanatics??
Funny thing...the other day, my
favorite gun blogger (Tamara K.) posted this rant about brand fanaticism
over at her blog. Yeah
yeah, I know I mentioned it before, but the subject popped up again
this week in a different context.
You see, I'd popped in to a couple of the reloading forums to ask a question about dies (I'm considering new ones.) Reading through some of the past posts on the boards would lead one to believe that there is a Reloading Press Jihad going on! Take a look for yourself sometime...the subject is getting very close to joining religion and politics as something one does not discuss in polite company!
The invective, blind loyalty, outright falsehoods, tall tales...the only thing missing is "let's take it outside, fella!"
This is particularly interesting to me, for as it happens I've owned a progressive press from each of the three major brands. The Dillon and Lee presses I used for more than 30,000 rounds each, while my new Hornady is a baby - only about 10k so far. This gives me sufficient experience, I think, to quote a perennial South Park line: "I've learned something today!"
You see, no currently available progressive press is of terribly high quality when compared to, say, a Star Universal or an RDP Reloading Tool. They simply aren't. Anyone who has ever used one of the latter can easily see that the design, material choice, and construction quality of even the best presses made today pale in comparison. It seems to me that arguing about whether Lee, Dillon, RCBS, or Hornady is the "best" is a little like arguing who has the best deck chair on the Titanic!
The only thing keeping me from buying a used Star is simply the availability of parts and accessories. I'm waiting for someone - maybe Spolar, or Ponsness-Warren, or even Redding - to build a progressive reloading press of equivalent quality to what was available just a couple of decades ago. I'd love to own a truly high end, built-to-outlast-me progressive reloading press with modern features and factory support. Until then, these arguments about reloading presses are about as interesting as watching paint dry - and you can take your pick of blue, red, or green!
-=[ Grant ]=-
You see, I'd popped in to a couple of the reloading forums to ask a question about dies (I'm considering new ones.) Reading through some of the past posts on the boards would lead one to believe that there is a Reloading Press Jihad going on! Take a look for yourself sometime...the subject is getting very close to joining religion and politics as something one does not discuss in polite company!
The invective, blind loyalty, outright falsehoods, tall tales...the only thing missing is "let's take it outside, fella!"
This is particularly interesting to me, for as it happens I've owned a progressive press from each of the three major brands. The Dillon and Lee presses I used for more than 30,000 rounds each, while my new Hornady is a baby - only about 10k so far. This gives me sufficient experience, I think, to quote a perennial South Park line: "I've learned something today!"
You see, no currently available progressive press is of terribly high quality when compared to, say, a Star Universal or an RDP Reloading Tool. They simply aren't. Anyone who has ever used one of the latter can easily see that the design, material choice, and construction quality of even the best presses made today pale in comparison. It seems to me that arguing about whether Lee, Dillon, RCBS, or Hornady is the "best" is a little like arguing who has the best deck chair on the Titanic!
The only thing keeping me from buying a used Star is simply the availability of parts and accessories. I'm waiting for someone - maybe Spolar, or Ponsness-Warren, or even Redding - to build a progressive reloading press of equivalent quality to what was available just a couple of decades ago. I'd love to own a truly high end, built-to-outlast-me progressive reloading press with modern features and factory support. Until then, these arguments about reloading presses are about as interesting as watching paint dry - and you can take your pick of blue, red, or green!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Beauty is as beauty does
One of the hazards of this job is
that it can cause one to develop a certain jadedness. By that, I
mean the loss of wonder and excitement for the simple joys of
shooting a fine gun.
What brings this up? Well, something that happened recently...you see, I work on a LOT of Pythons. I see many, many pristine Pythons, sometimes even apparently unfired examples. In fact, the vast majority of Pythons I see are in exceptional condition.
A few weeks back, someone sent me yet another Python. When I unpacked this one, though, something was definitely different. I was really surprised at how used the gun was; I honestly can't remember seeing one with that much wear in a very long time. The blue was heavily worn, there were lots of scuffs and scratches, and though it still carried its original checkered grips, they were worn down to the point that they were actually smooth! I've never seen original grips as worn as those were.
I did the work requested, then headed out to the range to do the live fire test - along with one of those pristine Pythons which also needed testing. In the course of the shooting, I found out some interesting things: first, those well worn grips were comfortable! I've never liked any of the stock Python grips, as the only ones I'd ever used were sharp and clean and really uncomfortable. My hands, though, felt completely at home with those old, worn grips. (Felt a little like a Single Action Army, actually.)
In fact, the whole gun just felt "right". I usually don't get too wrapped up in test shooting - I do a lot of it and it has long since ceased to be exciting - but I really enjoyed shooting this old gun, in part because I knew that it had been shot a lot. I didn't worry about getting it dirty, or scratching it. It was a machine that was designed to shoot, and had obviously lead a life where it had been allowed to fulfill that design.
I could only imagine the people that had owned this revolver; had it been carried by a policeman who understood fine machinery? Perhaps a bullseye shooter who took pride in the accuracy the old Colt could deliver? Maybe a hunter, perhaps a forest ranger - or just someone who liked to plink at the local shooting range? Whoever it was, they obviously liked the gun - in the way that a series of small children will latch on to an old, worn teddy bear.
My thoughts turned to the pristine Python, awaiting its turn. It just wasn't as exciting to realize that this gun spent most of its time in a box in a safe, being taken out only occasionally (with appropriate pomp and circumstance) to send a few careful rounds downrange. I wondered what the people who designed and built this superior machine would think; would they want their hard work to be secreted away, hoarded like a rare coin or stamp - or would they be happier to have the gun worn out by a series of appreciative people who enjoyed every shot it would make? Were it me, I'd want the latter. I hope they would too.
That worn Python - some would call it a "beater" - is a special gun. No, it's not pretty and it probably won't turn any heads at the range. But it shoots well, and because of its condition it just seems right to shoot it. Yes, I told the owner so.
I guess I'll just never be a collector.
-=[ Grant ]=-
What brings this up? Well, something that happened recently...you see, I work on a LOT of Pythons. I see many, many pristine Pythons, sometimes even apparently unfired examples. In fact, the vast majority of Pythons I see are in exceptional condition.
A few weeks back, someone sent me yet another Python. When I unpacked this one, though, something was definitely different. I was really surprised at how used the gun was; I honestly can't remember seeing one with that much wear in a very long time. The blue was heavily worn, there were lots of scuffs and scratches, and though it still carried its original checkered grips, they were worn down to the point that they were actually smooth! I've never seen original grips as worn as those were.
I did the work requested, then headed out to the range to do the live fire test - along with one of those pristine Pythons which also needed testing. In the course of the shooting, I found out some interesting things: first, those well worn grips were comfortable! I've never liked any of the stock Python grips, as the only ones I'd ever used were sharp and clean and really uncomfortable. My hands, though, felt completely at home with those old, worn grips. (Felt a little like a Single Action Army, actually.)
In fact, the whole gun just felt "right". I usually don't get too wrapped up in test shooting - I do a lot of it and it has long since ceased to be exciting - but I really enjoyed shooting this old gun, in part because I knew that it had been shot a lot. I didn't worry about getting it dirty, or scratching it. It was a machine that was designed to shoot, and had obviously lead a life where it had been allowed to fulfill that design.
I could only imagine the people that had owned this revolver; had it been carried by a policeman who understood fine machinery? Perhaps a bullseye shooter who took pride in the accuracy the old Colt could deliver? Maybe a hunter, perhaps a forest ranger - or just someone who liked to plink at the local shooting range? Whoever it was, they obviously liked the gun - in the way that a series of small children will latch on to an old, worn teddy bear.
My thoughts turned to the pristine Python, awaiting its turn. It just wasn't as exciting to realize that this gun spent most of its time in a box in a safe, being taken out only occasionally (with appropriate pomp and circumstance) to send a few careful rounds downrange. I wondered what the people who designed and built this superior machine would think; would they want their hard work to be secreted away, hoarded like a rare coin or stamp - or would they be happier to have the gun worn out by a series of appreciative people who enjoyed every shot it would make? Were it me, I'd want the latter. I hope they would too.
That worn Python - some would call it a "beater" - is a special gun. No, it's not pretty and it probably won't turn any heads at the range. But it shoots well, and because of its condition it just seems right to shoot it. Yes, I told the owner so.
I guess I'll just never be a collector.
-=[ Grant ]=-
FRIDAY SURPRISE: Dealing with doggy poo
Friday, November 10, 2006 Filed in:
Friday
Surprise!, Completely
irrelevant
Here in suburbia, everyone (save
for me) appears to have at least one dog - the latest fad amongst
the upper class, it seems. The trouble with having dogs in a
suburban area is that people take them for walks. When they are
taken for walks, they relieve themselves. When they relieve
themselves, they do it on
my lawn!
I'm tired of it, and now I have inspiration to tackle the problem - watch this video for a great tip on dealing with clueless dog owners.
Somehow, it fits right in with the recently completed election. I leave it to you to deduce the connection...
-=[ Grant ]=-
I'm tired of it, and now I have inspiration to tackle the problem - watch this video for a great tip on dealing with clueless dog owners.
Somehow, it fits right in with the recently completed election. I leave it to you to deduce the connection...
-=[ Grant ]=-
I'm not the only one!
Wednesday, November 08, 2006 Filed in:
Revolvers, Personal
opinions
Tamara K., the irrepressible
scribe at the View From The Porch (and my favorite firearms
blogger) had this to say about Taurus
revolvers:
Read the whole thing here.
While you're at it, check out Tam's new blog, The Arms Room. (I'm hoping to see a little more revolver content there....hint, hint!)
-=[ Grant ]=-
I reluctantly decided to hold off on stocking new Taurus handguns even though they had once been a great profit center for me, because I didn't want to use my customers as guinea pigs for the company's newly-spotty QC.
Read the whole thing here.
While you're at it, check out Tam's new blog, The Arms Room. (I'm hoping to see a little more revolver content there....hint, hint!)
-=[ Grant ]=-
You know what they say about men with small hands....
..and it isn't what you
think!
As you may have gathered from hints in my previous writings, I'm of somewhat shorter stature than the average American male. Because of this, my hands are proportionally smaller; I have short, relatively thin fingers. Heck, my wife's hands are bigger than mine!
It goes without saying that finding guns that fit is a challenge. Even a S&W "K" frame, which very few people would describe as being "big", are on the outer edge of comfort for me. Your basic "N" frame? Not even close!
I've discovered that I'm not alone. One well known instructor of my acquaintance is a much larger fellow than I, yet he has small hands as well. There are a lot of us who have trouble finding guns that are comfortable to handle and shoot. Happily, we're not restricted to small-frame revolvers, as there is a good option in a larger gun.
That gun is the Ruger GP-100. It's a large frame .357 Magnum revolver, but they've done some superb engineering to make it fit a wide variety of hands. Ruger ships the guns with two different grips, depending on the gun's features - adjustable sight models come with the standard (large) grip, while the fixed sight versions ship with the "compact" (small grip.) The great thing is that the grips are completely interchangeable between models, easily changed, and cheap!
The compact grip fits even my small hands well, and makes for terrific concealment. Of course, it's of the same construction as the standard GP-100 grip - soft rubber with wood inserts. This makes it comfortable to shoot with the stoutest loads, but less likely to grab onto a concealing garment. They are, in my estimation, the best factory grips available on any revolver.
Want a pair of the Ruger compact grips? You can get them from Brownells - only $23.70!
-=[ Grant ]=-
As you may have gathered from hints in my previous writings, I'm of somewhat shorter stature than the average American male. Because of this, my hands are proportionally smaller; I have short, relatively thin fingers. Heck, my wife's hands are bigger than mine!
It goes without saying that finding guns that fit is a challenge. Even a S&W "K" frame, which very few people would describe as being "big", are on the outer edge of comfort for me. Your basic "N" frame? Not even close!
I've discovered that I'm not alone. One well known instructor of my acquaintance is a much larger fellow than I, yet he has small hands as well. There are a lot of us who have trouble finding guns that are comfortable to handle and shoot. Happily, we're not restricted to small-frame revolvers, as there is a good option in a larger gun.
That gun is the Ruger GP-100. It's a large frame .357 Magnum revolver, but they've done some superb engineering to make it fit a wide variety of hands. Ruger ships the guns with two different grips, depending on the gun's features - adjustable sight models come with the standard (large) grip, while the fixed sight versions ship with the "compact" (small grip.) The great thing is that the grips are completely interchangeable between models, easily changed, and cheap!
The compact grip fits even my small hands well, and makes for terrific concealment. Of course, it's of the same construction as the standard GP-100 grip - soft rubber with wood inserts. This makes it comfortable to shoot with the stoutest loads, but less likely to grab onto a concealing garment. They are, in my estimation, the best factory grips available on any revolver.
Want a pair of the Ruger compact grips? You can get them from Brownells - only $23.70!
-=[ Grant ]=-
FRIDAY SURPRISE: Our "Eye in the Sky" gets a reprieve!
NASA has made a decision to repair
the aging Hubble Space Telescope.
I remember when the Hubble was launched in 1990. Once in orbit, NASA discovered a flaw in the main mirror. It was thought that the flaw would doom the Hubble to uselessness, but in '93 NASA sent a repair crew to restore the telescope to its planned quality. It worked, and the Hubble began to transmit the kind of startling images that everyone had hoped for.
Now the gyroscopes on the telescope have reached the end of their service life, and the only way to replace them is to send another manned mission. The only trouble is that NASA has a much better understanding of just how dangerous those missions are in the wake of the Columbia disaster, and they have been a bit reluctant to risk the lives of a crew - not to mention spending a healthy chunk of their operating budget - on such an expedition.
Last Tuesday, they finally reached a decision to repair the Hubble. This is great news for all science buffs, and serves as a chance for me to post one of the terrific images made by this marvel of American engineering. I give you the Crab Nebula, as only the Hubble Space Telescope can present it!
-=[ Grant ]=-
I remember when the Hubble was launched in 1990. Once in orbit, NASA discovered a flaw in the main mirror. It was thought that the flaw would doom the Hubble to uselessness, but in '93 NASA sent a repair crew to restore the telescope to its planned quality. It worked, and the Hubble began to transmit the kind of startling images that everyone had hoped for.
Now the gyroscopes on the telescope have reached the end of their service life, and the only way to replace them is to send another manned mission. The only trouble is that NASA has a much better understanding of just how dangerous those missions are in the wake of the Columbia disaster, and they have been a bit reluctant to risk the lives of a crew - not to mention spending a healthy chunk of their operating budget - on such an expedition.
Last Tuesday, they finally reached a decision to repair the Hubble. This is great news for all science buffs, and serves as a chance for me to post one of the terrific images made by this marvel of American engineering. I give you the Crab Nebula, as only the Hubble Space Telescope can present it!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Do I have a great job, or what?!?
Wednesday, November 01, 2006 Filed in:
Personal
opinions
You probably know it all too well.
You get a little tired of your job, find it difficult to work up
the enthusiasm you once had. You don't want to get up in the
morning to face the "same old grind", and your productivity
suffers.
Happens to the best of us. I, however, found a way out of the malaise. No, I'm not some sort of motivational genius; it just happened. I was just smart enough to capitalize on the situation!
You see, the last few months have been a period of low productivity for me. While the quality of my work didn't suffer - I'm proud enough to make sure that if it leaves my shop, it's as good as I can make it - the quantity sure did. It's hard to describe the feeling, other than simply being tired of the routine. This is a serious concern for all self-eployed people, as we don't have the kind of external motivation that those who work in busy offices or factories have. (In fact, that is the number one reason people give up self-employment for the womb of corporate America. That, and the health insurance!)
I wondered if I had really made the right career choice. During one such self-indulgent pity session, for some reason I thought back to the times - more than a decade ago - when I would read the gun magazines and look at the delicious custom guns, salivating as the editors no doubt expected me to do. Those memories came flooding back to me as I sat daydreaming in front of my workbench, a pristine Python before me awaiting my ministrations.
Then it hit me - I have the privilege of playing with the finest handguns in the entire world, each and every day! What sat on my bench, and what would come out of my hands, would be the equal (if not the better) of anything I'd ever read about. Whether it's a custom that I built, or the finest offerings from Colt and Smith & Wesson, I spend my days surrounded by the kind of craftsmanship and beauty that others dream about today. How cool is that?
Out to the range I went, with a couple of Pythons and a custom Model 60 that need their live-fire test before shipping. There was - serendipitously, as it happens - one other fellow on the range that morning. He came over to exchange the customary pleasantries; I noticed his eyes widening as he surveyed the guns arrayed in front of me. "You're lucky to be able to afford such fine machinery!", he said. I just nodded knowingly, loathe to disturb his daydream - but my trip back to the shop was substantially happier for that short exchange.
The weeks that have followed this mini-revelation have been some of the most productive I've seen in ages. I've put out more work, of uniformly high standards, in the last month than I've done in the last six. Amazing what a small change in attitude, a slight adjustment in perspective, can do!
It's time for me to stop typing and go back to work. I don't have to - I get to! I love my job again!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Happens to the best of us. I, however, found a way out of the malaise. No, I'm not some sort of motivational genius; it just happened. I was just smart enough to capitalize on the situation!
You see, the last few months have been a period of low productivity for me. While the quality of my work didn't suffer - I'm proud enough to make sure that if it leaves my shop, it's as good as I can make it - the quantity sure did. It's hard to describe the feeling, other than simply being tired of the routine. This is a serious concern for all self-eployed people, as we don't have the kind of external motivation that those who work in busy offices or factories have. (In fact, that is the number one reason people give up self-employment for the womb of corporate America. That, and the health insurance!)
I wondered if I had really made the right career choice. During one such self-indulgent pity session, for some reason I thought back to the times - more than a decade ago - when I would read the gun magazines and look at the delicious custom guns, salivating as the editors no doubt expected me to do. Those memories came flooding back to me as I sat daydreaming in front of my workbench, a pristine Python before me awaiting my ministrations.
Then it hit me - I have the privilege of playing with the finest handguns in the entire world, each and every day! What sat on my bench, and what would come out of my hands, would be the equal (if not the better) of anything I'd ever read about. Whether it's a custom that I built, or the finest offerings from Colt and Smith & Wesson, I spend my days surrounded by the kind of craftsmanship and beauty that others dream about today. How cool is that?
Out to the range I went, with a couple of Pythons and a custom Model 60 that need their live-fire test before shipping. There was - serendipitously, as it happens - one other fellow on the range that morning. He came over to exchange the customary pleasantries; I noticed his eyes widening as he surveyed the guns arrayed in front of me. "You're lucky to be able to afford such fine machinery!", he said. I just nodded knowingly, loathe to disturb his daydream - but my trip back to the shop was substantially happier for that short exchange.
The weeks that have followed this mini-revelation have been some of the most productive I've seen in ages. I've put out more work, of uniformly high standards, in the last month than I've done in the last six. Amazing what a small change in attitude, a slight adjustment in perspective, can do!
It's time for me to stop typing and go back to work. I don't have to - I get to! I love my job again!
-=[ Grant ]=-