Dance Macabre, Saint Saens, Arrangement by Liszt, Played by Horowitz

Is That A Good Luck Charm In Your Pocket?

or a disaster waiting to happen?  Is your .380 going to throw lead when you need it to do so, or is it going to choke on pocket lint?  We had company over the weekend, and I asked the husband if he had cleaned and lubed his pocket pistol lately.  Nope!  I said, "Give it to me and I will take care of it for you."  I guessed it would be worthy of photos and I was not disappointed.  Lint on the trigger, lint stuck to the side of the magazine and inside, too.

The barrel was fuzzy.  It definitely needed to be disassembled.

The slide catch and the hammer were both loaded up with lint, and also the mag well.

The underside of the slide was also covered in lint and a bit of powder residue.  So, we know this pistol has been fired and put back in its holster dirty after the last range trip.  I cleaned up all the dirt and lint and then lubed the little LCP II properly, even using my special blend of grease on the rails so the lube doesn't run away.

Our carry guns are not magical talismans.  They are tools and you should attend to them on a regular basis.  Guns have reciprocating and revolving parts that need to be oiled or greased to run properly, in spite of the torture tests that gunwriters love to do.  Pockets, pocket holsters, and lint all wick away oil.  The gun you lubed two months ago is probably dry by now.  The need to clean and lube is double for little pocket guns like the LCP and LCP II.  They are light, and require a firm grip to operate properly.  If you do not keep them in top operating condition, they are likely to fail you when you need them most.  You also need to practice with these little guys regularly, and make sure your grip is up to snuff so you can empty entire magazines without getting stovepipes.

Just in case you haven't read it, Grant Cunningham's article on lubrication is linked:   Here.  Be serious about your ability to defend yourself.  Criminals think about their work all the time.  We should do the same for our safety.

Lovely Little Grinder For Your Coffee!

 

                                                               Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: Huber Steam Roller!

 This Huber steam roller has been sitting idle for many years, but Andy Glines and friends got to work on it and have it running for the Fall show at Boonville, Indiana. The operators all agreed that this engine is hard to fire. The boiler is the same diameter as Andy's Huber traction engine, but is a bit longer. Andy's engine is easy to fire, but the roller takes forever to get steam up. Tending your fire on a return flue is harder than a locomotive boiler, but there is plenty of experience in these guys. It's a puzzle, but I bet they figure it out. 

Weekend Steam (And Gas): Boonville, Indiana Engine Show Is This Weekend!

Boonville's October show is a three day event, October 14-16.    There will be steamers, gas engines, tractors, and a great flea market.  Put it on your calendar!




Directions: Thresherman’s Park, 2-1/2 miles north of Boonville on W. New Harmony Road, 1/4 mile off Hwy. 61.

Click on the Google Earth Photo to enlarge.

Sadness Leaks Through Tear-Stained Cheeks, Rest In Peace, Little Ozzie

 Ozzie came to us a little over three years ago. His owner was a Schipperke breeder who developed health problems and had to move to an assisted living home. Her dogs were taken in by Midwest Schipperke Rescue friends, and Ozzie came to us to foster. He was a stud dog, and had a nice kennel. He adapted quickly to life in our home, and mixing with our dogs, and he had a sweet personality. Midwest placed him with a lady in St. Louis and they hit it off immediately.

Ozzie had a bed in every room, but preferred sleeping with his new owner. He had three wonderful years as a beloved house pet, but became ill recently. An ultrasound last week showed that he had liver cancer, and this morning he died. We are heartbroken for him, his owner, and the breeder who surrendered him for his retirement years.