I don't expect much out of Boston

Gay Cynic administers a beautiful curb stomp to a craptacular Boston Globe editorial that tries to make us believe that both micro-stamping and New York firearm manufacturers are very cheap.

I've been Black Listed!

By the Gun Blog Black List. Oh noes! Check out all the other great folks that have been black listed too. DAMN THE MAN!

Retro-Tactical

I have long been a proponent of the idea that just because a firearm isn't full of the latest most modern technology or features, doesn't mean that its useful less defensive or offensively. There are too many revolvers, lever-actions, bolt-actions, pump-actions, and old style semi-autos to discount their utility in conflict. Therefore, I was very pleased to discover that Retro-Tactical was dedicated to making modern tactical gear for these older weapons. They have stock pouches for stripper clips for Mosins Nagants, Enfields and SKSes. There is also MOLLE and belt magazine pouches for N-frame speedloaders, m1-carbines, Garands, m-14s, even 20rd AK magazines. They round out things with some more modern but hard to find gear for the new keltec PMR30 and pouches for p90 magazines. Loadbearing gear is also offered. They do some custom work too. I'm very tempted to see about a bandoleer bag combination L-frame holster with built in speedloader pouch, flashlight pouch, and some loops for shotgun shells as a home defense go-to. Could be AWESOME. Check these guys out. You might have an old Enfield, SKS or Garand that could stand some excellently priced tactical gear for just in case.

Konya wa Hurricane

With everyone concerned with Stormageddin, I thought I'd show you folks the intro and music video to the 80's Japanese animated cyberpunk classic, BubbleGum Crisis. Enjoy Priss and the Replicants performing Konya wa Hurricane or 'There's a Hurricane Tonight." Also, enjoy the kick ass action of these excellent OVA series. It gets special bonus points for having a guy that carries around a 3rd .60 caliber EarthShaker revolver and using powered armor to fight deadly techno-organic cyberdroids known as Boomers.

Knife Blogger Conspiracy?

Seeing as I blog more stabby than shooty, perhaps it is time for some sort of Knife Blogger Conspiracy IRC channel. Anyone thing there's enough interest? How about a name? Please comment!

Update: I've gone ahead and registered a channel. #knifeblogger_conspiracy at irc.slashnet.org:6667. Might have to change the name in the future. But lets give this a try for now.

Mibbit is an easy web-based IRC client.
I personally prefer MIRC.

You Sleep in the Bed You Make

The misuse of police authority is a hot topic in the gunblogosphere these days. It seems every single day we hear about a new outrageous act by law enforcement. Angry cops making death threats against legal CCW holders. Against other suspects too. Gunpoint disarms of legally open carrying citizens. Illegal confiscation of private property in a public forum. The war against civilians who record those misdeeds. Do I even need to link the ATF/FBI/DOJ/DEA idiocy allowing guns to be walked to Mexican drug cartels? It gets your dander up, doesn't it?

I think that the police need to get their shit together. So I will give them a warning. Police go home like everyone else. They go to sleep in the same communities that they have authority over. Its not hard to figure out where they are. We see patrol cars parked in drive ways. We see them handing out tickets at the side of the round. Our children see them doing drug awareness programs at the schools. We know these guys and gals. They're part of our communities. They do not live in barracks or castles. Just ranch styles, apartments, and split levels like the rest of us. It is a police officers best interest to have a community that trusts them and supports them. Because in the blink of an eye they can become targets. To criminals looking for revenge, terrorists, or even mobs of a community felt wronged. Push comes to shove and disasters happen. When the world is filled with chaos, you want people that will come to your aid. Not ones that will aid only in destroying you. You want people that will take care of your family while you have to go out fight the good fight. You do not want them to be alone against a hostile world.

You have to sleep in the bed you make, police officers. If you spend your career looking down on your fellow citizens as serfs and peasants to be lorded over, kicked aside, and used for your own goals or petty whims. You're only hurting yourself. Alone, without your blue brothers and sisters, you're very vulnerable. As are the ones you love. Endeavor to be polite and professional, and remember that even if they're suspects, they're still your community. I think you'll find more people willing to jump to your aid. More people willing to make sure your family and home is safe, too. Its easy for me to say these things, I'm not a cop. But I am part of your community and that community has entrusted authority to you to do your job. Before you look for excuses to jail us or take our property or even hurt us or when you see your fellow officers do ill, remember that you sleep next door to us.

Some Saturday Morning Sexy: Blackhawk Tatang

Now, I'm really darn affectionate towards subhilted knives. I feel they are safer and stay in the hand better than straight grips. Two subhilts I've been jonesing for are the Cold Steel Black Bear Classic and the single edged Cold Steel OSS. Both blades are in the 8inch size. However its over $300 for the black bear and over $100 for the san mai version of the OSS fighter. The quest for great subhilts continues though and I just found another large one. The Blackhawk Tatang.

Subhilt? Check. Big fixed blade. Check. Looks cool as fuck. Check. Reasonably priced? can be found under $70. Check! I would love to handle one of these.

Edit: Almost forgot, the back edge is sharp. This is a double edged knife. Also carbon steel blade. Not stainless, as too many 'tactical' blades tend to be.

Friday Wishlist: Bayonet Ready Mossberg 590a1 18.5 with 6rd tube

The excellent Mossberg 590a1 is a military issue pump action shotgun in use by the US military and various law enforcement agencies across the US. Despite the many versions with differing sights, finishes, stocks, and accessories offered, there are only two primary size/capacity versions available. The 20inch barrel version which features a 8rd magazine and the 18.5 inch barrel type with a 5 round magazine. The 20inch versions often feature a bayonet lug, while the 18.5 inch version's magazine is considerably shorter than the barrel making a bayonet attachment impossible. Shorter shotguns are easier to wield in close spaces. My 870 wears a 18.5 and a short stock and is only an inch over a yard long for that very reason! However, mine has a 6rd magazine tube that is virtually flush with the muzzle. Unfortunately, the design of the shorter 590a1 means that it is always limited to 5rds. No extension is possible. Also that eliminates something I'd also like on static defensive shotgun. 8inches of sharp steel. Good for a phalanx against goblins and rioting chavs during reload.

Mossberg. You make a very beloved shotgun. One that the infamous JayG loves for its stabbity goodness. However, I, and I'm certain lots of other people, would love to see a bayonet ready, 6rd magazine version of your 18.5 590a1. Guys, it would SELL. Remington would not be happy. I would not have an 870 right now. I'd have an 590a1.

Oh yeah, I'd have one of these sweet ass Ontario USMC bayonets on it. 8inches of carbon steel stabbolicious.

Leaving the Gunblogger Conspiracy

For the last year or two, I've been a regular in a most excellent IRC channel known as the Gunblogger Conspiracy. A fine group of folks, bloggers and not. They got me into blogging, and listened to my gripes and gave me plenty of advice about guns, life, and great eats. I recently made some comments that came close to violating one of the few rules. Others that had done this have been banned permanently. Most of the powers that be, sided with me, and decided that a ban would unreasonable. However, some of the GBC community that were conflicted and others that outright believed me to be in the wrong. There are friends in that later group that I have a lot of respect for. That condemnation is simply too much for me . Thus, I accept responsibility for my words at their face value and I bid farewell to the Conspiracy.
I'm sorry for all the drama, GGC community. I should have minded my words much better. It was a blast though guys. Take care.

Edit: The person that did the original banning has nothing to do with my decision. Please leave that one be. I never cared what that one thought of me or my actions. Fair is fair.

note: If you no longer wish to be associated this blog, toss me an email to malodorousroadkill at gmail and I'll remove links.

Friday Wishlist: S&W 6shot j-frame

Not too long ago, Taurus put out a new version of one of their better regarded products, the Taurus 85 j-frame size revolver. This new version, the 856 was available in a new weird but light magnesium frame and a classic steel frame, but the biggest difference was that it was a 6shooter instead of a 5. I had the opportunity to handle one and even briefly drop it into my own 638's Mika Pocket Holster. It fit perfectly despite being slightly larger. This was very tempting. It wasn't a concealed or bobbed hammer design, but it still was an extra round for not much more weight and a virtually unnoticeable increase in size. Smith & Wesson... Why have you not done this? Offer this for about 100 to 150 more in alloy, scandium, and steel. If you did this with a concealed hammer, tritium sight, and perhaps a 20oz scandium frame, it would literally be the perfect CCW revolver. A 4inch version with longer grip, full steel frame, and a slicked up trigger would be a wonderful first gun for a lot of people with smaller hands. If you make it. They will buy!