People with guns collection # 33

Thought I would start off 2011 People with Guns with something a little different. This fellow qualifies. I don't know a thing about him, but the Lee-Enfield Mk III rifle would certainly suggest he served one of the many protectorates of Great Britain. Although that could be anywhere couldn't it? "The sun never sets on the British Empire." Unfortunately, the photo is printed on a heavily textured photo paper that makes it very difficult to get a detailed scan. How about some help from my readers. There has to be someone out there seeing this that knows about military uniforms or has a book on the subject. The photo is from the WWII era if that makes it easier... Little help?

Twenty-five years

Seems like yesterday. I was working my first job as a stockboy at a local department store. Went to take an early lunch that morning and watched it live there in the employee breakroom... where does the time go. Rest in Peace - Francis R. Scobee - Mission Commander, Michael J. Smith - Pilot, Gregory B. Jarvis - Payload Specialist 1, Christa McAuliffe - Payload Specialist 2, Judith A. Resnik - Mission Specialist 1, Ellison S. Onizuka - Mission Specialist 2, Ronald E. McNair - Mission Specialist 3

People and their dogs

Here's another in my continuing posts featuring prized old photographs from my personal collection. "This is King my favorite dog with me" What a great photo of a young woman and her loving dog. Except for her clothes this could have been taken today. People love their dogs and dogs love their people. That doesn't change, ever...

Kobayashi is gone

On the January 2nd another great character actor passed away. Academy Award nominated British Actor Pete Postlethwaite lost his battle with cancer. With his slightly odd high-cheeked looks and distinctive voice you couldn't help but notice him whatever he was in. I've been a fan since first seeing him in The Last of the Mohicans and he has been in numerous memorable films since that time. Films like In the Name of the Father, Romeo + Juliet, Brassed Off, Æon Flux and my personal favorite (and of many others), his role as the mysterious lawyer Mr. Kobayashi in The Usual Suspects. In 2010 he appeared in two critically acclaimed movies I've yet to see, Inception and The Town and it will be bittersweet when I finally do get around to watching them knowing that he is now gone. Without a doubt he made every production he was in better.

Your ammo is in the mail...

It arrived yesterday, late in the afternoon. A heavy package (58.4 pounds according to the UPS shipping info) containing 1000 rounds of this. I ordered it last week for the M1A I just recently purchased. It has been a few years since I owned a rifle in 7.62 NATO and while I did have a small amount still stored it wasn't enough. I needed some good quality, all around general purpose ammunition for it. Ammo good for anything I might need it for and yet cheap enough that I could regularly practice with it and not break me financially. For 7.62 this German surplus is probably the best bargain around right now. You can find it for sale several places but I bought mine from Sportsman's Guide over the phone and they made it very easy. This is the first ammunition I've ever mail ordered and had delivered. They made the purchase quick and painless and sent it right to my door. I like that. I can't believe that I've been shooting over 20 years and I am just now doing this. I've thought about it a long while but never got around to it, always staying with my local sellers. My need for 7.62 finally fueled this, buying the ammunition at my local Wal-Mart or gun shop would have cost me at least a third more (or purchase much less) and I would have to drive to them to get it. Yes this was the first time I did this, it won't be the last.