Gun Show

[dime_novel_hero]

Went to the gun show in Monroeville today to buy some ammo. Hoping to avoid derogatory comments (like last time) because I was wearing a mask, I also wore my Sons of Liberty t-shirt, hoping that appearing more one-of-them might deflect some hate. They wouldn’t know that the Sons of Liberty that I got the shirt from was an on-line cadre of anti-fascist veterans.

My plan failed utterly because many took my shirt to mean that I was genuinely one-of-them, even with the mask, and they took that as an opportunity to engage with me. That, in spite of my also wearing headphones.

Case in point. . . .

I bought a case of 45 Colt ammo. The boxes weren’t labeled target loads for Cowboy Action but I found that the manufacturer specializes in CAS and so it should be good. The dealer asked if I was attending the PA state shoot. I wasn’t. He indicated he was going to be a dealer there. At the end of the transaction, I asked the dealer for a card (since 45 Colt is difficult to find). He said his business was in Hanover and I said my family was originally from there as well. Settled in 1739.

He responded that his family was originally from Owen’s Mills, Maryland. Settled in the 1600s (uh, oh). He then went on to expound on his ancestor that served in the Confederate army.

“That’s too bad,” I replied.

He started on about the honor and stuff of being a Confederate. “He didn’t fight for slavery.”

“Perhaps. But he fought for the Confederacy that was fighting for slavery.”

“It wasn’t about slavery.”

“It was absolutely about slavery.”

“You must have learned in a Yankee school.”

“I learned from the Confederate’s own words. The Declarations of Secession by the Confederate states themselves all say explicitly it was about slavery.”

He started saying something about “General Lee. . . “ blah blah, blah. Probably the Lost Cause trope about him fighting for his state or something about him being a not bad slave owner, or whatever but I wasn’t listening anymore as I had tuned my back full on him, put my headphones back on, and walked away. I thought of flipping him the bird and saying “John Brown sends his regards” but resisted.

So, congratulations Hanover Shooters Supply. You have given me reasons to never buy from you again.

Anyway. . . yea.

In other news, I bought some medical scissors to add to my car med kit. It’s interesting that for decades, gun shows have had the same, very small assortment of mini-med kits and the occasional rack of tools and only in the past few years have I seen tables full of full size kits, trauma kits, tourniquets, and the like. It’s as if entire generations of gun culture were entirely unconcerned with actual safety.

Anyway, that dealer saw my shirt and started talking about how I was on a government list because of it. One, I didn’t storm the capital and and attempt to overthrow the government. Two, the FBI has better things to do than put me on a list because I wear a t-shirt you don’t understand. Three, I am already on a government list because I am a fucking military contractor.

And, the Morakniv knives from Sweden are nice, I’ve heard of them, and that’s a good price but, no, I’m not going to buy them from you because you’re an idiot.

I had been looking into getting a Single Action Army in 22 caliber because spending a dime to shoot a 22 caliber round in practice is better than the $1 it costs me to shoot 45. I picked up a Heritage Rough Rider.

I had asked around, specifically looking for a 22 that matched the full size SAA as closely as possible and the Rough Rider was the one that was at the top of that list most often. And it was on the table. And it was only $125. I also picked up the replacement 22 Magnum cylinder so I can occasionally shoot something with a little more punch.



Comparing it to my Charles Daly Model 1873 SAA it seems to be a fraction of an inch smaller in every dimension except perhaps the grip. It looks and feels significantly cheaper than the Pietta. In fact, it looks more like my Denix pot-metal non-firing replica. Even my Tanaka airsoft SAA looks more “realistic.”

Well, it’s not so far outside the primary gun and costs a tenth as much to shoot and, if this is the closest, then this is the best I’m going to get.

The dealer I bought the Rough Rider from did not try to engage me with in-group conversation and stuck to simple capitalism, so that was refreshing.