I’ll translate the picture
“See them government bastards, always try to divide US, if they succeed, we lose”
Josey Wales
The look upon Ten Bears speaks much of his thoughts.
” Only 3 things come from Kansas, Sunshine, sunflowers and sonsofbitches”
that’s a direct Josey wells quote.
I was reading about this fella’s grampa, which brought my gramps on my dad’s side to mind. Indians have grampa’s to yaknow.
here is a Mishomisinonnig with his grandchild
A song done by The Shadows called Apache
In preparation for the final push to machine and build my first 1911, a gift for my wife, I asked my Dad if he had one that he didn’t use for carry. I needed one to serve as an example to look at and make sure I was on the right track with the build. Turns out, the only one that fits the criteria is this piece, which is fairly historic for us. I was really hesitant to accept the idea of using this, but he convinced me not to worry about it, and I accepted.
Originally belonging to my grandfather, who was simply called “Cap” after his time in WWII, this 1911 has been passed through those couple generations to me. I feel like I’ve been handed the family sword.
It’s a really interesting thing. Needs to be cleaned up a fair amount, but it functions and fitment is still nicely tight. The only real damage that I’ve found so far is the firing pin cap is broken. I imagine this is probably a common failure point over time. I was worried for a minute that the ejector had worn down, until a web search turned up that this is the way they were designed originally.
It’s also pretty cool to see the tool marks from the original milling process. It’s very rough and honestly makes me not feel quite so bad for using the tools I’m about to for her build. All in all, very cool.
All this is going to be used for is for reference. I’ll be disassembling and reassembling multiple times probably to get a more thorough understanding of the platform. One day I think it’ll be in the hands of a competent gunsmith for refurbishment. I’d like those hands to be mine, but I am not that man today.
Old Glory stripes
I gathered some old clothes; linen slacks, red cotton button up, and blue knit boxers. Cut up strips of them, several red layers then 13 alternating red and white layers. I then poured and layered into my mold. Set that and cut it down a week later. Once the grips were shaped, I soaked the blue circles in epoxy and set them in place. On top I added stars from an old shirt that wife was throwing out. I originally wanted to do 13 stars, but the small ones weren’t small enough to fit 12 inside the blue disc.
They feel pretty neat. Soft. I’m not sure if actually use them, but I think they fit the 104 year old .45 nicely.
Thinking his Grampa would be proud of the Man his grandson has become.
The last verse of a poem came to mind
But my finest hour comes
when I am torn into strips to be used for bandages
for my wounded comrades on the field of battle.
when I fly at half mast to honor my soldiers…
and when I lie in the trembling arms
of a grieving mother at the graveside of her fallen son.
I am proud.
My name is Old Glory.
Dear God . . . Long may I wave!