It’s time for the fever dream that is Saturday Shootaround. It’s your weekly 2A roundup and source for all gun related crap. As has become tradition, we start with some verse. This week’s selection is a piece from one of my personal favorites, Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936). While Kipling never served in the military, his poetry and short stories never failed to capture the thoughts and feelings of those who were serving at the time.
‘What are the bugles blowin’ for?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘To turn you out, to turn you out,’ the Colour-Sergeant said. ‘What makes you look so white, so white?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘I’m dreadin’ what I’ve got to watch,’ the Colour-Sergeant said.
For they’re hangin’ Danny Deever, you can hear the Dead March play,
The Regiment’s in ’ollow square—they’re hangin’ him to-day;
They’ve taken of his buttons off an’ cut his stripes away,
An’ they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.
‘What makes the rear-rank breathe so ’ard?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘It’s bitter cold, it’s bitter cold,’ the Colour-Sergeant said. ‘What makes that front-rank man fall down?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘A touch o’ sun, a touch o’ sun,’ the Colour-Sergeant said.
They are hangin’ Danny Deever, they are marchin’ of ’im round,
They ’ave ’alted Danny Deever by ’is coffin on the ground;
An’ ’e’ll swing in ’arf a minute for a sneakin’ shootin’ hound—
O they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin!’
‘’Is cot was right-’and cot to mine,’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘’E’s sleepin’ out an’ far to-night,’ the Colour-Sergeant said. ‘I’ve drunk ’is beer a score o’ times,’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘’E’s drinkin’ bitter beer alone,’ the Colour-Sergeant said.
They are hangin’ Danny Deever, you must mark ’im to ’is place,
For ’e shot a comrade sleepin’—you must look ’im in the face;
Nine ’undred of ’is county an’ the Regiment’s disgrace,
While they’re hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’.
‘What’s that so black agin the sun?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘It’s Danny fightin’ ’ard for life,’ the Colour-Sergeant said. ‘What’s that that whimpers over’ead?’ said Files-on-Parade. ‘It’s Danny’s soul that’s passin’ now,’ the Colour-Sergeant said.
For they’re done with Danny Deever, you can ’ear the quickstep play,
The Regiment’s in column, an’ they’re marchin’ us away;
Ho! the young recruits are shakin’, an’ they’ll want their beer to-day,
After hangin’ Danny Deever in the mornin’!
Danny Dever – Rudyard Kipling
Bad news for any Illionians out there. SCOTUS just punted on an emergency order on the most recent gun grab in the land of Lincoln. This isn’t the end though, I’m thinking the Supremes wanted to wait on a couple of things. First, there’s a case in Maryland that just got sent back to the circuit court. Second, they probably want a riper case, meaning they want a ruling from the district and circuit courts hearing the case.
Sig fans rejoice! Sig just announced a competition version of their P322. This new model adds a compensator and comes from the factory with a Romeo Zero Elite red dot sight. Other additions include swappable trigger shoes, an extended mag release and a cocking lever. While I haven’t seen an actual MSRP, I have seen them online for around $700.
A cop in North Carolina has been charged with 32 felonies. Among those charges are several relating to using her badge to make straw purchases for prohibited persons.
"I understand now what i did was wrong”
— Ken (@kenlemonWSOC9) December 13, 2023
A former Gastonia police officer charged with crimes during her tenure as an officer gets a $1 million bond. Xana Dove reportedly admitted to selling drugs, buying guns for other people, and illegal searches with police databases. pic.twitter.com/4fHmyLLS6x
I include this not as an indictment of all cops. Rather I use it to bring up a couple of points. There are good and bad people in every group or organization, police are no different. They should be treated the same as everyone else. If I have to fill out a 4473 to obtain a firearm, then they should too. Likewise, if they have access to 30 round mags, I should have that same access. Doing anything else makes them a special class of citizen, and frankly, that’s wrong.
This year marks 75 years since old Bill got together with Alex and started a gun company. You’ll know them as Ruger, but the proper name is Sturm, Ruger and Company. I’m not going to recite the entire history, but Bill was the brains and Alex was the money. Anyway, the company has released some 75th anniversary edition guns, 2 1022 models, a MK IV and an LCP max.
If you want one of these commemorative editions, the 1022s go for $399, the Max for $479 and the MK IV for $599. Not for nothing tho, if you buy an LCP Max, we can’t be friends.
Today’s Gun Porn comes to us from Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta. The oldest continual manufacturer of firearms built this one off on their 486 Parallelo action. This 12 gauge side-by-side shotgun is a tribute to the Renaissance astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus who formulated a heliocentric model of the universe.
Here’s what Beretta has to say about it:
Presented as a world premiere during the event celebrating the luxury of Pietro Beretta Selection, it is testimony to the Gardonese company’s desire to push the boundaries of innovation and craftsmanship: 800 hours of work by master craftsmen in Gardone Val Trompia, added to months of study by the Research & Development, Design and Marketing departments.
The typical receiver with its rounded profile and the cross of the 486 are coated with a color case treatment in shades of blue, green and red, reminiscent of the environment and light trails of space.
For the first time, the engravings also extend to the stock with small copper and silver stars to create continuity with the receiver, forend and sleeve. The connecting lines of the stock and receiver of the 486 lend unsurpassed harmony and elegance to the shotgun’s proportions.
The case, handmade in the prestigious Atelier, completes the masterpiece: a blue leather with a digital print of the celestial map designed by Copernicus, enriched in the centre by a three-dimensional brass plate reproducing the sun, laser-etched and then hand-etched for greater definition of the rays.
Yeah, what they said. All joking aside, this is an absolutely stunning work of art. Carlo Ferlito, General Manager And CEO Of Fabbrica D’Armi Pietro Beretta S.P.A., said the following about the Beretta 486 Copernicus project:
Niccolò Copernico said: The wisdom of nature is such that she produces nothing superfluous or useless.
This is our spirit, because we are part of nature and, in our own small way, like nature we want to act:
PB Selection is a luxury that does not create the superfluous and unnecessary, but produces innovation and inspiration, in technology as well as in beauty. A perfect synthesis of this spirit is the 486 Copernicus.
No word on the price of this beauty.