This week’s verse is Fuzzy Wuzzy, one of the Barracks-room Ballads from Rudyard Kipling. Most of the poems in that collection were written in the vernacular of the time and Fuzzy Wuzzy is no exception. It (relatively) accurately describes the feeling of the English soldiers concerning the Beja warriors who were supporting the Mahdi of Sudan in the Mahdist War. The term relates to the elaborate tiffa hair style favoured by the Hadendoa tribe, a subdivision of the Beja people
We’ve fought with many men acrost the seas,
An’ some of ’em was brave an’ some was not:
The Paythan an’ the Zulu an’ Burmese;
But the Fuzzy was the finest o’ the lot.
We never got a ha’porth’s change of ‘im:
‘E squatted in the scrub an’ ‘ocked our ‘orses,
‘E cut our sentries up at Suakim,
An’ ‘e played the cat an’ banjo with our forces.
So ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your ‘ome in the Soudan;
You’re a pore benighted ‘eathen but a first-class fightin’ man;
We gives you your certificate, an’ if you want it signed
We’ll come an’ ‘ave a romp with you whenever you’re inclined.
We took our chanst among the Khyber ‘ills,
The Boers knocked us silly at a mile,
The Burman give us Irriwaddy chills,
An’ a Zulu impi dished us up in style:
But all we ever got from such as they
Was pop to what the Fuzzy made us swaller;
We ‘eld our bloomin’ own, the papers say,
But man for man the Fuzzy knocked us ‘oller.
Then ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an’ the missis and the kid;
Our orders was to break you, an’ of course we went an’ did.
We sloshed you with Martinis, an’ it wasn’t ‘ardly fair;
But for all the odds agin’ you, Fuzzy-Wuz, you broke the square.
‘E ‘asn’t got no papers of ‘is own,
‘E ‘asn’t got no medals nor rewards,
So we must certify the skill ‘e’s shown
In usin’ of ‘is long two-‘anded swords:
When ‘e’s ‘oppin’ in an’ out among the bush
With ‘is coffin-‘eaded shield an’ shovel-spear,
An ‘appy day with Fuzzy on the rush
Will last an ‘ealthy Tommy for a year.
So ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an’ your friends which are no more,
If we ‘adn’t lost some messmates we would ‘elp you to deplore;
But give an’ take’s the gospel, an’ we’ll call the bargain fair,
For if you ‘ave lost more than us, you crumpled up the square!
‘E rushes at the smoke when we let drive,
An’, before we know, ‘e’s ‘ackin’ at our ‘ead;
‘E’s all ‘ot sand an’ ginger when alive,
An’ ‘e’s generally shammin’ when ‘e’s dead.
‘E’s a daisy, ‘e’s a ducky, ‘e’s a lamb!
‘E’s a injia-rubber idiot on the spree,
‘E’s the on’y thing that doesn’t give a damn
For a Regiment o’ British Infantree!
So ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your ‘ome in the Soudan;
You’re a pore benighted ‘eathen but a first-class fightin’ man;
An’ ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, with your ‘ayrick ‘ead of ‘air –
You big black boundin’ beggar – for you broke a British square!
It looks like Thompson Center Arms is making a comeback. In an announcement on April 30, Gregg Ritz, former owner of Thompson/Center, said he had re-acquired the Massachusetts-based gunmaker. Ritz previously sold Thompson/Center to Smith & Wesson in 2007. S&W announced its plans to sell the brand in 2021, and subsequently ended production. The newly launched website has this to say:
America’s Master Gunmaker™
Thompson/Center Arms has been a cornerstone of the firearms industry since 1967. With a diverse range of products catering to hunters, shooters, and outdoor enthusiasts, Thompson/Center Arms has earned a reputation for excellence. Thompson/Center Arms looks to build upon its legacy while embracing the future with a renewed commitment to American made quality, innovation, and unmatched customer satisfaction.
NEW PRODUCT LINE LAUNCHING 2025
Several TC firearms have had homes in my collection. In fact there are a couple of TC Compass bolt rifles in my safe as I type.
Some of you have/are dealing with the VA and their ‘fiduciary’ program and the loss of gun rights that go with that program. There was an amendment to strip the VA of that particular power proposed by Rep. Eli Crane’s (R-AZ) to restore veterans’ gun rights. Two putative Republicans voted against it, Reps. Michael Bost (R-IL) and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa). Radewagen is a delegate, not a voting member of the House, so that really leaves Crane. If you’re in Crane’s district, call and let him know he was wrong. He can be reached at (202) 225-3361.
This next piece hits close to home for me. Literally. Three Upstate NY men and another from South Carolina were busted on gun charges. The men charged are Charles Baker, 26, of Brewerton, Jeremy Baker, 23, of Syracuse, John Leone Jr., 52, of Elbridge and Brian Lawson, 23, of South Carolina. From CNY Central:
An investigation led by the AG’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) recovered 31 firearms and receivers, including 18 ghost guns or parts used to make ghost guns, dozens of high-capacity magazines and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The following firearms and components seized include:
- Nine Polymer80 and AR-15 style unfinished frames/receivers, used to assemble ghost guns
- Nine unserialized and unregistered Polymer80 ghost gun pistols
- Nine serialized unregistered firearms
- Three AR-15-style rifles
- One 7.62 assault rifle
- Dozens of magazines, including several extended magazines classified as high-capacity ammunition feeding devices
- Hundreds of rounds of ammunition
A couple of points here. First, New York has arguably the most stringent firearms laws in the country. Second, Polymer80 hasn’t shipped to NY since 2018. Third, the unfinished frames and receivers are not illegal here, at least not yet.
I have to admit I have little sympathy for these 4 men. They knowingly broke state and probably federal laws. Are the laws they broke unconstitutional and unjust? You bet your ass they are. But they are still the law. At least for now. . .
Gun Porn
This week’s gun porn is an interesting bit of history. It’s a Maynard Patent #7 Improved Hunting Rifle.
Here’s what the seller has to say:
This fine Maynard Patent Model 1873 single shot rifle appears to be an Improved Hunter’s Rifle No. 7 in one of the various thick base 40 caliber Maynard centerfire cartridges. The overall length is approx. 36″. The 20″ round 40 caliber centerfire barrel has a very good bore with good rifling and light firing erosion. The front sight is a Beach combination style and the rear sight has two flip up leaves (replacing an earlier sight). The barrel has approx. 85% blue turning brown. The case hardened receiver is a smooth mottled silver intermixed with brown. The receiver markings are present but light due to a light stamping on the case hardened action. The 1873 model stamp is distinct. The buttstock is very good with scattered light usage dents and dings and most of its original varnish finish. The lever has the most likely special order checkered pistol grip, usually associated with higher grade guns, installed. The action functions correctly. This very nice example of the scarce Model 1873 Maynard No. 7 Hunter’s rifle is ready for your single shot rifle collection.
Before you ask, the gap between the barrel and breech face is supposed to be there. This rifle is chambered in one of the Maynard patent thick base cartridges. The base fills the gap and seals the chamber.
The Buy Now price for this rare and unique rifle is $2350