You are wondering:

1). Where are the new guns

2). Where are a few of the projects ... finished ... that we saw parts of.

3). Where are some of the readers?

4). I don't know .... whatever other questions you've had.

Ok.

I'm usually pretty good at explaining, but hang on. I'll try without going too deep. But first .... this is important. It gets into question 3. Where are so many people? I'm having health problems. Dr's appointments. And more to come. I'm worried about a number of things. It effects what you say and how you say it. And when you are dealing with trouble, people leave. Partly because they have their own. Partly cause they just came for the fun. And honestly, the more honest you are; the less people hang around.

Now, I haven't been talking much at all about my health. It's a drag. It's all a drag. The details. The Insurance. The bills. The Appointments. And it's gonna go beyond that. Thing is I'm pissed about is this: I see the healthy, young, fools .... riding bicycles down the ribs of mountains. Or jumping over highways on motorcycles. Risking becoming paralyzed for a kick. I've just worked my body to death supporting my family, and I'm the one crippled up.

Ok, listen. I've been doing knives for a while, because I live by the rule: "Then do what you CAN DO, but work, and pay your way." I'd like to ask you Readers to not dump me, because I haven't been posting the stuff from 7 years ago. Here's a point, I'll bet the stuff you have been seeing is still a bit different from what you see at the local craft show.

Here's a tip: IF the state of medical affairs is still the same in Maryland as it was when we left, then I wouldn't have moved to Florida if they gave me the whole blessed state! EVERYTHING I have to do takes multiple Drs. IF it can be done at all. I just got home where, once again; I had to see a new Nurse Practicioner who was different from the other two NP at the same place. I have no problem with the NP topic. They are good folks. I just can't see the same one twice. The crush of patients is absurd. And, this Dr. can do this, but then you reach a line he can't cross. Another might tell you everything your previous Dr. has been doing was wrong.

Hey .... OMG ..... maybthe fleas of a thousand camels infest my armpits if I lie about this ..... We have had another week of fighting medical needs, medications, paperwork, appointments .... the worry, expense, and stress. Today we learned more twists and have yet to get tests and appointments needed for a dreaded ..... whatever. Listen. My cell rings. My screen lights up with the name of my Pain Specialist Clinic BACK IN MARYLAND!!!!! I answer. It's a recorded message. Inviting myself and my family, to a Pain Seminar at a Conference Center back in Md. Two of my previous Docs are conducting an evening of lectures on options I have for treating my chronic pain issues. Food and Drink provided!!!!!!!!!!

I swear I'm being Punked!!! Down here, I just literally sat and listened to a nurse confide in me that this Dr. Is ok, but don't go to THAT part of the same complex!!!!

I went thru two years convincing one Pain Doctor here that I wasn't a drug pusher .... and as we began to level off, he switched to a NP. Then retired.

Ok. Several points. 1). The fact that I get ANYTHING done is nothing short of a miracle. 2). I've put as much time into you, as you have into me. I'd like to think there's some interest in the human here. Everybody just clicking off into the sunset, if there's a break in the refreshments, seems a bit cold. Give me a break please, the darned mugging never seems to end with me. But I keep on working. I keep posting fresh work.

I'd appreciate if you'd tell me the things I've made that you liked. You remember those Copper Cuff bracelets? How about the big neat Coins. The Pocket Cases? What type of knives have you seen that you liked? I don't expect people to buy anything that they don't want. However; since I can make just about anything.... I'd hate to get dragged out of here like a United Customer, for not paying one of the ten thousand bills that show up here.

So that's what's been going on. In between beating my head on the walls, I make beautiful Museum pieces. Then I go sit in waiting rooms. Then I get back and pout some. Actually, I'm pouting now. I'm multitasking. Ah heck, gonna be no secret. I'm gonna have to have some non life threatening surgery. At least unless I go to the wrong side of the hospital complex. Just some work to keep my guts from falling out thru a rip in my abdominal muscles. Hernia. That's just one thing. And my insurance deductible isn't gonna be met. So it's gonna cost some fine pocketknives.

Just remember to look at the stuff I post, and ask yourself if you could need that.

Thanks for reading.

Gary

Well said Gary
I've also been going thru the dr crap each sending you to a different one . Whatcha posta do.
Anyways I've come across this badge .
I thinkin there's a new sheriff in town . When did you stop making these ? I've seen them on a couple of your creations. I was looking over your website and found a place called "just for fun " it had a couple of your first ever airguns made . Do you ( like you wouldn't ) remember the very first 5 you ever made ? I sure wish I'd known you in 96 ish when you won that Michigan shoot ! I'd have been right on up there !!

Thanks
Kurt

Hi Kurt,

When you "found" that badge, did it have this "big thing" attached to it?

Interesting point: that badge is made from several stamps. A couple of them had the letters "Acid etched" in standing relief, on the end of tool steel stamps. DUDE!!! I've done THE DARNEDEST stuff!!

Yes, I remember all my children. Haha. Even the 1,380 knives. May take me a while to put them in order, but I'd get close.

K. That badge is Nickle. I'm gonna say it's attached to the .375" High Plains Carbine. I Loved that rifle. If anybody didn't know, they'd swear the bolt is broken. It moves thru a shift gate cycle that takes a .375" soft lead ball, and shears each one into a Buck slug - IN the breech. It wedges the slug into the breech, then the debris exits after the slug. I guess when I'm gone, they'll be tearing all my stuff apart, trying to FIX it, so it all works like a Crossman 1377. Ha.

So, how'd I do?

Gary

Gary
You are correct . It is attached to a Big thingy. Also your logo and name stamp in other spots .
It is amazing some of your earlier thoughts . I often wonder HOW & WHY you chose airguns as a venue to display your artistic endeavors. It's a much larger platform than a pocket knife but sooo much more mechanics involved .

The shear breech ring is a odd idea and I'm sure many will wonder" how in the heck does this work ". Too many think inside the box and their brains are trained to see and think in a single repetitive dimension.
The ( just for fun ) part of your web sight was really fun read from your early designs . There is so much to navigate there that every time I flip thru the channels I come up a different section that hey did I ever see this ?

Anyhow you did very well and your memory is waaaaay better than mine . Hehe

Thanks
Kurt

That's a really nice gun.

Also the first cocking lever I put on my professional rifles. Brass lever. Ball bearing in the hammer stud. Sambar Stag Knob on the crank.

I remember that little Carbine would just paper punch a 2 by 4 as slick as you please.

That Walnut is wood my Grandfather sawed at his own Family Sawmill. Probably in the 30s-40s. Wasn't spectacular grain but it met a lot to me. As a young man, I came across a pile of lumber. The farm folks used to build these drive thru corn cribs. Vertical corn crib on the left, then an isleway. Then another vertical corncrib on the right. They'd bridge the tops with a floor (more storage), then put a low peak roof on it. Store wagons and machinery in the interior isle, corn left, right, and atop. There was a decrepit old structure like this on one of the family farms. (The old Hoffman Place it was always called). The roof was in poor repair and smthis stack of dawn Walnut, cherry, oak was quietly rotting away round about 1975. I gathered all that might be saved. I dried it, and I had it planned. I've used it sparingly thru the decades. I've moved it from shop to shop to shop. It even survived my house/shop fire of 1980 in the home I rented. (Owner started the fire doing plumbing in an attic while I was away at a knife show!). You have a stock made from that wood Kurt. I'm glad you do.

There is a story that long, or longer, on each of 1,380 knives, all the guns, furniture, jewelry, wind toys, wow. That's a lot of stories.

Enjoy your High Plains Carbine!

Gary

That badge you showed today is Sterling Silver

Thanks Gary
The pleasure is all mine .

Thanks
Kurt

The wood IS most beautiful & I love the grain and I'm glad you saved it . The ball bearing in the hammer stud also has a brass ball retainer ring to match the cocking lever & multi adjustable reverse telescope super ornate peep sights ! Who even knew they made them in brass .It is still very tight ( the cocking lever and bearing ) after years of use and abuse . It's seen a lot of use I believe and I can't wait to run some more lead down range .

Thanks
Kurt

Hi Kurt,

I guess right there is why I look like a FORD LTD with 217,000 miles on it. Haha.

I sure put the effort into learning my craft of Airgunsmithing. I didn't do anything simple. Hah. That was made about 1997.

I'm glad you wound up with it. I'm sure there's a story in there. No doubt a Classified ad in the Backwash Gazette for "BB gun". Smile.

Don't shoot yer eye out.

Gary