The New Rifle On Deck and Minion Wanted

Greetings and Salutations!
Gun Addiction: It’s Real.
My name is Big Country, and I’m a gun addict…
Yep.
I went down today to drop off the paperwork for Lee Enfield Number 3 for the restoration/raffle project(s) that I’ve been doing. I unfortunately got delayed in doing so via a V.A. follow up appointment, and then add on the ‘usual Friday Commute Hijinks’ that ensued. As I was going into the V.A. up towards Big Bend, there were a huge number of fire trucks, police, ambulances… you name it all seemingly converging on the V.A. itself.

I got in just in time for my appointment, and it seems the fire as it was, was at the Self-Storage place next door to it. By the time I got out of the car and started hiking across the parking lot, MORE fire trucks and whatnot were coming in, as well as News Helos and the Sheriff’s Helo for good measure. Big billowing clouds of black smoke, so yep, a for-real fire and not a bad electrical false alarm.

By the time I got done 40 minutes later, the smoke was no longer billowing, although there was that acrid ‘smell’ of a fire in the air… not the ‘nice’ fire either but that chemical-melted plastic stank fire…

And 301 was a full-on fucking Parking Lot.

So much for ‘quick errands.’

Because of this, and the fact that due to my previous ‘legal entanglements’ the background check hadn’t cleared by the time Gun Girl was closing up shop. Guess I’ll get it tomorrow.

I did get to look it over however.

It’s a 1942 No 4, Mk 1 Long Branch.

It too is in exceptionally cruddy condition. Like caked with crap. The serial number on the bolt, as far as I could see, does not match, and the magazine has no serial number on it at all. There isn’t a lot of rust, but like I said, it IS crapped up pretty heavily.

The rear stock (which I forgot to take more pics of the thing dammit) is also about a 1/2 shorter when placed side by side with the one I worked on before, the BSA Matched Numbers rifle. I think at -some point- in Ethernopeian, some Starvin’ Marvin shortened the stock to fit his underfed frame. Whoever did it, well as of now it looks like they did a decent job on it. I realized this when I set both the refurb next to the new ‘rifle on deck’ so to speak as I brought in the refinished one to show off to Gun Girl per her request. Plus I will admit, I also do enjoy the accolades of the old timers who hang out in the shop on the regular.

Seems I’m gaining a reputation among the gunnies in the A.O. as being the go-to guy for these sorts of restorations, and GG also told me that one of the customers was asking if I’d sell the SMLE and to set my price.

Hmmmn.
This may bear looking at as a full time side-hustle methinks.
It’s convincing Gretchen that’s going to be the bitch.
Finding and tripping over weapons and piece-parts and fiddly-bits is de facto a part of The BCE Casa. I mean the look on Sapper’s face when he went to empty the dishwasher and found the stock parts from the Lee Enfield in it was epic. He then grumbled something along the lines of “Rifle parts in the dishwasher? Of course! Why not? Only in this house…” and finished removing the pieces-parts as well as the dishes that went through the cycle…

Oh yes, also speaking of The Sapper…
Give him some congrats and kudos for finishing up his job with the Unnamed Fuel Company that he’s been with for the past 4 years. He gave his two week notice two weeks ago (duh!) and finished today. The job was a stone-plated bitch, but he gutted it out. His reason for resigning is he’s prepping to leave this battle-space, and head back to the MidWest to be by HIS Grand, MiniMegaMind.

3M as I call him ‘cos as the kid has a HUGE squash and the brainpower behind it. He’s about 6 months younger than the Redhead, and when they (3M and Sapper’s Boy) come to visit, 3M and the Redheaded Nook get along like gangbusters.

Fuck.
I’m losing my right arm man…
Happy for him, but just…. fuck.

I mean it’s not like a forever Adios.
But still, he’s been my stronk Right Arm/Gray Man/Hitman for nigh on 9 years now… this’s going to take some adjusting to.

Maybe run an Ad?

“Minion Wanted: Morals Optional, Bloodthirsty a plus. Odd hours. Must be able to lift a male body (200+/- lbs) and carry at least 100 meters. Must be proficient with small arms and a shovel. Prior DotMil experience a plus.”

Something to that effect.

So that’s what got for tonight. We have to get the Redhead in the A.M. and head out for the Ren-Faire which is her first time for this… got me a hunch the experience is going to overload her, but hey, what the Hell. Pics and stories to follow.

How about you?
What you got planned for the weekend?
More Later
Big Country