- Joined
- Jul 8, 2019
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I like that you are helping vets! I joined the service right out of high school in the early sixties. I was one of the lucky ones some of my childhood friends were not!
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Walaw 717 -- Thank you for your service, both past and present. I served in Canada during the cold war and was fortunate not to see combat. I still ended as a 60% disability and was concerned about Ivan coming through the past for years. I was off strength in 63 and remembered the terms used for folks suffering various trauma. First was 'shell shock,' then 'lacks strong moral fiber,' and' burned out.' They were among the first to be mustered out (to nowhere) when the nation began cashing the Peace Dividend. Many were hardened Korean and 2nd War vets and were shunned by VA, the Military, Government, and society. They found support in the Legion and from kind soles like yourself.
You are correct in saying the VA has changed with the new crop of vets from places like Bosnia and Afghanistan. I had dealings with VA again recently and was impressed with the folks I dealt with. I still am not impressed with any of our political leaders regarding this file.
I have found solace in working with my hands and shooting my works. For the most part, BP shooters are older folks and ready to share and help each other. That is why I hang around sites like this.
FYI, the above mentioned "Hawken" kit was NOT ordered from The Hawken Shop®.
Thank you. I just wanted to clarify that it wasn't us.I purposely didn't say where I ordered the Hawken. I am not in the habit of trashing any company.
Thank you. I just wanted to clarify that it wasn't us.
Now there is a quote I can not only understand but can feel, right down to my bones.I have continued to follow and read the posts on this forum and get the impression that we are all mostly older men who are out of place and in the wrong century. At least I know I feel that way about the 21st century. That we are drawn to these older types of guns, and many are drawn to the older forms of dressing and being, says a great deal about how we feel about the present. I know I am tired of wokeness, wealthy elitists, supply change issues, and the general mess we live through. I made it through the 1960s and 70s with his hippy-dippy leftist stuff. Should providence allow, I will live through this.
I like your post and attitude and of course, your Tam being of Scottish descent. I do understand the feeling of being out of place in the 20th and 21st centuries. Unlike many people I have no problem spending days on end alone without getting lonely.
I haven’t posted lately since I was waiting for the gun kit I ordered, and all I heard was, “it is in transit,” “it is delayed,” etc., so I said enough. I canceled the Hawken kit and ordered one from Jim Kibler. It's a much different gun, but since I am not interested in being a re-enactor and want to build a gun and finish it for my soul, I ordered American and know I will get it.
I have continued to follow and read the posts on this forum and get the impression that we are all mostly older men who are out of place and in the wrong century. At least I know I feel that way about the 21st century. That we are drawn to these older types of guns, and many are drawn to the older forms of dressing and being, says a great deal about how we feel about the present. I know I am tired of wokeness, wealthy elitists, supply change issues, and the general mess we live through. I made it through the 1960s and 70s with his hippy-dippy leftist stuff. Should providence allow, I will live through this.
Currently, I work with active duty, combat veterans, and their families and deal with helping them to manage traumatic stress – theirs and mine. One of them has told me that we are already at war with China, we have been for a long time in a cyberwar, and our wealthy and much of our political class is behind the wokeness and undermining us to make more wealth for themselves. That sounds believable, but I know none of this woke stuff would fly in either Russia or China, so it does not make sense. All I know is that I need to turn closer to home to get the gun build I want. Maybe that is a good thing and part of the good lord pointing me to get away from all this cultural craziness.
I will still be around, hopefully sharing how the Kibler kit goes. I ordered the colonial in .58 and, after a great deal of thought, chose a smooth bore with a maple stock. I have thought long about how I should go, keeping it simple or ornamenting it with some carving. Been a lifetime since I did any wood carving, but I do know-how.
I think I will put together a Hawken in time but maybe look for an American-made kit to build it from parts. But I want to start with something simpler.
I am throwing this out to hear from you'all about your experiences building this colonial Kibler kit.
I am fine with that. I do understand. My order was a foreign kit builder. Learning to buy American again.
Walaw, I think you speak for all of us. And I am one of the Vets that are glad someone is there like you. Vietnam did me in, so I walk funny now, have bad dreams, etc. But the VA now is as different as night is from day as to what it used to be. Lots of good, caring and respectful medical people, at least at Columbus OPCC! The 100% disability pay, started about 2 years ago, really helps me in this ML activity.
Like you, I am a man out of time - but I know that, were I in the same physical condition in the late 18th, early 19th Centuries, I would not survive. Still, I do enjoy making and using firearms and accouterments - they can lure me into ignoring all that woke-ness Liberal manure. And that, my friend, is a glorious thing.
We should chat some time. Thanks for re-appearing on the forum.
BTW, I believe you will be very happy with Jim and Katherine's products. IF I ever finish one of the 5 or 6 projects I am currently buried in, I want to get one his kits also. Has to be big bore, tho - I am enamored with large led PRB's.
Love your bonnet. May I ask your clan?
Gus
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