Sunday, July 29, 2007

Golden Spike


The scores have, at last, been posted for the June long range black powder matches at Golden Spike. There are also some photos.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

We Band of Bubbas

Not only does the Mayfield Zimmerbixlers meet regularly in Mayfield, we also have a SASS affiliated gang of desperadoes, the Crow Seeps Cattle Co., that meets the first Saturday of the month. The club owns its well-appointed range just a bit northwest of town and welcomes newcomers. You get to dress up and you don't have to use your real name. Just ask Buffalo Juan or Pete O'Fee.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Milton Farrow


At the site for the Antique Reloading Tool bunch, you can see quite a variety of old reloading tools including this kit which was supposed to have belonged to Saint Milton.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Mayfield Pioneer Day

The holiday in Mayfield begins with the parade at 10 o'clock. Here you see the colors being paraded. The lad in the middle is the marching band and was playing our anthem. The parade led to the city park where there was food, games, contests, an auction, and a cowboy band. The final event was a thunderstorm.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

July Match

Our July match was Saturday at the PMAA Range off exit 134 on I-80. Although the temperature in the valley reached well over a hundred degrees, it never went over a pleasant ninety-two at our shady mountain retreat. As the scores attest, there was only enough breeze to keep the shooters comfortable and not challenge our marksmanship. Even though he did not shoot, it was good to have Paul Lambert in attendance again. Paul sponsored a .22 side match, providing the targets and ammunition. The range was not particularly crowded, which minimized the interference from other shooters. The staff at the range were particularly helpful and friendly.

I am thinking that we might want to have our August match here as well. I will appreciate your comments. Since the benches are not especially suited for rest matches, I propose a thirty or forty round offhand match and a twenty round warm-up match for the September Utah State Zimmerstutzen Championship. Tell me what you think.

To make a comment, click "Comment" below. Include your name in the text of the comment and post as "Anonymous." This will send your comment to the mailbox where I can then post it. Pix here.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Better Living Through Science

A ground breaking design from the fertile mind of Harlow Parkenfarker (see post below) comes a new target design guaranteed to improve even the worst shooter's score. The "Egg of Columbus" of the target shooting world.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

This Day in History


Today in 1969, Apollo 11 was on its way to the first manned moon landing, little Theodore became the "Hero of Chappaquiddick," and I attended a Schuetzenfest for the first time in Salzkotten, Germany. In picture above is the target one has to knock to pieces with a rifle in order to become the Schuetzen King. Most shots, however, at this event, were taken from small glasses.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

A Day at the Range


These are called "Trombini" and are just another way to have good clean fun.

Friday, July 13, 2007

July 21 Match Announcement


Our July match will be held Saturday the twenty-first at 8:00 am. We are having it at the PMAA range up Parley's Canyon. To get there, go east on I-80 to exit 134, then turn right at the stop sign and follow the road to the clubhouse. You must register at the clubhouse and pay your range fee of five dollars. As you will see, the situation will be a little different than at the Lee Kay Center but I believe the pleasant surroundings and good company will make it a worthwhile event. We will have our regular forty round match but at 100 yards. Gaylord has the downsized targets. We would also like to have a 100 yard side match with .22's, so bring yours.

While we are there, please take some time to inspect the facilities. We need to ascertain if we will want to have more matches there. I believe that if we can adapt to the place, it might be our summer home. Your comments will be welcome.

After the match we will have a King Match. I propose a slight rule change. First of all, there will be a fee of One Dollar to shoot. The King will take all. Next, entrants must shoot until they hit the target but remember, only the first shot is for score. I will bring a special target for the match. Perhaps we can persuade the winner to bring the next one. I am also proposing that while our Schuetzenmeister is compiling the honors, that the contestants and companions attend our Ice Cream Social.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Ernst II


Yesterday was the anniversary of the founding of the German Schuetzen Union in 1861. Leading the movement was Ernst II, prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Ernst was a relatively liberal monarch as his subjects enjoyed more constitutionally guaranteed freedoms than in other German principalities. He was also much in favor of Germany reclaiming its rightful place as a world power through unification. His idea of uniting the German schuetzen societies, as well as the gymnastic and singing societies was part of his strategy. As he stated in his address to the assembled representatives at the gathering of Germany's schuetzen societies, "What is the danger of a people who are strong and united?" His wish was fulfilled ten years later by the Prussian King William I. This was known as the "Second Reich." I suppose the latest reunification could be called the Fourth Reich but the appellation has not caught on. Ernst II was also the only European monarch to recognize the Confederate States of America. His legacy lives on as one of his family is today the "Protector" of the German Schuetzen Union. German schuetzen often display flags and other regalia with the white/green, the colors of his house.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Harlow Parkenfarker

The ASSRA has a few Parkenfarker targets for sale. Mr. P. was a legendary gunsmith and fearless innovator. His remarkable target design was guaranteed to improve shooter's scores. Contact Rudi Prusok.

Monday, July 9, 2007

The Announcer


This was in a Schuetzen museum in Germany. I think that I'd like one.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Dirty Connie


Feel lucky? Well, do you punk?

Conrad Grims at Raton with his 1 of 1 Gatling Gun.


Friday, July 6, 2007

The Wabbit Hunter


Be vewy, vewy, quiet!

Actually, despite the resemblance, this is not that wabbit hunter. Gaylord was at the Beinfeld show in Las Vegas and had to fondle a 4 bore. Even though it was reasonably priced, well below fifty grand, he left it on the table. I'm told.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Schuetzenfest at Carthage

Today is the 146th anniversary of my family's first contact with Schuetzen. There was a shooting contest a few miles north of Carthage, MO in 1861. It was a team event and the visitors, "The Yankee Dutch" were from the Schuetzen Corps of the St. Louis Turner Verein. They were captained by Franz Sigel, the St. Louis Superintendent of Schools and a well-known figure amongst the German communities for his participation in shooting events in Germany in 1848 and 1849. The Home Team was drawn from the local lads, including my great-grandfather and was captained by Sterling Price, an imposing figure and a local hero. It was a tough match but in the end, the Home Team prevailed and the match has gone down in history as "The Battle of Carthage," one of the first fights of the War of Northern Aggression. Unfortunately, one of the points scored by the Dutch was on the ancestor and required, on his part, a lengthy convalescence.

Both captains went on to greater glory. Sterling Price as a general in the Army of the Confederation and Sigel as a general with the opposition. Sigel has a permanent place in history due to his forces being routed by the teenage cadets from VMI at the Battle of New Market in 1864. Ur-grampa also did well. Upon returning home from his convalescence, he learned, to his dismay, that he had been indicted by the Feds. He immediately found ranching in Colorado convenient and then farming in Utah. Along the way he gained a new religion and a number of female relatives and prospered until the federal marshals chased him (it was the excess of female relatives) into Mexico in the 1880's. He died there in 1918.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

More Fourth




While waiting on the hotdogs, the Fourth of July being one of the two days of the year that they are allowed on our table, I have been doing some internet reading and will pass some of it along here. There are a couple of speeches that Powerline has put up here and here. Another is on the blog of Kim du Toit.

Fireworks

Are you a shut-in, a recluse, afraid of West Nile disease or crowds? Then this is for you.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Happy Independence Day


On this day, the 231st year of our independence( I think) I wish you a happy Fourth of July. I am also attaching a portion of the latest newsletter from the German Gun Collectors Assn. Dietrich Apel, our founder, shares with us a little history and a sentiment.

Concentration


I read that the trainers for the East German rifle teams would first test willing students for their ability to concentrate. Let me know how you do.

Monday, July 2, 2007

Old Joke

Three old shooters are out at the range.
Ron: "It's windy today."
Russ: "No, I'm sure it's Thursday."
Jon: "Me too. Let's go get a beer."

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Event Calendar

The link to the calendar is working. If there is something that you want added, let me know