Kilts go everywhere!

[Magnus Sporrano]

I will confess, though, that tromping through the brush last weekend helping you gather up firewood made me wish I had something to protect my calves a bit.

Check the various military surplus vendors on the web (Cheaper Than Dirt, Sportsman's Guide, etc.) for surplus gaiters. They can be had for a steal, and do a great job of protecting the shins/calves when working out on the woodlot. I know my profile screams "city" but I've also got a 36 acre spread down in North Carolina so these things are a concern from time to time.

Last time I went to the range kilted, I got a few odd looks until I pulled out this short little old lookin carbine-length rifle and opened fire. Everyone, and I mean everyone, stopped shooting and looked over to see what I was packin. It was a 1941 Russian M38 Mosin-Nagant (7.62x54R). Lordy, I love that little rifle. If truck/car guns were legal in PA, I'd carry that thing with me everywhere.

If I ever travel that deeply into the south I'll look y'all up and the ladies from hell can go take over the local range. Though I admit my travels rarely take me further than Durham, and once in a blue moon as far as Atlanta.

[Magnus Sporrano]

The neat part of it was that we ended up having a grand time at the range that day, as he also had a 6.5mm Swedish Mauser and was nuts over it.

There was a Swedish Mauser in the local gun shop for a few years. It taunted me every time I went there. I really coveted that rifle but the old guy that ran the place wouldn't budge off of his high asking price.

I knew the old guy had some mounting medical expenses and wasn't in the store much due to complications with Leukemia. I was sort of inclined to just pay the guy the high asking price figuring I'll have the rifle I've been coveting for years and he'll have a few extra bucks to offset the costs of his medical care at the end of his life (and we all knew the end was coming soon). Went in there, cash in hand, and to my horror the Mauser had finally been sold.

Now I might actually break down in tears if I can't get myself a Swiss K31 Schmidt-Rubin at the next gun show. At the last one they were going for $100 out the door, but I had to blow my whole budget on ammo that day. I've already got the cheddar set aside for one next time 'round (which is in June).

[Kid Cossack]

You're gonna hate me.

Right after I got out of the Corps, I took some mad money and swooped up six of the long tom Swedes. Don't recall the model number, just now, but the 29" versions. And the first centerfire rifle I ever bought was a hacked up Model 94 Swede. All up? I think I've got maybe $800 in the seven of them.

I also picked up an octagonal receivered Mosin-Nagant a couple of years ago----with the Czar's two headed chicken on it! AH HA HA HA. I sort of had to do that, you see, since the wife is Russian---and a former Rugby player as well. (Nine years as scrum half for the Central Sporting Commitee of the Army of the Republic of Kazakhstan's women's team.)

I've no K31---not yet, anyway, but if you want the snot kicked out of you, look into a little Steyr M95 straight pull. The 8x56R kicks out a 208 at about 2500, and she WILL get your attention.

I surely will look into some gaiters, thankee kindly. Part of the problem was that I was wearing deck shoes----my old cadillacs were in the trunk, I just didn't put them on.

[Doc Hudson]

---my old cadillacs were in the trunk, I just didn't put them on.

That's what you get for riding to the range with me! :P

Of course if you'd taken your car, you'd probably have ended up blocking the path down to the range. Really can't call that trail a road yet.