You know, as modern and sophisticated as we believe ourselves to be, with our "composite" space-aged mega-capacity Godzilla killing hand machines, we still find a place in our collections for the antiquated revolving curiosities that are mostly relegated to the lethality ranks with today's stun-guns by those not as educated as we.
I am a "self-inflicted" gun enthusiast and know my guns mostly inside and out, I can disassemble and reassemble them in the dark with one hand tied behind my back and with a cramp in my leg all the while.
However, as much as I would like my immediate family members (all of which are females) to become as intimate with my (our) firearms as I am, I find it a mission impossible. As much as they try to placate me by acting like they're interested I know that they just do not possess the genuine interest or desire to know them as I do.
There are just too many more important things to fill their girly heads with and guns just aren't near the top of that list. I've even preached the historical, political, existential importance of the firearm in our human condition, but to no avail.
So, in my frustration and lack of faith in their abilities to efficiently operate a hi-cap wonder-auto in time of need and panic, I "reduced" myself to purchasing this S&W 442 for them to use in the event they "found" that rare situation rear it's ugly head and they had to defend themselves quickly.
As I explained it to them, this particular firearm is a snub-nosed .38 with five rounds, it functions by merely aiming in the direction of the offender and squeezing the trigger, there are no other safeties, buttons, switches or gadgets, just aim and squeeze (5) times. It is the design pinnacle of firearm reliability I told them.
Recently at the range with the wife, we took this 442 to let her get the feel for it again since it had been awhile. I shot a cylinder full, reloaded and handed it to her, two rounds went downrange then she looked over at me and shook her head, I took the gun, squeezed the trigger and nothing happened. The cylinder was not rotating, I could manually rotate the cylinder for the next round to align, but it would not do it via the trigger pull.
Upon inspecting it I found what looked like the tip of the rotating pawl had broken off and it wasn't engaging the cutouts on the rear of the cylinder to make it rotate.
My wife flashed me the "so much for being the design pinnacle for reliability" look, you know that look.....? Anyway, it (the gun) was sent back to S&W for Warranty repair and am waiting (not impatiently) for it's return.
I am a "self-inflicted" gun enthusiast and know my guns mostly inside and out, I can disassemble and reassemble them in the dark with one hand tied behind my back and with a cramp in my leg all the while.
However, as much as I would like my immediate family members (all of which are females) to become as intimate with my (our) firearms as I am, I find it a mission impossible. As much as they try to placate me by acting like they're interested I know that they just do not possess the genuine interest or desire to know them as I do.
There are just too many more important things to fill their girly heads with and guns just aren't near the top of that list. I've even preached the historical, political, existential importance of the firearm in our human condition, but to no avail.
So, in my frustration and lack of faith in their abilities to efficiently operate a hi-cap wonder-auto in time of need and panic, I "reduced" myself to purchasing this S&W 442 for them to use in the event they "found" that rare situation rear it's ugly head and they had to defend themselves quickly.
As I explained it to them, this particular firearm is a snub-nosed .38 with five rounds, it functions by merely aiming in the direction of the offender and squeezing the trigger, there are no other safeties, buttons, switches or gadgets, just aim and squeeze (5) times. It is the design pinnacle of firearm reliability I told them.
Recently at the range with the wife, we took this 442 to let her get the feel for it again since it had been awhile. I shot a cylinder full, reloaded and handed it to her, two rounds went downrange then she looked over at me and shook her head, I took the gun, squeezed the trigger and nothing happened. The cylinder was not rotating, I could manually rotate the cylinder for the next round to align, but it would not do it via the trigger pull.
Upon inspecting it I found what looked like the tip of the rotating pawl had broken off and it wasn't engaging the cutouts on the rear of the cylinder to make it rotate.
My wife flashed me the "so much for being the design pinnacle for reliability" look, you know that look.....? Anyway, it (the gun) was sent back to S&W for Warranty repair and am waiting (not impatiently) for it's return.
