Not a newbie by any means
My name is Jim. I've been a member of the gun culture for over 35 years. You name any firearm produced since 1900 and I've either owned it, shot it, or fixed it for someone else. I LOVE MA DEUCE...
Due to my age - 53, going on 100 some days - I have started to pare down my hobbies. I recently sold my Harely that I owned for fifteen years and I was a member of the motorcycle culture for forty years. I recently sold all my camera equipment ($10k worth - 35mm Nikon F5 and medium format Pentax 6x7) when I decided I was no longer going to be a freelance photojournalist (paid and published) anymore.
My firearms collection is small, compared to what it used to be. Three years ago, I decided 'less is more' and I dropped down to three weapons. Then Katrina hit NO and my wife asked 'how IS our arsenal these days' and I had to admit it had 'some holes'. So I went out and picked up a few more. Plus several cases of ammo. I also reload, though not as much as I used to.
I'm an opinionated cuss. I call a spade a spade (actually an F'ing shovel). But it's what makes me a good gunsmith (according to my clients). My user name came about from a joke amoung several of my gunsmithing buddies.
I have a degree in computers (1981) and a degree in gunsmithing (1998). I believe in KIP (knowledge is power).
Besides firearms, I know four other subjects backwards and forwards.
1) Cars & trucks
2) Motorcycles (no longer ride)
3) Computers (20 years in the field - retired)
4) Dogs (we rescue)
So, while I do bite, it's generally just a nibble at first. If that don't scare ya off, then fly me a kite (old biker term for email or letter) and I'll be happy to help if I can with info. I've been thrown off of several forums (THL comes to mind) BECAUSE of my attitude. I call BS whenever I see it. AND sometimes I just can't help but explain chapter and verse as to WHY I CALL BS.
My health has been up and down in the past three years which gave me great insight into life itself and is WHY I decided 'less is more'.
My user name on the web is normally Wallew. It was my Nom de plume (name I write under) for fifteen years. If you see Wallew on some forum, it's me.
I am the moderator on Stacey David's new forum called 'Gearheadz'. If you like cars or trucks, come on over an sit a spell. Mr. David will return to TV on ESPN2 come March 07 and will 'flog the wee' out of Sgt Rock once it's been completed.
http://staceydavid.com/index.php?content=gearheadz
Three pix of some of my current toys...
Rossi 2" snubbie .357, Chinese NHM 91, Hungarian AMD65