Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967

Seems to have originated in california... or at least thrived here, with lead ammunition being banned statewide, initially to protect condors. The ban was emplaced incrementally over a period of several years. About eleven years ago, I read a local on-line news article about how condor deaths were elevated and that hunters were to blame. I submitted this response: Several minutes later I received this response: "Your post contains offensive content and will not be posted. You may edit the content and re-post." So much for "free speech" and open minds.

Ya know... that was something like fifty-two years ago; memory tends to be a mite fuzzled. But I think the reel was a Garcia Mitchell 320 - picture below. As I said, it was stolen about 1975 or '76 when some lowly bilgerat broke into my Otto, my '73 Super Beetle, and swiped it - along with a bunch of other cool stuff. So - what piqued the memory of what it was? Something actually kinda cool! One of my old frat pards, "Stewballs," and I decided we wanted to take up surf fishing. But we were both starving college students, and not blessed with a pile of expendable cash. So, we decided to go in partners on a surf rig. I had admired the Garcia Mitchell 302 - a huge saltwater version of the reel I already had, the 320! So, I bought the reel, and Bobbo bought some generic but functional rod and we were off and fishing. Now, I actually lusted after a particular rod - a 12' Fenwick PS 120 surf rod. Man... I Jonesed for that rod! A perfect mate to the Garcia Mitchell 302! Alas... it was not to be. But we made do, and fun was had! Life goes on, and Stewballs and I eventually went our separate ways. And he had - and likely still has - the reel and rod. I think I last saw it about 1977. Of course, I have acquired others since then.... So jump ahead thirty-five years - 2012. I was sitting at home alone one night, sipping on a nice whiskey, and reminiscing about fun times. Fun times fishing! And on a whim, I popped onto Ebay and punched in Garcia Mitchell 302 - and there it was~! Reasonably priced*, so I punched the button and a week later it was here! I spent a few evenings fondling that reel, and dreaming about the "good old days." Then I put it away, and put it out of my mind. Another jump - to 2020. Sassparilla Kid and I were visiting a buddy, Bobby Stargaard. Sadly, Bobby is no longer with us, but he was a terrific guy - and loved fishing. Trout fishing! Nothing else, though! So we were hanging out in Bobby's shop, and as we were leaving, he turned to The Kid and said, "Hey, Ry - one of my clients gave me an old fishing rod, and I ain't got no use for it- want it?" "Why sure, Bobby!" sez the kid, and graciously accepted the somewhat long parcel. And, when we got home, he casually unwrapped it. And of course, there it was - an apparently never used, 1974 vintage, Fenwick PS 120 surf rod! I was stunned! The kid smiled, and said "Gee, Dad ~ now I just need a reel!" I grinned, said "wait here," and moseyed off to a closet - then returned a moment later and handed him that Garcia Mitchell 302. When I told him the story, he was totally jazzed. As was I! I never owned my dream surf combo, by by golly, my kid does! And has enjoyed the heck out of it. *There are right now a bunch of GM302 reels on Ebay; relatively inexpensive - hundred bucks or less. I saw one Fenwick PS120; damaged and repaired - $150) Garcia Mitchell 320 Garcia Mitchell 302 .

I'd read this years ago, but from "Wiki:" The "brand" was later replaced by the Ted Williams marque.... Ted was a real person, too - a decorated WW II and Korean War fighter pilot (Navy), who also appeared on the Wheaties box and even played a little baseball once in a while.

"Monkey" [Montgomery] Wards Montgomery Ward carried a line of firearms under the Western Field brand that were made by Savage/Stevens, Mossberg, Marlin, Glenfield, Springfield, High Standard and others, including European built Mausers. Some were actually pretty darned decent! 1960's vintage Western Field 724A Mauser-Mannlicher .30-06. Manufactured in West Germany by Heym, and sold by Montgomery Wards:

I just Googled 'im and all sorts of stuff popped right up.... 😐

Got an email advertisement from Sportsman's Warehouse this morning, hawking a "terrific" sale with up to 60% on fishing gear. So naturally, I checked it out. And one thing that immediately caught my eye was a "Lamson Guru" fly fishing reel for the bargain price of... $239.99. Wow. I took up fly fishing back in the 1960's. And I was fortunate to have the tutelage of a number of old-timers who sadly are no longer with us (but they'd be WELL over a hunnert - even over a hunnert and twenty - years old if they were). And obviously, we had a lot of conversations about equipment; the relative benefits of bamboo vs fiberglas rods (graphite rods weren't even science fiction yet), line material, reels, and so forth. Oh... and of course, fly tying. Now, on the subject of reels, there was a generally accepted philosophy: the reel was nothing more than storage for the line. The line was considered the most important component of the rig; next, the rod, and lastly the reel. Those gentlemen would snort derisively at the mention of expensive reels. Some of them had really nice, handmade rods from Abercrombie & Fitch or Orvis, but with cheap, simple reels hanging from the butts. "That's all ya need! Want to put on some drag? Just lay your pinkie on the spool edge!" Heck... I don't think I spent ten bucks on my first fly reel - and still have it! I've added some "nicer" ones to the collection over the years, but now that I'm an old fart myownself, I too snort derisively at the thought of a reel "marked down" to a mere two hundred forty bucks. Not to mention the ones with a comma on the price tag! So, that all said, it got me to reminiscing. And of course, when thinking about fly fishing, Badger Mountain Charlie naturally comes to mind right quickly. He is missed. AND I had saved the link to a thread from seven and a half years ago.... 2017 BMC Thread A young Hardpan, over 50 years ago - not fly fishing; using a 1/4 oz silver Kastmaster on six-lb Trilene line on a perfectly adequate but nameless, long-forgotten Long's Drug Store spinning rod and reel (later stolen). Half-Breed Pete, his brother Mike, and I had snuck into "Fishing Strictly Prohibeted!" Whale Rock Reservoir. The fishing was good, and we even escaped the rangers in a foot race outta there! Wisely, common sense has long since prevailed, and that reservoir has open to fishing for quite some time.

One in particular: Emperor Gavin Newsom.

Tom, what are ye wanting done? I'm a long way off and it's too danged hot to fire up the forge anyway, but just wonderin'....

My maternal grandmother was a Richmond Shipyard welder....

So everone knows the RCBS Rock Chucker. Most of us prob'ly own at least one (I do NOT), and even if we don't, we've likely used one at some time. Neat li'l machines. I have multiple single-stage presses around the scatter, but no Rock Chucker. Never needed one. Never even thought about buying one - but if some decrepit ol' unit should follow me home some day I'd happily re-hab it and maybe even use it. That said, during a discussion about 'em this afternoon a question arose: will they reload the .50 BMG? I have no experience with that round, and no idea if they will or not. But when I asked the question of the Googlefier, a number of conflicting opinions pop up. Well? Anyone here have the definitive answer? And otherwise, general opinions of the 'Chucker~?

How 'bout Raymond Burr as American reporter Steve Martin in the 1956 original Godzilla movie, "Godzilla - King of the Monsters!"

Watched that just last night. Interesting beast!

Good thing you don't live in Sacramento.... sa

How 'bout George Carlin as The Conductor on "Thomas the Tank Engine?" https://i.imgur.com/i9xWl5x.mp4

John Wayne, in "Wake Of the Red Witch!"

Octopuses, Pat... octopuses. While “octopi” has become popular in modern usage, it’s wrong. Octopi is the oldest plural form of octopus, coming from the belief that Latin origins should have Latin endings. However, octopus is not a simple Latin word, but a Latinized form of the Greek word októpus - from októ, eight, and pódia, feet. Consequently, its “correct” plural form would logically be octopodes. However, “Octopuses” gives the word an English ending to match its adoption as an English word. Generally, when a noun enters into English, it is pluralized as an English word rather than in its original form. Octopuses may sound peculiar to some, but this is the preferred plural. (I once ran afoul of an otherwise kindly old English professor) You're welcome!

Remember General Burkhalter of Hogan's Heroes? And his scars...?

The idea took. In 1929, to celebrate twenty-one years of Scouting, Scouts world-wide took up a collection of small donations to buy Lord Robert Baden-Powell (the father of Scouting) a gift. When asked what he'd like, lore has it, he replied that he only wished for a new pair of braces (suspenders). Imagine his surprise when at the World Jamboree he was presented with a brand-new Rolls-Royce automobile and an Eccles-built "caravan" (travel trailer). He promptly named the car "Jam Roll" (cute, huh?) and the trailer "Eccles Cake." The Gift

When I was a li'l kid that was "One-Eyed Toast." Served with cold milk in a plastic cowboy boot mug.

And I wuz justifiably impressed.

Nicely done! Worthy of wearing proudly!

There, Alpo... fixed it for ya. Reminds me of ol' Howard. Howard loved sailing; he was always trying to invite himself along on other folk's boats. For some odd reason, no one ever thought themselves to invite ol' Howard. Anyway, due to a "change in family circumstances" and having to move from the li'l "rancho" to an apartment in town, I had to find a home for my Cal 2-24. So I offered her to Howard - with the proviso that he had to secure a berth for her at the local lake, as she was "dry-docked" on a borrowed trailer, which had to be returned. So, Howard rented the berth, we hauled the boat to the lake, and launched her. The plan was that I would lend Howard a li'l 3-hp auxilary outboard, we'd motor around to the marina, and erect the tabernacle-equipped mast en route. Simple enough. Until I heard the first sploosh, followed by Howard's "Oops," as he was securing the starboard-side shrouds. "Uh... what was that, Howard?" "My wife's cell phone." Sploosh. "Oops..." Damn. "What was THAT, Howard?" "Uh... one of your wrenches." Sploosh. "Oops..." "NOW what??" "Uh... part of one of the turnbuckles. But that's okay! I saw a box of spares below!" Except that they were all right-hand threaded turnbuckles; the one that went into the drink was the only left-hand threadded 'buckle on the boat. I had to drive that boy on a 250+ mile round trip to the nearest West Marine in Stockton to buy a replacement. There were further Howard adventures, but that's enough for now.

Anyone here familiar with this outfit? Bear Creek Arsenal Sassparilla Kid "built" an AR- type rifle a few year ago in 6.5 Grendel. On a whim I did a quick Google search last night just to see what an upper in that caliber would cost - and this came up. At $253.08, it seems mighty inexpensive to me ~ honestly or suspiciously so? https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/6-5-grendel-20-parkerized-1-8-twist-rifle-15-handguard-sch2-nrail-spiral-flash-upper.html#reviews