Sad story here, folks.

I was visiting a friend on his ranch today. His wife’s ranch, actually—he just gets to live there!

She was out on a large mower, doing the mowing thing. She carries his 22/32 Kit Gun filled with shot shells to dispatch any rattlers she might come across. Although he gave her a nice holster, she was rather casual about her method of carry, just tossing it in a bag. The other day, she felt something hit one of her feet, then heard a huge CRUNCH from the mower disc. She stopped and backed the mower up, and found this....

Attached Images

31C56AA3-9A7D-4837-BA13-253F389A2D45.jpg (139.9 KB, 1816 views)

Was the gun already corroded and rusted? That revolver looks like it had been exposed to the elements a long time.

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Possum—The other white meat!

A sad story indeed, and destruction is destruction; but annihilation is another matter all together----rendering remains essentially unrecognizable.

I'm guessing the mower you're talking about cuts at a prescribed height above the ground, leaving the cut material all in one piece---as would be the case mowing a lawn or cutting grass for hay. One of mine is a flail mower----the business end being a rotor 5 1/2" in diameter, 88" long, carrying 48 knives in four rows spaced such that NOTHING within that 88" span remains recognizable as to its original form once the mower has passed over it. The mower is powered by the power take-off shaft at the rear of the tractor. It's turning at 560 rpm, driving the rotor through a gearbox at 1900 rpm. The resulting blade tip speed of each of those 48 knives is 8,705 mph. The use of this diabolical machine is to clear vegetation of pretty much any height, leaving behind what looks almost exactly like the surface of a golf course----covered with a whole bunch of tiny, little pieces of whatever used to be there----but is no more.

Ralph Tremaine

Looks like the yoke, rear sight and maybe the barrel, are salvageable. Guessing all the small parts were scattered when the mower blade scalped the sideplate? The rest could go in a shadow box to display how not to carry a revolver.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I did that, with a Ruger Speed Six. It was carried in a leather paddle holster, which came apart at the paddle attachment.

I was bush hogging at the time, the revolver went under the cutter, and was promptly disassembled completely. The gun fired twice, during the event.

I collected the pieces, and thinking about Ruger's wonderful reputation, of honoring warranties, half heartedly thought about sending it to them for "repair". A bit much, so didn't do it.

I still miss that revolver, my favorite field gun.

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NRA Instructor

Hi-Point would have sent you back a new gun. I know, you think I'm joking but I am not. You can literally cut one in half and they'll replace it under their warranty.

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GOA FL Dir. & Nat. Spokesman

Hmmmmm... that's not going to buff out.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Are her mower blades okay?

Pretty stupid to handle a gun in such a cavalier manner.

Mistakes and accidents happen. Everybody can't do every thing perfect every time. The best we can do is try not too make the same mistake again. Buy another gun and get on with life. Larry

That is an excellent poster for the importance of a well made, well fitting and quality holster.

Amazing that folks spend as much money on handguns as they do and then go find the cheapest *** to carry it in.

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LEX ET ORDO

A gun to kill snakes while riding a mower? The mower would be much more lethal than shot loads.

It sounds like that Ruger at least went out fighting! You’ve gotta respect that in a gun. We frequently hear about guns not being able to fire themselves or do any damage without human intervention, but this may be the exception to the rule. I hope it has received suitable honors and recognition.

Froggie

No, he dismantled it and all the internal parts seem to be okay. I just didn’t bother showing them.

It was a pretty nice shooter, but no museum piece, before its trip through the mower. He has a second one in excellent shape. She won’t get that one.

I would mount the "remains" in a shadow box and hang it on the wall above her side of the bed as a reminder. OK, maybe not the bedroom but some other prominent place where it would be a reminder to handle firearms responsibly.

Your not married are you!

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Don Mundell

Or if you are, you may not be for long - if that's actually how you operate...

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Not any more. Maybe it was me after all.

Elon Musk says that is called 'a very rapid unplanned dis-assembly' each time one of his space ships blows up. Sorta applies here on a much smaller scale.
He also says 'however, we learned a valuable lesson here today'.
Sorta applies here too.
... Regards - Donald

The first thing that occurs to me too is that the gun in question looks like it was in pretty poor condition before it went under the mower.

I guess it's not my business, but I just don't understand how some people treat their guns.

Looks like a parts gun to me.

Doesn't look any worse than the
13-2 I bent back in shape.

Does he want to sell it?

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never get out of the boat

On the bright side, you and she get to shop for a new gun.

Looks like the job the government did on some Victory models. Ken L?

I've got a couple that have a finish looks the finish on one that was disassembled by the mower.

BUT, I bought them thataway. The chambers and bores are them in fine condition though.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I did the same thing with a ruger .32 hr mag. But I got lucky,the only thing damaged was the grip frame and grips. The bush hog hit the grips and frame and kicked it out before anymore damage. New frame and grips and I’m back in business.

I have a model 17 that I picked up at a gun shop years ago, was rusty pitted and really nasty looking. The grips were broken, and I am pretty sure a previous owner had quite literally used it as a hammer at one time. The bore and chambers were clean though, so I had a layer of cerakote slapped on it, bought some Pachmyer's and never looked back. Gun prints clover leaves at 15 yards with any brand of ammo and always says BANG when I drop the hammer. I don't remember exactly, what I paid for that gun, but I do know it is worth way more that I paid. Sometimes wish more people treated their guns that way, but that's probably my stingy nature coming out.

that would be grounds for divorce where I grew up....

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Merle, retired
western PA

The DIVORCE becomes final today.... and then she backed over it for a second shot at it. What do you want to bet that it some how became his fault.

Man that is a shame. I'm fairly active with mountainbiking, hiking, backpacking, fishing, hunting, etc., and I'm always paranoid about a pistol coming loose. My nightmare is having it not found and me endlessly searching, but this is a good second. Also, kudos to them for clearly purchasing one hell of a lawnmower, the one I had to use mowing our lawn as a kid couldn't survive a toy truck left out.

A little cold blue and it will be fine.

“Sell that collectable revolver and give me half.”

Rub some dirt on it??? Maybe get her a short rifle or .410 that rides in a scabbard on the mower. Would be easier for her to notice if it vibrated out.

Yeah, but you'd still have a Hi-Point.

My brother ran his wife's lady Smith thru his snow blower, he leaned over for some reason and it fell out of his pocket. He heard it go thru, and sent it back to Smith & Wesson. I don't remember if they repair it or replace it but he still has it. Now you wonder why someone carries while removing snow from the driveway. He carries all the time, lives in the country by and Interstate Highway and has a problem with drifters on his property all the time.
SWCA 892

I carry whenever I'm outside as well. I've killed several rabid raccoons and have had coyotes on the property as well. We also have rattlers and copperheads and have seen a bear about a 1/2 mile from the house. I don't want to shoot a bear, but maybe a shot or two might scare one away if it got too close.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I'm just impressed that his wife understands the need to carry while mowing/doing chores.

After my Wife took it out of the shadow box, I would need (in order)...

1) A Gastroenterologist for the colonoscopy, and
2) An Attorney for the divorce.

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Danny
SWCA #3370 - SWHF #672

*
I don't wonder in the least why one carries under those conditions; I would wonder why they didn't. That's not even a close call.
I do wonder about using such a poor carry method that the revolver can be lost from your control so easily.

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NHI, 10-8.

My dad is a TV repair man. He has this awesome set of tools. I think I can fix it.

I pocket carry everywhere, in the house, in town, around my property and when I mow too. I’ve killed numerous moccasins over the years. Had a small rattler in my old shop once and have killed a few copperheads too. Never got bit but my first weimaraner got nailed. He was a huge dog, his face swelled up nasty but the vet fixed him up and he was ok. Max was 13 when he died. Best dog I’ve ever owned. I won’t hurt a nonpoisonous snake as they do serve a purpose.

I'm thinking that there's a blonde joke hiding somewhere...

I know this is a terrible idea, and I hate my self for thinking it..............but
I would cut it in half, (as per ATF regulations) and sell it for twice what its worth as a parts kit

Looks like a job for JB Weld....

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

And at pandemic/panic prices, what a deal!

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

That is really a sad picture. Blued steel and walnut is becoming an endangered species...

She doesn't live on the mower. It's like when my aged mother once questioned why I always carry. I told her, should I only carry it when I need it, 'cuz I don't know when that will be.

Bless its little runned over heart . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

It's a sad event but at least nobody was physically injured, after all if you drop a loaded firearm into something big and spinning you have the risk of rounds going off as well as chunks kicked back up at you.

Another vote here for sell the parts, somebody might have an old I/J frame they want to convert... oh, and let me know when you list them! :-)

Can you post some pictures of the kit gun from the side? It looks like the frame is bent, but it may not be completely ruined.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!