Freind Accidently Shoots Self With .44 Magnum. Saved By Pocket Knife

[Wyatt Burp]

A few years ago I was looking at my buddy's 8 3/8" model 29. He also showed me a Safariland holster with the bottom blown out and a bent up pocket knife. While hunting, a tree branch cocked the gun and some how it went off. The bullet ricocheted off the knife in his pocket leaving him really bruised but OK. I don't know the make of knife at the moment but do know my friend always handloads at the highest power level he can get away with. I haven't talked to him lately but maybe I can get a photo of all this stuff.

 

[PLW45]

Wow! I would have peed my pants and thanked my guardian angel simultaneously. That's an incredible story.

 

[fat tom]

I'd steer clear of that guy. Might be dangerous to be around. After all,he used up ALL of his luck at once!
f.t.

 

[Zilmo]

Man, that just scares the hell out of me! One very lucky guy.

 

[Texas Star]

VERY strange, given the gun's design. He should have had a holster with a strap over the hammer. That he handloads a very powerful cartridge even hotter tells me that he may be a litle wild.

If he was wearing the holster far enough back on his belt, how could this happen?

Sorry: I'm not calling your friend a liar. I am saying that there is something funny here...

T-Star

 

[Wyatt Burp]

VERY strange, given the gun's design. He should have had a holster with a strap over the hammer. That he handloads a very powerful cartridge even hotter tells me that he may be a litle wild.

If he was wearing the holster far enough back on his belt, how could this happen?

Sorry: I'm not calling your friend a liar. I am saying that there is something funny here...

T-Star

He didn't say this, but maybe he adjusted the holster on his hip or something and it went off after having been cocked. As I recall the conversation I think he assumed the gun got cocked on some brush. The trigger guard is exposed on these holsters. He knows he did something stupid somehow and this ain't something he'd brag about.

 

[84CJ]

Would that have been a shoulder holster?
PICS would be cool.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Would that have been a shoulder holster?
PICS would be cool.

No, a strong side hip holster. I asked him if I could have it so I could use the sight rail, or what' was left of it, to make a holster for my own use. But he wanted to keep it. When I see him next I'll get a picture. And find out what kind of knife that was. Make a hellova commercial for that knife company!

 

[84CJ]

Sure would.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Talk about "takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'!" Glad only his pride was wounded.


Bullseye

 

[gunsmith11]

sounds like a lot of BS to me

 

[Wyatt Burp]

sounds like a lot of BS to me

What's "BS" stand for? Oh, that must be what you find under your sheets after a blind date in Round Rock, Texas.

 

[Marksman]

While elk hunting in Colorado thirty years ago, one of our Mexican guides came out of the tent and somehow stumbled into the tent rope. It snagged the spur of his Super Blackhawk's hammer and discharged a .44 Magnum through his thigh. Everyone around him damn near filled their shorts. That's the last thing you're expecting in the pre-dawn darkness in the middle of elk camp. He endured a very uncomfortable horseback ride to the trailhead, we got him to the nearest emergency room and the doctors got him patched up. To this day he still walks with a limp, a reminder of the accident long ago.

 

[gunsmith11]

Lets see, a twig accidently cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger, damn I wish I owned a twig that smart

 

[Texas Star]

Lets see, a twig accidently cocked the hammer and pulled the trigger, damn I wish I owned a twig that smart

I can see this with the Ruger SA, but not a DA Smith.

The proper holster will largely preclude it happening at all.

 

[tops]

Maybe the guy was trying to commit sucide and he is such a bad shot that he missed his head and hit his leg. Larry

 

[MTKTM]

Seems like a gun with an 8 3/8" barrel in a hip holster would have placed the muzzle low enough that it would have been unlikely to hit a pocket-knife......but stranger things have happened.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Seems like a gun with an 8 3/8" barrel in a hip holster would have placed the muzzle low enough that it would have been unlikely to hit a pocket-knife......but stranger things have happened.

As unlikely as it sounds, it did happen. I brought up the idea that he might of pulled the trigger himself AFTER it was cocked. I don't know. The conversation happened a long time ago. And Gunsmith11. I don't think a Lord Of The Rings walking tree monster did it. I just wanted to pass on a freak accident, maybe due to negligence, that I'd hate to see happen to someone else. It's not like I suggested Smith and Wesson were gay lovers or something. That would generate an argument for sure. It didn't cross my mind this bit of info would have sceptics. Oh well...

 

[Eagle 477]

Shouldn't the Hammer Block have prevented this from happening.... Pressure has to be on the trigger to allow it to fire...

Bob

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Shouldn't the Hammer Block have prevented this from happening.... Pressure has to be on the trigger to allow it to fire...

Bob

Yep. So pressure must have been put on the trigger. The gun is in perfect mechanical condition. However it could happen is the way it did happen. I don't think you're doubting the story, Bob, but others are. No matter. Even if this "accident" never occured the doubters will no doubt keep an eye on their holstered guns in the future. A little bit at least . So maybe this thing that didn't happen won't happen to them, too.