The death of a Kit Gun...

[Pantera Mike]

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....

 

[6518John]

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

 

[rct269]

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

 

[StrawHat]

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

 

[JohnK]

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.

 

[Miami_JBT]

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.

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.

 

[stansdds]

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

 

[jeffrefrig]

Are her mower blades okay?

 

[sodacan]

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

 

[tops]

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

 

[lawandorder]

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.

 

[ol777gunnerz]

Karma

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

 

[Green Frog]

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.

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

 

[Pantera Mike]

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

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.

 

[mckenney99]

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.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

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!

 

[BC38]

Your not married are you!

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

 

[mckenney99]

Your not married are you!

Not any more. Maybe it was me after all.

 

[Donald Paul]

CRUNCH:

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

 

[Patrick L]

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.