What are the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions?

The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, respectively authored by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, were responses to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, which were enacted during the Quasi-War with the French Republic.  This was an undeclared naval war that resulted from economic considerations of the Jay Treaty with Britain that followed the American declaration of neutrality and further inflamed a French government already upset by America's refusal to pay its war debt under the auspices that the obligation was to the French monarchy, not the Republic.  Consequently, the French began seizing American ships that were trading with Britain and Congress issued "An Act further to protect the commerce of the United States" which authorized military action against France.

The Polish P-64 for Concealed Carry

Last year, I mentioned the Polish P-64 in "Defensive Firearms for Tight Budgets".  The P-64 is an attractive,  compact pistol in 9mm Makarov caliber that can be acquired at a bargain price (sometimes less than $200).  Resembling a Walther PPK and occasionally mistaken for a Makarov, perhaps due to its chambering, the P-64 is a double action, blowback pistol with a design that is distinct from both.   Accurate and reliable, with good fit and finish, an overall length of 6.3 inches, and a weight of 22 ounces, the P-64 is attractive for concealed carry.

Cigarette Tins Vs. Cases

Recently, I picked up cigarette tin emblazoned with the Daughters & Ryan Ramback logo.  D&R is known for quality tobacco and I use Ramback king sized filter tubes almost exclusively when I use a table top injector to make my own cigarettes.  The cigarette tin has a bold appearance that matches the packaging  of Ramback tubes and I picked one up for the heck of it, perhaps out of brand loyalty.

The Parker Project

Note: The following article was written by my friend, William "Butch" Reid, an accomplished trap shooter who has graciously provided it for readers of this Blog.

Three days before my forty fifth birthday,  I finally acquired a true, American classic. After years of searching for a fine double that my budget could endure I am now the proud owner of a Parker Brothers V grade side by side in 16 gauge. On my routine weekend searches at the local gun dealers, I stumbled upon this little diamond in the rough setting on a shelf behind the counter, out of public reach. 

I recognized the Parker screw pattern on the bottom of the receiver and inquired if it was for sale. As luck would have it, the gun was available and When it was handed to me, I knew it would be mine. As I held it, I marveled at its light weight and graceful lines which were marked by a thin receiver and barrels that make it feel like a natural extension of the body that balances exactly between the hands, just as it should.  The Parker side by side is fast swinging and perfect as a flushing game gun. 

Ugly Guns

Note: The following article was written by my friend, William "Butch" Reid, a skilled, competitive trap shooter.  He has graciously shared it for readers of this Blog and it is hoped that he will become a regular contributor.

My love affair with the scattergun started at the grand old age of 12 when I became the sole inheritor of a 1950’s era Stevens 311 side by side.  This blocky, heavy, and unbalanced gun was complete with double triggers and chokes tight enough to head shoot hummingbirds at 40 yards. This was the gun that I learned to wing shoot with.

These painful lessons began on the opening day of dove season. Our yearly allowance of hunting was on opening day at my great-uncle, Newman Ferguson's farm in Sedalia, North Carolina: a small, 65 acre farm that held just enough cut corn for a decent day of hunting.

Am I Carrying a Semi-automatic Pistol when I Should Be Carrying a Revolver?

Nowadays, many seem to look down upon the old double action revolver.  While they may consider it to be a good "starter handgun" for a novice because it is simple to operate, they prefer semi-automatics-- 1911s, Berettas, Glocks, SIGS-- the list could go on and on.  They like the advantages these pistols offer such as a flat profile, magazine capacity, and fast reloads; they may also prefer a certain trigger, such as that of he single action 1911.  While semi-automatic pistols can provide advantages, many who carry them would be better served carrying a revolver.

Gambler Tube Cut Full Flavor Cigarette Tobacco

While I most often purchase pipe cut tobaccos due to their attractive prices, I bought a 1 and 1/2 ounce a bag of Gambler Tube Cut full flavor cigarette tobacco today to tide me over until I could get to the tobacco shop that I prefer to do business with.  This tobacco, which is sold by several local retailers, is distributed by Republic Tobacco, L.P. which is well known for products under the Top, Drum, and 4 Aces labels that includes injectors, rollers, cigarette papers, and cigarette and pipe tobaccos. 

What Caliber is Best for Concealed Carry?

The best caliber for concealed carry is determined by the size of the handgun that must be carried and the amount of recoil that the shooter can effectively control.  Special conditions and circumstances might require the use of very small handguns and/or light calibers such as the .22 Long Rifle, .25 ACP, and .32 ACP, but they are generally regarded as poor defensive cartridges due to poor penetration, small wound

The Best "Lady's Gun"

Historically, the term "lady's gun" has been applied to rather small handguns using cartridges of relatively low power, such as the .22 Short, .22 Long Rifle, ..25 ACP, and 32 S&W Long.  Usually cute and petite, sometimes gaudy or garish, and occasionally cheap pieces of junk, traditional "ladies' guns" have not consistently demonstrated the effectiveness and reliability necessary for self defense.  Sadly, many ladies have had these types of handguns foist upon them by well meaning

What is the Best Handgun for Concealed Carry?

What is the best handgun for concealed carry?  This question is queried on the Web, asked in gun shops, posed on the range, and presented during concealed handgun classes. It seems to be a rather simple question but it produces responses that are as diverse as the needs, expertise, preferences, and financial resources of those who answer it.  This yields radically different recommendations that can include  diminutive, modestly priced, polymer framed pistols like the Kel Tec P-32 and Ruger LCP; small framed revolvers like the Smith & Wesson Chief's Special (Model 36) and Taurus Model 85 that have become concealed carry classics; pistols reflecting a police or military heritage like the Glock 19 and  various 1911s (some of which cost a king's ransom), and just about everything in between.  This leads one to wonder if there really is a "best" handgun for concealed carry and if so, what is it?

William Alexander Cunningham, Private, Company E, 1st Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry

Author's Note:  William Alexander Cunningham was the brother-in-law of my great-great-great uncle, Cicero Fidello Turner.

William Alexander Cunningham, son of George and Susan Rieves Cunningham and brother-in-law of Cicero Fidello Turner, was born in Franklin County, North Carolina on January 29, 1843.  On June 8, 1861, at the age of 18, he enlisted as a private in Company E of the 9th Regiment, North Carolina State Troops (1st Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry), in Granville County, North Carolina, for the duration of the war. Wounded in the right leg and captured on June 9, 1863, at Brandy Station, he was admitted to the Prince Street U.S.A. General Hospital at Alexandria, Virginia on June 10, 1863 and the Lincoln U.S.A. General Hospital at Washington, D.C. on August 4, 1863. On August 22, 1863, he was transferred to Baltimore, Maryland, where he was paroled on August 23, 1863 and delivered at City Point, Virginia on August 24, 1863. Following his exchange, he was reported first at Petersburg Hospital and then later at home, wounded in the leg. William is listed on the Roll of Honor for his service during the battle at Brandy Station, Virginia.  

Joshua Overton, Private, Company G, 47th North Carolina Infantry (N.C.T.)

Author's Note: Joshua Overton was my great-great-great uncle by marriage.

The husband of Elizabeth Ann Turner (born July 22, 1841; died March 7, 1911; daughter of James Patrick Henry Turner and Margaret Elizabeth Hunt Turner, sister of Lysander Turner), Joshua Overton served as a private in Company C, Mallet’s Battalion (Camp Guard) before being transferred to Company G of the 47th North Carolina Infantry (Lysander Turner's company and regiment), on or about June 15, 1864. Joshua was wounded at Reams Station, Virginia, on or about August 25, 1864. Captured at or near Burgess Mill, Virginia, on October 27, 1864, he was imprisoned at Point Lookout, Maryland on October 31, 1864 and was released on June 3, 1865, after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

Cicero Fidello Turner, Private, Company D, 66th North Carolina Infantry

Author's Note: Cicero Fidello Turner, brother of my great-great grandfather, Lysander Turner, was my great-great-great uncle.

 A son of James Patrick Henry Turner and Margaret Elizabeth Hunt Turner and brother of Lysander Turner, Cicero Fidello Turner, known as “Roe” to family members, was born in 1845.  Enlisting on September 20, 1863, at the age of 17, in Granville County, North Carolina, for the duration of the War, Cicero served as a private in Company D of the 66th North Carolina Infantry.  Cicero was listed absent without leave on the company muster roll for September and October 1863. On September 30, 1864 he received a sick furlough at the General Hospital at Camp Winder, Richmond Virginia; his destination was listed as "Kittrells," North Carolina.

Captured by the Union near Kinston, North Carolina on March 10, 1865, following the Battle of South West Creek (March 8-10, 1865), Cicero arrived at New Berne, on March 16, 1865, and was transferred to Point Lookout, Maryland. He was released at Point Lookout on June 21, 1865 after taking the Oath of Allegiance.

Henry Gray Turner, Captain, Company H, 23rd North Carolina Regiment (N.C.T.)

 Author's Note: Henry Gray Turner was a first cousin of my great-great grandfather, Lysander Turner.

Henry Gray Turner, a brother of Vines Edmunds Turner and a first cousin of Lysander Turner, was born March 20, 1839.  Enrolled as a freshman at the University of North Carolina in June, 1857, he was prevented from joining his class due to illness.  As a result, he entered the University of Virginia at Charlottesville but was unable to complete his education due to financial distress brought upon his family by the death of his father in December, 1857. Thus, Henry went to Alabama and accepted temporary employment as a schoolteacher, prior to becoming Principal of the Piscola Academy in Brooks County, Georgia in 1859.

Vines Edmunds Turner, Assistant Quartermaster (Captain), 23rd North Carolina Regiment (N.C.T.)

Author's Note:  Vines Edmunds Turner was a first cousin of my great-great grandfather, Lysander Turner.

Vines Edmunds Turner, a son of Archibald Adams Turner (born May 23, 1810; died December 27, 1857) and Mary Anne Howze (dates of birth, death, and their marriage unknown) and a first cousin of Lysander Turner, was born on January 21, 1837. Graduating from the Baltimore Dental College in 1858, he practiced dentistry in Henderson, North Carolina until the outbreak of the War Between the States, when he enlisted in Company G of the 23^rd North Carolina Regiment, the “Granville Rifles,” at the age of twenty-four.  

Elected 3^rd Lieutenant on June 11, 1861, Vines was present with the Company until appointed Adjutant on or about May 10, 1862 and transferred to the Field and Staff of the Regiment.  On June 26, 1862, at the Battle of Mechanicsville, Virginia, his horse was killed, falling upon him and inflicting minor injury. Wounded in the leg at Gaines’ Mill (also called First Cold Harbor), Virginia on June 27, 1862, he returned to duty on or about August 1, 1862. On or about April 25, 1863, he was appointed Assistant Quartermaster (Captain) of the Regiment. On September 30, 1864, he was appointed Assistant Quartermaster of General Jubal A. Early’s Division and transferred.  By the end of the War, he was serving on the staff of General James A. Walker.

Following the War, in 1865, Vines resumed his practice of dentistry at Henderson, North Carolina. In 1866, he was present at a meeting intended to reorganize the State dental association, which was originally created in 1856.  In 1871, he moved to Raleigh. In 1875, when the dental association was ultimately reorganized, becoming the North Carolina Dental Society, he was elected First Vice President. In 1876 and again in 1888, he was elected president of this organization. In 1878, Vines was present at a meeting of the Society that appointed a committee which, he stated, was to “…secure such legislative enactment as might be beneficial to the profession and to the public;” he was appointed Chairman of this committee. When legislation was passed creating the North Carolina State Dental Examining Board in 1879, he was appointed to this board and elected Chairman, an office which he held for thirty-one years. Vines also became president of the Southern Dental Association in 1881, Vice President of the American Dental Congress in 1887, President of the National Dental Association from 1904 to 1906, President of the Jamestown Dental Convention in 1907, and President of the National Dental Association in 1908. In 1913, he was appointed as one of three members of the United States Navy Reserve Board.

Vines married Zena H. Lassiter (dates of birth, death, and their marriage unknown); no children were produced by this marriage. Later, he married Love Gales Root (dates of birth, death, and their marriage unknown) and they had three children: Charles Root Turner (born 1875, died June 11, 1947), Mary Archer Turner (born June 4, 1878; died October 16, 1967), and Henry Gray Turner (born 1883, date of death unknown).

Two written works are credited to Vines Turner. The first, “Twenty-third Regiment” (co-authored with Sergeant H.C. Wall), appeared in Histories of the Several Regiments and battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-’65, which was edited by Walter Clark (Lieutenant Colonel, Seventieth Regiment, N.C.T.) and published in 1901. The second, “North Carolina State Dental Society and Dental Surgery in North Carolina,” appeared in Koch’s History of Dental Surgery, which was published in 1908 and reprinted, upon his death, by the North Carolina Dental Society. Vines Turner died on May 11, 1914 at 2:00 a.m.  He is buried at Raleigh, North Carolina.

Lysander Turner, 2nd Sergeant, Company G, 47th Regiment, North Carolina Infantry (N.C.T.)

Author's Note: Lysander Turner was my great-great grandfather.  I descend from him through Mary  Turner and Samuel Fletcher White, Wilmer Burton and Agnes Finison White, and Nancy White and Edgar Ray Green. 

Born in Granville County, North Carolina, in 1835, Lysander Turner was one of the seven children of James Patrick Henry Turner (born around 1806, date of death unknown) and Margaret Elizabeth Hunt (date of birth unknown, died around 1860), who were married August 6, 1832.  Lysander’s brothers were Lemon Thales Turner (born October 28, 1833; died August 7, 1903), Cicero Fidello Turner (born 1845, died 1914), Patrick Henry Turner (born February 8, 1849; died March 14, 1915), and Lewis Baws Turner (born 1855, died 1914).  His sisters were Louisa Anna Turner (born around 1839, date of death unknown), Elizabeth Ann (or Anna) Turner (born July 22, 1841, died March 7, 1911), and Margaret Henrietta Turner (dates of birth and death unknown).

Top-O-Matic T2 Update

Back in January, I started using a Top-O-Matic T2 tabletop cigarette injector.  After fourteen weeks of daily service, this machine has injected around 10,000 cigarettes (mostly with Cherokee, Riverside and 4 Aces pipe cut tobaccos and Windsail, Ramback, and Premier tubes) and has proven reliable and robust.  Most of these cigarettes have been King Sized but a carton of 100s was made without any difficulty.  Thus far, only a few  torn and improperly filled tubes (perhaps one quarter of one percent) have been experienced.  These have been due to operator error rather than any fault with the injector and most were salvaged. 

Cigarette Cases from Improvised to Extravagant are Practical Necessities for MYO and RYO Smokers

The use of cigarette cases is not very common amongst those who smoke ready made cigarettes, perhaps in part because it is time consuming to remove smokes from a perfectly serviceable package in order to put them into a case.  When they are used, it is often due to utility (to keep cigarettes from being crushed in certain environments), convenience (many cases are thinner and more convenient to carry than cigarette pack), vanity (cases range from simple to flamboyant), and perhaps even discretion in an intolerant society that is ever hostile towards the use of tobacco.

Are Revolvers Really More Dependable than Semi-automatic Pistols for Defense?

While semi-automatic pistols continually proved themselves suitable for military service in ordnance tests and combat during much of the Twentieth Century, revolvers remained weapons of choice for the majority of American police who seemed reluctant to depend on "jam-a-matics" that could fail at a critical moment.  Even now, though the transition to semi-automatics, which began in the 1980s, is largely complete, a few law enforcement agencies still permit revolvers to be carried on duty while a smattering still issue them.  Are double action

4 Aces Turkish & Blended Pipe Tobacco

4 Aces Turkish & Blended Pipe Tobacco is a product of Republic Tobacco, L.P. which is well known for products under the Top, Gambler, and Drum labels.  Recently, I noticed a buy one get one free promo on this tobacco at a local retailer.  Two .75 ounce pouches for $1.59 did not seem to be a terrible risk so I decided to try it. 

When I am familiar with a particular tobacco, I prefer to buy it in larger quantities to get a better value.  However, it is disheartening to buy a pound of tobacco to find that you really do not like it.  Hence, I appreciate it when tobacco manufacturers offer pouches that can be sampled without substantial commitment. 

Concealed Carry Mistakes

Those who carry concealed handguns should be competent in their use.  Competence encompasses the whole spectrum of operation (safety, accuracy, drawing, holstering, reloading, and clearing malfunctions) which determines the effectiveness with which handguns are employed during deadly force encounters.  Experienced shooters and novices are often guilty of at least one of five fairly common mistakes that compromise this scope of competence, thus limiting the effectiveness of their concealed handguns.  Fortunately, these mistakes are rather simple to address.

Riverside Mellow Pipe Tobacco is Good and Attractively Priced

Several cigarette manufacturers market attractively priced tobaccos suitable for roll your own (RYO) and make your own (MYO) applications. S&M Brands of Keysville, Va., producer of Bailey's cigarettes, is no exception. This company also makes the affordable, Riverside brand of cigarettes and offers pipe cut tobacco under this label. Locally, it is available for $5.49 for a six ounce bag and $9.99 for a one pound bag; a current promotion provides instantly redeemable coupons for $.50 off of the smaller bag and $1.00 off of the larger bag.

Concealed Carry: Are Ultra-small, Ultralight, and Ultra-concealable Handguns Worthwhile?

Since the 1990s, legal concealed carry has increased dramatically and so has the demand for ultra-small, ultralight, and ultra-concealable handguns that are more powerful than ever in comparison to their respective sizes. Many are well made, reflect current technology, and state of the art polymers and alloys are often incorporated in their manufacture. Varying as much in size, weight, caliber, as they do in price and quality, most needs, tastes, and budgets can be accommodated. This is good from the standpoint that the pistol in your pocket is far better than one that was left at home but what is traded for convenience; is it worth it?

Traditionally, the smallest handguns came in the tiniest of calibers (e.g. .22 Short, .22 Long Rifle, and .25 ACP) which did not offer much stopping power. Now, pistols practically the same size as the smallest ones of yesteryear are available for more powerful rounds like the .32 and .380 ACP. Such small packages may provide grips with little purchase, awkward controls, and miniscule sights that are difficult to acquire. Greater power generally increases recoil and muzzle blast. This combination can compromise control and accuracy which will impair critical combat functions such as follow-up shots, reloading, and jam clearing.

Larger "pocket pistols" were traditionally chambered for such cartridges as the .32 ACP, .32 S&W Long, .380 ACP, .38 S&W, and .38 Special. Now, pistols and revolvers of similar size are chambered for much more powerful rounds including the 9mm Luger, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP, which makes their milder mannered predecessors seem obsolete. With larger controls and better sights, these handguns are much easier to operate than their tiny, Lilliputian counterparts; however, significant recoil and muzzle blast, combined with short sight radii, can compromise control and accuracy that are beneficial for rapid, effective follow-up shots under combat conditions.

Back when the .357 Magnum was considered the king of combat handguns, many who could shoot a 36 ounce, medium framed .38 Special pretty well did not perform at the same level with a .357 of similar size and weight due to recoil and muzzle blast. Now, compact .357 Magnums weighing around 23 ounces are common while the S&W 340PD weighs just a mere 11.4 ounces. Many who buy these compact powerhouses shoot and carry .38 Special ammunition in them as a concession to recoil and muzzle blast, just like many police officers did years ago. Ironically, some who would recommend an 11.4 ounce .357 Magnum for self defense would say that a 41.5 ounce .44 Magnum has too much recoil for combat applications-- go figure!

Petite handguns, even in their tiniest or most powerful configurations, are not inherently inaccurate but, for most, they are more difficult to shoot well than are larger "service pistols" whose bigger grips, longer sight radii, and greater weight reduce recoil while enhancing control and accuracy. While challenges presented by ultra-small, ultralight, and ultra-concealable handguns can be overcome or accommodated with practice, many who frequently carry handguns do not necessarily shoot them very often. In such cases, the ability of the shooter(or lack thereof) may compromise the effectiveness of firearms that require greater levels of skill for successful deployment.

Diminutive handguns require the greatest degree of competence for effective operation, especially when chambered for powerful cartridges, and stopping power is meaningless when it is not effectively delivered to the target. "Expert" advice can be singular, if not misleading. What may work well for someone who shoots a thousand or more rounds per week may not suit someone who shoots fifty rounds per year. The best defensive weapon that one can choose will reflect individual skills, ability, and commitment to practice. For these reasons alone, many will find larger, heavier, and perhaps even less powerful handguns more effective for their defensive needs.

Larger and heavier is not without compromise. Suitable holsters, belts that adequately support the weight of a firearm, and perhaps a careful wardrobe selection may all be necessary to ensure that larger handguns can be carried in reasonable comfort while remaining concealed. This is not as daunting as it may seem: it was tastefully accomplished back when the Smith & Wesson Chief's Special was small, light, and powerful enough; back when concealed carry permits were rare or unheard of in many states; back before fanny packs and photographers' vests screamed "GUN!" to the otherwise clueless.

The bottom line is that ultra-small, ultralight, and ultra-concealable handguns that are more powerful than ever in consideration of their respective sizes are worthwhile for those with the skill to use them as well as the willingness to accept and adapt to the their particular nuances and limitations. For most, they represent a compromise in function and practicality. They will not work well for everyone, even if some magazine article or "expert" has proclaimed otherwise. Of course, this can be said in regard to any type of handgun; perhaps this is why there are so many designs and calibers to choose from.


 

Budget Cutlery: A Functional Set of Kitchen Knives for less than Two Dollars

Quality kitchen cutlery is expensive and I believe that you get what you pay for. Three piece starter sets including a either a chef's or santoku knife, utility knife, and paring knife from quality manufacturers such as Shun, Wusthof, Global, Zwilling JA Henkels and Victorinox will range from $179 to $269 at Williams-Sonoma and Swiss Knife Shop. These knives are forged in Japan and Germany, crafted to take an edge, and provide years of service in professional kitchens.

Revisiting .38 Special "Service Revolvers"

"Service revolvers" are those designed or used for police or military service, usually characterized by medium frames, fixed sights, and four inch barrels though longer barrels are not uncommon and large framed models exist. During the Twentieth Century, millions of service revolvers

The Top-O-Matic T2 Tabletop Cigarette Injector: A Great Machine at an Exceptional Price

Back in 2009, due to both the bleak economy and draconian excises, I started making my own cigarettes. Initially, I injected tubes with a Premier Supermatic Twin hand held injector with varying results that were at best less satisfactory than factory made cigarettes. It was not long before I found that a roller provided me better cigarettes and, with the exception of a brief and equally dismal affair with another hand held inector from Gambler, I continued to laboriously roll my own-- until last week.