Right to bare arms
November 19, 2010 9:57 AM Subscribe
Michael was born without arms, yet he has managed to learn how to load and shoot a 1911 pistol. (SLYT)
For those of you that may not know, the 1911 has a grip safety that has to be depressed in order to fire. It's not all that easy for people with two hands!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 1:01 PM on November 19 [+] [!]
Eponysterical indeed.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:03 AM on November 19, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 1:01 PM on November 19 [+] [!]
Eponysterical indeed.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:03 AM on November 19, 2010 [4 favorites]
I want to post in this thread but I don't have a body part in my username.
posted by shakespeherian at 10:20 AM on November 19, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 10:20 AM on November 19, 2010 [3 favorites]
"I'll give you my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead toes!"
posted by chavenet at 10:26 AM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by chavenet at 10:26 AM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
That's nothing. I'd like to see him tear it down and reassemble it blindfolded.
Not to be a jackass, but most earthly things have been designed to be operated by a sum of parts provided by a human, and in the absence of some of those parts, humans will adapt to make use of the product with those parts we have and if there were a large enough market for it, I'm sure the Colt licensees would see fit to design a pistol to be operated without the use of hands.
So, suffice to say, Michael is happy down at the range, but the video would be better if pointed at everyone but him, because the real weirdos are the ones behind the camera.
posted by jsavimbi at 10:39 AM on November 19, 2010
Not to be a jackass, but most earthly things have been designed to be operated by a sum of parts provided by a human, and in the absence of some of those parts, humans will adapt to make use of the product with those parts we have and if there were a large enough market for it, I'm sure the Colt licensees would see fit to design a pistol to be operated without the use of hands.
So, suffice to say, Michael is happy down at the range, but the video would be better if pointed at everyone but him, because the real weirdos are the ones behind the camera.
posted by jsavimbi at 10:39 AM on November 19, 2010
I feel so guilty of thinking of Todd Browning.
posted by munchingzombie at 10:45 AM on November 19, 2010
posted by munchingzombie at 10:45 AM on November 19, 2010
michael, be careful, you could put your ear out with that thing
posted by kitchenrat at 10:49 AM on November 19, 2010
posted by kitchenrat at 10:49 AM on November 19, 2010
What is it with the 1911's all of a sudden.
Two days ago I was sitting in the doctor's office (VA clinic) leafing through an issue of "Rifleman" and every other handgun ad was for a 1911.
Before Tuesday, I had never heard of one, now they seem to be everywhere.
Of course, I am not that familiar with guns, but still...
posted by mmrtnt at 11:40 AM on November 19, 2010
Two days ago I was sitting in the doctor's office (VA clinic) leafing through an issue of "Rifleman" and every other handgun ad was for a 1911.
Before Tuesday, I had never heard of one, now they seem to be everywhere.
Of course, I am not that familiar with guns, but still...
posted by mmrtnt at 11:40 AM on November 19, 2010
Before Tuesday, I had never heard of one, now they seem to be everywhere.
Well, to be fair, they've been around since ... wait for it ... 1911.
It's just a very classic design, and it was in service with the U.S. Army from ... wait for it ... 1911 to 1985.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:51 AM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Well, to be fair, they've been around since ... wait for it ... 1911.
It's just a very classic design, and it was in service with the U.S. Army from ... wait for it ... 1911 to 1985.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 11:51 AM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
If I'm ever to be shot in the head and killed - and hey, I live in Hackney! - I'd prefer to be shot by a man with no arms.
Then all my friends will find some silver lining in the dark cloud of my demise, e.g.: "what's that? quidnunc shot? Oh my, that's- what? Shot by a guy with no arms? Really??? Ha ha ha! Oh, good lord, what next! Ha ha ha. And now he has no head? Wow - what a pair! Ha ha ha ha ha!", etc.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 11:58 AM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Then all my friends will find some silver lining in the dark cloud of my demise, e.g.: "what's that? quidnunc shot? Oh my, that's- what? Shot by a guy with no arms? Really??? Ha ha ha! Oh, good lord, what next! Ha ha ha. And now he has no head? Wow - what a pair! Ha ha ha ha ha!", etc.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 11:58 AM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
... wait for it ... 1911.
D'oh!
It's a (among others) Colt 45!
I didn't realize the US military was in the habit of naming guns after the year they were adopted.
Or after a popular adult beverage.
posted by mmrtnt at 12:25 PM on November 19, 2010
D'oh!
It's a (among others) Colt 45!
I didn't realize the US military was in the habit of naming guns after the year they were adopted.
Or after a popular adult beverage.
posted by mmrtnt at 12:25 PM on November 19, 2010
He probably drove himself there in that car too, didn't he?
posted by Hoenikker at 12:25 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Hoenikker at 12:25 PM on November 19, 2010
Before Tuesday, I had never heard of one, now they seem to be everywhere.
Of course, I am not that familiar with guns, but still...
It's an extremely popular handgun. Trust me, if you did hang out at ranges or w/ gun people, you'd see them all the time. Can't think of any particular reason you'd hear more about them now, but anytime you see those "What handgun should I buy?" articles or w/e you'll see the 1911 listed.
(personally I'm not a fan of the grip safety, but I understand why so many people like the gun. Unlike Glocks, which no sane person should like)
posted by wildcrdj at 12:39 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Of course, I am not that familiar with guns, but still...
It's an extremely popular handgun. Trust me, if you did hang out at ranges or w/ gun people, you'd see them all the time. Can't think of any particular reason you'd hear more about them now, but anytime you see those "What handgun should I buy?" articles or w/e you'll see the 1911 listed.
(personally I'm not a fan of the grip safety, but I understand why so many people like the gun. Unlike Glocks, which no sane person should like)
posted by wildcrdj at 12:39 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
his feet are dirty
posted by arveale at 12:47 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by arveale at 12:47 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
I didn't realize the US military was in the habit of naming guns after the year they were adopted.
It's very common, though not all weapons are named that way (e.g., the M16, M4, etc). See also the M1903 Springfield, M1917 Enfield, M1941 Johnson, M1918 Browning, M1917 Revolver, etc. The naming convention continues today with weapons like the XM2010 sniper rifle. Also see the popular .30-06 round, introduced to the US Army in 1906 and preceded by the short-level .30-03.
posted by jedicus at 12:58 PM on November 19, 2010
It's very common, though not all weapons are named that way (e.g., the M16, M4, etc). See also the M1903 Springfield, M1917 Enfield, M1941 Johnson, M1918 Browning, M1917 Revolver, etc. The naming convention continues today with weapons like the XM2010 sniper rifle. Also see the popular .30-06 round, introduced to the US Army in 1906 and preceded by the short-level .30-03.
posted by jedicus at 12:58 PM on November 19, 2010
I should add that you can be lead astray by that, though. The .50-70 Government round, for example, is called that because it contains 70 grains of black powder. It was adopted in 1866.
posted by jedicus at 1:00 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by jedicus at 1:00 PM on November 19, 2010
...but anytime you see those "What handgun should I buy?" articles or w/e you'll see the 1911 listed.
Many of my friends are gun enthusiasts. I have from time-to-time leafed through a gun mag, and I just don't recall ever seeing the 45 automatic called a "1911".
And then, I see three ads for them in one magazine and an FPP all in the same week.
That's all. Heck I even stripped, rebuilt and shot a few blanks from a Colt .45 when I was in Navy bootcamp a few decades ago.
posted by mmrtnt at 1:01 PM on November 19, 2010
Many of my friends are gun enthusiasts. I have from time-to-time leafed through a gun mag, and I just don't recall ever seeing the 45 automatic called a "1911".
And then, I see three ads for them in one magazine and an FPP all in the same week.
That's all. Heck I even stripped, rebuilt and shot a few blanks from a Colt .45 when I was in Navy bootcamp a few decades ago.
posted by mmrtnt at 1:01 PM on November 19, 2010
Liu Wei (刘伟), the lad who won China's Got Talent, lost his arms in a childhood accident but taught himself to play the piano pretty well.
posted by Abiezer at 1:08 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Abiezer at 1:08 PM on November 19, 2010
"Michael was born without arms, yet he has managed to learn how to load and shoot a 1911 pistol."
For some reason, this sentence seems like a perfect parody of something Ira Glass would say.
posted by saturday_morning at 1:11 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
For some reason, this sentence seems like a perfect parody of something Ira Glass would say.
posted by saturday_morning at 1:11 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
pops served at GITMO (he only guarded american solders!) back in the 50's. He was Shore patrol, gunnery etc. Before this his sea duty was on the' Canberra.' He was in gunnery and hung out and fleeced Marines at cards, bought drinks with the winnings. Being left-handed this was not his choice, the .45, but they had some rare left handed models. He could strip that thing faster then grease and bought his self his first chevy to prove it. To prove, as part of shore patrol, on a plane a cocky guy pushed him to far and my dad pulled out his gun stripped it, took the hand cuff keys, tossed them and said 'go ahead'. the bullets are not pretty when discharged on a plane but they were low powder dum-dums.
the goods as always.
posted by clavdivs at 1:35 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
the goods as always.
posted by clavdivs at 1:35 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
That really didn't sound very safe to me, but then I watched the video and I realised that the guy was completely armless.
posted by dudekiller at 1:48 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by dudekiller at 1:48 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
If he isn't more careful when he takes the safety off, he'll be toeless as well.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:25 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:25 PM on November 19, 2010
Between the toes is a rough place to have slide bite.
posted by Mercaptan at 6:55 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Mercaptan at 6:55 PM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
now they seem to be everywhere
Everywhere except my collection, a point which has been bothering me for almost a decade. I just can't justify the cost of the high end example of "I want" of something I don't much have a use for outside of love for the engineering.
And the engineering is most certainly something to take note of, because the 1911 is one of Browning's masterpieces. Elements of its design can be found in every modern semi-automatic handgun today.
It's hard to explain, but it's a hundred year old design that, while supplanted my more modern materials and styling, absolutely owns the highest-end of automatic pistol custom designs because of the love of the simplicity of the core idea.
posted by quin at 10:34 PM on November 19, 2010
Everywhere except my collection, a point which has been bothering me for almost a decade. I just can't justify the cost of the high end example of "I want" of something I don't much have a use for outside of love for the engineering.
And the engineering is most certainly something to take note of, because the 1911 is one of Browning's masterpieces. Elements of its design can be found in every modern semi-automatic handgun today.
It's hard to explain, but it's a hundred year old design that, while supplanted my more modern materials and styling, absolutely owns the highest-end of automatic pistol custom designs because of the love of the simplicity of the core idea.
posted by quin at 10:34 PM on November 19, 2010
I have a Springfield GI 1911. It's a really nice gun, and since it takes the same ammunition as my (modified-before-I-bought-it) Webley Mk VI it's quite convenient. The Webley is actually WWI issue - it was made in '16 - and even though the 1911's a modern one, they make a nice pair. I also have a 1915-issue SMLE, so my gun collection is pretty much Great War-themed.
Unlike Glocks, which no sane person should like
I don't actually own one, but I've fired one - the grip design actually fits my own personal hands quite well, although everyone else I shoot with finds them quite uncomfortable.
I should note that I have two arms
posted by titus n. owl at 2:07 AM on November 20, 2010
Unlike Glocks, which no sane person should like
I don't actually own one, but I've fired one - the grip design actually fits my own personal hands quite well, although everyone else I shoot with finds them quite uncomfortable.
I should note that I have two arms
posted by titus n. owl at 2:07 AM on November 20, 2010
I can load and fire a handgun using only my tehloki
posted by tehloki at 5:39 AM on November 20, 2010
posted by tehloki at 5:39 AM on November 20, 2010
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posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 10:01 AM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]