Darn You, Stretch!

I could have lived my whole life without knowing this was out there...

Earthroamer

Take a super duty truck chassis. Build a state-of-the-art recreational vehicle around it. Add in true off-road capabilities and you've got an RV that can travel pretty much anywhere on the planet. I know there are other companies that make similar vehicles (there's one that does this on the Ford Econoline 4WD model whose name escapes me right now).

It's supremely expensive - the used model in the picture above is selling for over $300K - and uttlerly impractical, for sure. But I tell you this right now: If I were to hit the lottery, you had damn well better believe I'd be placing an order for the biggest model they can make. There's something about that setup that just begs to be taken on a very long road trip - and believe me, if you can afford that rig, you can afford the gas.

So, anyone got a spare $400K they aren't using at the moment?

That is all.

Should I Hit the Lottery...

I may very well break my self-imposed embargo and buy a new GM product.

This.

(picture from Chevy website)

2015 Chevrolet Z06 Corvette convertible. 625 supercharged horsepower - the most powerful Corvette ever made. The power convertible top can be raised or lowered at speeds up to 30 MPH - that is seriously badass. A seven speed manual is available, or an eight speed paddle shifter.

Now, yeah, I know. GM. Government Motors. Bailout. If I hit the lottery, I'll find a way to swallow my disgust. Of course, it's a lot easier to be a hypocrite driving a 600 horsepower Corvette than it is in an Aveo. Haters can hate, but by the time they've got the first pithy epithet hurled you're in a different time zone...

Of course, if I did bring one of these home, I would need to find a track to run it on...

That is all.

That's No Moon...

...it's a fully operational cookie jar! WANT...

Death Star Cookie Jar

Yes, that is exactly what it appears to be. It is a cookie jar that looks like the Death Star from Star Wars. The only way this could possibly get nerdier is if the cookies were baked in the shape of the Millennium Falcon. Or Princess Leia's hair buns...

Or for the ultimate crossover, cookies baked in the shape of the Enterprise-A...

That is all.

Buddy, Can You Spare $200K?

Because I REALLY want this:

The Authentic 1966 Batmobile.

So accurate it requires almost a year to complete, this is the officially licensed, roadworthy replica of the Batmobile featured in the iconic 1960s TV show. Built on a custom Lincoln chassis, this crime-fighting cruiser comes standard with a 430-horsepower, 383 Blueprint Crate engine and a Monster TH350 automatic transmission.

Boy, but that's tempting. Sure, for $200K you could get an exotic supercar or a fancy ubersedan, but neither would be as cool as the Batmobile. Sure, a Lamborghini will get you there faster, and a Maybach will be more comfortable, but the Batmobile is, well, the Batmobile.

I wonder if you have to pay extra for the Boy Wonder ejection seat?

That is all.

Thanks to Stretch for the link!

Irrational Want # 45,521...

Curse you, Stretch...

Stretch saw this and immediately thought of me:

(picture from here)

Made for Taylor's & Co. by Uberti, the Baby Rolling Block is in .357 Magnum. It has a case hardened receiver and brass accents to go with the 22" barrel. Put one of the 4X brass primitive scopes on it and have a 100 yard deer gun like no other. Or just hit a steel plate with boring regularity all day long using a pistol caliber that's eminently reloadable.

It has absolutely no practical applications whatsoever - so why do I want one so bad it hurts?

That is all.

I Like It!

While skimming through my pictures from SHOT Show in January, I came across a set I took at the Mossberg booth. In addition to the sweet new Flex system, they had the latest in their rifle line:

This is one of the MVP Flex bolt-action rifles - chambered in 5.56 NATO and taking standard USGI magazines. I'm not a fan of putting the M4 carbine stock on every rifle under the sun as Mossberg has taken a shine to doing, but I think in this case it's not a bad idea at all. With the 5.56mm round, it's very low recoil; there's a ton of great optics out there designed for the .223 Remington; and most folks have at least a few USGI magazines kicking around.

Personally, I love the idea, because where it's a bolt-action, the collapsible stock and the birdcage flash suppressor are 100% legal even in MA. I'd like to get a .223 Remington bolt-action rifle mainly to run the ammunition that the Bushie and the Conspirator don't like, but also to have a lighter, easier-to-clean rifle for varminting or long range play.

I think I'm going to have to have a long chat with the good folks at Mossberg at the NRA Convention next month...

That is all.

Want. WANT. WANT!!!!!

OMG. Just saw this last night on Facebook. I need it. NEED IT.

(picture from link)

Star Wars Chewbacca Robe

Wookieewear

Chewbacca, how we love thee. You are tall, hairy, speak in growls and whines -- just like the guy that lives in our server room. And also like the dude in our server room, there is no one we'd rather have around when the computers start fighting each other (read up on the specs of the Millennium Falcon, then you'll understand). And what better way to celebrate our love for Chewie, than making a bathrobe that lets you wear him.

Yes, that is EXACTLY what you think it is. A bathrobe wookiee. Mere words cannot begin to express both how awesome this is and how much I simply must have one. It's even got pockets for blasters! I just have visions of coming down on Christmas morning like the dad in "A Christmas Story", replete in my wookiee goodness...

Okay, so maybe I might have been celebrating a bit too much last night...

That is all.

I Can't Explain It...

But I want one of these so bad I can taste it:

(picture from Rossi USA)

That's a Rossi Circuit Judge in .22 WMR/.22LR. Came across it when I was grabbing the link for the Model 92 I posted last Friday. It's got synthetic furniture, a scope rail, even a forend rail for a vertical foregrip. I'm hooked. Toss a holographic sight on that bad larry and it's off to the prairie dog killin' fields...

While I have plenty of .22LR rifles on hand, I don't have anything in the G. armory in .22 WMR. I also don't have any revolving rifles, and I've got to tell you, it's really intriguing the heck out of me. While I like the .45 LC/.410 version quite a bit, I think the the .22LR version with the the capability of adding .22 WMR is more useful and likely to be used.

Maybe I'll pick up the synthetic in .22 and the wood version in .45 LC...

That is all.

Deadly Sin: Unlocked!

Jealousy, that is...

Reader, commenter, and dinner companion at SHOT Show Kevin from Gallery of Guns invoked the little green monster when he sent me an e-mail after my Friday post about going shooting:

Saw your post from Friday. The reason I didn’t see it then is because I was doing just that. Shooting.

Got a chance to go out to the big boss’ farm and shoot lots of stuff – his and mine.

Here is a pic of the highlight of my day – yes, I shot this.

 

Why yes, that *is* a Barrett 82A1 50 BMG rifle. And Kevin got to shoot it last weekend. I was all proud of myself for getting to the range and putting some rounds through my P238 and my 22/45. I'll wager what I shot all day didn't add up to what he fired in one magazine - in either total cost or total bullet weight.

The 82A1 is one of those "lottery" guns - in fact, it's probably the first gun I would buy if I won the lottery. It's not just the initial cost of the firearm - not inconsequential starting at $9,000 - it's the cost of the scope (because you want a serious quality optic like the Leupold Mark 4 M1 scope) as well as the ammunition - at $3 per round for surplus plinking stuff (when you can find it). Someday...

Thanks for sharing with us, Kevin - even if it did make me turn several shades of green with envy...

That is all.

Because We Like Pretty Things...

Oooh... I like this...

Got a presser from MG Arms yesterday about a new pistol they have coming out, the Wraith:

Boy, howdy, but that's a nice looking gun. It's Commander-sized (kinda; it's a 4.5" barrel, not 4.25", although I wonder if that extra quarter inch is the part poking out...). Here's their teaser:

MG Arms, the leader in Ultra Light Hunting Rifles have applied their years of experience with custom high-quality precision rifles to the personal defense arena. MG Arms proudly announces Wraithe – The Guardian, a lightweight handgun specifically designed for conceal carry. Based on the premise that if it isn’t lightweight you won’t carry it, this gun weighs a mere 24 ounces.

And their specs:

Available in Caliber:.45/9mm
4½” Match Grade Barrel
Choice of Night or Fix Sights
Aluminum Alloy Bobtail Frame
3½ lb. Lightweight Trigger
Custom Grip Panels
High Ride Beaver Tail Safety
Ambidextrous Safety Available
Two Wilson Magazines
Customer's Choice of Olive Drab, Black, Desert Tan or Titanium
Backed by MGA's Infinity Guarantee

Now, having some experience with their AR-based hunting rifle, the K-Yote, I can say they build a fine rifle; I expect that their 1911 to be built to the same high tolerances and exacting specifications. I don't think I'd be able to hit a prairie dog at 400 yards with this - but I'll bet there's some folks who could come damn close out there... (Yes, MattG, I'm looking at yooooouuuu). The price is up there, but certainly not outrageous considering what custom 1911s go for - it's a little more than a Kimber Custom Carry.

This is one case where I'm glad the MA Approved Firearms Roster will keep this out of my hands, because as much as I would LOVE to try out out, I have a sneaking suspicion I'd have a hard time sending it back...

That is all.

WANT WANT WANT!!!

TheAxe sends in a link to a T-shirt that I SIMPLY MUST HAVE:

(link from ShirtWoot)

I haven't laughed that hard in a good long while...

That is all.

To Boldly Go Where No Mail Has Gone Before...

Heh. Pissed sent this in...

USS Mailterprise

Gawd, I am such a dork...

That is all.

Very Cool

Stopped by the Lew Horton booth, because I have to see my MA folks, and they had this beauty sitting on the wall:



Smith & Wesson model 442 with beautiful walnut grips and a "Dont Tread On Me" theme. Coiled rattlesnake, DTOM on the backstrap, and a single spade on the grip. Best of all, it was a no-lock variant - priced the same as a standard 442. They had a similarly dressed out 642 as well, with the snake and DTOM in black.

Yeah, I'd like to add one of these to the armory... (I've said that a *lot* this week...)

That is all.

Tactical... Lever guns?

I've got to hand it to the good folks over at Mossberg. They've taken tactical to the extreme:

EBLG!

Telescoping stock. Black synthetic furniture. Rails. This is the lever gun as designed by, well, me. There's fancy muzzle brakes, too, which is pretty funny considering that two of the three models are .22LR. And, of course, since the guns are lever action and the magazines are tubular (i.e. non-removable), they are 100% ban compliant.

Why, yes, I will be asking for a T&E sample; why do you ask?

That is all.

Muddying The Waters...

So I'm going through my e-mail, and what should I see but yet another message from my friendly local gun shop. Apparently more and more guns are making it to the MA Approved Firearms Roster {spit}, including this interesting little number:

(from SIG SAUER P250 website)

It's rather intriguing; given that neither the Glock 30 nor the Smith & Wesson M&P45 compact are currently MA-legal, it holds the distinction of being the only new compact polymer .45 ACP available in MA. The P250 compact is only slightly larger than the G30 in length and height, and extremely close in weight and width. It's shorter but taller than the S&W, lighter and greater capacity, too.

SIG SAUER's always had a reputation for making dependable, if somewhat conservatively-styled firearms. I've had my P226 for a few years now, and it has been a stalwart range companion and a test-bed for laser sights and conversion kits. It's been torture tested with dirty ammo and not cleaned (I broke down before the Sig did!); quick-changed back and forth between rimfire and centerfire; hauled around in the range bag for months at a time, and just been an all around champ. I'd like to see if their P250 is as durable - rumblings are that the new Sigs aren't as robust as the old school; it'd be interesting to put that to the test.

At least the G30 has competition I can pick up off the shelf now...

That is all...

Covetness, Lust, Envy...

And temptation. Brad_in_MA sent me a picture yesterday of his latest gunnie temptation, the Remington R1. You see, it's now MA-legal - and it's quite affordable. I had my first glimpse of the R1 at last year's NRA convention:

R1 goodness

It's about as close to a USGI 1911A1 as you're going to find - granted, it's got white dot sights and an extended beavertail - if you're into that kind of 1911. I've got a WWI-issue 1911 I inherited from my grandfather, and I've been looking for a military issue 1911 replica for a while now. Five years ago I bought an Auto Ordnance AO1911 because it most closely resembled the UGSI set-up, but was less-than-thrilled with the reliability.

Boy, I'd like to at least try out one of those Remingtons...

That is all.

Life Just Got a Little Bit Better...

WANT!

(image borrowed from Scott Meyer's Twitter feed)

Yes, there is going to be a day-by-day calendar featuring the twisted world of Scott Meyer's "Basic Instruction". According to Scott it's going to be available by Christmas and will be sold through Amazon.com.

I know what's going on MY wish list!

That is all.

Help A Famous Writer/Blogger Out...

Larry's got a new Monster Hunter book coming out, and he wants us all to buy it!

Specifically, he wants us all to go out and buy it. Given that he describes it as:

It is an Earl Harbinger novel, and he is such a badass that writing him is really a lot of fun. Basically, in any situation, I ask myself “what would a tough Clint Eastwood character do here?” Then I take it up a notch. In MHA, I got to expand the history and scope of the MH universe, introduce new characters, new adversaries, and set up the next couple of books. Monster Hunter Legion (Owen) and Monster Hunter Nemesis (Franks).

A Monster Hunter book. Based on Earl Harbinger. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I would crawl over a mile of broken glass to buy this book on opening day. And then another book devoted to the biggest badass in the MHI universe, Agent Franks? SCORE! Larry, you got it. I'll even get my s**t in gear and get the order in for the signed copy of this one! Plus Larry said if I posted this he'd say nice things about me... ;)

July 26th, Monster Hunter Alpha - be sure to place your order!

That is all.

A Match Made in... Well... Um... Somewhere!

Dennis has plain lost his mind. In a good way.

Take this:

and add this:
And you get this:

Dragon Leatherworks is pleased to announce the release of the Vicious Circle Edition FlatJack and Talon holsters, available for purchase on July 8th. The Vicious Circle podcast will be streaming its 100th podcast on July 8th, so what better way is there to celebrate this event than with the release of the VC Branded FlatJack and Talon!

A Vicious Circle-branded holster. If cool were people, this holster would be China, man...

That is all.

WANT

The Commodore 64, that '80s computer icon, lives again

On the outside, these self-contained "keyboard computers" will look as they did back when Ronald Reagan was in the White House and "Miami Vice" was bringing moody pastel hues to TV. Under the hood, however, they will be very up-to-date.

The new Commodore 64's hardware includes a dual-core 1.8 Ghz Atom processor, Nvidia Ion2 graphics chipset, up to 4 GB of RAM and HDMI output for desktop viewing on TV. It also features USB connectivity, a multi-format memory card reader and Wi-Fi capability.

Claimed price is around $600 for the computer only, which seems a little on the pricey side for nostalgic kitsch. On the other hand, it's only a hundred bucks or so for a 17" monitor, and that doesn't take up much more room than a laptop on the island in the kitchen - might make for a fun conversation piece rather than just a plain laptop. My kids would be horrified to learn the truth about the original - no graphics, no internet, just a box that would make lines of text appear on the television...

That was something we noticed when we visited the National Spy Museum in DC. While my wife and I - children of the '80s that we were - remembered a lot of the devices from movies of the time, our kids were utterly disinterested in a camera the size of a pack of cigarettes. From their vantage point, there's good reason - my son has an iTouch that's smaller, takes video, and can access the internet. A simple camera that's double the size of his iTouch is a curious relic, not an object of marvel and wonder.

I wonder what the norm is going to be for my grandkids?

That is all.