Mike's Armory
From building and maintaining my
GI Joe's weapons cache', to playing "SWAT" and "Starsky and Hutch" with
my buddies, to sharpening popsicle sticks and making switchblades out of
clothespins, for about as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with weapons.
I remember seeing my first throwing star ('shuriken') at a friend's house when I was 6,
got my first switchblade in trade with a friend for a Van Halen tape when I was
14, discovered butterfly knives and nunchakus at 15 making my first pair of
'chucks' from a broomstick and broken chain bracelet. Naturally, after
joining the Marine Corps I moved onto firearms. I've acquired quite
a little collection over the years; these are my
'weapons'...
Firearms...
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Smith and Wesson Model 19-4 .357 Revolver, bought used in 1988; probably my
favorite.
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Smith and Wesson Model 5904 9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol, bought new in 1996; very nice handgun |
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Taurus Model PT111 9mm, bought new in 2008 as my 'carry piece' after getting my concealed weapons permit.
Nice little handgun and surprisingly accurate.
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Ruger Model P97 .45, inherited this pistol in
2008 after my dad passed. Pretty sweet handgun, and,
well, it's a 45 - what else can you say?
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Mossberg Model 590 12guage Pump-Action Shotgun, bought new in 1996 and shot for the first time in 2007 (a crime I know).
Nice weapon; heat shielded, extended magazine, sling swivels, pistol grip (not
pictured), and especially love the bayonet stub!
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Some "Government Issue" firearms that, although I don't own personally,
I have grown
quite fond of...
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Colt M16-A2 .22 Military Rifle
Although I don't
own one, or would have much use for it if I did, I'd buy one in a second
if I had the extra money.
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Beretta M9 9mm Military Semi-Automatic Pistol. |
Colt .45 Model 1911-A1 Military Semi-Automatic Pistol.
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Nunchakus...
Knives...
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Decorative knives,
bought at "Smokey Mountain Knife Works" in Gatlinburg, TN
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Field knives; the green
one is a 'Gerber' bayonet and fits on my shotgun. |
Switchblades on the
left, butterfly's on the right; the two on the right are
lower-end "Balisong" (premier brand in butterflys). |
Some of the weapons I've owned but have since parted with...
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Rossi .22 revolver, my first handgun, bought
new from a Wal-Mart in Tennessee when I
was 19. Eventually traded it in on my .357. |
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Charter Arms 'Undercover .38', bought used from a pawn shop; nice carry piece,
ex-wife managed to hold on to this one during the divorce. |
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North American .22LR, bought new from a gun shop
in Mississippi; almost scary how small this pistol was, but fun to
shoot. Ex-wife got this one too. |
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Like I mentioned previously, I
made my first pair of nunchakus out of a broomstick and broken chain bracelet. Eventually I began making more elaborate
chucks out of pool cues and better
pieces of wood. When I could find/afford them, I
would buy fancier pairs but typically just for
display; practice was always done with a utility pair I didn't mind banging
up or dropping; the same went for butterfly knives and shurikens (throwing
stars). The picture to the left is the only one I have of my earlier collection
(circa 1983, I was 15);
several more pair of nunchakus were added after this photo, as were a few butterfly knives
and my switchblade. When I was 17 my dad decided my hobby wasn't constructive and
had the city police come and take it all away (long story). Once I turned 18 and
moved out I began my collection again from scratch.... |
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This was my collection in 1994 (I was
26).
Fun fact: my ex-wife used this picture 6 years later to justify a groundless TRO
(temporary restraining order) during a
post-divorce custody dispute, in an attempt to gain leverage I assume. For
the month or so the order was in effect prior to the hearing, I
had to surrender everything, including my firearms, to the police
(again); got it all back this time, tho. |
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