Isle Target Sports Club

RCO Range Commands
To be given. Loud & Clear as an Order.
1) Do all those shooting have their targets up?
2) Is there anyone without ear defenders?
3) Starting and stopping will be on the Air Horn, On the
whistle, By voice command. (Note: Firers must be told
which is being used).
4) I will remind you of the emergency stop procedure.
On hearing a continous blast of the Air horn, whistle
or voice, you will immediately stop firing. lay the
firearm down pointing toward the bullet catcher step back and stand clear of the bench behind the red
line / zone.
Isle Target Sports Club
MAGAZINE December 2013
5) Loaded firearms must be kept pointing at the sand bullet
catcher, parallel to the ground at all times.
6) Any questions?
7) You may remove firearms from their slips, insert bolts or remove
breech flags.
8) Defend your ears.
9) On my signal you may load, make ready and start firing. listen in,
listen in. (give signal).
10) END OF DETAIL.
11) Two minutes Two minutes. (Note: if muzzle loading is in use
then give due consideration as when to give this order).
Wishing a Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year to all our
members - The Committee.
12) Give the end of the detail use the same as 3
above. Followed by, Cease fire, Cease fire unload
and show clear.
13) The RCO and / or SO will inspect each firearm
and prove all weapons are clear.
14) Anyone wishing to remove from or place
firearms on the bench may do so now.
15)The range is clear you may go forward.
(NOTE: if the 50 metre point is in use then it
must be reported that it is Clear/Safe before
giving the order).
Fancy a nice cozy fleece for winter when
shooting? Then go to our regalia page
on the website and order yours NOW!
www.itsc.org.uk
A new addition to my collection. Colt 31 calibre pocket pistol.
This Colt has all matching serial numbers. The cylinder is
quite badly pitted on one side, barrel is slightly pitted on its
right hand side. Apart, from some cleaning and minor
restoration it’ll will remain pretty much as ....... Webmaster.
Club News
Welcome to the December 2013 edition of the club magazine.
The club has had another good year apart from the low life's
who have raided the range recently. This has caused the range
to be shut for a few days until the damage was repaired and
additional security systems were installed.
We have some contributions to the magazine for this edition, well
done & thank’s. For the next issue ( January 14th). we’d like more
contributions from you, Don’t leave it to me to do all the work. Its not
hard to write a little piece and add an image or two. So if you have a
spare 15 minutes or so get on the computer and put your thoughts to
good use and send in your article / story / joke / images to the
Webmaster / Magazine editor. Who’ll be waiting for your input!
The committee would like to thank all those club members who
gave up their free time to make repairs and tidy the range up.
The club has had a good take up of the competition shoots with
some very impressive scores by members. Well done to you
all. More competitions are scheduled for the 2014 season and
we hope you will carry on and improve your target shooting.
We wish all our members a very merry Christmas and a
prosperous new year.
Can you help our fighting Men & Women? If you can
why not make a contribution to help support them.
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk
General Safety Rules.
The committee
Always treat any firearm as loaded.
Always keep any firearm pointed in a safe direction (down range at all times).
From the Magazine Editor
Make sure that you are fully familiar with any firearm before use.
Hi Folks this is your new look magazine which I hope you will
enjoy, but to make it even better then you the members must
play your part too, I’d like you to contribute small articles,
pictures, jokes (clean ones) etc. You’ll have plenty of time as
there are only four issues per year. Webmaster / Magazine
editor.
Always check any firearm to ensure it is unloaded, even if you were the last
person to use it.
Always make sure that firearms are stored away from unauthorised persons and
in accordance with the law.
Store firearms and ammunition in different cabinets at home.
NEVER leave them in a vehicle unattended.
After a bit of moaning about the lack of material I’m pleased
to say “That several members have come on board and have
contributed”. So this time around, not a lean edition!
All firearms safety and security is a matter of common sense and good judgment
Use Yours and be Safe!
ADVERTISEMENTS
Do you have something to sell or to buy? If so then e-mail Maddie with
the details and they’ll be put on the website and the magazine.
Advertising is free to club members, for non members we would
appreciate a small donation to club funds. For commercial
advertisements, the following charges will apply.
Henry Krank & Company Ltd
EVERYTHING FOR SHOOTERS AND COLLECTORS
Tel: 01132 569 163 or 01132 565 167 Email: [email protected]
The club has started up Archery
sessions under the wing of
Graham and Simon. Simon is a
skilled Archer and is able to offer
instruction in the use of Bows,
So if you are interested in this
ancient art why not come along
to one of our sessions and try
your hand. Dates, for these
sessions are on the website.
Your source for tracking
down bargains, catching up
on the latest news and much
more. Pop into your
Newsagents and pick up a
copy. You may be glad that
you did?
Full A5 page £50 per year, for half A5 page £25 per year. Small
advertisements of 30 characters or less £12.50 per year, and will appear
four times a year. You can advertise on the website too - just send the
details and we’ll do the rest.
Matchlock Gun
This week bought An original
Matchlock from Kent. It was sold
dated as 1801. Having looked
through my books I have found
almost the exact model being
identical and dated 1650 with gold
metal work. while on mine the gold
is not noticeable looking like black
metal casing, under a a high
magnification microscope I can
see gold particles in the metal.
One of my books dates it at 1650
while another states 1700’s. I have
been told it could be earlier than
1650 as some were made in later
the 1500’s.
There is one shown in an original picture used to kill camels for
ships food stock , that’s dated 1587.
Its in pretty good condition as well as it was found around 1950
buried in a block of concrete in the Thames when boys were allowed
to wander any where. They sold it to a man for £10, he I am told
spent weeks chiseling it out then sold it on.
The last owner bought it two years back from a London market
trader for £250. The buyer kept it for a wall decoration but got
worried about the safety so sold it two years later to
me.....................................Continued overleaf
its 6 foot tall and cannot be aimed without a support rod. It is
estimated at .65 caliber. Woodwork I believe is original with hand
made nails, although it needs a lot of work. Barrel under a
microscope appears to have been forward filed round as they
were when manufactured in India.
By the look of the metal at 60x magnification it appears to be a
Damascus barrel as it has the same steel marks similar to a true
Samurai sword where the metal is red hot folded and twist
hammered welded... I am informed the Tower of London armory
imported these around the 18th century.
PRICE INCREASE ON SHOTGUN SHOOTING.
The follow charges apply to club members and
non-members.
Members: Round of clays (25) £5 Non-Members: £6
Box of cartridges £5 to £6
It has early old stamps marks and appears to have others added
later so may have been imported as an older machine. There is
the powder chamber at the back of the barrel which rules out
being a replica of any age.
To go with your nice new
fleece the club has cloth
badges which can be
sown on. See the website
for details.
The barrel is remarkable considering the age , however cement
dust is evident under the stock which proves the story of found in
a cement block. I am preparing a set of photos to send to
Southerbys and to contact the history museum.
I have no doubt of it not being original but at first sight was happy
to buy even if a replica or fake which it is not. But I will be
investigating to make absolutely sure, and will never part with it
even if not real, another for my collection. Last month I bought a
four barrel pistol as used by ship captains in case of mutiny, that
has been authenticated as original, but don’t be in a hurry to buy, I
HAVE SOME GOOD FAKES, IT IS SO EASY TO BE CAUGHT OUT.
Too easily, but once in a while a good one comes up ....................
K.C
Great article K.C, many thanks ......... Magazine Editor
Rather than putting loads of mundane minutes etc. in the
magazine the Editor hopes to keep the magazine lively and
attractive. Minutes etc. will be available to club members on
request from the club secretary. Remember this is your magazine
and all contributions are welcome. Let’s make it the best club
magazine ever.
Here is a handy little table for grains to
grams measures of FFFG black powder, or
Pyrodex equivalent..
10 grains = 0.65 grams
13.5 grains = 0.87 grams
15 grains = 0.97 grams
15.4 grains = 1.00 grams
18 grains = 1.17 grams
20 grains = 1.30 grams
25 grains = 1.60 grams
30 grains = 1.90 grams
35 grains = 2.30 grams
40 grains = 2.60 grams
45 grains = 2.90 grams
50 grains = 3.20 grams
55 grains = 3.60 grams
60 grains = 3.90 grams
65 grains = 4.20 grams
70 grains = 4.50 grams
BORE / GAUGE TO EFFECTIVE
CALIBRE CONVERSION TABLE
Bore / gauge
Imperial (inch)
Metric (mm)
4
1.050
27.0
8
0.840
21.0
10
0.790
20.0
12
0.750
19.0
16
0.660
17.0
20
0.630
16.0
24
0.580
15.0
32
0.530
13.0
38
0.500
12.7
50
0.450
11.43
54
0.440
10.20
Hi Webmaster – I have come across 2 Replica Walther P38’s ,
made in Japan but apparently imported to the UK via the USA in
the mid 1960s – it’s a long story, but they are complete in their
original boxes including the Japanese parts List and the USA
Invoices, everything works (except actually able to fire live rounds)
and they both come with 6 Dummy Rounds in their magazines…. If
anyone in the Club is Interested they are for sale. K.B
72
0.400
10.16
If anyone would like to buy one, please email the webmaster with
your telephone number who will then pass it onto the seller.
100
0.360
9.14
120
0.320
7.65
The percussion cap is a small cylinder of brass or copper which has a
closed end. At the closed end a shock-sensitive explosive material such
as fulminate of mercury is placed. The percussion cap is placed over a
hollow metal “nipple” at the rear end of the gun barrel. Pulling the
trigger releases a hammer which strikes the percussion cap and ignites
the explosive primer. The flame travels through the hollow nipple to
ignite the main powder charge.
OFFICIAL COLT DATA FOR THE 1849 .31 Calibre
POCKET REVOLVER
Black powder charge FFFG
12 grains minimum
14 grains recommended
15 grains maximum
Round ball, soft lead
.310” to .323”
Colt Pocket 1849 .31 Calibre revolver. Manufactured 1861
Brilliant purchase - September 2013
As I wanted to find out when this revolver was manufactured I sent an email to O.C. Young in Fort Worth, Texas. I have delt with O.C. many times and have
purchased quite a few Antiques from him, He is an acknowleged firearms expert and was able to give me the lowdown on the revolver. It appears that I have a
real treasure on my hands. A transcript follows as set out below.
QUESTION
Hi OC,
It has been a long time since we last communicated. With your vast knowledge of firearms I am sure you will be able to answer the following question.
I have just bought an antique Colt revolver - a .31 calibre Pocket 49. It is in
pretty good order ( cocks and indexes fine) and only needs a slight cleanup
(old grease, fingermarks etc).
All serial numbers match (Barrel, Frame, Wedge, Plunger, Cylinder, Arbor, one
piece grips and trigger guard)
What I would like to know is the likely manufacturing date of the revolver.
The barrel has a two line address:
_ ADDRESS SAML COLT _ (Note: The L is smaller and underlined, in SAML )
HARTFORD CT. The serial number is: 184538
Hope you can oblige me. Best regards Maddie
ANSWER
Hello Maddie,
The following is the information you are seeking:
Manufactured in 1861. Colt started at Serial No. 184000 in January 1861, and
finished at Serial No. 197,000 on December 31st. This number reflected higher production rates due to the American Civil War. You are very lucky to have a
completely matching ’49 Pocket, including the wedge. Good to hear from you, and best wishes,
O.C.
MY REPLY BACK
Hi OC,
Wow! From the information you have given me, it is a Civil war period revolver. Many thank’s for your help. Best regards Maddie.
So to sum up, I have a genuine civil war period Colt pocket 49 revolver manufactured in 1861, being the 538th made between January and December 31st 1861.
Total for the year 13,000. I wonder if this gun was used in any civil war battles? A 152 year old treasure. ....... Maddie
Hi members.
ANOTHER LITTLE TREASURE FOR THE WEBMASTER
Just got back from my Holidays to find a letter and a badge from
our Club Chairman thanking me for helping at our clean-up day
about three months ago.
Let me thank our committee for the gift I thought it was most
thoughtful. Getting a genuine thanks means a lot and I hope the
other recipient’s think the same. The day went well with
everyone working their socks off, but what a result the whole
area looked great. Dare I ask the committee to organise another
one maybe in the spring of next year so we can keep ahead of
things.
Part of my holiday was in Scotland and being in the Edinburgh
region I went along to see the Scottish Vintage Shooting
Championships. The main reason for being there was to attend a
major Archery Tournament close by but unfortunately when I got
to the ranges they were just starting to give out the prizes even
though it was still early in the afternoon, not to worry I may make
it next year.
The last part of my holiday was in Hertfordshire as my Field
Archery Club were hosting the UK Championships over two days.
I was there for five days helping to get things ready. The event
was deemed by our National Body to be the best Organised and
run they have ever been to, it was achieved by a lot of members
getting down to some hard work just as we did at the our
clean-up day.
Have just picked up another pocket revolver. A Remington Beales .31
calibre. It was in a really sorry state when I bought it, rusty chamber &
barrel bores, pitted barrel and cylinder. It was advertised as needing a lot
of TLC! They sure meant it.
I stripped it down and set about removing the worst of the rust, with some
Birchwood Casey rust & blue remover (hardly any blue remained
anyway). All the internal parts were cleaned, screw slots were repaired.
With some very fine wire wool I gently removed any remaining rust. I
then degreased the gun before applying two light coats of cold gun blue
to all the parts. Finally the blue was sealed to protect the new finish. I
then reassembled the gun and lightly oiled the internal parts resulting in
a fine looking piece. The gun functions correctly and has a very good
cylinder lockup.
So for me being a member of two well-run clubs is a privilege.
Plus a bonus I picked up my new 308 on the way home so I am
looking forward with some tips from the club members help to
shoot it well.
The gun has a serial number of 347. The barrel is stamped with the
following on two lines.
Good shooting to you all
JUNE 24/56 & MAY 26/57
Stan
Thank you for your letter Stan - much appreciated. Anyone else
willing to contribute to the magazine?
F.BEALES PATENT
On the top of the frame we have a three lines of text.
MANUFACTURED BY
REMINGTONS
ILION N.Y
Hello ITSC members.
Firstly,I apologise for all the emails I’ve had to send this year for one reason or
another, but this is the quickest and easiest way for me to contact the
membership. What with break in’s and lock changes many of them haven’t been
telling people good news so its vitally important I always have your current email
address and also please check spam filters in case anything I send gets caught up
there.
A lot of work has gone on at the range this year-sometimes behind the scenes.
Recently,we bonded rubber to the 25m firing point over the concrete slabs on the
main range because a common negative theme was that the pink carpet looked
awful and firearms were being damaged by the sharp edges. So one Saturday
morning Jon, Tony, Rory, Alistair, Ethan, Ellis and myself spent several hours
bonding the rubber to the concrete. I think everyone must agree it now looks
much better and offers good protection to members firearms.
We also installed that day, security floodlighting all around the site and at night it
is now very well illuminated. A big thank you to Ken Benson-Clarke for
suggesting this.
The range working day was a success with in excess of 50 members turning
up-many bringing chain saws and strimmers which were all put to good use. All
those who turned up really did themselves proud, but I would like to thank in
particular Oliver Morton and Dan Ward for bringing a tractor mower amongst all
the other many weird and wonderful power tools which made taming the range a
lot easier. I’m keeping on top of the grass cutting now its at a sensible height and
the entire site is now looking quite tidy. In particular the airgun range looks like
you could play lawn bowls on it!
Recently, several club members enhanced the shooting bays by
bonding heavy duty rubber sheeting to the concrete slabs - looks
real good too!
Another big thank you to Mark and Heather for donating a petrol strimmer to the
club and also for sorting out the toilets which now work perfectly. Heather
painted the left side toilet cubicle on the working day which is now designated the
ladies loo. This cubicle is locked via a push button entry system so it remains
clean-any ladies who require the number ask Heather or myself for it.
By the time you’re reading this you should have received your membership
renewal invite. If you haven’t downloaded one from the club website, please
contact me and I will forward one to you. I need them back by 31st January 2014
along with payment cheque. Honorary and Life members must return theirs too.
Please make sure the section 21 is correctly filled in otherwise I will simply
return the form and your membership will not be renewed.
See you on the range.
Steve. (Membership secretary)
To set off my antique Colt pocket 1849 revolver I have just
ordered from the USA this little holster and matching belt. This
rig is hand made and stitched with border tooling and staining.
By the time you read this magazine it should have arrived. I have
asked for the Cross draw version, so I’ll be showing it off at the
range one of these days...........Webmaster
To set off Maddie’s Antique Colt .31 pocket 1849 revolver, she had this
holster & belt especially made by Harrison & Harrison Leather Works.
5127 The Woods Road, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 USA.
http://harrisononleather.com
The leather has been hand stained and border tooled. All stitching was by
hand which is a dying art, as most rigs are machine stitched nowadays!
After ramming the gun into the holster wrapped in a soft plastic
bag and leaving for a few weeks the leather has conformed to
the shape of the revolver. Gun slips out of the holster easily
making a fast draw real quick.
We have improved the club grounds by planting 500 trees around the range members turned out for planting in miserable weather- many thanks for your work.
The club had a Pistol Duelling competition recently
and several images were taken of the event. Steve our
membership secretary decided to get creative with
image processing. He’s done a real fine job of it. Well
done Steve.