Desert Archer
11-05-2009, 11:39 AM
Some of you may have noticed my adds in the TradingBlanket so you know I'm pretty much done with the archery game. I thought I should explain what the deal is and say good by one last time and the NRA forum is the appropriate place to do that. I've been a handgun shooter since I bought my first revolver in 1967 and am going back there for something to do since archery is no longer available.
For years I've been developing some arthritis in both shoulders, in part made worse by living a vigorous life in law enforcement and in my hobbies. The final straw was probably archery, which puts a lot of wear on the shoulder joints. I'd built up enough muscle over the years that I was holding together pretty well until last January out on the Field Archery course here in the desert. I slipped on a caliche down slope covered with sand and gravel. Landed on my bow arm elbow and drove the upper arm into the shoulder socket. Didn't know how bad it was at the time, in fact I finished shooting the field round (my last as it turned out). In about 3 days the shoulder was so bad I couldn't do anything with my left arm. The rotator cuff and bicep tendon were being abraded by the jaged edges of what was left of my shoulder socket.
Jump about 6 months forward. I've learned I need to have the shoulder bones rebuilt, with bone grafts or cadaver bone so there's enough to attach a man-made ball & socket joint to. That requires top of the line ortho specialists. None of the doctors qualified to do this will take my middle class health insurance, so...
Archery was my first love, before I got into firearms. It was going to be my retirement hobby (instead of golf) but things aren't working out like I thought they would. It's time to move on and get what pleasure I can out of the time left to me. I'm going back to my early adulthood when I took up the handgun seriously and am acquiring and shooting the early Flat-top 3-screw Ruger Blackhawks (got a 44 Mag and waiting on a 357 Mag). I'm also indulging my long time love affair with N-framed Smith & Wessons. For the gun fancier's, here are some pictures of what I'm doing with the money I've gotten from selling off some of the archery stuff:
A re-blued 1st Model Hand Ejector, also known as the Triple Lock. It's a 5" barreled 44 Special made in 1914.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww224/desertarcher/2009_1022AF.jpg
A pre Model 20, 38/44 Heavy Duty, 4" barrel w/ factory nickel finish made about 1954.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww224/desertarcher/2009_1104AA.jpg
And, a 1937 38/44 Heavy Duty with a 5" barrel and a really smooth action. I suspect from lots of shooting.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww224/desertarcher/2009_1027AA.jpg
Still and all, I'm going to miss watching the flight of the arrow. With my aging eyes I can't see them bullets worth a dang!
Adios,
Dave
For years I've been developing some arthritis in both shoulders, in part made worse by living a vigorous life in law enforcement and in my hobbies. The final straw was probably archery, which puts a lot of wear on the shoulder joints. I'd built up enough muscle over the years that I was holding together pretty well until last January out on the Field Archery course here in the desert. I slipped on a caliche down slope covered with sand and gravel. Landed on my bow arm elbow and drove the upper arm into the shoulder socket. Didn't know how bad it was at the time, in fact I finished shooting the field round (my last as it turned out). In about 3 days the shoulder was so bad I couldn't do anything with my left arm. The rotator cuff and bicep tendon were being abraded by the jaged edges of what was left of my shoulder socket.
Jump about 6 months forward. I've learned I need to have the shoulder bones rebuilt, with bone grafts or cadaver bone so there's enough to attach a man-made ball & socket joint to. That requires top of the line ortho specialists. None of the doctors qualified to do this will take my middle class health insurance, so...
Archery was my first love, before I got into firearms. It was going to be my retirement hobby (instead of golf) but things aren't working out like I thought they would. It's time to move on and get what pleasure I can out of the time left to me. I'm going back to my early adulthood when I took up the handgun seriously and am acquiring and shooting the early Flat-top 3-screw Ruger Blackhawks (got a 44 Mag and waiting on a 357 Mag). I'm also indulging my long time love affair with N-framed Smith & Wessons. For the gun fancier's, here are some pictures of what I'm doing with the money I've gotten from selling off some of the archery stuff:
A re-blued 1st Model Hand Ejector, also known as the Triple Lock. It's a 5" barreled 44 Special made in 1914.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww224/desertarcher/2009_1022AF.jpg
A pre Model 20, 38/44 Heavy Duty, 4" barrel w/ factory nickel finish made about 1954.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww224/desertarcher/2009_1104AA.jpg
And, a 1937 38/44 Heavy Duty with a 5" barrel and a really smooth action. I suspect from lots of shooting.
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww224/desertarcher/2009_1027AA.jpg
Still and all, I'm going to miss watching the flight of the arrow. With my aging eyes I can't see them bullets worth a dang!
Adios,
Dave