Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for August 09, 2013

a cap and bawl pistol

One time I was trying to peel a roll of caps open and my thumbnail scraped one of the little charges. Friction set it off and I burned under my thumbnail.

Haha … Scooter’s at it again…he always gets such a bang out of that game.

Brian — I’ve done that too!Mine was probably more minor, cos it just caught the edge of my nail….. as I recall, it didn’t actually burn any skin.

Scared me more than it hurt me…. but the underside of that nail had a big black spot till it grew out.

A point of pride in kindergarten society.

I’ve had the most disturbing image flash through my mind…….a dog chewing a roll of caps and blowing his teeth to pieces. Time for another pill.

pcolli…. nah…. not enough powder in ‘em, and they’re not that easy to ignite…. especially wet.

Might give him black teeth like a geisha for a while…. no real explosive power.

Wasn’t there one where the hard part for Scooter was drawing his gun?Oh Ste.. ♪ .. ♪ …. l ♪ …..

Because of his slow loading, Scooter’s not too quick on the draw.

Not the best way to cap off a day.

Cap guns did not always advance them well one by one. I can imagine the taste for the poor dog – UUGH! No danger really (except for an upset tummy).

It’s the lack of thumbs Scooter is regretting. He should really advance to the Roy Rodgers gun. It had bullets that you made. The plastic bullet fit onto a spring loaded shell. Mattel made these new “sticky” caps that you could put on the rear of the shell. Then you loaded the whole round into the gun just like a real one. When you fired the hammer struck the cap and the impact would knock the plastic bullet free and the spring shot it out the end of the barrel about 3 foot (max). It was just like a real 45 Colt. Of course Scooter could just use the sticky caps. They were green and as a kid I found them very tasty.Really if I was Scooter I would advance to the Johnny 7 OMA.How many here remember those? (One Man Army and those green caps worked there too.)

And getting his guns on is no piece of cake, either!

Scooter is the fastest draw in the West (end) of Ballard Street. His aim, however , leaves a little something to be desired.

One time somebody busted a whole roll of caps at once with a hammer. It was loud.

For Scooter, the happiest day of his life was Christmas morning two years ago when he open that big brown paper bag and found, to his surprise, not dog chop treats, not cow hide bones, not too old to eat apples…but a real life honest to goodness, two gun and holster set. Wowster, life is so good. Not even Trooper has a two gun and holster set. Actually it doesn’t fit the way it use to, but who cares, it’s a two gun and holster set. And the caps are a pain, but who cares it’s a two gun and holster set. And no body will play with him any more, but who cares its a two gun and holster set. And no you can’t borrow it and no you can’t play with it and no I don’t care, it’s a two gun and holster set. And by the way, if you came away from this conversation thinking I don’t care, then you came away with the right idea. It’s my two gun and holster set.

Do they still make cap guns?

Now a days you boys would be expelled and arrested as terriorists and made to attend a wilderness camp for wayward kids, and have to sleep in the desert in tents and attend “redirection” classes and you would have gotten out and since you were only 11 and could not go to school you would have turned to running drugs for the local drug guy and sent to Juvie until you were 18 and ended up in prison for multiple charges and…..all for a couple of bb’s!

Good night, everybody!

I’m leaving you with a public service announcement from Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany:

Do they still make those??

Who knew that Scooter was a Capper?Good Evening, BALLARDEERS.

Hey BEV, you made one sharp looking gun-slinger there!

Hi, SUSAN!I won’t be around at the turn, but just for the record, that little pile of spent caps in the back booth?

It wasn’t me.

shh! Mua, do you want to get me in trouble? Put the gun away now, before the crowd shows up

Oh, hi Fenton. Just a night cap for me, and a wee catnip shot for Prince Mua, er, here, under the table. Sigh…

Is it just me, or am I repeating myself now? Time to put the lights out and try to sleep.GOOD NIGHT BALLARDEERS.

Yes, Bev – Great photo!I was looking for the bullet guns and only found some guns that appeared to have a plug in the barrel (so was “loading” just placing in the barrel? for a single shot? Or did id load 6 bullets like a real 6-shooter? These bullets look fairly authentic (for a toy) But as I said, I never saw those.

Since having real guns is no problem here in Phoenix, I don’t think I want a toy (the real thing is always better than toys).

Time for a good pot of tea and bath now before bed.

I will never voluntarily part with my Speed Six.

This. THIS is why we love Scooter.

Claude isn’t, but that smarts:

https://cleoandcompany.net/august-9-2023/

Good morning Balladeers and Tigressy!