In message , B2431
writes
From: "Paul J. Adam"
As a firearms enthusiast, Jim, you might be familiar with the phrase
"going off half-cocked".

Paul, that term comes from having an accident while stuffing one's side arm
into the front waist of one's pants.

Sorry, Dan, but it dates back to the flintlock days: back when you'd
half-cock your firelock so you could charge the pan, and a
fumble-fingered soldier or one cursed with a badly-made weapon
(remember, this was before mass production and interchangeable parts)
could discharge his weapon at an inopportune moment.

And whether you call the relevant garment pants, shorts or trousers, I
was only sticking a loaded and ready firearm in there if there was a
proper holster ready to receive it

--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk