![]() |
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
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 |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Paul J. Adam" wrote:
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. Dan may have been joking a little Paul 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. That might have been so too , but modern weapons have that 'half cock' feature, it's done to keep the hammer off the firing pin, this position locks the hammer from being released by the trigger, but you likely knew that already...now a question, do you know how "flash in the pan" originated? 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 ![]() -- -Gord. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
In message , "Gord
writes "Paul J. Adam" wrote: Dan may have been joking a little Paul Yes, he said so too - my mistake for being too literal. now a question, do you know how "flash in the pan" originated? Matchlocks and flintlocks again: the priming fires but doesn't ignite the charge in the barrel (blocked vent, for instance). So you get the flash in the pan, but no shot. Me gun nut, me know these things ![]() occasionally needs recalibration when reading Americanese ![]() -- 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 |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
In message , B2431
writes From: "Paul J. Adam" 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 I keep forgetting some things don't translate into Brit. It's an old joke, sorry. Right - got it on the second try. Cheers. -- 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 |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Paul J. Adam wrote:
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. Apparently, firing off ramrods, particularly in the excitement of battle, was another fairly common error. There doesn't seem to be an idiom derived from it, so I suppose it must have been a much less common event than "going off half-cocked". SMH |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
*White* Helicopters??!!! | Stephen Harding | Military Aviation | 13 | March 9th 04 07:03 PM |
Taiwan to make parts for new Bell military helicopters | Otis Willie | Military Aviation | 0 | February 28th 04 12:12 AM |
Coalition casualties for October | Michael Petukhov | Military Aviation | 16 | November 4th 03 11:14 PM |
Police State | Grantland | Military Aviation | 0 | September 15th 03 12:53 PM |
FA: The Helicopters Are Coming | The Ink Company | Aviation Marketplace | 0 | August 10th 03 05:53 PM |