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Post by Carolinaman on May 26, 2017 10:27:28 GMT -5
Hello Folks,
I wanted to start a thread to allow all of us here to introduce ourselves.
First, while my "screen name" is Carolinaman, my real name is Chris Stephens and currently (for the past 25 or more years) reside in North Myrtle Beach, SC about three blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. I have retired now after over 30 years in the Hospitality Food and Beverage business. I am a avid shooter, collector and reloader of ammunition. I suppose I gravitate more towards handguns, but do keep an interesting collection of firearms that include rifles and shotguns.
I wanted to allow the opportunity here of letting us introduce to each other.
Best,
Chris
P.S. If any of y'all get down here this way, than PM me and we will get together over a cup of coffee or your favorite "adult beverage" of choice!
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Post by HRFunk on May 26, 2017 14:41:22 GMT -5
Chris, I might just take you up on that! My wife is from Columbia SC, and we usually vacation every year down around Charleston. I might, however, be able to talk her into taking there trip up your way! For me, my real name is Howard Funk (I hate using a screen name by the way, but it seems to be "de rigueur" for anything on the internet!) I've been a police officer in Ohio for 30 odd years, and during much of that time I've been a firearms instructor, department armorer, and SWAT team Sniper. My interest in firearms goes back to my childhood, and has only gotten more intense as time has gone by. In the past year or so, I was bitten by the Hi Power bug, and my initial sample of that design was a Charles Daly HP. Researching that pistol lead me to Jaypee and his excellent book on Hungarian Hi Powers. I was very happy to be invited as one of the early members of this new forum, and I hope to be able to contribute something useful from time to time. I also have a youtube channel dedicated to firearms and shooting. I like to post links to my videos for anyone who might be interested in watching. I hope that practice doesn't annoy anybody. I just like to throw it out there for those who might be inclined to watch. One warning, if you go to one of my videos, keep in mind I'm neither Steven Steven Speiburg nor Charleston Heston, so don't laugh too hard!
HRF
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Post by judero on May 26, 2017 16:39:35 GMT -5
Good Afternoon all,
Judero here. I'm a LEO from the DFW area. Spent 28 years in the AF as a TACP (1C491 or 272XX which will show your age). I'm a Hi-power junkie. I have 4, one built in in 1957 that Dad bought while stationed at NATO, a GP Competition, Argentine FM Detective and very well worn but smooth-edged Mk II. No, they are not for sale.
I found you guys via the Sig Forum. I'm older, got semi-bad knees, but I love what I do and I love Hi Powers.
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Post by Carolinaman on May 26, 2017 16:47:55 GMT -5
Hello judero, Welcome to the forum sir! Mr. Funk, I wish to thank you for joining us here. You'd be more than welcome to visit North Myrtle Beach, SC. However, this is probably one weekend that you might want to consider passing on... Best, Chris
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Post by maineiac on May 26, 2017 19:21:16 GMT -5
Well, I might as well jump into the pool too. My last name is the name of a German gun (think PPS), but in addition to them, I love the HP, and have them as well as a Radom which is pretty neat, as you guys who are more knowledgeable than I, know. I'm lucky enough to live in Maine, where guns are acceptable to the masses, and we don't have to apologize for them. I'm a long time NRA member, active gun club officer, and super active bird hunter with my Vizslas. Good to be here!
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Post by eTripper on May 26, 2017 19:31:41 GMT -5
I'm a former Vietnam-era sailor, who resides in Michigan. I currently, own two P-35's, which were assembled in Portugal. My fascination with this pistol started years-ago, when I read about the various 'wondernines' authored by Jan Libourel. The lineage of the Hi-Power is fascinating, so is it's use by various nations, and military units, such as the SAS in Northern Ireland.
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Post by Carolinaman on May 26, 2017 21:14:57 GMT -5
Hello maineiac and eTripper,
Spent summers up in Maine and it is a lovely state. eTripper, I used to read a lot of articles by Jan Libourel and I was always fascinated by them when he wrote for Guns and Ammo.... Welcome to you both! Thank you for sharing your introduction here and it is most appreciated!
Best,
Chris
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Post by Slav on May 27, 2017 5:44:15 GMT -5
Hello all, Slav's here. I'm one of the co-founders (the "B") of BHSpringSolutions LLC. I'm fairly young - 36 and think that there is still much for me to learn about the HiPower world. I dare to say I know my way around the Arcuses though. My best friend friend Mark and myself created the BHSS with the clear idea to be helpful to the HiPower and it's clones users and for the moment I think we're doing well . Any feedback is always appreciated. Wanna thank Chuck for inviting me here. It's a pleasure to meet you all and to see some of the most knowledgeable HiPower guys I've ever encountered back together. If you think there is something strange about my English, you're right...I'm living and working in Bulgaria. As long my English is better than your Bulgarian, I think you should not complain
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Post by ranger566 on May 27, 2017 7:12:53 GMT -5
Morning folks. My name is Steve Ehart, and I'm 73 years old (that would be GEEZER-time!). Originally from Kansas. Now an adopted son of the Commonwealth of Virginia (thanks to my wife), and live out here in the Shenandoah Valley. Two time retiree....20+ years in the U.S. Army, followed by 25 years as a PGA Golf Professional. Spent two lovely (?) all expenses paid tours to SE Asia, '67-'68, and '69-'70. Volunteer retiree re-call for Operation Desert Storm in '90-'91. First put my hands on a 1911 at ROTC Summer Camp in 1964 at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Then at my first assignment at Ft. Bragg, NC in '66 as a trooper with the 82d Airborne Division. As most of us know, if you're drawn to the 1911, you'll likely be putting your hands on the fabulous Hi Power some time after that. Currently have five HP's in my stable.....a '43 German model (with holster)...a Practical...a C model... a 75th Anniversary model....and an Israeli Surplus model. Been an off and on collector/shooter of firearms for over 35 years, and appreciate the opportunity to be around guys who will forget more about HP's that I'll ever learn!
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Post by vis35 on May 27, 2017 7:20:57 GMT -5
HI folks. John Larson here. Life long resident of North Dakota. Retired construction engineer; I worked in 22 States and 3 Canadian Provinces, and met, and shot with, many fine hand gun people over the years. Been married to the same tolerant wife for 49 years. Two grown boys ( both engineers), and 2 high-school age grandsons. I've been an avid bird hunter and handgun nut for over 50 years. Started my love for the Browning Hi Power in the mid-80's. Nice to be here on this great new forum and look forward to meeting many of you
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Post by Carolinaman on May 27, 2017 7:39:41 GMT -5
Hello slav, Steve and John,
I would like to wish you a very warm welcome to the forum. Slav, your English is fine and my Bulgarian is non-existant! Steve, my family's working farm is not too far away from where you live located in Loudoun Co., VA. John, I really enjoy the fact that your avatar features a Tokarev. Fellow member Vant and I formed the "Horry County Tokarev Society" about two years ago and I will get a "Tok" thread going here and post some pictures.
Again, welcome gentleman!
Best,
Chris
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Post by Mister Coffee on May 27, 2017 13:15:38 GMT -5
First, let me say thank you to JayPee for asking me to be one of the early members of this new forum, and thanks to Chris for starting this thread. I am very happy to see some of my old camerados from other parts of the Internet reassembled here. (Although you tricked me, Chris, with your new forum name. I didn't recognize you at first. What happened to that beautiful avatar you had with the brown field jacket and the revolver?) While I am at it, let me acknowledge a new acquaintance, Mr. HRFunk, whose youtube videos I discovered recently and am enjoying. Mr. Funk is a natural on camera and a natural teacher. His videos are well-produced. I particularly like the way he uses cuts, and the beautiful piano music theme. The videos also present instructive and original content.
Speaking of teaching, I've worked as a college professor for the last 30 years, but, after next week, I'm out of it. Working just takes up too much time, don't you agree? I'd rather sit at home and think my thoughts, and go to the range once in a while. We'll see how that works out. California is beautiful, but it is getting to be a pretty expensive place to live. If I move to a gun-friendlier state, that could present some new opportunities.
My gun ownership started with an adjustable sight blue finish Browning Hi-Power, which I bought in the early 1980s. In those days, I was reading the gun magazines, and I heard about a gunsmith a few miles to the west of me named James Hoag. Jim did a little reliability work on my gun and removed the magazine disconnect. He also tuned the trigger to a crisp 3.75-4.0 lb. break — which is a little psycho for a carry gun, but good for the range, once you get used to it. I knew Jim as a gunsmith. I didn't find out about his history as a competitive shooter and as one of the Bear Mountain Boys until much later. After the Hi-Power, I didn't buy my second gun until a few years later. My sense of what interested me what still forming, but I guess I always tended toward the "classics," and when it came time to consider a smaller pistol that might be suitable for carry, I looked at the Interarms Walther PPK/s. Everyone that I talked to who had a PPK/s said that they quickly got rid of it, and I was encouraged to look at the Sig P230, which I wound up buying in stainless steel. The P230 is built like a tank if you could imagine a tank with some elegant design features. In fact, the gun is over-built. Even the magazines are enough to make you think twice about going to war with a people who can make this kind of stuff. But the little P230 bites like a junkyard dog, the grip feels big and unnatural (although my trigger finger placement is perfectly on the first finger digit), and it simply doesn't have the sex appeal of the Walther. A fews years after I bought the Sig, the Berlin Wall fell down and a bunch of Soviet block guns flooded into the U.S. market. For no reason in particular, I picked up a commercial Makarov in .380.
I see that I am going on too long. Must be the coffee. Anyway, I currently own four Hi-Powers, and my interest is mostly (but not exclusively) in Colt 1911s and Browning Hi-Powers. I am not an expert like most of you. I am a student. I am not a collector. I am an enthusiast. I look forward to contributing what I can to this forum.
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Post by Carolinaman on May 27, 2017 13:39:06 GMT -5
Hello Mister Coffee, Welcome sir! Most of us here are students of the "hand gun" and I have never considered myself expert in their history, design and that is a thought well worth considering. Thank you for bringing it here to the fore front of discussion. Like you, I own the Makarov and my first handgun was the venerable S&W Model 58 in 41 Magnum that I sold so many years ago... (First, in the "book of shame" for selling!). I've owned a couple of HP's over the years. They are beautiful and eloquent handguns in the world of "plastic pistols". Sir, your participation here is very valued and we look forward to your future posts! Best wishes from the "other side" of the continent! Enjoy your retirement from teaching. My son just started his teaching in Korea.... Uh, the southern part! Chris
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Post by mushoot on May 27, 2017 14:34:40 GMT -5
Hello, I love my hipower so I am sure I will like this group too. My name is John Mason. I am a retired soldier/teacher and live in New Braunfels, TX. I learn something new every day and hope to learn a lot from you folks.
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Post by Carolinaman on May 27, 2017 16:04:09 GMT -5
Hello mushoot,
Welcome to the forum! Certainly sir, I learn something new everyday and it is a wonderful opportunity to have you here!
Best,
Chris
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