Name:   MAJ USA RET - Subject:   Craftsmanship taken Too Far Date:   11/8/2014 9:01:43 AM

At one time in my life, I wanted to build flintlock rifles. My mentor was COL Grady Spry, a former Green Beret turned chaplain. Before he would allow me to build a rifle from ordered parts and raw materials… he had me to practice on kits. The reason for this was to give my hands and mind a history of successful craftsmanship. After four kits (most of which I gave to friends) he declared that I was ready to attempt the art from sketches and parts from England, Germany, and the United States… and raw walnut stock. 

I reproduced a 1750 Jäger büchse (hunting rifle; after Kuchenreuther aus Regensburg) from sketches made in Regensburg. 

While carving the stock from a blank, I repeatedly asked COL Spry, “Is this enough?” or “How much more to I need to take off?” Without fail he would reply, “Take off what does not look like a rifle.” 

I asked, “What happens if I take away too much?” His reply was, “Throw it away.” 

Our forefathers crafted our Constitution from the practice (and wisdom) of history. We have mistakenly proceeded to whittle away on it. A little chip of rights here… a little gouge of authority there… and soon it looks less and less like a useful document. The limits of authority for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches have blurred… we have corrupt and/or narcissistic career politicians and judges tweaking… sometimes downright fracturing… the checks and balances so carefully afforded by the very wise, learned, and wary authors of our founding document. 

Perhaps… we shall soon have to throw it away.

- - LMF Curmudgeon