Coming Distractions
As I continue plugging away at the book manuscript, reviewing and editing the Gragg video, and pinstriping the Gragg chairs in the studio, I have a number of disruptive smaller(?) projects to refresh my mind.
Though not really “smaller,” since we have had lows approaching freezing it is time to finish off the firewood tasks for the upcoming winter. I’ve pretty much got the barn situated, with only another hour or so of work left to do. Actually I got so much firewood there I need to move the pile and put a fireproof barrier between it and the stove. I’m about 1/3 of the way with the cabin woodpile, so have set aside this entire week to finish splitting and stacking the firewood we will need for a severe winter. We’re hoping the winter will be mild, but nevertheless will be ready if it is not.
Long ago I started to make a set of stacking octagonal boxes to be another experiment in my quest for faux urushi, and they are sitting on my finishing bench patiently awaiting my artistry.
I’ve got a silverware box I picked up somewhere along the road to serve as the foundation for another faux urushi experiment.
I am determined to finally finish fabricating my invention for an “off” eye rifle scope. The alternative is to learn to shoot left-handed, which I can do as demonstrated by the dead groundhog that had been sniffing around Mrs. Barn’s garden, but I am right handed and have shot that way for the past 50 years. I’ve ordered the last little pieces of material necessary and can resume that project any time now. If the first prototype works like I think it will I will make a similar device for all the relevant tools.
Finally, I need to shim and re-hang the barn’s basement door, build the doors for Mrs. Barn’s clothes cabinet, refinish the dining chairs, finish hanging the remaining doors for the library book cabinets, repair a broken upholstered chair frame for a friend, and begin preparations for next year’s “Build A Gragg Chair” workshop including moving a coupe workbenches up to the fourth floor. The list is never ending. I’m 65 and “retired” and still do not have enough time and energy to get everything done.
Don: Back in the ’70s, John T. Amber, the editor of Gun Digest had a similar vision problem. His answer was to have a custom built stock made which allowed him to mount the rifle to his right shoulder but which aligned the scope with his left eye. I’ve lost track of the issue but I recall that it looked eerily similar to the photo that appears in your blog. As I remember he was quite impressed with how well it worked. I don’t know if it’s something you’d want to try with a large caliber round but plinking for groundhogs it would probably be just fine. Steve
Hi Steve
My idea is a lot simpler and thus more elegant IMHO. I think you will like it, and it just might transform the world of dominant-eye-damaged-vision shooting folks out there. I have discussed the concept with a gunsmith who sees no reason it could not be adapted to any caliber of projectile tool. If this concept is workable I will document it in detail on the blog and probably release it to anyone who wants to use it without patent/trademark limits. I might try to write an article for an appropriate publication, but otherwise leave it to each user to create their own analog. At this point in my life I think of patents and trademarks as just a pile of headaches and paperwork. I actually hope to work on this today and this weekend, depending on the weather. If it’s raining, yes. If not, it will be a firewood day. I just have some delicate/fussy machinist lathe work to refine.