Would you buy a used gun from this woman?
Well, how about a raffle ticket for a used gun?
Or maybe bid on an auction for a used gun?
See, here’s the deal. A person calling himself the Easter Bunny (seriously; he doesn’t dare go by Anonymous because these days the FBI will bust you for that) has offered me a gun to raffle or auction.
Here’s the further deal. His catch is that I design my own camo pattern (he suggests Peeps and melons but I dunno about that) and offer this as the world’s first (and perhaps only) Claire Camo firearm.
The probable gun is a Mini-14, older but nicely tricked out. It has a six-position stock. Other possibilities are an AK47 or a bolt-action .308, but he and I are both leaning toward the Mini. In any case, it would be professionally semi-professionally amateurishly uniquely painted with DuraCoat & you guys might even get to help design the new camo.
So back to the question at the top of this post: Would you be interested in bidding on this if I put it up for auction? Or would you buy a $10 raffle ticket if this were the top prize (with second and third prizes to be named)?
All the legalities would be observed, including shipping the firearm through an FFL in the winner’s state if a FTF transfer isn’t possible.
Color selections are frighteningly limitless, including such options as “Goddess Purple,” “Barney Purple” (yes, that Barney), “Harley-Davidson Orange,” “Furious Mike,” and “Bronx Rose.” Mr. Bunny’s offer is almost too generous, and DuraCoat and the equipment to apply it are a bit of an investment, so I’m only going to do this if people are enthused.
Interested? Suggestions? Tell me!
July 22nd, 2011 at 4:33 am
I’m in for two tickets.
July 22nd, 2011 at 5:01 am
I’m in if you do this.
Totally off topic:
In regards to your book, have you thought of sending a copy to Kate at small dead animals? She is one of the top blogs in Canada, Over 22 million hits, with a large US audience. It is heavily conservative, but has serious Libertarians who go there. She has books sent to her and she is not shy about recommending them if they tickle her fancy.
http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/
July 22nd, 2011 at 5:53 am
I’m in for a ticket or two, too.
July 22nd, 2011 at 6:23 am
Sounds good to me. I’m in!
As for suggestions, how about a signature or something making it a Claire Wolfe Freedom Special?
July 22nd, 2011 at 7:14 am
if it has ‘Barney’ on it I’d shoot myself with it :)
July 22nd, 2011 at 7:39 am
I’m definitely interested in a raffle ticket or two. The Mini-14 sounds great.
Camo suggestion: Wild animal tracks (deer, mountain lion, wolf, elk, bear, beaver), any or all, on the Desert Warrior Dark Earth.
July 22nd, 2011 at 7:49 am
Are black and yellow wasp stripes “camo”?
How many tickets for an ounce of silver? I’m still considering whether I’d do it, considering the FFL involvement, but if I do I’d be more likely to buy with silver.
July 22nd, 2011 at 7:54 am
Claire,
Count me in for two tickets Please. [at that price level]
I was going to suggest some exotic color combinations but have settled on either the futuristic “basic black” or more traditional “convincingly clear” as the tint suggestions for the duracoat. With Big Wooly’s suggestion of the TWO signatures being seconded. [C.W. + Easter Bunny references to teapots not required]
I’m not so much interested in an auction format [being impoverished and all ...] but would still “contribute” my Mite to support the effort.
FWIW I will still be “IN” for two tickets no matter the caliber, make, model or color. Personal Preference is F2F transfer so as to reduce [if not remove] the paperwork hassles. {ahem …}
Thank You to Mr. Easter Bunny whomever and wherever you are.
stay safe,
capt gooch
July 22nd, 2011 at 8:04 am
Whoo. Nice response. Thank you.
Grey Lady, I had given no thought to smalldeadanimals.com because I wasn’t aware of it. But I am now. And just in case, I’ll also start looking at how to legally get a rifle into Canada.
Kent, I wish I’d have thought of tix-for-silver. If I do this, I’ll absolutely, definitely take payment in metals — rate to be determined at the time. Right now, today, an ounce of silver would buy four $10 tickets. But since it would take time to get the firearm, get the DuraCoat, design the pattern, and bring my skills up to the needed point … can’t really say.
Everybody — thanks for the enthusiasm and keep those “Claire Camo” suggestions coming. I’m leaning toward either a freedomista theme or a dog/wolf theme. With the cost of DuraCoat and the fact that it has to be spray painted, not hand painted, I’m thinking of a simple three-color theme.
And yep, I think wasp stripes are considered “camo” these days. Camo’s getting very creative.
July 22nd, 2011 at 8:06 am
Oh yeah, if we do this, I’ll probably design several sample themes and submit them for your consideration. That is, unless I hit on one idea that’s just so right I have to do that one.
I like the signature idea, too. Just not sure how to execute it right now. Much to figure out …
July 22nd, 2011 at 8:43 am
Yes, interested. The pattern/solor schemes should be whimsical yet practical. I’m okay with pink.
July 22nd, 2011 at 9:16 am
Painted in cartoon colors-say, like Marvin the Martian’s ray gun.
July 22nd, 2011 at 10:52 am
$10 a ticket – sure thing for a ticket or two. Raffles have been good to me. Won a .22 in a raffle years ago and bought a shotgun cheap from a friend who won it with a $5 raffle ticket.
I am appropriately enthused.
Cheer$
July 22nd, 2011 at 3:35 pm
I’m in so long as I could snail mail the money to you, since I don’t do online $ stuff at all. :)
July 22nd, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Oh, definitely, WolfSong. You betcha.
It’s going to be a while yet before this happens — probably in the fall or very late in summer. But I’ll be sure to set up plenty of options.
July 22nd, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Count me in too. I like the peep camo idea! It couldbe really funny in traditional camo colors. Overlaping bunnies and chicks….mixed with twigs, leaves and dirt. Too complicated?
July 23rd, 2011 at 6:44 am
I’m in. Capt Gooch makes, {ahem} a good point. Along Scott’s theme, you would have to include Quick Draw McDraw ;^) Pink…..unless I’m hiding in the teenage girls local pagent wooptido, not so camo…just sayin’…carry on *grin*.
July 23rd, 2011 at 8:29 am
For a freedomista theme, may I suggest the black, gold, and green of Live Free or Die — with a possible undulating “snake” slithering along as well.
July 23rd, 2011 at 9:23 am
Ooooh. Pat. Interesting. I’ve been trying to think of a freedomista theme that doesn’t involve stars, Lady Liberty, etc.
Teresa Sue. I’m with you on pink camo. But it’s truly, truly amazing what’s considered camo these days. Some of the pre-packaged “camo” patterns DuraCoat sells would camouflage one only in a zoo or a San Francisco gay-rights parade.
No Quick Draw McGraw, I think … though my brain is having fun playing with both bright, cartoonish camos and subdued ones.
July 23rd, 2011 at 9:42 am
I’m in.
I’m partial to black and emerald-green, and celtic knotwork.
July 23rd, 2011 at 11:42 am
Quick Draw McGraw, eh?
I’m a Ricochet Rabbit fan myself. Bing Bing Bing!
July 24th, 2011 at 8:28 am
You could do a “Time’s Up” striking snake.
July 24th, 2011 at 10:59 am
Kent, thank you for making your snake available. I was thinking about that, myself. With the Gadsden snake having been coopted by wish-washy Tea Partiers, yours … well, seems much more fitting for a number of reasons. I’m a long way from coming up with patterns, but you just saved me having to ask your permission. :-)
I still love my “Times Up!” flag.
July 24th, 2011 at 11:28 am
I’d buy a few tickets. As far as stocks go…black with my SCA device of a gold narwhal would be fine with me.
July 24th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
I’m in! Two tickets at least. Anything in black/gold or snakes, tree of liberty. And a sig or even the name of Claire Wolfe would make it almost too valuable to shoot. :)
July 24th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
If ya decide to go with the snake theme, this might be a nice background: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-spray-paint-snake-skin-scales-on-anything/
July 24th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
I have family members living ~30 miles NE of your (presumed) location. If you’d be willing to hold the prize for a while (up to 6 months?) until you have an occasion to travel that direction (or they have an occasion to travel your direction) for a FTF, I’d be in for a couple tickets.
Might you develop a few designs and let the winner pick which one to apply to said prize?
July 25th, 2011 at 6:30 am
I’ve thought about doing a custom design for the winner or letting the winner select from several designs. It would definitely be a neat thing to do. But given that I’ve never worked with DuraCoat before, and given that a picture is worth 10,000 words, it would be better for the design to be finished, known, and inspected via photos before any raffle.
July 25th, 2011 at 6:45 am
Oh yes, and my plan (should this raffle actually come off and should the winner want a meetup) would be to do an FTF transfer with a meetup near the I-5 corridor in OR or WA (location to be mutually arranged). And I can’t imagine there’d be any problem holding the gun for the winner.
FFL transfers anywhere I can legally send the firearm within the U.S. and Canada.
July 25th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
I’m definitely in for at least two tickets. Or whatever an ounce of silver buys at the time.
I’m in SoKal but a road trip to pick up winnings would suit me just fine.
July 25th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Anything but pink or purple… anything.
I’d do it in a heartbeat.
July 25th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Wow – any color, any pattern, but peeps would be awesome! I’m in!
July 25th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Big Wooly — Amazing effects — and with such simple tools. Thank you!
Everybody — Encouraging response. I expect Mr. Bunny would tell me, “I told you so.”
Okay … no pink … um, not even little touches of pink?
July 28th, 2011 at 6:16 am
Naw, if we want pink we can put a pink sling on the thing, lol.
@ Jim B – haha! I always thought that rabbit was on something….lol!
July 28th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
I love the idea. Count me in for a couple tickets.
July 31st, 2011 at 9:24 am
I might be in, but the choices of firearm leaves something to be desired. Instead of the mini-14, can I recommend something from Saiga in either 12 Gauge, .223 or .308? Their built like tanks and could survive a teotwawki situation….. the mini-14 will jam on lacquered steel cased Russian surplus….. and in a shtf situation, that stuff will probably be the only ammo we will be able to get because everybody else will have already bought out the brass cased- re loadable stuff for their ever-so-ammo-finiky mini-14′s and AR’s. The Saigs EAT EVERYTHING and like a starving boy say “Please sir, May I have some more?”
July 31st, 2011 at 6:44 pm
count me in for 5 tix.
July 31st, 2011 at 7:20 pm
john b — whoo. Thank you! And thank everybody who has responded so positively.
Ben — The gun will be from the donor’s collection, so the selection will be determined by what he already has. I’m personally fond of Mini-14 even though, yes, some of them can be fussy about what they feed or what magazines they’ll accept. Looking at the relative price of a one-of-a-kind Mini-14 vs a .223 Saiga though … might be if the winner didn’t want a customized Mini-14 as a TEOTWAWKI weapon, he or she could swap it for several Saigas.
September 4th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
Who do I make out the check to and what’s the address?
Thank you
September 5th, 2011 at 7:40 am
John D — Thanks for your vote of confidence! It’ll be a while before the rifle is ready to go. October, I hope! I’ll keep everybody posted about the progress and hopefully have some designs to show this month.