Hello Everyone,

Just a little FYI and clarification.

I had been e-mailed by numerous people all over the world (literally) concerning the video clips and the numerous forums and websites the clips somehow ended up on. I browsed the various forums, reading the comments and found they were both amusing and somewhat baffling.

Each forum seemed to have a different twist on the background and chain of events for the videos: such as, who the owner of the pistol was, stating the 2nd shooter was me (the gun owner), that we were both injured, the pistol was damaged, it was a .50 BMG pistol, no it was a .700 Nitro pistol, no it was a .500 S&W, it was a "Display Only" pistol (not meant to be fired) or "For Show Only" pistol (again built by a gun maker not meant to be shot), various bullet weights, various muzzle velocities and energies, etc., etc., etc.

Some even tried to compare my pistol which was built on a T-C Encore frame (weighing in at 7-1/2#) to the Zeliska .600 Nitro revolver which weighed considerably more (can't remember if it was 12# or 14# - I chatted with the manufacturer in Austria about the specs). Thus, the recoil would be considerably different. Also, the Zeliska sells for $18,000 USD plus shipping, plus import taxes, mine considerably more affordable.

After reading the various Forums, I stopped counting at something close to 17,000 hits on the video and comments about the video.
50% of the Forum participants understood and knew the thoughts behind making such a pistol. Some admired, some envied, some awe-struck.
30% understood but admonished me for having it made (since they considered it useless). The remaining 20% missed the point altogether, where they rattled on about something insignificant and irrelevant. Often they would make a comment inferring their knowledge of (or lack thereof) my pistol or what REALLY happened at the range.

1. It was a .600 Nitro Express caliber (just like on a Safari)
2. Custom Beartooth lead bullet - .622 inch, 1040 grains, flat nose
3. The powder was 4198 at 117gr (158 grains for 900 gr FMJ bullet)
4. Stainless steel Thompson-Center Encore frame .
5. Custom made and fitted Van Horne 1-inch (14"L) stainless steel barrel. 17-1/8" total barrel length with brake.
6. Custom Van Horne (3-3/8"L x 1-3/8" diam) muzzle brake made especially for this pistol (and it's removeable).
7. Approx. 2-1/2# trigger pull (very light).
8. Four (4) SSK scope rings on a SSK T'SOB scope mount (4 mounting screws).
9. Weaver Classic stainless recoil-proof 2x28mm scope.
10. T-C Rynite grip.
11. 7-1/2# total weight
12. No one was injured. Shooter #2's shooting glass were broken in 3 pieces.
13. Shooter #1 was me, the owner (the one who went stage left).
14. Shooter #2 (the portly fellow) was the curious Range Master who didn't heed my instruction on how to grip the pistol. Note my stance (and grip) versus his.
15. I had the gun made for the following reasons:
a. I LOVE big bore handguns and rifles. The power, uniqueness, etc.
b. Anybody can shoot a .22, or .38, or .45, etc., but not many can (or willing to) shoot a .50+ handcannon.
c. I am a Police Firearms instructor, Range Master, and ex-competitive shooter, and love a challenge.
d. It's never been about hunting, accuracy, user-friendliness, etc. I don't hunt. I rarely target shoot anymore. I don't care if someone calls me an idiot, insane, or slams me on a Forum. They are entitled to their opinion, as I am entitled to mine. People enjoy their .22's, or wearing camo underwear to bed, or owning horses, or driving their shiny new 2-story high 4-wheel drive pickup truck into a muddy bog completely covering their truck (inside and out) with mud, . . . just as much as I enjoy my .600 Nitro, my Indian motorcycle (not a Harley), etc.
e. I've always collected unique or one-of a kind "things". Whether it's procelain, guns, coins, motorcycles, bronze figurines, etc. As long as it's unique and I like it, I buy it or in the case of the always nagging engineering or scientific question: "Why not?" or "Why can't it be done?" or "It's not quite what I want, why can't I have it this way?"

f. BRAGGING RIGHTS! (mine's bigger than yours, ETC, ETC, ETC). Just kidding! - one of the readers posted that comment.

When I had the gun made, it was never my intention to post the videos and photos, or even to gain any notoriety. The video clips were posted because one of the readers requested I do so. So, I did.

I hope this clears things up for some of you. If so, pass this info onto the other Forums. Maybe, I'll read some new comments.
Thanks for reading this rambling dribble,

Kamikaze