murphda2
Super Moderator and KD Blade Show Boss
I know this isn't really knife related but wanted to share the story due to the fact that many of us frequent not just knife shows, but also our many local gun/knife shows.
After leaving the training lanes today I journeyed up to Laurel, Ms. from Camp Shelby for a local gun/knife show that is taking place this weekend. I decided to take a few of the knives in my collection which I wouldn't mind trading for new pieces. I had only been at the show for a few minutes when I came across a table where the gentleman had several older knives and one in particular, an old tanto in shira saya, which caught my attention. A conversation about knives and swords followed as we discussed some of our favorite bladesmiths.
After about twenty minutes of standing around shooting the bull about knives, a loud audible "POP" echoed across the arena from approximately 20 feet behind me. I don't know about you guys, but when I hear an unexpected gunshot my first response is one of alert and extreme anger. As I spun around, I noticed a man stumbling and holding onto a wall. I immediately handed my knife case off to the gentleman I was speaking to at the table and rushed over to the hobbling man to find an obvious hole through the toe area of his boot. It took a little convincing, but I finally got him to take a seat and removed his boot and sock to find a clean wound straight between his second and third toes which left one toe well powder burned and a nice little bullet gash through the side of the next toe. Another gentleman came over to assist a moment after I arrived who turned out to be another soldier, a medic. Once we received a first aid kit, we bandaged the wound and waited for the paramedics to arrive.
Luckily for the wounded man, he had only sustained a very minimal flesh wound. After questioning by the LE personnel on site, it was found that the wounded man had just purchased the .22 mag rifle from a dealer at the show. The rifle in question still had the zip tie lock which the dealer had installed prior to arriving at the show. The victim who had purchased the rifle had not removed it and checked the chamber of the weapon during the purchase process (MISTAKE #1). The safety of the weapon was not engaged (MISTAKE #2). While waiting on his wife and daughter, he and his son were standing by when he rest the muzzle of the weapon on the toe of his boot (MISTAKE #3). I'm still unaware of how the trigger of the weapon was engaged, but reasonable thought leads me to believe that he must have had his finger in the trigger well of the weapon believing that the weapon was unloaded having relied on another person's word (THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL MISTAKE).
Please be aware of those around you when visiting gun shows and please ensure that you ALWAYS double check the safety mechanism, magazine and chamber of any firearm when handling it and always be aware of the direction of the muzzle of the weapon. You can never be too cautious when handling firearms!
Murph
After leaving the training lanes today I journeyed up to Laurel, Ms. from Camp Shelby for a local gun/knife show that is taking place this weekend. I decided to take a few of the knives in my collection which I wouldn't mind trading for new pieces. I had only been at the show for a few minutes when I came across a table where the gentleman had several older knives and one in particular, an old tanto in shira saya, which caught my attention. A conversation about knives and swords followed as we discussed some of our favorite bladesmiths.
After about twenty minutes of standing around shooting the bull about knives, a loud audible "POP" echoed across the arena from approximately 20 feet behind me. I don't know about you guys, but when I hear an unexpected gunshot my first response is one of alert and extreme anger. As I spun around, I noticed a man stumbling and holding onto a wall. I immediately handed my knife case off to the gentleman I was speaking to at the table and rushed over to the hobbling man to find an obvious hole through the toe area of his boot. It took a little convincing, but I finally got him to take a seat and removed his boot and sock to find a clean wound straight between his second and third toes which left one toe well powder burned and a nice little bullet gash through the side of the next toe. Another gentleman came over to assist a moment after I arrived who turned out to be another soldier, a medic. Once we received a first aid kit, we bandaged the wound and waited for the paramedics to arrive.
Luckily for the wounded man, he had only sustained a very minimal flesh wound. After questioning by the LE personnel on site, it was found that the wounded man had just purchased the .22 mag rifle from a dealer at the show. The rifle in question still had the zip tie lock which the dealer had installed prior to arriving at the show. The victim who had purchased the rifle had not removed it and checked the chamber of the weapon during the purchase process (MISTAKE #1). The safety of the weapon was not engaged (MISTAKE #2). While waiting on his wife and daughter, he and his son were standing by when he rest the muzzle of the weapon on the toe of his boot (MISTAKE #3). I'm still unaware of how the trigger of the weapon was engaged, but reasonable thought leads me to believe that he must have had his finger in the trigger well of the weapon believing that the weapon was unloaded having relied on another person's word (THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL MISTAKE).
Please be aware of those around you when visiting gun shows and please ensure that you ALWAYS double check the safety mechanism, magazine and chamber of any firearm when handling it and always be aware of the direction of the muzzle of the weapon. You can never be too cautious when handling firearms!
Murph