THE SURPLUS RIFLE MANIFESTO #1

NOTE: The Surplus Rifle Manifesto will be submitted in no particular order, and at no particular interval. These are observations on the draw of obsolete firearms and the societal effects thereof. Some chapters will be deep and thought-provoking; others may appear to be drunken ramblings.

The Surplus Rifle as Escape from Postmodern Society

There are three distinct periods of human society: the pre-modern, the modern, and the post-modern. Pre-modern is a simple concept, as it means primitive or, even better, natural society. Modern society began with the Renaissance and continued throughout the industrial revolution. Modern society alludes to the time when great thinkers toyed with physical laws (e.g., Newton, Einstein, and Bohr), philosophy (Descartes, Locke, and Montesquieu) and sociology (Engel, Marx, and Durkheim). Modernism can be described as non-primitive, orderly, informed. Modern society is as real as pre-modern society, but with the ability to expand the mind and accomplish great things.

The Modern age lasted until, many will argue, the assassination of JFK. Others will argue that postmodern society began in the 1950’s; still others will argue that it was born much later.

Postmodernism is a difficult concept to grasp. It is all around us and permeates our lives. It is especially an American phenomenon, but has since spread to other parts of the world. It has, however, NOT spread to North Korea, Syria, or to wherever Al Queda is hiding. This point will become important, so keep reading. . . . .

The concept of postmodernism may be best described by the word “surreal.” We live in a surreal world. Everything is larger than life and constantly in our face. Bizarre is normal, natural is boring, and life is unreal. What is ‘really real’ escapes us.

“Imagine if you were dreaming and unable to wake up. How would you know what is real, and what is a dream?” (quote from The Matrix). Indeed, (perhaps ironically), the best way to grasp postmodernism is by watching film. Blue Velvet effectively ‘plasticizes’ modern suburbia. In Pulp Fiction, everything is disjointed, but you follow it because you are a member of postmodern society. Note when the Travolta character takes Uma Thurman to the restaurant where they are served by impersonators of Elvis, James Dean, and Marilyn Monroe. These people are dead and would remain so in pre-modern or modern society, but they are alive and well in postmodern society. Starting to see the picture? We live in a surreal world.

Another fine film would be Network in which the unreality of the network news is exposed for their lies and sensationalism (“I’m mad as hell, and I’m NOT gonna take it anymore!) This exposes the surreality of the news and how those in control of the mass media control and craft the news and, therefore, our ‘reality.’ In post modern society, we believe what we are told and pretty few of us question it.

In my opinion, the best movie to illustrate postmodern society is Natural Born Killers. Forget the action and sensationalism. Watch the movie carefully. Everything is carefully crafted to involve phenomena from postmodern society. Knives and bullets moving in slow motion, cartoon characters coming to life, etc. The movie is, basically, about the pre-modern society getting revenge on the postmodern. In the café scene early on, observe how unreal the killings are. Then, watch the dead buck on the hood of the truck take it all in as the camera close-ups on his eye. The buck represents the primitive.

In short, we, as Americans, live in a postmodern world where we as individuals control little about our lives, but are convinced by the media that we are in control.

So what does this have to do with collecting surplus rifles? The simple fact is that many of the rifles C&R aficionados collect are modern-age weapons. The Garand, the Mauser, and Mosin Nagant are weapons of iron and wood, crafted before the postmodern ‘takeover’ of society. These rifles reflect a different time. A time of simple and concrete values, a time before the incessant drone of the television. A time when our heroes were people of the caliber of Charles Lindbergh, Sgt. Alvin York, and Audie Murphy.

The AR-15/M-16 rifles are clearly postmodern. Stamped from aluminum and fitted with plastic gear. Hell, you can buy lasers and special grips and a variety of other toys to put on your AR. The WW1 and WW2 surplus rifles are different. They rekindle a spark that has been lost. THAT is why you would prefer sit in a quiet room and rub a coat of linseed oil into the stock of your rifle rather than watch “Survivor” or “Fear Factor.” THAT is why you find cleaning your AR a chore, but will tear down your old Colt 1911 just to make sure everything is clean inside. THAT is why it is so exciting to get a few bandoliers or Turkish Mauser ammo or a sardine can of surplus 7.62 X 39 ammo and so anti-climatic to purchase a box of .300 WSSM cartridges at Walmart.

These old rifles remind us of those that went before us and fought for this country. Let’s face it, most Americans are blank-faced, cud-chewing cattle eagerly grazing on whatever General Dan Rather has to feed them. They feel that, in this day and age, nothing bad can happen to them. They sat and watched the towers crash to the ground, but a couple years later they have moved on to other things and put 9/11 in the back of their minds. If and when The Day comes, they will be the ones wondering why they are being herded into the cattle cars. They will still believe that “this isn’t really happening; we will be OK, just like Wolf Blitzer told us on the news.” When they are marched to the edge of the pit and lined up, they still won’t believe it is really happening. They are victims of postmodern brainwashing.

The surplus rifle collectors, however, know better. They believe in the Second Amendment and are likely members of the NRA. They remember how polite, democratic societies have been known to go to hell in short order. They remember the Lexington Militia and Washington’s Regulars. They understand that things are not always as they seem. They are “ready.”

The collector knows that, if called upon, his 1903, Garand, Mauser, Enfield, SKS, or Mosin Nagant will perform flawlessly. He knows that, if the rifle could talk, it would speak of the horrors of war, and of the necessity to protect freedom.

That old, beat up, cosmoline-coated rifle sitting in the gun shop (for a hundred bucks) is the ticket to escape the postmodern matrix. It is a tool that leads to further knowledge. Most do not even realize that this escape has happened, but it likely happens to all who accumulate surplus weapons. Unlike most in our society, we are not frogs, sitting in their pans of water, waiting for the heat to be turned up.

A good idea would be for each person (collector) who reads this to “turn” one of his (or her) postmodern drone comrades. Take them out to shoot your SKS (or whatever), explain to them the history of the rifle. Many people, amazingly enough, have never been exposed to, or fired, a gun. Most, you will find, are not anti-gun, but they have simply never given the matter much thought. There are very few people who do not find shooting enjoyable, once they have tried it. Have them shoot at a target big enough for them to hit, maybe a one-gallon milk jug full of water at 30 yards. Bring them back again to shoot some more. Take them to a gun show or store and maybe they will buy their own firearm. After that, invite them over, buy a few beers and maybe rent Network, and explain to them the way things really are.

Once you teach them the truth, tell them they have a duty to “turn” someone as well.

Sic Semper Tyrannis
 

Darren Locke