TIDBITS 09/11/05

If any of you want Tidbits emailed directly, let me know and
I'll take care of it. Tidbits may be reprinted without charge --
with attribution. Additionally, if you know of anyone who you think
would enjoy Tidbits, please make them aware of us. URL
(http://www.tyler-adam.com). We encourage you to forward
this email to friends and colleagues.
======================================

Pistol

.... named after the town of Pistoia, Italy ... where it was invented.
The time ... sometime during to the 16th century when guns were huge,
burdensome weapons requiring two hands to operate. One to hold the
gun ... one to light the gunpowder ... not an easy thing when you
belong
to infantry hordes marching full speed ... ready to pillage and
rampage.

Invented by some enterprising Italian chap named Camillo Vitelli
who had the vision to see the flaws of two-hand loading weapons
that only worked because the enemy had nothing to fight back with
but sabers and lancers while mounted on horses. The cavalries were
usually decimated in no time flat.

Ah ... but once the pistol was invented ... there was a quick
turn-around in the balance of power. The cavalry rose to the stature
befitting its self-image ... and it became the turn of the infantry to
march forward with fear in their hearts. As an added bonus ... this
little gun--easily hidden upon one's person--also became the perfect
weapon for thieves, highway men, and assassins. It was this latter
bonus in the killing wars that prompted dear old Emperor Maximillian
of the Holy Roman Empire to outlaw the manufacture of pistols in 1517.
Yeah ... but I think it wasn't much different from today. You couldn't
manufacture the pistols ... but was there a law stating you couldn't
buy one? Besides ... as is common knowledge in our most advanced and
enlightened society ... pistols don't kill people ... people kill
people. And if the methodology is facilitated by the technology ...
hey ya can't hold back progress, pal.

Did I mention that one of the earliest data as regards the use of the
pistol was part of an English ballad Entitled "Captain Car"? It's all
about how our protagonist used his weapon to try to reconvert
Protestant England to Roman Catholicism. The whole story to too long
and complex to go into ... suffice it to say that man--in his most
enterprising fashion--has modernized the old pistola thanks to the
help of such saintly notables as Colt and others do-gooders. As of
around 1978 statistics showed that 51% of all murders were
committed with handguns.

Which brings us to a most poignant and urgent question. Yo ...
Benjamin ... you think you can relate this to jewelry? Cuz if you can
.... I wanna see how.

Yes ... well ... never fear dear hearts ... the answer is at hand. I
have an image of a pair of pistols inlaid with gold and silver
embellished with metal-art work any jeweler would give his eye-teeth
to be able to duplicate.

For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I
direct you to my home page at www.tyler-adam.com where
you will scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that
says Tidbits Graphics ... and then click on the link that says: Pistol
.... in order to view a pair of handsomely decorated pistols dating
back to circa 1800.

And there ya have it.
That's it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark

All issues of Tidbits are copyrighted and available from our
home page. All rights reserved.