21 Comments

  1. “You can’t scare me, Ivan! I’ve got a gun!” [Rattling ensues from behind a tree]
    “Impossible! You should have run out of bullets by now!” [Pokes head up, gets a broom in the face]

    This will never happen, folks.

  2. The real genius in this device was the variable cyclic rate it allowed. This allowed for conservation of both clicks and clacks depending on the tactical situation, or the operator could open it up in a Broken Arrow scenario.

    • Great comment. The illusion that worthless “conservation of both clicks and clacks” could be an important idea, exactly describes the attitude so pervasive among armament decision makers and their advisors.

    • Called a rattle in Britain. One of my fraternity brothers had a plastic one that he used to whirl over his head at appropriate times at football games. Used by not only the French but by the British and US as a gas attack warning alarm.

  3. For context I’d like to add that such rachet rattles are being used in Europe for religious ceremonies, and some traditional carnival displays.

  4. My first ratchet was made by Mattel: M-16 A1 @ 3/4 (?) in 100% plastic
    “ratchet” as a synonym for revolver and the 1903 “Browning” as French idiom for a semi-automatic pistol.
    plus ça change, plus c’est pareil

      • I had a micro uzi, with that in, as did everyone else… Best time in my life. Full scale battle, no deaths. Everyone went home… Fitter. Fat little feckers couldn’t run around like that now if they tried to stop murdering civilians on a xbox etc for an hour.

  5. Should fit them to actual guns; and lose the bullet part, more of a joust… If we are thinking of WW3. A few injuries, with occasional participants in the joust taking it to far. But overall, everyone after can have big piss up and marry each others cousins etc.

    Actual progress, for humanity at last…

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