Snap Shots: Rockin’ the Duck Pond and the “Backward N” Brander

by
posted on June 10, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
keefe2015_fs.jpg (1)

We have a winner for “Not What Wilbur & Orville Had in Mind … and Bacon.” Donald Nix Facebook submitted: “Young Si and Phil Robertson test Si's latest invention, a flying duck blind/rotisserie.” You, sir, have earned yourself a can of Tactical Bacon. And speaking of the Robertsons …

When you have magazines dating back to 1885, you end up flipping through pages and chuckling at times over what you find. Although American Rifleman is the world's oldest and largest firearms authority, it doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun. And we’re willing to share that fun with our readers. Here’s a gem from our predecessor Arms & The Man.

Caption Contest Week/Rockin' the Duck Pond

That’s right before shotguns and duck calls, duck hunting was, uh, a rocky proposition. And it appears our pre-gunpowder friend here is not a pre-Robertson as he has an

appalling lack of facial hair. Curiously, he apparently is attired in a faux goatskin seat cover that eventually made it onto the driver’s seat of an editor’s 1977 Datsun.

Keep it clean. Bloomberg probably pays an intern minimum wage to read this blog. Entries will be subjectively judged by staff editors between takes of the TV show, testing guns and making authors seem literate. The winner and others we deem worthy will be printed here. All judgements final. No returns. Winner will receive a random item from a box under Mark Keefe's desk the manufacturer did not want back, yet was marginally valuable enough to not throw away.

This week, we have a special treat, snared from the very abyss of the HQ dumpster. What with it being summertime and all, a time to grill steak and sweet corn, we thought it the ideal time for the flawed NRA steak branding iron. We call it the limited-edition “Backward N” NRA brander. Frankly, we probably don’t BBQ enough, because until this baby came into our possession, we didn’t even know you could brand your steaks. Object is unused-not clean-but unused. Handle is of porous wood, really unfinished, and it comes complete with leather thong. A 10-inch steel shaft terminates in a head emblazoned with the letters “NRA”-although the “N” is, indeed, backward. We think we may have lost a marketing buyer over this one. Device not approved for use on corn.

Week 5 prize: "Backward N" NRA steak brand

Official Snapshots Rules:

• Caption submissions must be made in the comments section of this blog, or on the corresponding Facebook post.

• One winner will be chosen, selected by Mark Keefe or a randomly selected guest judge.

• Keep it clean, folks.

Latest

Winchester Model 54
Winchester Model 54

Favorite Firearms: A Winchester Model 54 Turns 100

Serving during World War I in 1918, my father completed two years in the Engineer Corps. In addition to his engineering duties, he and all the other soldiers had to carry and qualify with the Model 1903 Springfield rifle, since they were often on the front lines.

Winchester Ammunition Opens New Office In Missouri

Winchester Ammunition opened a new office in Clayton, Mo., which will accommodate much of the company's full-time administrative staff and is located several hours away from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

Searching For The Perfect Single-Action Revolver

Bitten by the cowboy handgun bug early on—and influenced by no less an innovator than Elmer Keith—the author finds that, in the search for the ultimate single-action revolver, perfection is an elusive target.

The Armed Citizen® Dec. 15, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Auto-Ordnance Remembers Iwo Jima Fallen With Special M1 Carbine

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Auto-Ordnance teamed up with Altered Arsenal to create a specially crafted version of the M1 carbine.

Preview: The Ruger 10/22 Complete Owner’s And Assembly Guide

Scott Duff Publications is renowned for its authoritative titles containing detailed information on iconic military and commercial firearms.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.