Sparky had a close call, July 19, 2015

[Soapweed]

Sparky had a close call last night (Sunday evening). He and his family had been out for a Sunday drive, and came by our church just as quite a few of us were congregated outside visiting. They stopped their Bronco for a few minutes to say hi to several friends before traveling on to their house. After arriving home, Sparky sat down in his easy chair while his wife and three children went on to the back rooms of the house. He was wearing some army-style camo pants with the big front pockets sewed solid. When he tipped back in the chair, his .32 caliber derringer evidently slipped nearly out of his pocket. He got up to help with something, and lurched forward in the chair before standing up. The gun flew forward, and then onto the floor where it fell, hammer down, causing it to go off. The bullet hit the front of his right leg and exited out the back, missing the bone and vital veins. It also missed his left leg which was ahead of the right. The bullet traveled upward and hit a lamp, causing it to explode, with shards of glass going everywhere.

Sparky's wife called us just as we were backing away from our parking spot. Instead of turning around to go home, we drove straight a few blocks to their house. We took the kids home with us while Sparky's bride took him to the hospital in Gordon. They recommended that he go on to Rapid City for a more complete check-up, so they drove there. The accident happened about 8 p.m., and they arrived back home at about 5:30 a.m. Upon looking more closely at what had happened, they were very surprised to find the bullet caught in the base of a light bulb. Sparky is gimping a bit, but came out very well for what could have been.

The bullet went in here

And out here

And then took out this lamp

The bullet lost enough steam that it ended up in the base of the light bulb

After poking this hole to do it

Had the path of the bullet deviated just a little bit, it could have hit Sparky in this leg, too. My dad painted this picture when our son was just a little kid.

The .32 caliber pocket pistol

The casing and shards of glass

Sparky and all of us are feeling very blessed as to how this all turned out compared to how the outcome could have been. The Good Lord brought us through another close call, and we thank Him immensely.

 

[Kansas]

Glad Sparky will be OK. Also glad the kids and his wife where not in the room. Your Dad had a lot of talent, that painting is very good, did he paint others?

 

[Soapweed]

At the time, there was a cute photograph from Farm and Ranch Living magazine that depicted two little boys (perhaps twins) wearing striped bib overalls. One was saying to the other, "You been farming long?" Dad took a photograph of our son and a boy whose folks lived and helped on the ranch. He then painted the picture by looking at the photograph. He also painted quite a few more pictures throughout his lifetime.

 

[Faster horses]

Whew, that was too close for comfort. Glad the Lord was with him that day.

 

[jodywy]

ouch....

 

[Denny]

I bet his wife makes him put that pea shooter in the gun cabinet from now on.

 

[burnt]

Ouch is right!

How about that - survived a gunshot wound just to get mercury poisoning from a broken twisty light bulb. Okay, not funny.

 

[George]

As an avid firearms trainer and owner of Greensboro Shooting Sports I wish he had been in one of my classes!

Never carry a firearm in your pocket without it being in a holster!!!

If you will PM me I will send you a "concealed comfort" holster free of charge - - - I have carried since joining the local sheriff's dept in 1975 and have tried many different rigs and I like this best and it will conform to just about any firearm.



This is with a bodyguard 380.



Same holster with a 6906 S&W



Pat no attention to the spare tire but the bodyguard 380 conceals well with any type of shirt over and the all cotton does not make you sweat.



Very accessable, will hold 2 spare mags under right arm and cash and credit cards in the back - - - I just need his shirt size.

 

[gizmom]

Read this last night, I am so happy that although you received an injury it wasn't any worse. Praying for a fast and full recovery. Also sending up so prayers thanking the good Lord that the children weren't in the room. You have been truly blessed. I bet that sucker is sore today.

gizmom

 

[Soapweed]

He worked all day today in his welding shop.

 

[Shortgrass]

But by the grace of God....

 

[Traveler]

Very lucky, but it's a story to tell his grandkids. Cool little pistol/new family heirloom/good luck charm, though. :wink:

 

[DustDevil]

:shock: whew-wee that was a close one! Glad it missed all the "vitals". A friends wife dropped her little derringer before taking their business' proceeds for the day to the bank. Hit her in one of her mammary glands and exited w/o serious damage. I think it, too was a.32 cal.

 

[kolanuraven]

There was a boy who worked at out local hardware who died from something very similar to that. He had put a little .22 pistol in his jean pocket and that night when he took his jeans off and they hit the floor...so did the pistol. It went off and then he hit the floor DEAD! He was only 24.

 

[Martin Jr.]

Dad always had a rule: Never bring a loaded gun in the house or car. Always followed that rule.

 

[farmboy]

Just got around to reading your post about Sparky..............brought back some bad memories from about 18years ago. I had the exact same gun, but I had it in a coat pocket, was hanging on the coat rack and my roommate grabbed his coat, which was right next to mine and my coat fell to the floor and the gun discharged going through his leg in almost the exact same path as Sparky's did. this bullet hit the ceiling over the dinner table and lodged there, as I read your story Soap it sounded like me telling the story almost two decades ago. I got rid of that gun the day after this happened, the bullet I pulled out of the sheetrock in the ceiling and drilled a hole through it and put it on a chain for my friend as a reminder of not taking anything for granted and to remind him that tomorrow is never promised!!!!!!!!

 

[DustDevil]

My brother who was with me the time we met Sparky aka "Will", had the same derringer in .45/.410. He had it in a small backpack with some clothes and momentarily forgetting it was in there, pitched it up on his porch and it went off with a .410 rd. I think that model derringer has a flawed safety design -though I haven't completely familiarized myself with it- and warrants EXTRA caution. It could happen to any of us, I know Will is even wiser as a result and thank God. I think of an unloaded gun as "off duty" and an unloaded gun is useless when needed in a life or death situation.