quote:

Originally posted by Tommyhawk:
How would you like to be one of those people listed on the Rigby/Miller bankruptcy list? Only to find out that you have been taken to the cleaners. How would you feel if you had paid $30,000 plus for a Best Quality box-lock double rifle built by the world renowned John Rigby and Co. only to find out it is a gussied up German shotgun?

I'd be surprised if people didn't know that beforehand.

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Yes...There are about 20 ex selous scouts for every one who actually served . Funny though, very few in Africa claim to be ex squadron when they are not...

Kind of like the oddly high number of Navy SEALS you meet selling stuff at gun shows!

I always love it when I meet a "fellow" professional aviator who tells me that he used to fly but his license has expired. If you are actually a pilot you'll know just how ludicrous that statement is.

quote:

Originally posted by 500N:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tommyhawk:
How would you like to be one of those people listed on the Rigby/Miller bankruptcy list? Only to find out that you have been taken to the cleaners. How would you feel if you had paid $30,000 plus for a Best Quality box-lock double rifle built by the world renowned John Rigby and Co. only to find out it is a gussied up German shotgun?

I'd be surprised if people didn't know that beforehand.[/QUOTE)

The average American gunsmith can't tell the difference between a side by side shotgun action and a rifle action. How can we expect doctors, lawyers, and businessmen to know the difference?

I had a "gentleman" about my age and accompanied by his wife start regaling me with his exploits a few years ago. As I showed no interest in his obvious lies, the tales just kept getting taller. I was thinking to myself, funny, I don't remember YOU being there! He wasn't worth my time to respond to. Shortly thereafter his house of cards was exposed in the paper as he'd used his veteran/badass status to open doors for his business. Pathetic and sad.

quote:

Shortly thereafter his house of cards was exposed in the paper as he'd used his veteran/badass status to open doors for his business. Pathetic and sad.

Sure. I think the term is "padding your resume" where you exaggerate your skills, accomplishments, etc. to impress your potential employers. Not exactly the same, but similar maybe.

Obviously, I have never, ever lied on any of my resumes.

Another point and this applies to the vets too is no one ever seems to be rear echelon, or support or service corp(cooks, caterers, mechanics etc) when it comes time to tell the stories.

Or they leave their actual job description out. Which makes it easier for the average guy to assume everyone is a forward rifle platoon...

Fact is service guys can outnumber the fighting man several times over in a conflict.

So where are all these vets?

Maybe we all carried the machine gun.
The food, vehicles, spare parts, building supplies, and paperwork just sprouted out of trees for our convenience

IIRC, about 8-9% of the vietnam veterans ever got a CIB. Mine and my Air Medal are two of my most prized possessions.
It takes a tremendous support crew for the combat troops to be able to "go get 'em". They are all important, and I am proud of anybody who served; especially in time of war. Take the company mail clerk for instance. You cannot imagine how crabby a Ranger Company gets over a small (seemingly) thing like no mail for a week. Sounds small potatoes, but that piece of mail from your family or friends at that time was your only link to "reality" back home. My Father was one of thirteen, and my Mother one of eleven. They all wrote to all of my brothers and cousins and I while we were in Vietnam. At least once a week. I got mail almost every day. I had a guy on my team that was an only child, and had about zero family. My parents "adopted" him after I told them about him. He started getting mail from his new found "Aunts and Uncles" and "Grandparents" and you would have thought he had died and gone to Heaven. We'd sit back when we were in the "rear" and read to each other. I think it kept both of us fairly sane. Military service in time of war will teach you what is important. Like family and friends.

Rich

delete this crap?
the guy obviously has a mancrush on boddington

But the rest of the posts are entertaining...

One of my old COs had a great story: He was at a family wedding and a cousin he hadn't seen in years was very excited to introduce him to her new beau, a "Navy Commander just like you!" Both were decked out in Dress Blues for the occassion, but something about his ribbons didn't look right.

My skipper chatted him up for a while, casually at first, but only grew more suspicious. He finally cornered the guy outside of earshot of his cousin and asked to see his military ID card.

Confused, he pulled out a driver's license.

Turns out the new boyfriend actually thought he WAS a Navy Commander...

He was attending mental health counseling at a facility adjacent to a Navy recruiting office, and would often pause to gaze at the posters in the window. He identified with the people on the posters so much that he just took on that as his new persona, went and bought uniforms and everything.

Tragic, but actually kinda funny. Must have sucked to break the news to your happy cousin.

quote:

Originally posted by montea6b:
He was attending mental health counseling at a facility adjacent to a Navy recruiting office, and would often pause to gaze at the posters in the window. He identified with the people on the posters so much that he just took on that as his new persona, went and bought uniforms and everything.

Well...that's not entirely accurate but I'm doing a lot better now.

I would love for Craig Boddington to comment on this one.

If this is true, it is a big mess all around and Miller an absouute DISGRACE!

quote:

Originally posted by montea6b:
He was attending mental health counseling at a facility adjacent to a Navy recruiting office, and would often pause to gaze at the posters in the window. He identified with the people on the posters so much that he just took on that as his new persona, went and bought uniforms and everything.

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I'm not schizophrenic,
And neither am I.

--Anonymice

Leopard track - Craig is around, but I doubt that a 'public figure' like him would comment on something like this on a public chat forum.

If there is legal action and you are involved on either side and in any way, shape or form, the only statements a wise man makes are "I deny the charge" - and leaves everything else to the lawyer.

The post is more an attempt to attack Craig than to get at Miller - for whom, if he is actually guilty of anything, the process to rectify it is already in motion.

As a felow (part time) Journalist I have been subject to similar smeer campains...usually when I have reported unfavourably on somebody's pet project or favourite PH. Just look at the storm over alledged non payment to SSG safaris - and nobody except the trouble makers ever win out of a 'trial by internet'.

And as an aside- Who of us doesn't have at least one dodgy mate? We cringe at some of the stupid/illegal things they do, but they are mates and while you encourage them to go straight in private, you keep silent in public. I have had two such friends. One is a Safari operator- He cheats, lies to and rips off every client. Eventually I simply broke off all contact. He couldn't help himself and I was too much of a public figure in Zimbabwe's hunting circles to ever be associated with him.

The other? in many was a darn good man in a tight spot- we became friends fighting dissidents together in the 1980's...he smoked dope every day, couldn't walk past a new car without taking the radio...died drunk, high and riding a motorcycle with a broken headlight back from the shooting club one night...

You want to hear Craig's comments? Then go to this thread on the Double Rifle Forum-Minty Post on Double Rifle Forum.

Near the bottome of the thread

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
You want to hear Craig's comments? Then go to this thread on the Double Rifle Forum-Minty Post on Double Rifle Forum.

Near the bottome of the thread

quote:

Originally posted by craig boddington:
I don't know who Mr. Mintyman is, but I do know that the genesis of this is a very personal dispute between Mr. Miller and another writer.

http://www.americanrifleman.or....aspx?id=2057&cid=25

quote:

Even more recently, on Dec. 23 2009, noted firearms authority and author Terry Wieland filed suit in a U.S. federal court against “California Rigby” and its proprietor, Geoffery Miller, for assault, libel and slander. In his suit, the author of “Dangerous Game Rifles” contends that Miller made false statements that have damaged his reputation.

Came across it in my reading thought I would toss it out there.

Colin

I hope boddington keeps quite on this. Have you never heard about what happens when you get into a fight with a skunk? you end up with its smell.

Good points fellas, and yes, Craig should keep quiet on this until it plays out.

I hope you all didn't get the wrong idea when I said I would like to hear Craig's comments on this. It seems to me that he was also "duped" by Miller and is named in the list of investors.

What I wanted to hear was Craig's comments about Millers claim to be a Marine! Miller must have been VERY slick to get over on another Marine about being a Marine, and to that I'm sure CB is livid! If Miller lied about this, and it looks like he did, he is an absolute disgrace and should get his ass kicked and more. Right now there are young boys coming home in coffins wearing a Marine Corps uniform!

I for one hope its all a big misunderstanding, because it's so discusting to think about.

BTW...I have no idea who this Mintyman is or what his agenda or motive is, but who cares?? I for one am happy to have found out what kind of person Miller is.

Col. B did reply on the Double Rifle Forum. A very classy reply as well. Unfortunately Mintyman has chimed in again strinking Col. B across the face and seems to be asking for a duel.

I would make two comments on this sorry situation, as an impartial outsider:

First: It passes understanding and defies credibility that Mr. Miller was NEVER a Marine, was NOT awarded the Navy Cross, lived under the same roof for some period of time with Mr. Boddington, yet was able to convince this Colonel and long-service Marine, that he HAD done these things. Something is “Rotten In Denmark”.

Second: How can a gun writer who has a financial investment in a gun maker, and who has at least one relative who also has an investment in said gun maker, write an un-biased review of that maker’s product? Unfortunately, such is the norm among gun writers, as another scribe alluded to above. I have personal knowledge of a well-known gun writer who received a bespoke double rifle from a Spanish maker of the upper echelon , free and clear, while writing glowing reviews of that maker’s products for years in both his books and his magazine articles. My good friend, who is national sales manager for a large US company, refers to such persons, half “tongue-in-cheek”, as “Whores in the marketplace”, a fitting sobriquet IMHO.

ron,

it is fairly obvious that you have never met Col Boddington or you would not have posted such an inane, okay, asinine, comment about him.
I know many ex-servicemen who prefer not to talk about their service record. Miller is apparently good at scamming people. Make that excellent. If you came with references, I would normally take you at your word. I have a friend who is a decorated Vietnam veteran, who has told a few people about his distinguished service record. He established himself in a group of vets, in turn, then said "that was then, this is now, and let's get on with life.". If Miller did that, the Colonel would have respected his desire not to dwell on it overly.
Most of us tend to accept people at their word until such time as the facts are such that we cannot continue to do so.

As far as your second comment, if offered a chance to invest in a company that built a product you admired, would you pass it up? Besides, the amounts listed are hardly enough to pay for a well made bolt rifle, let alone risk a lifelong reputation as a straight shooter.

Do you have some insider information you have not shared with us? I would hope so, otherwise you come across as someone totally ignorant of the facts, posting just to see their name in print here.

Rich

personal opinion: I hear every village has an idiot, and now we know who Oshawa's is.

I have to agree with idaho sharpshooter: the few times I have talked with Boddington he has seemed 4.0. As far as claiming war service that never happened; I couldn't care less. I spent my time in country with a mos of 111.67 and found that there is nothing particulary praiseworthy about being shot at. However,if thru circumstances of date of birth, or whatever, a man did see combat, but feels compelled to claim such action; then that is his business. I cannot believe that anyone would base a business decision upon a war record, real or imagined. Hell, I had a hard time just finding a job after my service

I greatly enjoy Craig Boddington's work and admire him and his accomplishments.

But conflicts of interest, in this case, writing about products in which you have a financial stake, no matter how small or seemingly trivial, should be disclosed. Being above reproach and not having the appearance of impropriety are both nice places to be.