Anti piracy

[coopec]

Agreed, but one has to be pretty nonchalant to stroll through customs with an M16.

That comment brought a chuckle!! But it hasn't always been the case: in the 1960's when airlines first became wary of passengers carrying weapons I booked my luggage in and was given the "all clear" but just for "fun" I brought the attendant's attention to the gun (which in fact was really an umbrella wrapped in brown paper) I had just booked in. Oh gee !! That really caused a stir! (I really regretted my action)

 

[Graham_Wright]

I believe it was called a Verey Pistol, and required a firearms licence; if trying to recreate the scenes from various films a marine flare might do the trick, but don't blame me if it just irritates the baddies to step it up a notch and make with their kalashnikovs...

As a pedant, I thought I would check the spelling. Maybe "Verey" is the English (i.e. proper) spelling and "Very" is the American (i.e. cobbled) spelling.

However, according to the OED, the pistol was named after Mr E. W. Very - the American inventor.

 

[Seajet]

Well that's just another example of our American chums being unable to spell; they can't even get ' harbour ' right !

 

[KellysEye]

>I'm no expert but I think the M16 has a longer range than an AK47? I found it - 380 yards against M16 - 500 yds

That would explain why he got away with it.

>Agreed, but one has to be pretty nonchalant to stroll through customs with an M16.

When you clear in with Customs you take the (hidden in public) weapon with you and they keep it until you leave. We saw an American cruiser on our pontoon coming back from Customs with a small Israeli machine gun in Curacao, when he was leaving. An ex CIA guy we met in Trinidad had five weapons ranging from rifles to machine guns and a small hand gun that fitted in holster on his belt. He handed in four guns to Customs but not the pistol.

 

[SailorBill]

Well that's just another example of our American chums being unable to spell; they can't even get ' harbour ' right !

Wait until you hear them try to pronounce "buoy"