CandRsenal

Email is best. Social Media is... disjointed.

IndieGoGo has a direct message feature that you cannot check on the site and there is no on-site notification.  It just sends it to your inbox.  Which Gmail then files along with the millions of other social media emails you get so they are immediately lost to your attention.  

Patreon has a "post" option for followers.  This will NOT appear on your on-site notifications.  Again, only a social email that gets buried.

So if you guys have ever asked me anythi...

Belgian Mauser 1889

Woof, hopefully this 3 parter gets us caught up!

Why the schedule?

There are two ways to grow an online channel that never fail:

1. Sheer Volume

2. Consistency

Now, content and quality come in much lower, maybe not even 3 and 4 in terms of "growth."  Quality and content help with retention, engagement, reputation, and dive pass-throughs like Patreon and products.  So we are definitely not abandoning quality or content.

But if we want to keep Primer it absolutely must grow.  There is a reason no other online firearms shows go...

Time and the lack there of

We have never missed our Tuesday release. We have, however, released on Tuesday night in a desperate fervor.

This may be one of those weeks. Still trying to catch up after that week off, followed by 3 days in GA for an event, and we had to refilm some outdoor material. Add on that my two planned episodes became three...that still need indoor filming...and the schedule is going to be tight. I am expecting at least one sleepless night.

However that does mean most pre-production will be don...

A moment of thanks

Recently someone in a private creator group asked what were our biggest struggles to produce. Overwhelmingly the response has been about de-monetization. I admit, it is a concern to me but mostly because demonetized videos are not promoted. 

Financially the show is in the black and, one day, when we dial down on the impossible list of guns it may even be equivalent to a reasonable income. The big campaigns help with all of this but are usually consumed by special, "ice breaking" projects....

Small Arms of WWI Primer 085: Winchester 1910

Another episode up!

Brainstorming and a trip

We took a trip out to the IV8888 shoot and had some fun getting back in touch with old friends and making new. Jay dubs this photo "Brothais."

While we obviously don't stand out to a lot of venders or other hosts, it seemed like every team had "that one guy" who recognized us. You know, the one who wastes time reading, studying, writing things . The one they turn to when the questions get hard or the engineering too specific. 

So for starters: here is a salute to the unofficial libr...

Various updates.

Just a quick note, someone said they had trouble with the contact form on the site.  If you think it ate a message you can always email direct to CandRsenal@gmail.com.

Otherwise, I'm sorry if I'm delayed getting back to people.  I am attending a semi-private networking thingy this coming week and still trying to catch up from time off, plus the usual surprises in production.  So, if I can just meet my expected schedule for the next 5 days I can be guaranteed 6 whole hours a...

Winchester 1907

I managed a 4 hour sleep from about 11am to 3pm this time!

Nooks and Crannies

TL;DR Our email is CandRsenal@gmail.com
This is the easiest way to reach me.

I just got caught back up on the "Community" tab here and I swear sometimes it does not notify me.  If I have ever missed something you've needed answered, I apologize but currently these are the communication lines I have to monitor:

My phone + texts

C&Rsenal email

My personal email

Facebook Messages: Personal account

Facebook Messages: C&Rsenal

Facebook Commen...

T-Shirt Update

I'm still being careful with funds just in case, but lots of little problems are getting sorted thanks to this campaign!

The Suburban Saga

Many of you have noted we've been plagued by repeated car trouble.  Some of this stems from my unwillingness to finance anything.  I buy cars cash and keep a pile of tools ready in the garage.  Well for the first time one truck has nearly broken me.  Knock-on-wood... I think I've finally won.

The whole issue centered on the power steering in the 1999 Chevy Suburban.  It got where it was kicking back and so, on the advice of both a mechanic and some community forums, we...

Hurricanes and Planning

First and foremost, we're all just fine.  While I grieve for those in North Carolina more affected by the storm, we have seen only a moderate rainstorm over the past 24 hours and nothing else expected.  

I'm very happy with the decision to stay put on this one.

However, regular episode production is hard enough without taking my first vacation in some years and then following it with hurricane preparation.  So I'm back into a major, sleepless rush it seems.  This...

Bolt Actions: 101

Well, time was short and we've been kicking this idea around for a while.

I promise something extra neat next time.

Hurricane prep is pretty much set.  Probably won't evacuate on this one though.

More than I thought.

Ok, so we had more Mandarin speakers than I assumed.  

Instead of replying to everyone I'll take advantage of the wide field and let this guy set up a demonstration episode.  Once ready I'll post it here for you all to review.  That way I get a field of opinions.

Thank you!

Mandarin

Do we have any Mandarin speakers handy?
I have had an offer to host/translate C&Rsenal material on bilibili and was hoping I could find someone to review a demo episode to see how the translator does.

Edit:

For anyone curious, I've had a few of these.  Chinese translators asking permission to re-host our content, translated, on bilibili.  I tell them that it must be a "C&Rsenal" channel that we would control and they could edit.  They always just stop...

Planning

So the shirts on in production and we managed a health margin of about 1/3rd the total.  

This cash is extremely helpful because half will go towards cleaning up outstanding debts and delayed necessities for the show and the rest is heading for investment in breaking up the very real iceberg that is the next few months of episodes in planning.

Some are held up by research, some by ammo, some by repairs, many by guns themselves.  It's becoming a part time job just trying to kee...

Thank you

For making this of only vague consequence.

Also, showing a video on how to make videos about guns is apparently bad.

My Mom would have freaked out

The campaign hit 100k. I have to wait for Mae to get back so I can film the Crozier berries and thank everyone properly.

But right now, just for you patrons, a bit of pure honesty: all I can think about is my late mother.  She was an extremely hard worker, her eyes always locked on the household budget.  Despite long hours at the office she absolutely always had time for me and never spared a shred of love.  

She wanted me to have a stable, normal career with a big payche...

I retweeted a Kekistani

Last night I retweeted someone who had blamed us for their buying a guinea pig.  It was very cute.  They also had a Kekistan flag avatar.  

Some people have demanded I undo this action; that by retweeting anyone with this person's political/social opinions, no matter their actual message, I am promoting their views.  Here is the rub though: now that it has been done, to undo it definitely broadcasts the message that I will not associate with people of their same belief...

Kansas City

Patrons in the area, do remember I will try to spend most of tomorrow at the WWI museum!

Small Arms of WWI Primer 082: The Kropatschek Pt.1

I should have chosen something easier.

I am not smart.

On Kansas City

Here is the GENERAL plan:

Ride Motorcycle about 8 hours a day for several days. Camp in one man tent most nights.  Reach Kansas City afternoon of the 20th and book to camp (they have a 9pm cut off to check in)

Hit the museum for most of the day the 21st until closing time. Then book it out of town for next stop sadly.

Then I do wedding stuff in Denver for a few days and have to come back.  Have no return plans whatsoever as I'll take going in to get acquainted with what ...

On the nature of Money

With the success of this year's T-shirt run I've had some interesting questions and comments about what a fully funded C&Rsenal would look like.

Here is a recap:

Lost Job, Dead Moms, Landed a mortgage in the low market thank God.

Hail-Mary jump started the show and struggled for years.

Only past 6-8 weeks have show debts been settled, budgets made for former volunteers so they can get some cash in hand to either pay themselves back or invest in further projects...

Thank.

I know a LOT of these orders are coming from you lot, so thank you again for all the support.

Shirts are back!

We're carrying 7, which may prove too many to hit the minimum profitable order going forward.  So some designs may have to retire next year.

Maxim 1910 (Maxim Part 2)

Just in time!

I have two more episodes to prep before I hit the road for a week starting the 19th-ish.  I'll try to update you guys about some stops, notably Kansas City.

Which is more better?

We can only choose 1 base for bulk order, so which would you prefer if you were in a T-shirt buying mood?

Kansas City

All right, so a bit more about the trip.

I am attending a wedding in Denver and could and still may, just simply fly there the day before.  However, I have always wanted to drive west, I've only ever run the east coast.  I also have a bike I think can do the journey with a few minor maintenance points.  Also it has been 4 years since I had 3 days in a row off.

However, Murphy was an optimist!  I have 3 episodes to prep before I can go, plus wrapping editing on the Ma...

I read them all

As the show has grown I've had so little time for replying to individual comments.  BUT I do make time to read them, even if it takes the rest out of restroom.

Sadly I just can't personalize replies and so, especially on Patreon, I just punch the heart button so I know I've read it.  I'm sorry I can't always do more but we absolutely do hear what you are all saying.