Rattlensnake Tails

[Tunes]

Urban legend or truth ?

This guy I know purchased an older Martin from this "bluegrasser" in one of the more southern states, and indicated that there was part of a rattlenake tail inside. Apparantly, it was / is :?: common practice for bluegrass picker to do this to add some kind of mojo to them / the guitar. :?

Has anyone else ever heard of this :?: I am not making this up.

 

[Default]

Heard of it, sure, but I'm not sure why it was done.

Be a lot cooler with the whole snake. :wink:

 

[Scratch]

Just killed a western in the front yard last evening. Didn't think to take the tail!

 

[hideglue]

True!
There were a few that came through Repair with rattles inside

 

[jcwu]

they're western egg shakers that got dropped in by accident.

 

[BluesDan]

I'm always lookin' to improve my mojo......next time one of you Texans kill a rattler, send me the tail! :wink:

 

[taabru45]

Hey Dan, I've got a rattlers tale for you, but because of content It may have to come in a pm. Steffan

 

[Scratch]

We live in a pretty remote area and I try to maintain vegetation in check especially with our six-year old granddaughter running around. I keep a .410 loaded in the garage just in case...

We inherited an old cat with the place when we bought it three years ago and she was the best snake defense around. She died a couple months ago and since then we've seen a few around the property. Believe we'll take a trip to the animal shelter soon and see if we can find another killer kitty or two...

 

[Bikerdoc]

Now, I"ve heard of bikers searching for a peculiar noise seemingly coming from their motorcycle only to discover that his lady was wearing rattlesnake tail ear-rings. Probably just an old biker's tail (tale).....pardon the pun.

Peace

 

[Scratch]

This has been a pretty active season for snakes; more than usual this year; I'm sure because our cat is no longer around... We have a fair sized one living in the rocks toward the front of the property. I drove home from work one night last week and actually ran over him as he was crossing the drive. I'm pretty sure it upset him... By the time I could get to the garage to get the Taurus Snakeblaster 410, he had gone back into the rocks and I couldn't get him out. Thought maybe I'd send Dan that tail to put inside the soundhole :roll: The Taurus is a nice single shot and #9 birdshot usually does the trick. I keep two #9s and two #4 shells in the stock as necessary...

He's still in those rocks, I guess. I picked up a pretty neat snake derringer that I now carry when clearing around the property. It shoots 45 and/or 410 shells (one top & one low) in the over/under barrel. It also has an interchangeable 38/357 mag barrel for other varmints. The 410/45 combo is nearly impossible to fire single handedly without suffering wrist injury:

Size comparison with 38 S&W Snubnose...

 

[BluesDan]

Hey Scratch......so the snake went into the rocks.....what's the problem? No Dynamite? :lol:
That 45/410 combo is very cool, I didn't know such a thing even existed.

 

[Scratch]

Think he's pretty cozy in there Dan and I'm not shooting buckshot into rocks! One of these days he'll come out where I can get a shot, and shortly thereafter I'll ship the tail to ya. Hope UPS doesn't drop the dang thing... :? :lol:

 

[BluesDan]

Think he's pretty cozy in there Dan and I'm not shooting buckshot into rocks! One of these days he'll come out where I can get a shot, and shortly thereafter I'll ship the tail to ya. Hope UPS doesn't drop the dang thing... :? :lol:

:lol: I just pictured you on your porch, 12 string in hand, picking a tune, shotgun leanin' close by, keen eye on the rock pile......watchin', pickin', and waitin'!! 8) 8) Sounds like there's a song in there somewhere!

 

[Scratch]

Seems like it's more your style, Dano. 'Got dem Rattlesnake Rockpile Lonesome Pickin Blues'... :lol:

 

[5thumbs]

Think he's pretty cozy in there Dan and I'm not shooting buckshot into rocks! One of these days he'll come out where I can get a shot, and shortly thereafter I'll ship the tail to ya. Hope UPS doesn't drop the dang thing... :? :lol:

:lol: I just pictured you on your porch, 12 string in hand, picking a tune, shotgun leanin' close by, keen eye on the rock pile......watchin', pickin', and waitin'!! 8) 8) Sounds like there's a song in there somewhere!

OK, Here's the chorus:

The twelve-string is singing so sweetly
The four-ten is loaded with nine
Never mind that the kitty is gone now
Stick your head out baby, you’re mine :wink:

 

[West R Lee]

Think he's pretty cozy in there Dan and I'm not shooting buckshot into rocks! One of these days he'll come out where I can get a shot, and shortly thereafter I'll ship the tail to ya. Hope UPS doesn't drop the dang thing... :? :lol:

:lol: I just pictured you on your porch, 12 string in hand, picking a tune, shotgun leanin' close by, keen eye on the rock pile......watchin', pickin', and waitin'!! 8) 8) Sounds like there's a song in there somewhere!

:lol: I've been on his porch Dan.......and that's exactly what he looks like. We don't have too many rattlers up here or I'd be glad to help you out. We've got a few timber rattlers.....fat suckers, but very few thank goodness. What we've got an overabundance of is copperheads...............and they give no warning, and are nearly impossible to see, especially in fall foliage. I know two guys that have been bitten by them, one lost a finger. Lots and lots of cottonmouths too, but just near the water.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/re ... erhead.htm

http://www.wf.net/~snake/moccasin.htm

West

 

[Scratch]

I hate copperheads. Just as you say, West. No warning and sneaky. They are also known to hang around the house foundation more so than rattlers... At least rattlers let you know they are there most of the time and are prone to move on when they sense you are around... Dang ugly though... :?

 

[West R Lee]

I hate copperheads. Just as you say, West. No warning and sneaky. They are also known to hang around the house foundation more so than rattlers... At least rattlers let you know they are there most of the time and are prone to move on when they sense you are around... Dang ugly though... :?

And they are normally very small which doesn't help either Scratch........usually up to about 2 to 2 1/2' long. Many years ago, I lived in the country, not too far from the Lazy B. I had an open carport at that house. Late one spring afternoon, I was stepping off of the carport onto the back grass and happened to look down................it's a habit out here, and there, right under my bare foot lay the biggest copperhead I've not only ever seen, but ever heard of. I stopped just before I put my foor in the middle of his back. 42' long, I promptly grabbed a shovel!!!! I called my good friend and boss who lived across the street and told him, his reply was, "Nope, got to be a different type of snake, they don't get that big." I invited Mickey over and he was shocked...........3 1/2' feet long....a freaking monster.

The man across the street from the B killed a copperhead on his back porch last week.

West

 

[taabru45]

Here you go Dan....and if you want to get really kinky, there is a pair or rattler earings available too. :shock: Steffan
http://cgi.ebay.com/genuine-rattlesnake ... 7C294%3A50

 

[Jeff]

Scratch,

Them are nice guns & all, stainless being my favorite gun metal. I have a Ruger SS 357 pretty much the same as your SW & a stainless 22 mag revolver. If I was gonna shoot a snake close up in rocks & all I'd use a 22 rifle with shotshells. Practice up a bit on paper plates & shoot the devils right between the eyes. We have no venemous snakes in Washington West of the Cascade Mountains, rattlesnakes are fairly common in the interior. Somebody told me Copperheads smell like cucumber.

Probably be more more efficient to keep a couple Jack Russell Terriers. There's a bunch of youtube bits, game little dogs they are :lol: :lol: :lol:

You could diversify, "Scratches Axes & Venemous Snake Service".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEiYAca4QTA