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Weekend Open Thread

by Jonn Lilyea••125

Enigma4U

Enigma4U wants an open thread already but that’s fine – he wants to talk about guns and he sent the above picture. Also, Claw131 (I think) sent us this pair of photos from his service (along with a very generous donation – Thanks!) through the snail mail.

Claw1

Claw2

I’ll get the originals back to you soon, Claw, Thanks.

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125 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread”

  2. OK, I gotta take sloppy seconds this week. BTW, Daniel A. Bernath STILL accuses the wrong man of being me, I think he’s up to at least four, maybe five by now. Daniel A. Bernath never has been and likely never will be a member of the Oregon Bar, thus he never will be an Attorney at law in the State of Oregon!!

  3. Big Bummer Guys. I missed the first post by two. But what the hey, I’m blaming “Pump Head” and pain meds on it. 😀

    1. I hope you are continuing to do well Sparks. You were gone too long buddy. Glad you are back and regenerating your superpowers.

    3. Get well quick, Sparks.

      Had to Google “pump head” to find out what it was….take care of yourself.

  5. Yep, those look like guns to me. 😉

    Just got an Eberlestock Warhammer backpack. If you don’t know this company, check it out. Really nice stuff.

    1. That’s an awesome looking pack! And an awesome looking price!! Lol

      If I could afford it I’d prolly pick one up, in the mean time my original issue ALICE medium on it’s frame continues to be my go to pack. 🙂

      1. You aren’t kidding about the price! I loved my old ALICE pack, but I liked the MOLLE attachments. The money had to fall right, but when I saw this pack, that seemed to combine the best of both worlds, I had to have it.

        1. Yep, the ALICE isn’t the most comfortable pack in the world, but it’s rugged and familiar.

          The Eberlestock website has some pretty nice gear. Gotta remember it for the future. Their packs look especially well designed and thought out.

    1. I know what it is……it’s the future White House Rose Garden in 30 years if Hillary is voted in as POTUS.

      Gee, how good would that be?

        1. I was concentrating on the item on the right only, then I saw the bush quiver. IT MOVED!! I was going to assault and batter it but I remembered I had to go inside and shove a catheter up beyond my prostate, hug myself, rock back and forth, and drool.

          Thanks for the cookie!

        2. Ah, the perfect chocolate chip cookie, fresh and warm from the oven. I can make that recipe in my sleep. Just add an extra splash of Madascar bouron vanilla, and they will vanish – POUF! – as if they had never been.

          And no bushes will rustle as a result.

  8. I need to get a Henry .45LC to pal along with my Vaquero. Made in America means a lot to me.

      1. How many people think they are pearl?
        Quoting Patton.. “Only pimps use pearl handles”

        1. Yea, the press was the one that called them pearl handled during his time chasing down Pancho Villa I believe. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

  9. I got one weekend sale paper already. A couple of shops are advertising 10% discounts on boxes of ammo.

    Also, ice fishing may happen this winter, if the ice builds up enough. If so, I’ll send pictures.

    1. Don’t you hate those winters with thin ice? One year you can use the boat in mid Jan. (and they cancel the ice festival). The next year there is 54 inches of snow on top of the ice.
      The good part of Michigan winters (some years) is hunting snow white hares during freak thaws over brown grass. Have you ever seen geese with their feet frozen to the ice? They can’t fly in the fog, land on wet ice and freeze tight during the night. Folks fill their freezers with a burlap bag and baseball bat.

      Bad white-out between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo today. 130 vehicle pile-up. I94 closed both directions. A truck hauling fireworks burned, providing entertainment for folks stuck in the all-day backup.

    2. Any goose that is stupid enough to stay in the upper midwest after December 15th does not get my sympathy. I don’t care how warm it is.

  10. So, everyone has their favorite SV creep. Some like ol’ Chevy… others find themselves rooting for the underdog like Cornelius Davis. Me? I like to get more bang for my buck. I love SV groups: like the United States Volunteers/Joint Service Command. Despite their grand name, they are nothing but a bunch of posers. There used to be a great write up on them on pownetwork. They’ve been outed plenty of times yet they are still up to their old tricks.

    Check ’em out if you get a chance:http://www.usvjsc.org/pages/home.html

    1. Looks like an organization that Denny Chevalier/Dennis Chevalier/Chevy or any other aliases that he’s using would be chomping at the bit to be part of. For the right amount of coin, Chevy could be their next FieldMarshallGeneralissimo for life!

  12. My dog just left a huge, steaming pile of Phil Monkress in my neighbor’s yard.

    Way to go, boy!

  13. Damn I just received a Nigerian Email. If any one would like to become very wealthy, well here is the email.

    FROM THE DESK OF MS. SOFIA HASSAN
    AUDITING & ACOUNTING DIRECTOR
    UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA)
    COTONOU, REPUBLIC OF BENIN WEST AFRICA
    EMAIL: sofia_hssan20015@yahoo.fr
    PHONE: +229 67 45 44 47

    (REMITTANCE OF US$5.3 MILLION US DOLLARS ONLY, CONFIDENTIAL IS THE CASE)

    Good Day,

    My name is Ms. Sofia Hassan director auditing and accounting department” UBA bank Here in Cotonou, Benin Republic .I discovered the sum of Five million, three hundred thousand dollars (US$5.3M) belonging to a deceased customer of UBA bank Mr. Andreas Schranner a German who worked at Mount Resources Ltd, a geologist by profession who died in AF4590 crash since 2000 along side with his entire family (wife Maria, their daughter Andrea Eich, Christian, and their children Katharina 8, and Maximilian 10. Please log on here to see for your self, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm the fund has been lying in a suspense account without anybody coming to put claim over the money since His death.

    Therefore, I am soliciting for your assistance to come forward as the next of kin While I will back you up with every vital Information that you might need to stand as the real next of kin. I have agreed that 40% of this money will be for you as the beneficiary respect of the provision of your account and service rendered, 60% will be for me. Then immediately the money transferred to your account from this bank, I will proceed to your country for the sharing of the fund.

    should you be intereted in handling this transaction with me kindly get back to me with the following information:

    1)Full Name:
    2)Address:
    3)Country:
    4)Age:
    5)Occupation:
    6)Sex:
    7)Marital status:

    Contact me if you are ready to do this deal. (sofia_hssan20015@yahoo.fr)

    Yours faithful,
    Ms. Sofia Hassan

    3. Can’t decide whether those offers, the ones for meds, or cheap thrills are the best. The variations upon “My Deer One” always bring a smile, though. It’s so comforting to think that a complete stranger around the world is thinking of me! 😉

    1. Rod Taylor starred in one of my favorite war movies when I was growing up: “Dark of the Sun” from 1968. In the movie, Rod Taylor and Jim Brown played Belgian mercenary commandos leading Congolese troops against simba rebels while rescuing Belgian civvies and the diamonds they are safeguarding. Lots of bloody action in that flick. Rod Talor, RIP…

    2. As well as playing the role of Winston Churchill in the movie “Inglorious Basterds”.

  16. Yes, it was me who sent the pictures Jonn. The first picture is from Bitburg Air Base,circa 1975 and I call it “A Flock of Birds”. This was in response to me telling the soldiers of B Battery 6/56 Air Defense Artillery to get up off of their sorry asses and fall in for a work call formation. The next picture is from my very last (I did six total) Fort Irwin/NTC Rotation, circa July/August 1991. I am in the front row,2nd from left and if you look closely you’ll see I’m the only soldier with a combat patch on his right sleeve. These were the soldiers that manned the ALOC (Administrative/Logistics Operations Center) for the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) based at Fort Carson, Colorado.

  17. Well it finally happened. I was at my AL post’s meeting and an old timer recogized from way back when I was a jr enlisted. Cool that he remembered me but the story goes down hill from there. After our quick catch up he asks me so you were a cyber guy right, not thinking and realizing that the question was fully loaded, I proudly said yes. Next question was you know we’re looking for a guy to take over the Post’s web presence and bring it into the modern era, so wanna take it on. So long story short, I’m now the Post web guy. Besides the basics does any one on here have any good tips and insites especily related to what we can and can’t do with an AL Post’s web site? (Such as can we we sell ads and such).

    Thanks in advance!
    -Ish

      2. While stationed at Atterbury I learned Excel very well. When I moved positions I was asked if I knew it in which I replied “nope”.

      3. I know! It was a momentary lapse in judgement. The whole time there was this voice in my head saying: ‘Don’t say it. Don’t say it.’ Followed quickly by ‘Sucker!’ When the shoe fell. Truth be told I was more surprised that the guy remembered me. I was an E-3 in Ft. Meade the honor guard at the time and about the only real interaction I had with him was his retirement ceremony. But he not only recognised me, he remembered I was a cyber guy. Damn Cheif (that would be AF Cheif) caught me off guard with his memory…

          1. Funny the phrases web and web design didn’t come up until after I said yes to cyber. I’m in security, you want something forensically investigated or malware reverese engineered, I’m you guy. But actually designing web pages, not so much.

  18. Nice rifle, I have a 1873 model Winchester, made in 1889. Originally belonged to my grandfather. It then went to my dad, then to me. The last time it was fired was in the late 1940’s when my dad shot a deer with it in Montana!

  19. Elaine Ricci, up and coming business executive at Firstech, graduate of a top 5 business school and pedigreed K Street lobbyist, still has not been found. DC metro police have few leads but are pursuing some promising tips. Some of Elaine’s personal effects were found near a number of empty Boone’s Farm bottles and, oddly enough, a mailbox door. Police were lead to this clue by following a line of broken jaguar parts to the location. Police are currently searching for the owner of multiple shitty Jaguars. Please keep Elaine in your thoughts and prayers.

    1. Unconfirmed reports are that police are oolong for a 1980s vintage Jaguire with the Marylsnd license tag of SPANDEX.

      #BringElaineRicciHome

  20. The wife and it both have 1911’s, but she bought the Henry while I bought the coach gun.

  21. Bernath reminds me of an old joke Flip Wilson (an Air Force veteran by the way) used to tell. It went something like this: A man was being interviewed for a job working on the rail road. He was asked what he would do if he was going south and saw a red light. He said it meant another train was heading north and he would stop. He was asked what he would do if he was going north and saw a red light. He said it meant another train was heading south and he would stop. He was then asked what he would do if both lights were green. He said he’d get his brother. Why would you get your brother the man was asked. The man answered, “He’s never seen a train wreck.”

  23. I am halfway Steve McQueen cool. I have a Rossi Maresleg. For the youngums, that is a cutdown Winchester leveraction in .45 long Colt. A Sig-Mauser M2 in .45 acp. If it weren’t for the boating accident. Joe

  24. This year my father-in-law gifted my wife and I two old rifles. They came from his father in law that was an M.P in the Pacific. He was on the same troop ship as my grandfather the USS President Coolidge when it sank with all the Vermont Regiments supplies, weapon’s and gear. The really bad loss was all of their anti Malaria meds. Its a good story to look up and some nice photos. Anyhow the rifles are an ordinal m-1 carbine probably came home in his foot locker. You cant trust those M.Ps even thou I marred one. The second is a beautiful Pre-64 (1944) Winchester 30/30 lever action. Cant wait to get to the range with them.

  25. the 1911 is on a 1916 frame stamped US Property,
    Is was issued in ww1 ww2, korea and Vietnam by 1964 it was worn out, the frame was rebuilt by an Army Armorer named Bullock, it was used by the Army Match Pistol Team. Mr. Bullock got the pistol when he left the service.

    He passed it to his son and his son sold it to my brother. My Brother had it Rebuilt about 10 years ago by Wilson Combat. It has early fully adjustable Novak Target sights the front sight post is custom.

    My Brother gave it to me, I have shot many 1911 but this one is in my book the best shooting 1911 I have ever shot.

    The Henry is Big Boy in 45 long Colt. It is completely stock. I love the action on the Henry and the Company is great to deal with. It is very accurate and even with a full power load it has very little recoil. Several Months ago we had a Coyote on a job sight in NM that had no fear, he was acting odd and became I had no option but to shoot him. I dropped him at 125 yards with the Henry.

    I would love to get my hands on a Single action revolver in 45 Long Colt.

    I

    1. Double your pleasure – get a nice 1858 Remington (Cimarron’s is gorgeous) and a Taylor’s conversion cylinder. Load your .45LC brass with black powder – have to clean the gun after every range session but you will enjoy them like never before. And you will be hocked at how strong .45LC is with BP – it’s like shooting +Ps from a Blackhawk, only in a ‘way classier looking gun. And just shooting percussion is fun, too.

  26. For what it’s worth, my weapons at present consist of a Mossberg 500 12ga shotgun (20 in barrel), a Ruger P89 9mm semi-auto pistol, and as a “fun gun” a Ruger “New Model Single Six” revolver .22 with interchangeable cylinders for long rifle or magnum rounds. 6.5″ barrel.

    Had an SKS but sold it. I should probably get some other “long gun.” Maybe a semi auto M4 or Ruger mini 14.

    1. Thanks,Big Steve. That picture from NTC is just basic soldiering in Mechanized Infantry. The only three repeats (from the previous rotation 14 months earlier) in that group of 14 were myself, the man to my right and the man in the middle of the first row. He was the Brigade S-4 (an 04E) and was one of the best down to earth officers I ever had the honor to serve with. The rest were all FNG’s that only had a Pinon Canyon rotation under their belts, but all performed well at the NTC.

      1. Great memories for you. Thanks for sharing. I’m always interested in what other vets did and where they were posted or participated in FXs.

      2. Remember NTC well from my Carson days also. Pup tents in the Dust Bowl, spending 2 weeks in the box fighting up the valley, then switching battle groups and fighting back down the valley. I was in a Smoke Platoon then and except for the snow (yes snow) and sand storms, it was kinda fun.

        1. Snow? Yea, seen lots of it there, especially on the Dec-Jan, Feb-March rotations. Nights so cold the water in the Jerry cans and water buffaloes would freeze solid. Santa Ana winds so strong your hair would hurt. I always went out there on the pre advance party, as I hand carried all the signature cards to open up all the various supply accounts for my outfit, so was there for 3-5 days earlier than anybody else and usually on the very last bus to leave after the rotation was completed. Those first few days in the Dust Bowl alone were always an adventure.

  28. I love hand guns. A lot of people don’t give enough credit to the long distance accuracy of a handgun. Read an article one time about Keith Garret, a long distance handgun shooter. Very impressive shooter. Got me into long distance handgun shooting. Surprising what one can do with practice. Love my 1911, but for long distance prefer a S&W 629 with 6″ barrel SS, iron sites. No scopes for this guy. Most accurate handgun I’ve run across is the S&W .500 w/8-3/8″ barrel w/muzzle brake, of course iron sites. Tough on the hands, but handles a hornady 350 gr. xtp/mag. bullet/H-110 with unbelievable accuracy. Great hunting round too.
    My hunting rifle is a .300 Weatherby mag.. sierra game king 165gn. spitzer boattail/2145 and IMR 2831.
    According to the chart, thats close to 4k fps and 4k lbs, dropping around 19″ at 400 meters. Of course I load lighter for deer-not. I load all my own rounds to find the sweetest round for each of my pals.
    That picture of the pistol looks like a modified kimber with the light trigger. Just guessing. Ya, I like guns and shooting. No competition shooting, just my own enjoyment enjoyment. Practice practice practice. And lots of fun.

  30. What are the long rifle weapons the Frog Police are carrying? Looks like a wood stock carbine of some kind.

    1. I sold as few back in the 80’s – they’re Ruger Mini-14’s. A quick look on TV yesterday I thought they were M-2 carbines.

      As I recall….yeah, I know, DANGER, Ruger chambered a 5.56 and .308 Win. I think the latter had pressure problems……..again, thinking and trying to remember – did they make it for 7.62X39 as well?

      Not too sure about that last one – but I only sold the 5.56mm and it was a fine, dependable weapon.

      1. seems to me they announced a .308 and then dithered for years trying to get one marketable, and never really released it.

        The 7.62×39 was the Mini-30, wasn’t it?

  31. Well, since I have a set of extra large hands, I never could shoot a standard 1911A1 without suffering hammer bite. So years ago while stationed at Ft Bliss, a fellow soldier and I was at the Ft. Bliss Rod & Gun Club. He had asked me if I did any serious handgun shooting, I replied no, and I told him of my experiences with the 1911. He then pulls a brand new Sig Sauer P226. He then let me shoot a few rounds through it and that was when my lifelong love for the Sig began.

    The only short coming that I had with the 226 was the cartridge it was chambered for, the 9mm Parabellum. I always wished that the 226 had a larger cartridge offering. Well in the mid 90’s Sig Sauer released the 226 chambered in the .40S&W cartridge, it was at this time that the 226 became the perfect semi-auto handgun.

    I have owned three 226’s in my entire life, the current one I purchased after I redeployed. This came with a set of Tritium night sights and chambered for the 40S&W and an extra factory barrel chambered for the 357 Sig(expensive and a PITA to reload).

    Now I am not knocking the venerable Browning 1911, but for a very few of us, the weapon is just to damned small for us and it is a very painful to have a small chunk of flesh ripped from the webbing of your hand.

    2. A beavertail grip safety for the 1911 would save the webbing on your hand.

      Perhaps that could be a pet project for my stainless 1911R1, when it’s due for refurbishing. I think I’ve fired over 7000 rounds with it.

  32. Any XD Mod 2 owners? Shot one at the range the othe day and wow was I impressed. Now all I need is to find a range with a sig 320 compact to test out. For a sub compact that XD is just amazing. Better grip than my SIG and I didn’t notice any less accuracy being a sub compact either. Sure it’s ugly as sin but standard fiber, size, and capacity I’m truly impressed.

  33. One thing I like about my Springfield US Gov 1911 is how well it conceals. But, my main conceal is a Ruger LCP .380 w/laser. 10oz.+mag, same size as a cellphone. I know its a light weight, but at least it doesn’t sit in the drawer because its to heavy and bulky to carry all the time.
    And its better than a pocket knife.

    1. Tarus W/laser and Zombie ammo. This ammo is a hallow point w/ a plastic insert in the cavity to keep it expanding. Joe

  35. I made a change to my CC weapon. I really like this new one. Its moderately slim design and smooth curved edges do not print. The grip is excellent, the textured pattern on them is by far the best thing on the market. It has additional safety features that I like. I know many of the Glockheads are going to cry but I went to the Taurus MILLENNIUM G2.

    I know it sounds like I am getting kickbacks from Taurus and at one time in the not so distant past it would have taken more than that for me to recommend a Taurus. But they got their shit together on this one.

    Although it is only a 3.2″ barrel I am still getting 8 to 12 inch spreads at 75′. Sites are great and adjustable. No exposed hammer. I have put about 5 boxes of ammo through it and not one malfunction with several different types.

    Next time you are at the Gun shop check one out.

    http://www.taurususa.com/gun-selector-results.cfm?series=MP1

    1. I put more thought into what i’m going to carry than what im going to wear.

      all but one of my carry weapons are finished in a matt chrome, they don’t come that way.The other one is nickle plated.

      I do the chrome for a number of reason but first and foremost is it stops rust from ever being an issue. Secondis I think it hold lube better than blue or parkerized, last but not least is its very easy to clean.

      I love my little kel tec 380 (P3at), its not stock by any stretch of the imagination, I got it for free because it kept jamming on the former owner. I did a little polish work on the feed ramp, smoothed out the trigger bar and changed ejector (was messed up from improper assembly) It now has 2 k plus rounds thru it with all type of ammo with no failure to fire.

      1. The feed ramp is an issue with many guns. I have had to polish many of them, particularly when feeding hollow point rounds. You would think they would have taken care of that issue long ago at the factory. This new G2 is pre-polished like a pro did it out of the box.

        I agree with the maint issue being a plus with chrome. I want my CC to stand out as least as possible. Even though I carry inside the waistband I dont want anything shiny sticking out.

        You are exactly right about feeding problems though. I am constantly stressing to people how important it is to shoot several boxes of the ammo they are going to carry. We tend to plunk cheap shit at the range box after box only to find out that 1 box of red dot we carry likes to jam.

    3. So this WOT will spin mostly around guns?

      You guys are such – what? Gun sluts? Gun horndogs? Weaponheads? Rangeriders?

      And here I am, just working on scary black plastic MASER rifles with rheostats. But nothing can out do the A&P57.

    4. Been hearing very nice things about Taurus lately. Probably will never get over their very bad rap from decades ago.

      But, still like the old SIG P-228 for all around ease, dependability and such. Arthritic hands have no difficulty making it do what it’s supposed to do.

      Am interested in the new one with the interchangeable frame/barrel parts. That seems like it would be appealing to younger folks, and people who just want one of everything. Got no need of one myself, but am anxious to see one.

      S&W has always been my favorite, but revolvers are getting very difficult to shoot. If I owned any, they would be loaded with buckshot or something. Too bad so many of us lost all those guns in those boating accidents back when. Don’t want to ever see another boat thanks to the trauma of that horrific scene.

  36. Please take a shooting course. My DD214 reflects a 4th Award Rifle Expert and 2nd Award Pistol expert, I just completed another NRA shooting course a week ago. I always learn something new, every time. Please go to a qualified civilian instructor.

    If you are going to CC and travel get the Florida Non-Resident Permit in addition to the state you live in. It varies depending on which state you live in but the addition of that permit allows me to CC in 39 states.

    http://www.usacarry.com/florida_concealed_carry_permit_information.html

    This is a great video, one of the best parts is the Hair doesnt speak a word for 6:24, I think his eyebrows started to twitch. Please take a shooting course.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slp9zEyHzjg

  37. Today in weather history:

    1800 – Snowstorm in Georgia, SC

    1982 – Chicago temp dropped to -25 w/WC -80

    1. Only -25 in Chicago? That sounds more like the temperatures in February 1972 when I flew into OHare on my way home from Viet Nam. Only had summer greens and a field jacket to wear, blood all thinned out from being in the land of little yellow people, no bus service into Indiana that went any further south than Valparaiso, ended up being given a ride from three county sheriff’s deputies to finally make it out to the farm. Good times.

      1. I went up that way a few times. I learned to drive stick at Knox. My father told me he would teach me to drive stick. He co signed for a vehicle for me and then handed me the keys and said that he would meet me at home. I killed that car all the way to Winamac.

    2. I remember that date well as it was the day I moved from Springfield MO to go to work for my dad in Chicago to be a truck mechanic. When I told the story I thought it was -23. Wow – warmer than I thought.

  39. I’m seriously tempted to buy a Terminal Lance 5-year anniversary shirt before they go off the store on the 31st.

    It’s $20, though, so I’m on the fence.

  40. Jonn, I have one small favor to ask. Implant that NTC picture of mine into the Members Gallery section of the site and identify me as being the second soldier from the left, front row. I would certainly appreciate it. Thank You.

  41. The old blind cowboy goes into a saloon,sits down on a bar stool and orders up a double shot of Jack Daniels. After a little while he says to the bartender “Wanna hear a blonde joke?” The bartender says, “Whoa,wait just a minute now. I’m blonde and I’ll hit you with a bottle. The gal playing pool over there is a blonde and she’ll smack you with a cue stick. My bouncer is blonde, 6 foot 2 and will toss you out in a heart beat. The women to your left and right are both blonde and from the smell of cowshit on your boots are not real happy you sat down between them. So, do you still wanna tell a blonde joke?” The old cowpoke thought about it for a minute, then said “Naw, probably not if I’ll have to explain it five times”.

  42. I just had to bring my kids and dogs inside. There was a mamma moose and her calf in the yard.

    2. Nothing like having nature right in your yard, is there?

      I think I’ve lost 2-3 bird feeders to bears in the last couple of years.

      1. That’s why I’m going to retire to Southwest Virginia when my ship comes in. I’ve had enough of the DC area. I’ll spend the rest of my days in a little house with a garage containing two vehicles – a Honda for daily driving and a vintage Cadillac convertible for cruising on sunny days. I won’t work, but commune with nature and hang out at TAH. I’ll have a gold Rolex on my wrist and yet no reason at all to know the time. Bliss, bliss, bliss.

        Tomorrow, I go back to work. Gotta’ pay the bills and stock up the 401k to make that dream happen, right? ;o)

  46. I’m happy to report that my overboard discharge pipe has been repaired and reconnecte. Now I can make cookies and bean soup again.

    While I was shifting stuff around, I came across a copy of ‘Life in the Legion’ by Frederick Martyn, published in early 1900s. Should be interesting reading.

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