How is Permalac like a bullet, a term often-used term in pop culture these days? There’s an Elton John song “I feel like a bullet (in John Ford’s Gun), Stefanie Heinzmann, a vocal artist from Switzerland recorded a song “Like a Bullet” in 2008. Glitz performed their song Livin’ Like a Bullet’, the Bullet Train (on Vimeo), and there is even a type of blogging called “Bullet Blogging.” Well, I’d like to share an interesting story about a particular bullet, and how Peacock Labs and Permalac are involved.

A short while back we received an email from a website visitor asking for a recommendation. The writer explained the need for a product to protect a valued treasure; a bullet.
For the sake of discussion, let’s call this writer Dave, who is a Viet Nam Veteran of the Marine Corps Sniper Unit. Upon the completion of Sniper School (a 10-week program), every graduate is presented with a personalized “keepsake.”

H.O.G. Tooth photoThe H.O.G. Tooth (more on this in a moment) he received is a precious piece of his personal history that he would like to preserve. He was inquiring about how to coat the piece with something that could protect its patina, and not be harmful to humans if held in close contact with a person’s skin. Here is an excerpt from our digital conversation that helps explain:

It’s worn as a necklace, so it makes contact with skin much of the time…I’m looking for a way to keep it ‘mirror bright’. I had used Brasso to return the shine when my H.O.G. tooth tarnished, but as you can imagine, I’d be forever grateful for a 1-time treatment that would keep this new one ‘bright’…..(I’m 66 now, so it will only need to keep the shine for about the next 30 years or so…..hahahaha)

Dave has had a duplicate H.O.G. Tooth made, and as he explains, he’d like to keep it looking “mirror Bright” as the original has become permanently tarnished from wear since 1967.
The acronym of H.O.G. stands for Hunter of Gunmen. As Dave puts it:

I earned my “H.O.G. Tooth”. This is a 7.62mm NATO Bullet, on a Paracord Necklace. It serves 2 purposes: First, as I have the bullet with my name on it, no other can use it against me. Second, the acronym of H.O.G. is Hunter of Gunmen; (a Sniper’s most valuable role in the Combat Theater, as a H.O.G., it’s the Sniper’s job to protect friendly forces from any threat of enemy gunmen.) I still have my original bullet. It has tarnished over the years, and now, I’ve decided to shelf the original, and wear a replacement. It’s still a 7.62mm, so it will serve as well.

Our brave Vet Dave is disabled, and lives on a meager income. He was advised by someone somewhere that for $225, he could have his replacement bullet preserved.

I live on one check a month from the V.A., and I REALLY can’t afford to spend $225 bucks to make my bullet shiny…… Soooooo – can you direct me to a dealer, who might take on this gargantuan project for less than a couple of hundred bucks?? (It’s just a bullet, not even the casing! Measures about 1-1/4 inches) Would YOU guys consider the job? I know I could trust you….you make the stuff!

Peacock Labs did better than that. We arranged for a sample bottle of Permalac shipped to him to keep his H.O.G. pendant looking new. Since Dave rides motorcycles (yes, even though he lives with shrapnel shards in his spine), we also sent along some PChrome to try on his bike parts.

We took an interest in this story for personal reasons, but it feels good to know we helped someone who placed their life before others in defense of our country and its ideals. Dave is retired now, but has enough strength to “stand long enough to salute the flag as it passes,” as he relayed to me.

We wanted to share this bit of information with you in this email. It’s not often we hear directly from individual consumers, but when queries such as these come in from time to time, I hope we all take the time to pay attention to our customers.

It is every client-facing employee’s responsibility to listen and respond to all customer commentary. Helping Dave, and others like him are much more than merely conducting business, it’s making a personal connection, and don’t we all deserve that?