Tom Phillips might be best known in the Meteorite-Times universe as OG of the Micro Visions column, and for the cover image of Kevin Kichinka’s book The Art of Collecting Meteorites. Like many of us over the years, we moved from mainstream meteorite activities to a more subdued enjoyment of space rocks especially those meteorites with a unique story to tell. And like anyone or anything with a long and deep meteorite backstory, things from the past pop up again and again mostly with a thicker storyline than when last seen. And such is the case of a large hot desert stone individual.
The wounded stone with crack. (Photo courtesy of Tom Phillips)
Throughout the centuries, meteorite lore has swung like a pendulum from good luck such as Ensisheim, to bad luck as with Henbury. Well, it seems that the case Tom Phillips recently encountered involved both good and bad luck within the same meteorite, along with some gunplay in the desert.
The story, as Tom tells me, centers on a roughly 13kg stony individual he acquired from Dean Bessy within a collection sale. Tom also has a passion for antiques which started long before any meteorites landed on his doorstep. And antiques are still an active pursuit for Tom today. From a scientific perspective, meteorites could be considered the ultimate antique, but for those who appreciate recognizable objects, or even elderly home furnishings still full of life, meteorites seem a stretch. That said, antiques often share display space with curiosities, and meteorites are certainly that. And so it was that Tom Phillips displayed a 13kg stone for sale in an antique mall.
One day an offer was made on that stone meteorite. The deal was done and the new owner took home his prize. Now we all own meteorites for different reasons even if many of them are the same. The good-luck aspect of meteorite ownership is, in my experience, usually reserved for small specimens, mainly irons. Taken further, the little lucky charms are often incorporated into jewelry or carried in a pocket. But a 13kg weathered hot desert stone? Sure, why not. However, the large investment into the good luck meteorite should, in the thinking of its new owner, yield large returns. And for the first time in my life I’ve ever heard of this, the luck will be measured and the meteorite will be held accountable.
As the story goes, the poker-playing owner of the 13kg stone felt jaded by the meteorite’s performance. So much so, that disappointment soon turned to revenge. Not only was the meteorite not producing the anticipated good luck, which I am told is a meteorite feature apparently commonly reported on the internet, but this stone appeared to be producing the opposite effect and inflicting bad luck upon the owner. But this being America, and the meteorite was in Idaho, the only logical solution to reverse the misfortune of the meteorite’s owner was to take the stone out into the desert and show it some old-school western justice. Shooting stars, if you will.
Using a .22 caliber pistol, the stone’s owner shot the meteorite 28 times. Presumably the low power .22 rimfire was chosen more to teach the stone a lesson rather than inflict serious harm to the rock. Any larger application of firepower would likely be the end of the story, but actually we are about in the middle of it. Also of note is the number of shots at 28. It turns out that the number 28 is actually associated with wealth, both the gain and loss of it. In the gambling world, the significance of the number 28 is common and promotional images of Rolex watches are displayed with the date set on the 28th as well as the common 10:10 position of the hands. Regardless of anyone’s superstitious beliefs, the meteorite definitely was unlucky that day, at least for the meteorite itself.
As if in a spaghetti western, the stone lay injured and alone in the desert for a few days (I can only imagine the tangent this story would take had I stumbled across the stone during this time!). The owner returned to the scene of the crime a couple days later (That’s a figure of speech. To my knowledge there is no state or federal law criminalizing the shooting of a meteorite, but if this becomes a problem, I may call upon my senators to take a stand on it). Retrieving the stone, perhaps out of respect and regret as well as some potential financial recovery, the owner sold the stone and story to a pawn shop. And here’s where Tom Phillips comes back into the picture.
The pawn shop. (Photo courtesy of Tom Phillips)
Tom got a call from the manager of the pawn shop who knew that he has both extensive experience with meteorites and an interest in such oddities and their story. In fact, Tom may have unknowingly planted a seed that sprouted into the pawn shop manager’s curiosity and potential monetary interest in a meteorite that may have some use outside of hard science. Back in 2008, I wrote an article here about something I called “Toolbox Meteorites” which I defined as “Utilitarian meteorites”, or those space rocks and irons I like to call “Toolbox Meteorites” begin life on earth in a more practical occupation rather than an academic one.` So when the shot-up meteorite walked into the pawn shop, the stage was set for a continued story.
(Photo courtesy of Tom Phillips)
The pawn shop manager told Tom a crazy story about a gambler who bought the meteorite for good luck, but changed his mind and shot the stone 28 times and then sold the wounded stone to the pawn shop. With this too good a story to pass up, Tom stopped by the pawn shop and immediately recognized the stone as the one he sold at the antique mall. Unbelievable! But then again, it is a small world, and those of us who travel in meteorite circles know that this subworld is even smaller. And as proof, here I am writing this story and reconnecting with Tom.
Tom measured the weight and compared images of the stone to notes he had. It was, in fact, the same stone he sold at the antique mall and he had the receipts to prove it. One 38g piece was shot off the meteorite but recovered from the desert and included with the main mass. At the moment, the meteorite is on display at the pawn shop, and Tom hopes a sign will soon read, “Not for sale at any price, or best offer!”
The meteorite on display in the pawn shop. (Photo courtesy of Tom Phillips)
I would like to thank Tom Phillips for sharing this story, providing pictures, and giving me a reason to dig up meteorite lore from the good old days.
Until next time….
