Another author disappoints :(

[radshop]

As a young man I read a couple of the classic Parker crime novels written in the 60s by Richard Stark. Now I have the whole series on audio and have enjoyed listening to the first couple in order. The subject matter naturally includes a lot of guns. Then out of nowhere one of the criminal crew hasn't "taken off the safety of his revolver". SMH. (The gun was probably a S&W .38, but not totally clear as it was one of several acquired for the job.)

I wasn't listening with the intent to critique how he portrayed guns, but overall he seemed to know his stuff. But after that bungle, I'm questioning a few other things. One of the things I noted was the prevalence of small caliber handguns among career criminals when going into situations where they expect violence: there's plenty of .38 special, but a surprising amount of .22 & .32, plus maybe a few odd calibers in between. The time period is the 50s-60s, and I know there's been some caliber inflation over the decades of what people think is necessary. But I would think that .38 special at the low end, and more often .357 mag & 45 ACP would be the go-to calibers among the violent crowd. Any thoughts on the reality of what was normal for that time period?

Another thing that bugs me is the prevalence of guys using a gun to bonk somebody on the head. From my knowledge, nobody who knows guns as working tools would go around doing that. I recall Elmer Keith describing bent barrels, broken grip frames, and other damage incurred from that kind of thing. Not to mention risk of negligent discharge.

 

[the_leper_colony]

... I know there's been some caliber inflation over the decades of what people think is necessary. But I would think that .38 special at the low end, and more often .357 mag & 45 ACP would be the go-to calibers among the violent crowd. Any thoughts on the reality of what was normal for that time period?

Another thing that bugs me is the prevalence of guys using a gun to bonk somebody on the head...

I knew a cop many, many years ago, who swore that criminals mostly carried cheap imported "Saturday Night Specials" until Congress started restricting them (1968?). He claimed that the politicians were getting cops killed, because the criminals started carrying better quality, larger caliber guns when they couldn't get the imported crap anymore. As for whacking someone with a gun barrel, a gunsmith I knew mentioned an LEO who did that with a Smith Model 27, and somehow broke the gun.

As always YMMV, FWIW, etc.

 

[Watertender]

I knew a cop many, many years ago, who swore that criminals mostly carried cheap imported "Saturday Night Specials" until Congress started restricting them (1968?). He claimed that the politicians were getting cops killed, because the criminals started carrying better quality, larger caliber guns when they couldn't get the imported crap anymore. As for whacking someone with a gun barrel, a gunsmith I knew mentioned an LEO who did that with a Smith Model 27, and somehow broke the gun.

As always YMMV, FWIW, etc.

The old H&R and Iver Johnson revolvers were common criminal handguns. The .32 pull pin and break top models were inexpensive and easy to get ahold of.
I can remember reading about a railroad bull that carried a Colt Pocket Positive .32 when he worked on passenger trains and a Colt New Service for freight yard work. He said the Pocket Positive was easily concealed and the New Service could split a bums skull without harming the revolver. I can't remember the caliber of the New Service but I know they were a big revolver.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Then out of nowhere one of the criminal crew hasn't "taken off the safety of his revolver". SMH. (The gun was probably a S&W .38, but not totally clear as it was one of several acquired for the job.)

Maybe it was a Magna-Trigger conversion: https://www.tarnhelm.com/magna-trigger/gun/safety/magna1.html

Discussed: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/683852-1975-model-66-magna-trigger-mod.html

 

[blume357]

Was listening to a Robert B. Parker / Sponsor story and someone is shot in the park and the police pick up a spent 38 special cartridge that was ejected out when the victim was shot... once.... I hate to say it but my view of his expertise went down a tad after reading that.....

 

[dobegrant.45]

Actually the use of the revolver to club the bad guy was pretty common, Chick Gaylord in his BOOK the Handgunners Guide talks about the merits of Smith revolver’s over Colt when used for slugging bad guys and has a bunch of NYPD data in support, since the colt revolver had a unsupported ejection rod it was easier to bend.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I bought a James Patterson book at the airport the other day(it was the only book that looked entertaining) and he described the protagonist flicking the safety off on her Glock. The book was terrible by the way, save your money.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Was listening to a Robert B. Parker / Sponsor story and someone is shot in the park and the police pick up a spent 38 special cartridge that was ejected out when the victim was shot... once.... I hate to say it but my view of his expertise went down a tad after reading that.....

Smith and Wesson Model 52. Fires 38 Special wadcutters.

 

[blume357]

Well, see there's always one... that is cool.
I'm reading the Jack Reacher novels in chronological order and am to the third one*... he's still in the army as an MP and I don't understand why he doesn't carry a gun all the time... but I guess that would mess with his being able to 'woop ass' on numerous bad guys....

Just looked at a different web site of Reacher 'books' and it seems that in theory there are four 'stories' before this first novel, The Enemy, which is not the first one published but is the first one of him in the Army.

 

[JiminMaine]

As a young man I read a couple of the classic Parker crime novels written in the 60s by Richard Stark. Now I have the whole series on audio and have enjoyed listening to the first couple in order. The subject matter naturally includes a lot of guns. Then out of nowhere one of the criminal crew hasn't "taken off the safety of his revolver". SMH. (The gun was probably a S&W .38, but not totally clear as it was one of several acquired for the job.)

I wasn't listening with the intent to critique how he portrayed guns, but overall he seemed to know his stuff. But after that bungle, I'm questioning a few other things. One of the things I noted was the prevalence of small caliber handguns among career criminals when going into situations where they expect violence: there's plenty of .38 special, but a surprising amount of .22 & .32, plus maybe a few odd calibers in between. The time period is the 50s-60s, and I know there's been some caliber inflation over the decades of what people think is necessary. But I would think that .38 special at the low end, and more often .357 mag & 45 ACP would be the go-to calibers among the violent crowd. Any thoughts on the reality of what was normal for that time period?

Another thing that bugs me is the prevalence of guys using a gun to bonk somebody on the head. From my knowledge, nobody who knows guns as working tools would go around doing that. I recall Elmer Keith describing bent barrels, broken grip frames, and other damage incurred from that kind of thing. Not to mention risk of negligent discharge.

Maybe he was using one of these,

 

[woodsy]

Reading the Lee Child books can be confusing. He jumps around in his use of time. The latest one is when he was still an Army captain, after demotion.

 

[KIR]

I ran across the Jack Reacher book, "Never Go Back". I looked them up and saw it was #18. I prefer reading them in order, but not about to pay $$$ for them. So, blume357, when you are finished you can send them my way.

 

[Papalote]

I remember reading a novel abut things a game warden got into. It was a series. Anyway what turned me off of him was when his friend speed loaded a Freedom arms 454 while hanging on in the back of a pickup. Can't remember the authors name.

 

[Ride1949]

That's C.J. Box and his Joe Pickett series. It's actually a pretty good series of stories if you can overlook little inaccurasies like that. After all it is fiction.

 

[Papalote]

Ride, yes that's the one. My wife loves them.

 

[the_leper_colony]

Maybe he was using one of these,
View attachment 32960

Way back whenever, I owned a .476 Webley RIC revolver for a few years that looked something like that (but I don't think it had a safety) - guessing that one might be Belgian?

 

[Aqualung]

Maybe he was using one of these,
View attachment 32960

What make revolver is that? Is it yours? It looks very similar (in some ways) to one that I have (used to play with it as a kid) that's missing parts. I've always wondered who made it.

This is the only marking on my version:

That's C.J. Box and his Joe Pickett series. It's actually a pretty good series of stories if you can overlook little inaccurasies like that. After all it is fiction.

The Joe Pickett series on Paramount Plus is pretty good. Hopefully, they keep up with it.


Aqualung

 

[JiminMaine]

What make revolver is that? Is it yours? It looks very similar (in some ways) to one that I have (used to play with it as a kid) that's missing parts. I've always wondered who made it.
View attachment 32985 View attachment 32986

This is the only marking on my version:
View attachment 32987




The Joe Pickett series on Paramount Plus is pretty good. Hopefully, they keep up with it.


Aqualung

I don't have a clue on who or where it was made for sure. My uncle brought it back after WWII. He gave it to me when I was a kid and it was just a rusted up piece of junk, there were no moving parts. In my infinite wisdom as a kid I thought I would just soak it in 'Naval Jelly" and see if the rust would come off and I could loosen it up. I did manage to get the grips off first because I was afraid they might dissolve.

Well the rust was gone, along with any finish it might have had, and I took it all apart and got it working. It is chambered for 38 S&W and I have even shot it.

It has similar markings to yours along with the number 13 on the cylinder, frame, trigger guard and the cylinder pin. I posted pictures of it on another forum many years ago and the best they could determine is that it is a Belgium copy of a British Bulldog made for the German market in the 1930s.

 

[blume357]

I ran across the Jack Reacher book, "Never Go Back". I looked them up and saw it was #18. I prefer reading them in order, but not about to pay $$$ for them. So, blume357, when you are finished you can send them my way.

Sorry KIR but I'm downloading them as Kindle versions and I don't think I can pass them on.... if I had paperbacks I would though.

 

[Aqualung]

I don't have a clue on who or where it was made for sure. My uncle brought it back after WWII. He gave it to me when I was a kid and it was just a rusted up piece of junk, there were no moving parts. In my infinite wisdom as a kid I thought I would just soak it in 'Naval Jelly" and see if the rust would come off and I could loosen it up. I did manage to get the grips off first because I was afraid they might dissolve.

Well the rust was gone, along with any finish it might have had, and I took it all apart and got it working. It is chambered for 38 S&W and I have even shot it.

It has similar markings to yours along with the number 13 on the cylinder, frame, trigger guard and the cylinder pin. I posted pictures of it on another forum many years ago and the best they could determine is that it is a Belgium copy of a British Bulldog made for the German market in the 1930s.

View attachment 33004

View attachment 33005

View attachment 33007

That's funny. That's about the same info I got, too "suspected Belgian clone of a Webley Bulldog"

I'll keep searching and let you know if I find anything.

OP, sorry for derailing the thread a bit...

Aqualung

 

[vito]

Having served on active duty for 24 years, and that included one three year period in which I was the Provost Marshall for the military installation that I was assigned to, the Jack Reacher novels always give me a good laugh. It would be hard to create a more unrealistic portrayal of the Military Police Corps, or the Army in general. For example, Reacher at one point is demoted from Major to Captain. As an officer, there is no such animal as a demotion. There was a time, such as right after WWI and WWII when officers who had been promoted into a higher temporary rank during the war were returnedd to their permanent rank, but other than that there is no mechanism for demoting an officer. If you committed a serious offense you could be stripped of your officer rank and imprisoned. Enlisted staff can be demoted under certain circumstances, but not officers.

 

[kmoore]

From 2011 to 2019 I had time to read books and have used kindles to order and read them. I searched out books mostly about police stuff. Like murder mysteries, strange investigations, undercover police work. What is always disappointing is when the authors go into minor and even major details about firearms. How they work, how there used maybe more about the bullets or ammo. Nearly everyone uses old fake crap learned or seen on TV or in movies. Which led me to believe they may be good writers but don't know crap about guns.
It distracts from the story when details given are wrong. I don't read more from that author, it's not worth my time.
Which led me to become a writer and when using facts about guns and any equipment. I make sure the details I write are real. I have 2 published books; a 3rd would be now available if my wife didn't get cancer and pass away this year. It's going to be awhile to get it done.
There a cross of police and military fiction adventure based in Oregon. Both got to #1 on Amazon when they were 1st published and I earn royalties every month. October, I had 949 kindle down loads. About books, I have sold somewhere in the 5-6,000 books on kindle and about 400 in soft cover print. They should be available in audio version in Idaho libraries by the end of 2024. I am still working out the details. I won't make a dime for that but also, they have people to narrate at no cost to me.
I didn't post this to sell books there doing fine. It might be against the web rules anyway. If you're interested PM me and I will tell you the titles.

 

[radshop]

From 2011 to 2019 I had time to read books and have used kindles to order and read them. I searched out books mostly about police stuff. Like murder mysteries, strange investigations, undercover police work. What is always disappointing is when the authors go into minor and even major details about firearms. How they work, how there used maybe more about the bullets or ammo. Nearly everyone uses old fake crap learned or seen on TV or in movies. Which led me to believe they may be good writers but don't know crap about guns.
It distracts from the story when details given are wrong. I don't read more from that author, it's not worth my time.
Which led me to become a writer and when using facts about guns and any equipment. I make sure the details I write are real. I have 2 published books; a 3rd would be now available if my wife didn't get cancer and pass away this year. It's going to be awhile to get it done.
There a cross of police and military fiction adventure based in Oregon. Both got to #1 on Amazon when they were 1st published and I earn royalties every month. October, I had 949 kindle down loads. About books, I have sold somewhere in the 5-6,000 books on kindle and about 400 in soft cover print. They should be available in audio version in Idaho libraries by the end of 2024. I am still working out the details. I won't make a dime for that but also, they have people to narrate at no cost to me.

Can you give us links to your books? I'd love to check them out... all the way up the parts where they shoot 3 round bursts from bolt action rifles, take out 5 guys with the spread of 1 shotgun round, and forget to take the safety off on their glocks.

 

[3manfan]

Well, see there's always one... that is cool.
I'm reading the Jack Reacher novels in chronological order and am to the third one*... he's still in the army as an MP and I don't understand why he doesn't carry a gun all the time... but I guess that would mess with his being able to 'woop ass' on numerous bad guys....

Just looked at a different web site of Reacher 'books' and it seems that in theory there are four 'stories' before this first novel, The Enemy, which is not the first one published but is the first one of him in the Army.

The Reacher books are some of the best out there, IMHO.
Sadly, Lee Child decided several years ago to partner with his brother & turn the primary writing duties over to him with minimal involvement on his part.
His brother can't hold a candle to Lee's skill. That starts with novel #25, The Sentinel. It was tolerable, but still a disappointment.
#26, #27 & #28 were marginally better but still lacking.
#29 debuted last week & it's the worst of the bunch. This one was clearly almost exclusively penned by Andrew & boy, is it a stinker.
I would've preferred that if Lee wasn't going to continue as the sole author that he would've just let Jack take one last bus ride into the sunset, or given him an honorable death at the end of yet another heroic battle.....but no. More money to be made, I suppose.
This last one was so bad that I'll never buy another, which is a shame because the series was outstanding until #25.
I'll just start over with #1 when my current que of other Kindle books has emptied.

 

[KIR]

Same thing happened with the Dirk Pitt novels, Clive Cussler shared/turned over some of his writing to his son Dirk Cussler and the quality was not as good. For those not familiar, think of the movie SAHARA, with Penelope Cruz, not the 1943 version with Humphrey Bogart.

 

[the_leper_colony]

... For those not familiar, think of the movie SAHARA, with Penelope Cruz, not the 1943 version with Humphrey Bogart.

I will note that (IMHO & FWIW) the book was better than the movie, which is not an uncommon occurrence. And (also FWIW & IMHO) I found the movie reasonably entertaining, in a typical Hollywood "action flick" way; surprisingly enough, my wife even enjoyed it. The movie does include some nice firearms (FALs & AKs, etc.), and some fairly realistic gun handling - magazines run dry, reloads occur, etc.

 

[the_leper_colony]

Same thing happened with the Dirk Pitt novels, Clive Cussler shared/turned over some of his writing to his son Dirk Cussler and the quality was not as good...

I guess successful writers run out of ideas, and/or get lazy - I noticed that some of Alistair MacLean's later novels were just recycled plots with the names & locations changed.

As always IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, etc.

 

[vito]

And what about Tom Clancy? How many novels have been written by others "based upon the characters created by Tom Clancy"?

 

[cleg]

I have enjoyed reading the executioner series for many years. Unfortunately can not find them anymore. Maybe special order type situation. I believe there is close to 500 books in the series.

 

[KIR]

I have enjoyed reading the executioner series for many years. Unfortunately can not find them anymore. Maybe special order type situation. I believe there is close to 500 books in the series.

If you are referring to Don Pendleton's Executioner, I read over 100 of his books and I have the first edition (3 of them) with different covers of the comic books. Great series, but they got too redundant doing the same thing, going from city to city, fighting the Mafia then later joining a team on the Farm (?).