Old time TV guns

[ISCS Yoda]

Well, somewhat old-time, anyway.

I enjoy watching police-type dramas from back in the mid-20th century and a little later. Some old westerns, too, but their guns are always the same.

So, take the other day on Spenser For Hire - 1985 - Season 3. Episode 1:

Twice, there's a confrontation between two opposing sides. Everyone pulls out revolvers. I'm sufficiently amused to stop the show and examine the freeze frame. To the best of my determination:

J frame S&WS
L frame S&Ws
Maybe some Colts. For sure, one 6" Python - Hawk always carried that huge thing.
And then only Spenser - who pulls out a pistol, a Beretta 92.

Fascinating.

Then that same evening, or the next, no matter, I'm watching a 1977 Hawaii Five-O episode. McGarrett is at a police firing range, standing shoulder to shoulder, literally, with a half dozen cops, banging away at targets. Weirdly, no hearing protection. He gets a call, and when he picks up the car's radiophone to speak, he covers his other ear to block out the gunfire. In what world did these writers not know that on the range everyone uses ear protection? Anyway, I digress.

Every shooter on that line is shooting a revolver. Just so nice to see that, never mind the lack of hearing protection. McGarrett is shooting a Smith & Wesson Model 36 or, because they made a switch that year, a Colt Detective Special revolver. Hard to tell but fun to see.

 

[65-2x2]

Well, somewhat old-time, anyway.

I enjoy watching police-type dramas from back in the mid-20th century and a little later. Some old westerns, too, but their guns are always the same.

So, take the other day on Spenser For Hire - 1985 - Season 3. Episode 1:

Twice, there's a confrontation between two opposing sides. Everyone pulls out revolvers. I'm sufficiently amused to stop the show and examine the freeze frame. To the best of my determination:

J frame S&WS
L frame S&Ws
Maybe some Colts. For sure, one 6" Python - Hawk always carried that huge thing.
And then only Spenser - who pulls out a pistol, a Beretta 92.

Fascinating.

Then that same evening, or the next, no matter, I'm watching a 1977 Hawaii Five-O episode. McGarrett is at a police firing range, standing shoulder to shoulder, literally, with a half dozen cops, banging away at targets. Weirdly, no hearing protection. He gets a call, and when he picks up the car's radiophone to speak, he covers his other ear to block out the gunfire. In what world did these writers not know that on the range everyone uses ear protection? Anyway, I digress.

Every shooter on that line is shooting a revolver. Just so nice to see that, never mind the lack of hearing protection. McGarrett is shooting a Smith & Wesson Model 36 or, because they made a switch that year, a Colt Detective Special revolver. Hard to tell but fun to see.

The hearing protection is just a part of the times. Hearing protection was not used back in the day. I could be remembering wrong, but when I was in boot camp, in 1971, when we shot on the range, I do not recall us using hearing protection. That is why so many of us old farts are hard of hearing.

If you want to see TV episodes that are full of firearms errors, watch some of the British crime dramas. In one episode they were talking about the 9MM as being a very rare caliber for a handgun. They will be talking about someone shooting an automatic, and show a picture of a Webley. I also learned, watching Brits crime dramas that the British have very thin skulls. A thump on the head that would make Jim Rockford wince and feel for the knot on his head, is nearly always fatal on the shows.

 

[MelvinWalker]

I also learned, watching Brits crime dramas that the British have very thin skulls. A thump on the head that would make Jim Rockford wince and feel for the knot on his head, is nearly always fatal on the shows.

Colonel Mustard did it in the conservatory with a candlestick, (for us old farts that played board games as a child).

 

['79 Magnum GT]

The hearing protection is just a part of the times. Hearing protection was not used back in the day. I could be remembering wrong, but when I was in boot camp, in 1971, when we shot on the range, I do not recall us using hearing protection. That is why so many of us old farts are hard of hearing.

If you want to see TV episodes that are full of firearms errors, watch some of the British crime dramas. In one episode they were talking about the 9MM as being a very rare caliber for a handgun. They will be talking about someone shooting an automatic, and show a picture of a Webley. I also learned, watching Brits crime dramas that the British have very thin skulls. A thump on the head that would make Jim Rockford wince and feel for the knot on his head, is nearly always fatal on the shows.

I've been watching old tv shows from the 50's and 60's since I retired 5 years ago. Lot of them westerns. A whack on the head or a fall was almost always fatal too. I've seen a few westerns where someone will pull out a Smith or Colt 38 D.A. instead of a Colt S.A.A.

Rick

 

['79 Magnum GT]

Well, somewhat old-time, anyway.

I enjoy watching police-type dramas from back in the mid-20th century and a little later. Some old westerns, too, but their guns are always the same.

So, take the other day on Spenser For Hire - 1985 - Season 3. Episode 1:

Twice, there's a confrontation between two opposing sides. Everyone pulls out revolvers. I'm sufficiently amused to stop the show and examine the freeze frame. To the best of my determination:

J frame S&WS
L frame S&Ws
Maybe some Colts. For sure, one 6" Python - Hawk always carried that huge thing.
And then only Spenser - who pulls out a pistol, a Beretta 92.

Fascinating.

Then that same evening, or the next, no matter, I'm watching a 1977 Hawaii Five-O episode. McGarrett is at a police firing range, standing shoulder to shoulder, literally, with a half dozen cops, banging away at targets. Weirdly, no hearing protection. He gets a call, and when he picks up the car's radiophone to speak, he covers his other ear to block out the gunfire. In what world did these writers not know that on the range everyone uses ear protection? Anyway, I digress.

Every shooter on that line is shooting a revolver. Just so nice to see that, never mind the lack of hearing protection. McGarrett is shooting a Smith & Wesson Model 36 or, because they made a switch that year, a Colt Detective Special revolver. Hard to tell but fun to see.

In real life Jack Lord was a real anti gun nut. I think Jack Klugman was also. Don't quote me on that one.

Rick

 

[Puller]

In watching Hawaii 5-O reruns I've always been amazed at some of the shots Dan-o and McGarrett made with those snub nosed .38's.

 

[Greyman50]

How about the show where Rockford shoots down a small A/C with a 2"?????????

 

['79 Magnum GT]

How about the show where Rockford shoots down a small A/C with a 2"?????????

I haven't watched that one yet. Maybe in the next year or so.

Rick

 

[MelvinWalker]

In watching Hawaii 5-O reruns I've always been amazed at some of the shots Dan-o and McGarrett made with those snub nosed .38's.

Man, I hate that if true...I always thought he was Mr. Cool in HF0

 

[STCM(SW)]

When watching some of the shows I would tell my wife that I want some guns like that never recoil......

 

[LVSteve]

If you watched 60's UK shows like The Saint it seemed that the UK was awash with Beretta 1934s and 1935s. The occasional P38 showed up, but you rarely saw a 1911.

 

['79 Magnum GT]

If you watched 60's UK shows like The Saint it seemed that the UK was awash with Beretta 1934s and 1935s. The occasional P38 showed up, but you rarely saw a 1911.

Yup. The Saint, The Persuaders, The Avengers, The Protectors (need to watch), The Champions (need to watch), Secret Agent/Dangerman (need to watch), The Invisible Man (need to watch), That's all I can think of at the moment.

Rick

 

['79 Magnum GT]

Man, I hate that if true...I always thought he was Mr. Cool in HF0

From IMDB under trivia. I was aware of this for a long time. Sorry I burst your bubble.

Rick

 

[MelvinWalker]

From IMDB under trivia. I was aware of this for a long time. Sorry I burst your bubble.

Rick

Yeah, I know...I was just googling it as we speak...I hate it that people can't help but to inject their politics into acting or singing,

 

[Jerry in SC]

The film noir movies from the 40's and early 50's seemed to have more Colt's than S&W's. Lots of 1908 and 1911 Colts as well.

 

[MelvinWalker]

The film noir movies from the 40's and early 50's seemed to have more Colt's than S&W's. Lots of 1908 and 1911 Colts as well.

I agree...Lots of Police Positives and Official Police.

 

[65-2x2]

How about the show where Rockford shoots down a small A/C with a 2"?????????

Hey, Rockford was good, but he couldn't hold a candle to McGarrett. M. should have gotten a gold medal for the guy he shot that was 100 yards away, 100 feet above the ground, on a walkway in an industrial site, and running full tilt. A single shot from a quick draw flipped the guy over the guard rail to fall to his death.

 

[MyTurn]

Only a liberal, anti-gun nut could make that shot.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Kojak (Telly Savalas) shot out more than one tire on a moving car at 40-50 yards with a 2" .38.

 

[Dhawk46]

Matt Dillon and Jim Hardy made some fantastic shots with their Colt SAA's without even having to aim! That's Star Power!