Seems like there's a bunch of us old folks here!
Yep. I have a couple of the Major's books around somewhere.
Yep. I have a couple of the Major's books around somewhere.
ANY ONE REMEMBER MAJ GEORGE C. NONTE
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Ray
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I read much of Nontes work He also wrote using about 5 different "nom de plume's" way back then. Only one I can remember was C, George Charles
One of my favorite articles he wrote was on converting a 1911 frame to fire about 12 different cartridges.
One of my favorite articles he wrote was on converting a 1911 frame to fire about 12 different cartridges.
Nonte loved the S&W M-39 and he and Bill Jordan both said it would be the ideal handgun for the U.S. military. Nonte rechambered one of his to take .223 rifle cases with a 90 grain 9m/m hollow point and seems like he got 1500-1600 fps. I think he liked small, fast bullets better than big and slow like most other writers of the day and I just got his Pistol and Revolver guide in the mail a few months ago and really enjoy reading it.
I read much of Nontes work He also wrote using about 5 different "nom de plume's" way back then. Only one I can remember was C, George Charles
One of my favorite articles he wrote was on converting a 1911 frame to fire about 12 different cartridges.
I remember that article, made a big impression on me. I had a Colt Gov't in .38 Super and based on that article I had a .45ACP slide and barrel fitted and then added a .22RF Conversion unit. Three calibers was as far as I got, nowhere as many as the Major.
DWalt
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I also have Nonte's book on cartridge conversions. However, the most comprehensive book by far on that topic is Donnelly's Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions. Nonte's book doesn't come close to Donnelly's level of detail. I guarantee that for about half the cartridges in it, most shooters have never heard of. It contains very comprehensive 'How to" instructions and even some (limited) reloading data.
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DWalt
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I have a M1911 frame that will handle six different calibers - 9x19 mm, 7.65 Luger, .38 Super/9x23 Win/9mm Largo/9mm Steyr, 45 ACP, .400 Cor-Bon, and .22 LR. Haven't yet added .40 S&W or 10mm, don't really need them as the .400 Cor-Bon is better than either.
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As for cartridge conversion books, I'd rate Ken Howell's book, "Designing and Forming Custom Cartridges For Rifles and Handguns" as the best, followed by Donnelly's book. I read somewhere years ago that there were numerous mistakes in the Donnelly book, but have no idea if this is true. I bought a copy not long after they were available. Perhaps there has been an updated, corrected version published.
The Nonte book is a distant third, but in defense of that book, there was very little published material available on the subject when his book came out. It may have been the best at the time.
The Nonte book is a distant third, but in defense of that book, there was very little published material available on the subject when his book came out. It may have been the best at the time.
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George Nonte was never among my favorite gun writers, but he did participate in a very interesting project that was published as a two-part series written up in HANDLOADER magazine (#26 and #27) in 1970. Also involved in the project was Neal Knox (HANDLOADER editor at the time) and Super Vel's Lee Jurras. The three tested a bunch of factory .38 Special ammo and measured velocities and pressures. They used a good assortment of revolvers with different barrel lengths.
They also duplicated some of the factory loads with handloads. This was all well before the +P designation and it's pretty in-depth and very interesting reading.
It might particularly benefit the many who have an obsession with +P to see what was available before +P. I haven't read the article in a while and don't remember if they quoted FBI statistics, shot through jello, jugs of water, or did anything else of questionable worth. Regardless, I think it's probably among the very best gun / handloading articles I've ever read and I've been reading them for a while.
They also duplicated some of the factory loads with handloads. This was all well before the +P designation and it's pretty in-depth and very interesting reading.
It might particularly benefit the many who have an obsession with +P to see what was available before +P. I haven't read the article in a while and don't remember if they quoted FBI statistics, shot through jello, jugs of water, or did anything else of questionable worth. Regardless, I think it's probably among the very best gun / handloading articles I've ever read and I've been reading them for a while.
Texas Star
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I never met Nonte but read a lot of his articles.
I once handled a S&W M-58 that he'd converted to fire .45 Colt ammo.
I heard that Lee Jurras was his BIL, but don't know if that's true. Does anyone here know for sure?
One of my favorite articles by him told how he shot a black bear out of a tree with a Colt .45 auto using 190 grain Super Vel ammo.
I once handled a S&W M-58 that he'd converted to fire .45 Colt ammo.
I heard that Lee Jurras was his BIL, but don't know if that's true. Does anyone here know for sure?
One of my favorite articles by him told how he shot a black bear out of a tree with a Colt .45 auto using 190 grain Super Vel ammo.
I have an old article by Maj. Nonte HOLSTERS DON'T NEED SAFETY STRAPS, August 1971.
He praises the holsters made by Paris Theodore who did business as Seventrees.
He quotes Paris: "Properly designed and fabricated from good material, a holster generally
doesn't require a safety strap." Chic Gaylord said it before Paris did, and I agree with both
of them.
He praises the holsters made by Paris Theodore who did business as Seventrees.
He quotes Paris: "Properly designed and fabricated from good material, a holster generally
doesn't require a safety strap." Chic Gaylord said it before Paris did, and I agree with both
of them.
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Depends on the use as to whether or not a safety strap (or some other retaining method) is necessary. I've read Chic Gaylord's "Handgunner's Guide". He may have been a great holster maker, but his book is pretty unimpressive at best.
straightshooter1
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Sure, I remember him, but I've been reading gun mags since I was a little kid. I "think" I remember buying the first issue of Guns in something like '55 or thereabouts. Other kids bought comics, but I went for the gun mags.
Nonte, Keith, Skelton, O'Conner and others-I tried to never miss any of their articles.
I did back off a bit when I discovered girls, but still read most, if not all of these writers' articles. Missed a lot when I went in the Army, but went right back to it when I got out in late '68.
Bob
Nonte, Keith, Skelton, O'Conner and others-I tried to never miss any of their articles.
I did back off a bit when I discovered girls, but still read most, if not all of these writers' articles. Missed a lot when I went in the Army, but went right back to it when I got out in late '68.
Bob
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Texas Star
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Opinions vary. I really like the book. Found it very informative.
Gaylord introduced me to three-inch barreled .38's.
Gaylord and Paris Theodore were mainly focussed on concealed urban carry. So they didn't dwell a lot on wilderness holsters. On those, I definitely want a retaining strap. The so-called thumb-break strap is my overall favorite and may have originated with Gaylord.
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My first decent auto was a Model 39 and I read his story about it being the best single handgun in his opinion. At the time my older brother had a friend who was a NYS Trooper who would rib me sometimes about my "needle blower". He had a Colt Gold Cup National Match. 40 years later after whole bunch of different calibers I'm more confused than ever. Those were simpler times.
AJ
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Most of the really good gun writers are gone. Very few nowadays even worth reading.
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Gone are the greats like Ken Waters, Bob Hagel, and a few others, but we still have some very good writers (just not many) that may equal the best of those from years past.
The handful I'm aware of that do exemplary work today (and that you can actually learn something from) include John Barsness, Brian Pearce, Allan Jones (if he's still writing), Rick Jamison, and John Taffin. Could be a couple of others that I can't recall at the moment.
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BLACKHAWKNJ
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IIRC Nonte wrote a lot of articles under pen names-"C. George Charles" comes to mind.
It's not that there aren't that many good gunwriters today, it's the ones we remember are a tough act to follow.
It's not that there aren't that many good gunwriters today, it's the ones we remember are a tough act to follow.
Nonte and Grennel were both very prolific and varied in they're writing. I miss them both. I'm glad you had a good outing and hope you will have many more.............
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