choosing a s&w revolver for a soda jerk.

[feralmerril]

I well remember the day my uncle eldon hitched a ride home when discharged after the end of the war. He dumped his war bag out on the floor. In it was a polish radom, lugar, P-38 walther, and a browning .32. Each one was like new with the holsters, tools and extra magazines. Much later I inherited all but the walther. That night dad asked me to pick a favorite. For some reason I choose the radom. Dad traced it on a board, sawed it out and even done farther detail carveing on it and gave it to me. I was uncle eldons heir and found his "permission slips" signed by some officer to legaly bring them home. Here is the lugar. Also a couple old pictures of him.

 

[smokey04]

OK you all, Don't burn me at the stake since this is the S&W site but, I think a Colt 1903 [.32ACP] or better yet,a 1908 [.380] Pocket Model would fit the bill for concealment[flat] and availability. Nick

 

[Dragon88]

OK you all, Don't burn me at the stake since this is the S&W site but, I think a Colt 1903 [.32ACP] or better yet,a 1908 [.380] Pocket Model would fit the bill for concealment[flat] and availability. Nick

I was thinking a Colt pocket pistol as well if he has to have a gun. However, I agree with the idea that he would most likely not be packing in public. Some type of 38 revolver in a dresser drawer at home would be more believable.

 

[clang444]

This is fiction - so the hero needs a BIG gun. How about a surpluss 1917 in .45 ACP...

If you have to go the reality route - I too vote for a top break in .32 or .38 S&W.

 

[diamonback68]

You have to remember, before the war nobody had any money to buy or own guns, the depression was just ending. Along comes WWII to help the economy, but no guns available 'til after the war effort. GIs come home to no jobs for a year or more and thus not making any money with which to buy guns, which takes you up to 1951. Yes, there were the war bring home pieces, but not as many as you think. A soda jerk in 1951 was probably making $35 to $40 a week tops. Trust me, unless he had a war bring home, he didn't have a gun. Most households of that time had a .22 rifle, for the pot and if really rich, maybe a old shotgun. Local police wore 2" belts with two things on it, a baton loop and holster with .38spl M&P in it. When I was a young teener at the time, I knew of no one that even owned a handgun or could afford one even for about $15. The idea of a soda jerk having a carry piece on the job to protect $14 to $18 in the till is almost laughable and in a script, unbelievable.

 

[El Biblioitecario]

...before the war nobody had any money to buy or own guns, the depression was just ending. Along comes WWII ...but no guns available 'til after the war effort. GIs come home to no jobs for a year or more and thus not making any money with which to buy guns, which takes you up to 1951. Yes, there were the war bring home pieces, but not as many as you think. A soda jerk in 1951 was probably making $35 to $40 a week tops. Trust me, unless he had a war bring home, he didn't have a gun. ...I was a young teener at the time, I knew of no one that even owned a handgun or could afford one even for about $15. The idea of a soda jerk having a carry piece on the job to protect $14 to $18 in the till is almost laughable and in a script, unbelievable.

I totally agree. So this armed soda jerk is obviously suffering from PTSD (which of course wasn't yet called that) which explains his paranoia.

 

[JSR III]

If you want to go the bring back route, Dad brought this home from Germany.

 

[HeloMt]

I'm thinking his Grandma gave him his deceased Grandpa's 38 S&W New Departure when he got back.

 

[feralmerril]

I dunno about the part nobody haveing no guns. My family was different from what I heard and can remember. I know my dad always had a high powered rifle, pump shotguns, 22 rifle and a handgun before the war, and most my uncles had hunting storys from prior to the war. I am sure they didnt have near what I have, but all had all they needed to hunt any type game with. I suspect my one grandpa being a storekeeper had one and I know one handgun was used in the or late teens when they tried to fight off a pair of holdups. Overall though, I think the average populace wasnt as well armed, but my family were farmers and hunters in rural wisconsin. My dads father died when I was about 3 so I dont remember him. I asked dad if grandpa had a gun and he said grandpa had a 44 winchester. Wonder what happened to that?
I found this shooting clubs picture in my mothers fathers stuff. I have shown it before.

 

[diamonback68]

But feral that pictures was from right after the turn of the century, way before 1951. I see a lot of small bore single shots probably in .22, but no handguns. I had said most families more than likely had a .22 rifle around, I know we did, one.

 

[beagleye]

If he's a jerk I don't think he deserves a S&W!

 

[jimmyj]

A Jap Hand Grenade or a Colt .380acp

 

[Stophel]

I'm sorry, but wouldn't a soda jerk most likely be a 15 year old boy???

 

[El Biblioitecario]

I'm sorry, but wouldn't a soda jerk most likely be a 15 year old boy???

I always thought the Dana Andrews character in THE BEST YEARS OF THEIR LIVES--an army air force captain returning to his prewar job as soda jerk was pretty unbelievable.

 

[Muley Gil]

I vote for a .32 ACP Beretta. A lotta them came home after WW II.

 

[gkitch]

Walther

I like the Walther PPK idea. This would be believable as a bring-back, assuming he is a European Theater vet, and make sense for concealment too. Once trouble starts, you may offer him the opportunity to retrieve a bigger gun from his home or jalopy. Not a RM though. More like a 1911 or an old 1917 or hand ejector 44 Special he perhaps inherited.

 

[Biginge]

How bout a Jap Nambu?

Bill

 

[moosedog]

In all the confusion I can't remember if you paid for that milk shake or not.
Well did you punk?

 

[diamonback68]

I'm sorry, but wouldn't a soda jerk most likely be a 15 year old boy???

Uh yay, that too.

 

[tgd31968]

Try not to make it sound too much like Dana Andrews in"The best years of our lives".

I was thinking the same thing. I would have thought a Air Corps bombadier would have had a few more opportunities, but it figures into the story.

I would think a PP or a PPK that he didn't fill out the proper paperwork for and sweated out getting it home in the bottom of his duffle bag. It would be concealable and .32 ammo was common. Although it could seem too James Bondish, except that James Bond carried a .25 Beretta in the books until, if I remember right, From Russia With Love. He was then issued a PPK.