My objection to #79 (S&W Saturday night special) "101 Weapons That Changed the World"
On the History Channel a few days ago I caught the show:
"101 Weapons that Changed the World" (originally aired 6/16/2013)
While I liked he show, especially that one of our own "home boys", renowned author (and curator of the NRA museum) was on the judging committee and narrated parts of the show made it even more of a "must see".
ALL of the items listed and the order in which they are listed will always be a subject of discussion, in a good way, to avid collectors and enthusiasts, like the 1911 enthusiast, Colt SAA guys, as well as Beretta M9, Winchester, Henry, Garand enthusiasts / collectors (as well as many more models that appeal to so many) ... it is really a very good show ...
EXCEPT ....
I have the following objection to the entire 101 list (well, 2 if you count that they listed the S&W .44 Magnum as #101) as follows:
Listed as #79 as "the" Saturday Night Special" (as if there were only one specific gun that was "the" one and only Saturday Night Special) expanding on how John Lennon was killed by one, this show, presenting #79 by Gerlado Rivera, goes deep to explain by showing pictures of a newer model Chief's Special Revolver ONLY ... how the Smith & Wesson Chief Special is "the" (as if it was, in fact, the one and only SNS when it is not a SNS and CANNOT ever be described as nor confused fora SNS by any fairly intelligent person) that (as narrated by our boy Geraldo) is SOLELY responsible for what they state is most heinous of all low level street crimes committed in the USA and the death of John Lennon.
NOW, we all know how credible Geraldo Rivera is, so, that should tell you something before you evan watch this.
The term "Saturday Night Special" has been around for many decades going back to the 1930s (when the Chief Special did not even exist) which, in everyone else's vernacular, SNS truly means ANY smaller hand gun that is easily concealable, cheaply made, sells at a cheap price, and are of lesser or shoddy workmanship that has NO other purpose but to lure street thugs to obtain them easily.
To me this fits stuff like Lorcin, Raven, FIE, Charter Arms (in years past, which by the way is the Charter Arms.38 special was used to kill John Lennon and the Charter Arms .44 Bulldog (44 Special), was used by the Son of Sam for his random murders in NYC area back in the 1970s ), and a 22 caliber Röhm RG-14 that was used on attempted assination of President Regan, to name a few ... and many other of cheap Miami made or South American Made, Chinese made or various other JUNK guns, etc.
As per Wikipedia defines Saturday Night Special as follows:
The phrase Saturday night special (SNS) is a colloquial term used in the United States and Canada for any inexpensive handgun. Saturday night specials have been defined as compact, inexpensive, small-caliber handguns with perceived low quality;[1] however, there is no official definition of "Saturday night special" under federal law, though some states define "Saturday night specials" or "junk guns" by means of composition or materials strength. Low cost and high availability make these weapons attractive to many buyers despite their shortcomings. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, they were commonly referred to as suicide specials.[2]"
See complete Wikipedia definition at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_night_special
I strongly object and protest that a Smith & Wesson .38 Chief Special is designated as "the" (one and only) Saturday Night Special when it is NOT and could NEVER be described as a SNS.
This show will be re-aired on the History Channel on Thursday, August 13, 2015, at 8AM. Set your recorder or you can see a youtube video of it (bad quality but in English with foreign subtexts) 18:00 minutes into the show, at:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnOyC4GpAFA[/ame]
I feel it was a great injustice, victimizing S&W in the eyes and minds of the majority of the unknowing population who watched this show.
What is your feedback and comments on this subject. Which presentations did you like best ?
Which presentations were not accurate and how ?
I contend that a Smith & Wesson Chief's Special revolver is NOT ... and could NEVER be confused "with" or "for" ... a "Saturday Night Special" no less could it be "the" one and only Saturday Night Special as this show so erroneously presents in such great detail.
On the History Channel a few days ago I caught the show:
"101 Weapons that Changed the World" (originally aired 6/16/2013)
While I liked he show, especially that one of our own "home boys", renowned author (and curator of the NRA museum) was on the judging committee and narrated parts of the show made it even more of a "must see".
ALL of the items listed and the order in which they are listed will always be a subject of discussion, in a good way, to avid collectors and enthusiasts, like the 1911 enthusiast, Colt SAA guys, as well as Beretta M9, Winchester, Henry, Garand enthusiasts / collectors (as well as many more models that appeal to so many) ... it is really a very good show ...
EXCEPT ....
I have the following objection to the entire 101 list (well, 2 if you count that they listed the S&W .44 Magnum as #101) as follows:
Listed as #79 as "the" Saturday Night Special" (as if there were only one specific gun that was "the" one and only Saturday Night Special) expanding on how John Lennon was killed by one, this show, presenting #79 by Gerlado Rivera, goes deep to explain by showing pictures of a newer model Chief's Special Revolver ONLY ... how the Smith & Wesson Chief Special is "the" (as if it was, in fact, the one and only SNS when it is not a SNS and CANNOT ever be described as nor confused fora SNS by any fairly intelligent person) that (as narrated by our boy Geraldo) is SOLELY responsible for what they state is most heinous of all low level street crimes committed in the USA and the death of John Lennon.
NOW, we all know how credible Geraldo Rivera is, so, that should tell you something before you evan watch this.
The term "Saturday Night Special" has been around for many decades going back to the 1930s (when the Chief Special did not even exist) which, in everyone else's vernacular, SNS truly means ANY smaller hand gun that is easily concealable, cheaply made, sells at a cheap price, and are of lesser or shoddy workmanship that has NO other purpose but to lure street thugs to obtain them easily.
To me this fits stuff like Lorcin, Raven, FIE, Charter Arms (in years past, which by the way is the Charter Arms.38 special was used to kill John Lennon and the Charter Arms .44 Bulldog (44 Special), was used by the Son of Sam for his random murders in NYC area back in the 1970s ), and a 22 caliber Röhm RG-14 that was used on attempted assination of President Regan, to name a few ... and many other of cheap Miami made or South American Made, Chinese made or various other JUNK guns, etc.
As per Wikipedia defines Saturday Night Special as follows:
The phrase Saturday night special (SNS) is a colloquial term used in the United States and Canada for any inexpensive handgun. Saturday night specials have been defined as compact, inexpensive, small-caliber handguns with perceived low quality;[1] however, there is no official definition of "Saturday night special" under federal law, though some states define "Saturday night specials" or "junk guns" by means of composition or materials strength. Low cost and high availability make these weapons attractive to many buyers despite their shortcomings. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, they were commonly referred to as suicide specials.[2]"
See complete Wikipedia definition at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_night_special
I strongly object and protest that a Smith & Wesson .38 Chief Special is designated as "the" (one and only) Saturday Night Special when it is NOT and could NEVER be described as a SNS.
This show will be re-aired on the History Channel on Thursday, August 13, 2015, at 8AM. Set your recorder or you can see a youtube video of it (bad quality but in English with foreign subtexts) 18:00 minutes into the show, at:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnOyC4GpAFA[/ame]
I feel it was a great injustice, victimizing S&W in the eyes and minds of the majority of the unknowing population who watched this show.
What is your feedback and comments on this subject. Which presentations did you like best ?
Which presentations were not accurate and how ?
I contend that a Smith & Wesson Chief's Special revolver is NOT ... and could NEVER be confused "with" or "for" ... a "Saturday Night Special" no less could it be "the" one and only Saturday Night Special as this show so erroneously presents in such great detail.
Last edited:
