Aside from my childhood fascination with TV Westerns and movies, I was also drawn to the whole PI genre. Sam Spade to Jim Rockford, and most everyone in between.
We’ve discussed Peter Gunn before in this blog. I believe both he and Lt. Jacoby used Colt Detective Specials.
And Stu Bailey (77 Sunset Strip) also, a nickeled Dick Special with stag horn stocks.
Humphrey Bogart (a gun collector in his own right!) seemed partial to .32 and .38 semiautomatics, along with the occasional .45.
But, sadly, most of these folks didn’t know diddly when it came to accurate shooting. After all, they didn’t have to actually shoot anyone on the set!
Shooting from the hip, from inside the trench coat pocket, rarely (if ever) using the sights, and my favorite:
throwing the bullet out of the barrel!
Once in a great while, two hands were employed, usually the gun hand resting on the other arm or the gun hand wrist being gripped. Or the ubiquitous teacup and saucer grip.
Edging along hallways, flat against the wall, instead of approaching corners and ‘slicing the pie’.
And the whole ‘jack-in-the-box’ routine, popping up from behind concealment or cover to expose half your body while returning fire. A sure way to get shot.
And, lets not forget holding the firearm vertical next to one’s face, whilst clearing a building. The reason for this was to keep the gun and the actor’s face in the shot – looking cool is most important.
The point of all this silliness is to remind you that you’ve probably all have thousands of hours of movie and TV training, 99% of it wrong.
And can get you killed.
*sigh*You posted this just to make me think of you-know-who and our recent conversation about him.I'll be in my bunk……
Posted by Tomi | November 3, 2011, 8:48 amTMI (which, when I think of it, is short for Tomi)
Posted by Guffaw in AZ | November 3, 2011, 9:43 amFunny, I was recently wondering about the whole thing where it looks like they are snapping the wrist and jabbing the hand each time, as if it's necessary to make the bullet fly out.
Posted by ProudHillbilly | November 3, 2011, 1:18 pm@ProudHillbilly – I'm glad I'm not the only one to have noticed this!
Posted by Guffaw in AZ | November 3, 2011, 1:41 pmYou posted a video a couple of months ago of a TV police drama starring Lee Marvin, in the opening credits of the show he returns fire on an off screen assailant, and does so with a proper two handed grip as he uses his car as a shield. He received his firearms training in the Marines.
Posted by Gregory | November 3, 2011, 11:57 pmDon’t forget when a “Dick” would with one hand violently flip the cylinder of their 38 open or closed! Or both! No easier way to screw up a good revolver. I cringe every time I see that.
Posted by Wilson | November 4, 2011, 6:36 amWilson — yep, it's especially hard on them when the safety is on.
Posted by Jim | November 4, 2011, 7:13 amThat cylinder flipping move always pisses me off; nobody who knows anything about revolvers would abuse one like that.
Posted by BobG | November 4, 2011, 10:14 amYou mean arm held straight out, locked at elbow, and gun held sideways isn't the correct method???Q
Posted by quizikle | November 4, 2011, 3:38 pm@quizikle – Well, not for me! I can't speak for everyone.
Posted by Guffaw in AZ | November 4, 2011, 3:55 pm