[Nightcrawler]

I'm watching the repeat right now. "Weapons of the Trenches" or something like that. It's about combat in the Great War. I missed the first ten minutes, but caught it just as they were talking about various improvised hand to hand weapons, and trench knives. After the commercial, they're going to use a Maxim.

Coolness...

[Malone LaVeigh]

That show has got to be completely phony. I noticed that not one of those guys were wearing ear or eye protection, even when shooting the Maxim. After introducing the US machine gun, that bozo narrator very melodramaticly said, "This is the last sound many men ever heard." My son looked over at me and said, "No wonder, if they were shooting without protection like these idiots."

I think they were either dubbing in the sound or shooting way under powered rounds.

[Geech]

What I found unbelievable was the idea that someone would hand these guys live grenades after just a couple of demonstration throws. :scrutiny:

[Nightcrawler]

Of course they weren't live grenades. Just like the "Germans" weren't actually shooting at them.

There are somethings that the show just couldn't safely do realistically. As for shooting without eyes and ears...it's not how I'd have done it, but soldiers do it all the time.

[Moparmike]

The grenades that they were using probably were the same type used on Mail Call that Gunney Ermy used for training. What might have happend was when it was determined that a throw reached its target, a pre-placed charge of explosive went off. It could range from a camera placed to watch all the way to a take-off of the sophisticated MILES gear.

If someone purposely dropped a grenade at my feet and I lived to tell about it, I cant guarantee that the person who did it would have the same privledge. At the least, he would learn that it wasnt such a good idea.:fire:

[greyhound]

Obviously a lot of the "final missions" on the show are highly staged as you can't really be shooting or stabbing each other! (that doesn't mean I wouldn't volunteer to do them if given a chance.)

As far as the grenades on this episode go, I think there was some charge in 'em as one of the guys states he was worried about hurting someone else if he tripped, and fell, etc. But I'm sure they weren't real grenades.
Though I must admit, the explosions looked fake, and they always cut away when the guys threw them, so you never saw the whole arc.

I love the show anyway, I just don't count on it to be 100% accurate.

And I also love that a British guy is the host, as from what I read (I do not live there so I do not claim to be 100% right on this) weapons/self defense/firearms are greatly frowned upon over there! :p

Anybody know how much those old bolt-action military rifles go for?

[Shweboner]

Well enfields like the SMLE #1 they had are getting harder to find. They average $150 to $250 + depending on condition. And the '03 Springfield usually starts around $5-600.

The only place I have seen these lately is on gunbroker.

~Brian

[El Tejon]

Man, I missed it again! Too much fun at club last night.:o

Of course, the "fights" are staged. Don't mind it a bit.

Did not think I would like the Brit, but his zeal and instensity are addictive.

[Mike Irwin]

What I liked about it was the "Soul Singer Bayonet."

When he was going over bayonets, Woodward noted that the "nasty triangular on with the razor sharp tip" was for the Lebel rifle.

Only the screen caption spelled it Labelle, as in Patti.

Sigh.

[Iain]

Who is this Brit who presents the show?

[greyhound]

Ah, bloody 'ell, I'm so full of Labor Day lobster and shrimp (and a couple beers) that I can't remember. Maybe Peter Woodward? I know his father is supposed to be a famous actor...

I'll probably remember tommorrow!:D

[JG]

Maybe Peter Woodward?

You are correct........people might recognize him from "The Patriot," he played General Charles O'Hara. His father is the great Edward Woodward.

http://www.patriotresource.com/pics/woodward.jpg

I really like Conquest, its a fun show....some of it is definitely staged but whatever. Peter Woodward is an energetic host, hope the show continues with new episodes.

[Mike Irwin]

He has an "official" website, but it just could not suck worse.

He did a couple of shows on Ancient Egypt that were among the best presented I've ever seen.

[Jrob24]

It was pretty interesting. My favority episode was about the Roman fighting tactics. Was hella cool

[swingset]

I like the show, and like everything on TV, you have to take it with a grain of salt. They've gotten some things wrong, but on the whole it's interesting and informative.

As for the eye/ear protection rants, go to war sometime and see how much time the enemy gives you to get your silencio's on before he puts a round in your temple.:rolleyes:

If they wear eyes/ears simulating battle, how is this different than them wearing knee pads groin protectors and mouthpieces when demonstrating greco-roman wrestling? Not one bit different, and would look just as genuine, which I believe is against the whole point of the show. It's their heads behind the guns, and I'm about 1000% sure they've agreed to accept responsibility for their own safety doing these things for our education, and probably have signed waivers.

[Mike Irwin]

"As for the eye/ear protection rants, go to war sometime and see how much time the enemy gives you to get your silencio's on before he puts a round in your temple."

Now repeat after me....

It's not war.

It's not presented as war.

It's presented as one of the many possible reinterpretations of historical events.

They've got a filming doctor on set. If someone gets hurt, do they have to use only the medical techniques of that age? ("Bite on this, I'm a Civil War Surgeon and that leg has got to come off...")

[Monte Harrison]

Anybody know how much those old bolt-action military rifles go for? http://www.odcmp.com/images/m1903rifle.jpg
They start at $400, but if you want one, better get it quick. They are selling out.
http://www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/m1903.htm

[ke6guj]

I'm pretty sure that I did see ear plugs at one point. The camera angle showed the ear fairly well and there was a beige-colored plug in there.

[seeker_two]

What I liked about it was the "Soul Singer Bayonet."

Only the screen caption spelled it Labelle, as in Patti.




http://www.boomspeed.com/webmistris/pattilabelle.jpg

I don't know. Seeing her coming my way singing "Pink Cadillac" would make ME vacate my trench in a hurry...:what:

[Sean Smith]

Y'all mean that somebody, somewhere, isn't wearing all their safety hoo-has while filming a TV show? Boo hoo. :rolleyes:

[Vic303]

Peter Woodward is the Equalizer's (aka Robert Woodward) kid! He also appeared in the Babylon 5 spinoff called Crusade. He's a hoot! Nice voice too! Not quite James Mason in quality but very pleasant to hear.

[JG]

Peter Woodward is the Equalizer's (aka Robert Woodward) kid!

You got the Equalizer part right, but Robert McCall (The Equalizer) was played by Edward Woodward.:cool: