Discussion: "Unintended Consequences"

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Kynoch

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I want to try and start a discussion thread about this novel by John Ross. To start things off I'm curious about a couple rather arcane things.

First off a portable shooting bench was described in the book. Does the bench/company actually exist?

Welded aluminum rifles cases that are crafted somewhere on an Indian reservation in Montana are mentioned. Do they exist?

Ross' detail comments usually have some basis in fact but I can't find anything on the bench or the rifle cases. Thanks...
 
Although I've read it, I can't remember details about it that well....how about posting page numbers and better descriptions here so that we can reply more intelligently about the specific questions you asked? Because a general discussion about Unintended Consequences is neither going to go well, nor last long.
 
My wife bought me a copy two years ago, it was new and covered in plastic. I was aggravated because she paid $50 for it. Later, I checked Amazon and listed it for $250 and it sold immediately. Wasn't aggravated then! After that I checked it out at local library. Good book in my opinion and learned some things too. Sure made me think about trends in our Country right now. Also went to a function here in Mo that Mr. Ross was to attend, but he was a no show.
 
berettaprofessor said:
Although I've read it, I can't remember details about it that well....how about posting page numbers and better descriptions here so that we can reply more intelligently about the specific questions you asked? Because a general discussion about Unintended Consequences is neither going to go well, nor last long.
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The gun cases are mentioned on page 526. There is no more detail. The portable shooting bench by Armor Metal Products is mentioned on page 599.

It's talked about in a phone conversation between characters Curt Behnke the master gunsmith from St. Louis Missouri and Orville Crocker from Wyoming, as they plan a ground hog hunt.
 
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relaxing said:
My wife bought me a copy two years ago, it was new and covered in plastic. I was aggravated because she paid $50 for it. Later, I checked Amazon and listed it for $250 and it sold immediately. Wasn't aggravated then! After that I checked it out at local library. Good book in my opinion and learned some things too. Sure made me think about trends in our Country right now. Also went to a function here in Mo that Mr. Ross was to attend, but he was a no show.
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They have always been available from Ross' publisher for cover price. I have no idea why Accurate Press (which is likely Ross himself) never sent a couple of pallets to Amazon to peddle. I don't believe it ever even made it into paperback. It went from hardback to free on-line PDF.
 
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Daniel Lilja mentions portable shooting benches by Armor Metal Products of Helena, Montana here:

http://www.riflebarrels.com/articles/longrange_shooting/shooting_hunting.htm

He also shows a photo of the bench:

Sallyantelope.jpg

I cannot find a website for Armor Metal Products of Helena. While this bench looks different it's also made in Wyoming and Montana:

Header%203.jpg

So perhaps Stukey's Sturdy Shot bench is a descendant of the one made by Armor?
 
They might be- I imagine portable shooting benches can be dated to the first time someone noticed that Cinder blocks were kinda heavy for toting around so there's likely a lot of various designs and manufacturers around.
 
Guess its time to reread the book, as I don't remember either of those things. John promised me a signed copy of the book in the "next printing" a little over a year ago, but has yet to deliver on it. He probably forgot. Any one know if it has been printed at all since?
 
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The gun cases exist. The plant is in Washington state, not Wyoming, though.

Originally founded by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians as Kalispel Metal Products, in 1985 the company had evolved into Kalispel Case Line, a Kalispel Tribal Enterprise.

History of the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. "River/Lake paddlers" or "camas people," as they were called by other Tribes, were semi-nomadic hunters, diggers and fishermen. Traditionally, the Tribe inhabited a 200-mile stretch of land along the Pend Oreille River with a Tribal membership of about 3,000 people. The abundant homeland consisting of mountainous, forested land, and most importantly the river, provided the necessary natural resources for the Tribe to sustain their way of life. The Kalispel tribal homelands extended from British Columbia to Washington, Idaho and Montana.


Most of the gun stuff is accurate, feasible, or at least possible. Unlike some other gun nut thrillers.
 
Jim Watson said:
The gun cases exist. The plant is in Washington state, not Wyoming, though.

Originally founded by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians as Kalispel Metal Products, in 1985 the company had evolved into Kalispel Case Line, a Kalispel Tribal Enterprise.

History of the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. "River/Lake paddlers" or "camas people," as they were called by other Tribes, were semi-nomadic hunters, diggers and fishermen. Traditionally, the Tribe inhabited a 200-mile stretch of land along the Pend Oreille River with a Tribal membership of about 3,000 people. The abundant homeland consisting of mountainous, forested land, and most importantly the river, provided the necessary natural resources for the Tribe to sustain their way of life. The Kalispel tribal homelands extended from British Columbia to Washington, Idaho and Montana.


Most of the gun stuff is accurate, feasible, or at least possible. Unlike some other gun nut thrillers.
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Wow, thanks for this bit of information!
 
And one other thing...

Many real people are named in the book. I used to work for one of them, and have known others...
PRD1 - mhb - Mike
 
I'm actually rereading this for my third time now. I heard that it was mostly written for him and his friends, so that might make sense as to why actual people are characters in the book. I always found the dragonskin armor in the book to be interesting, not sure if it is or was a real thing though.
 
A book I always said "well, maybe later" to until last year. Wow--NOT what I expected. Great philosophy and messaqge--and a good reading narrative.

What struck me most; the way that we 'younger' folks forget that the NFA was mostly shrugged off prior to '68 and ignored and unenforced; and yet the world got along OK.

ANyway, not to get off on a tangent--good read and clear headed on many points (excluding the darker ones of course).
 
I always found the dragonskin armor in the book to be interesting, not sure if it is or was a real thing though.
Click to expand...

Dragonskin armor is/was a real product, made by Pinnacle Armor. It didn't quite take the world by storm, (I think there were durability issues) but they do still make it and I'm sure have updated it from prior versions.
 
Another mention in the book that caught my eye was Hensley & Gibbs bullet molds. H&G definitely existed but it appears that they went out of business. Their molds are available used, on sites like eBay.

I'd also like to understand the history of JR's 4-bore. It was obviously purveyed by Rodda. It would be nice to know who made it, what it cost JR back in the day and its current status.
 
A talented editor could sit down with U.C., smooth out the language, remove most of the unneeded sex/deviancy and (unfortunately) some of the gun detail, wrap it in a better cover and have a real seller at a national level...
 
H&G molds are used for various common bullets available today. The most common target .45ACP bullet -- the 200 gr. SWC -- is usually an H&G 68, or clone of it.
 
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