Does anyone miss Tales of the Gun?

[M.E.Eldridge]

Today, at least in my viewing region, there was a mini marathon of sorts of Tales of the Gun episodes on the History Channel. I loved the show when it was a regular item and so I tuned in. It was better than I remembered it being and I really loved how, at the end of the episode of Infamous Weapons(like those used to kill presidents) the writer included a little tidbit to make it perfectly clear that the dastardly use of the guns in question was in no way the fault of the guns or their designers, rather the blame rested on those who used them. So I was wondering, how many others remeber Tales of the Gun and how many really miss the show?

 

[ColoradoKid]

Tales of the Gun

I watched it religiously when it was on. I haven't watched TV at all lately, so I was not aware that it was not playing regularly. I found the show very informative , fair with regard to the pro-gun side of the politics of firearms. I would watch it again in a heartbeat if it was back on.....and I had my TV hooked up....!! The preamble to the show was also great...

 

[Technosavant]

I like the show, but it isn't always accurate. I remember the one where they compare the M-16 to the AK-47, and near the end, some idiot talks about how the selector switch provides insights to their intended use. The M-16 went from safe to single fire to full auto, where the AK went from safe to full auto to single fire, and thus we should glean that the M-16 is a precision tool, where the AK is more of a blunt instrument. :banghead: That's like saying a car with an automatic transmission is supposed to be driven in reverse, since that is what comes first after coming out of park. :banghead:

I think they ran out of material more than anything else- there aren't that many guns that most people will watch a full hour on. We might all be interested in a full hour on the SKS or the 1903 Springfield, but most people will just keep on going through the channels.

 

[SolaScriptura139]

I always loved the show, but it never seems to be on. I would buy the series if the History Channel didn't cut your leg off with the price. :banghead:

 

[rero360]

same here, great series, wish the DVDs were more affordable.

 

[spooney]

It was my day off so me and my 15 month old daughter watched the mini-marathon, we both loved it.

 

[1911JMB]

I only saw 6 episodes, and I never learned much from them, but the show is interesting. Those of you who complain about the price of the DVD's have me wondering if anybody with a better connection than mine downloads things illegaly anymore.

 

[Foxtrot427]

The Modern Marvels about the M16 was pretty good.

 

[Rob1035]

same here, great series, wish the DVDs were more affordable.

exactly. Although the complete set works out to about $17 per episode, i'm still not going to spend $550 on videos. thats a new gun! or a lot of ammo!

 

[ReadyontheRight]

In 1998 or so, The History Channel had a week of "History of the Gun". The series used many of the "Tales of the Gun" video snippets.

I was enthralled, mesmerized, stunned and amazed.

Here was A TV SHOW! Talking about how guns worked, how they changed society and how they allowed the USA to grow up with the ability of individual citizens to defend their family and property.

I have kept my eyes open, but I have not seen that "History of the Gun" series on The History Channel since then. The 60-minute histories of specific guns, calibers, etc. are good, but not even comparable to that series

It should be continually beamed out on broadcast, cable and internet as "Video Free USA" for all of Humanity as and eye-opener for people in oppressive regimes and a whack in the head for USA gun control advocates.

 

[SolaScriptura139]

Those of you who complain about the price of the DVD's have me wondering if anybody with a better connection than mine downloads things illegaly anymore.

While I'm stuck with 56k, I still wouldn't do it. It's the same as walking into a store and stealing a DVD.

By the way, are they planning on making new episodes of Tales of the Gun? Or do you think they've kinda run out of material?

 

[Lupinus]

love that show and between messing on the net and praying to the porclin god (stomache flu that will do without the smilie I'm tempted to use heh) I watched it, reminds me how much I miss it. Nother one I miss is the one about the prisions that one was cool too.

 

[jerkyman45]

Yesterday was great. I love that show, its a shame they don't have it on much anymore even in reruns. The History Channel used to do may more with guns then they do now, its dissapointing. The more gun shows they put on the better.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

I love the show. I have learned interesting facts every now and then from watching it. I learned something yesterday in fact, on Modern Marvels- The M16. I had always thought that Mattel did have a contract to manufacture M16's ; I learned they only made replicas and that the nasty rumor was started to discredit the M16. Great show and cudos to the History Channel; I hope they bring it back.

 

[Clipper]

Mattel M-16s

My issue rifle in basic training at Ft. Knox, KY. (sept. 1972) had 'Mattel' stamped on it. Good weapon it was, too. Call me a liar if you want, but there it is. Just because the producers couldn't verify it before the show was in the can, doesn't mean it ain't so...

 

[Deanimator]

Watched it last night at the range, in between relays in our DA revolver league.

During the show's original run, there were the occasional howlers like their bizarre explanation of the "parallel ruler locking system" of the Colt-Browning Model 1900 series of .38 autos. I believe the fat guy from APG(?) claimed it was due to the "accuracy" of the lockup. It's actually because it works like a drafting instrument called a "parallel ruler", which is two rulers joined by two arms, which keep the edges of the two rulers parallel. The Model 00/02/05 type Colt autos have TWO locking links, which work in a similar fashion to the "parallel ruler".

Other than minor things like that, it was a pretty good show, and you got to see things like the Japanese Type 100 SMG actually FIRED.

 

[Daniel T]

My issue rifle in basic training at Ft. Knox, KY. (sept. 1972) had 'Mattel' stamped on it. Good weapon it was, too. Call me a liar if you want, but there it is. Just because the producers couldn't verify it before the show was in the can, doesn't mean it ain't so...

Maybe you were issued one of these...



Oh, and obligatory Snopes link: http://www.snopes.com/military/m16.htm

 

[Chipperman]

"Tales of the Gun" is back on now.
They are also showing "Guns of the World" which is the same show under a different name.

Some of the episodes show up in the "Modern Marvels" section also, as noted above.

They can't seem to decide which title they want to use. I have Tivo set to try and catch all of them, regardless of which title they use.

 

[silicon wolverine]

The drill rifles we used at Ft. Jackson in the 90's when i was in guard basic had Mattel on them as well.

SW

 

[StopTheGrays]

"They are also showing "Guns of the World" which is the same show under a different name.

I always thought that would be a source of good "tales of the gun" shows. Have each episode pick a country and show the firearms their military used. Think of it, the Swiss, Sweeds, Finns, Chinese, and the rest. The GOTW has had Israel, England and Europeon revolver episodes.

(I hope to get a VZ-52/57 before an episode on Czech weapons happens and causes their value to rise )

 

[raveneap]

It's an excellent TV show and I watch the re-runs whenever they run them. Sometimes they'll do a marathon of a bunch of episodes. On goes the DVR!

 

[Srigs]

I think I have watched all of them! I could watch all of them with a smile on my face.

 

[Springfield_1911SS]

i caught the Tales of the gun mini marathon too

i remember the one about the shotgun, the one about guns of infamy and i think there was more but i missed them

 

[rayra]

Lots of mistakes and hyperbole in their segments, but I like their overall presentation and wide-ranging coverage on each topic. Decent progression on development / history.