New handgun names sometimes make me wonder…

Riomouse911

Riomouse911

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New handgun names sometimes make me wonder…is anyone really thinking about negative impressions from the model names?

I have already rolled my eyes a bit at the S&W “Equalizer”, which I find to be a somewhat odd name for any new handgun introduced in a charged pro-gun/anti gun climate. To me the name conjures up images of folks strapping up and taking revenge on someone who wronged them, which isn’t an image I want a juror to think about should I be involved in a shooting. I get it, it’s a “defensive” handgun intended to be used by good folks to protect themselves from armed, evil-intended crooks, but the name S&W used still hits me a bit wrong.

I was perusing the latest Handguns magazine, the Oct/Nov 2023 issue:



When I saw this ad for a new Tisas series of guns that was on a page reviewing the latest awesome $4,000 Korth revolver:

IMG_2646.jpeg

The Tisas “Night Stalker Series.” Does anyone at Tisas have access to Google?

The “Night Stalker” is the name that is forever associated with the satanic serial killer named Richard Ramirez. Ramirez attacked, beat and raped numerous girls and women, killing at least 13 victims during his yearlong nighttime reign of terror. Literally millions of people lived in fear during his crime spree in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley in the mid 1980’s. I lived 400 miles North of the area he stalked at the time, yet I still recall the crimes and the amount of terror this fiend caused.

This isn’t anything obscure. Just type in Night Stalker to any web search engine and the stories about Ramirez pop right up.

Honestly, “Night Stalker” is by far the LAST thing I want to be associated with me should I be a criminal defendant, or a respondent in a civil case, that is even remotely gun related, period.

Sorry Tisas, this was a really bad move. Your company may make some reliable, accurate and affordable handguns. But choosing name “Night Stalker?” It, and the associated ad campaign, is just plain dumb.

Stay safe.
 
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It is the branding experts either in the company or contracted that come up with their names. All trying to grab your attention, and make you feel like you need a new one whatever it may be. I know this because my son in law has been one of the top branding experts there is. Regardless of type of whatever companies are selling it goes through a branding process and testing to determine the best possible sales pitch.
 
Doesn't have anything to do with Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) 160 (Night Stalkers), but they may have been thinking about pulling some of their mystic with the name possibly; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/160th_Special_Operations_Aviation_Regiment_(Airborne)

Not a US company so they may not know our serial killers well.

I do agree the names are silly at times. Springfield with their "hell" series of things is on the list of childish for me.
 
Here ya go, a Hello Kitty Glock, looks friendly, has a heart on it. 😇
IMG_2024.jpg
 
I agree @Riomouse911 . It’s kind of silly.

When I saw S&W’s ads for the “Equalizer” then saw the cartridge I kind of laughed and then thought “I can see it now…I am in court listening to the DA tell the jury “..and Mr. Riot pulled out his Equalizer, a gun obviously meant for conflict judging by it’s name… A gun designed to even the score and he shot the victim…” Even though the “victim” might be some dirtbag.

Another funny one is the Rossi “Brawler”. A single shot pistol…brawler? 🤣

I lived in California during the Night Stalker. I recall the day a news agency said “All the victims live in yellow houses near freeways.” I lived in a yellow house on the west side of the 405 freeway in Hawthorne back then. My Colt Combat Gov’t was a much closer friend during that time.
I have a funny story about that, but that’s for another time.
When I think of a gun called Night Stalker my first thought goes to a 70’s TV show starring Darren McGavin of “A Christmas Story” fame. Anyone remember that show?

Then there’s Taurus and their Judge and Public Defender.

Springfield named their new gun Echelon. I think that’s funny because it probably drives the NSA nuts that the name of their top secret spy satellites system name is being bandied about on gun forums.
 
Pat Riot said:
When I think of a gun called Night Stalker my first thought goes to a 70’s TV show starring Darren McGavin ...
Click to expand...
Yes, the Darren McGavin TV series "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071003/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_79_act ) predated Richard Ramirez by about a decade. Ramirez probably was given the nickname with inspiration from the TV show. In addition, Ramirez was a local story, while "Kolchak" was a nationally televised program.

It's also probable, the folks at Tisas, are completely unaware of either.
 
Pat Riot said:
I agree @Riomouse911 . It’s kind of silly.

When I saw S&W’s ads for the “Equalizer” then saw the cartridge I kind of laughed and then thought “I can see it now…I am in court listening to the DA tell the jury “..and Mr. Riot pulled out his Equalizer, a gun obviously meant for conflict judging by it’s name… A gun designed to even the score and he shot the victim…” Even though the “victim” might be some dirtbag.

Another funny one is the Rossi “Brawler”. A single shot pistol…brawler? 🤣

I lived in California during the Night Stalker. I recall the day a news agency said “All the victims live in yellow houses near freeways.” I lived in a yellow house on the west side of the 405 freeway in Hawthorne back then. My Colt Combat Gov’t was a much closer friend during that time.
I have a funny story about that, but that’s for another time.
When I think of a gun called Night Stalker my first thought goes to a 70’s TV show starring Darren McGavin of “A Christmas Story” fame. Anyone remember that show?

Then there’s Taurus and their Judge and Public Defender.

Springfield named their new gun Echelon. I think that’s funny because it probably drives the NSA nuts that the name of their top secret spy satellites system name is being bandied about on gun forums.
Click to expand...
That’s because after one shot, you’re in a fist fight against a gun.
 
If I had a nickel…I suppose ammunition for zombies tends to leave that vomit taste in my mouth the most.

For the OP, if you were trying to cover your address, you should crop your photo Above the zip code+4 and actual address.
 
usaral63 said:
OP's observations carry a heavy load of Californiacentric viewpoints......not ALL this country heels to that atmosphere!
Click to expand...
I’m not so sure your viewpoint holds in a courtroom no matter the state. You don’t want to answer the types of questions names or images your weapon may bring to mind. Same with your search history and social media comments, both of which last just about forever.
 
Mike J said:
To me the name Equalizer doesn't have anything to do with revenge. It simply means it makes one equal to another. Somewhat like the old quote, "God made men. Sam Colt made them equal." That is the way I perceive it anyway.

I am another that thought of the TV show when I saw the name Night Stalker.
Click to expand...

Dang! I can't believe you guys have already forgotten Edward Woodward and Denzel Washington! (I'll give you a pass on Queen Latifah! ;))

en.wikipedia.org

The Equalizer - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
Outlaw75 said:
Dang! I can't believe you guys have already forgotten Edward Woodward and Denzel Washington! (I'll give you a pass on Queen Latifah! ;))

en.wikipedia.org

The Equalizer - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Click to expand...
With the "Equalizer", my first thought is always of the Edward Woodward version, though I don't think he uses a gun at all in the show. I do like Denzel Washington as the character in the movies. I've never watched the Queen Latifah version, and probably won't.
 
usaral63 said:
OP's observations carry a heavy load of Californiacentric viewpoints......not ALL this country heels to that atmosphere!
Click to expand...
Spend some time in the chairs to the opposite side of the prosecutor/ plaintiffs attorney, and you will quickly find out opposing counsel has searched high and low to aid their case. It’s easy to get a quick inflammatory statement in, and even if the jury is told to ignore and testimony is stricken, the bell has been rung. If you can get sullied up by even a casual association with a serial killer in a gun case, ouch!

They will use it.

The name “Night Stalker” for a handgun series is dumb no matter where you live. Tisas’ folks should be better than that.

Stay safe.
 
jmorris said:
If I had a nickel…I suppose ammunition for zombies tends to leave that vomit taste in my mouth the most.

For the OP, if you were trying to cover your address, you should crop your photo Above the zip code+4 and actual address.
Click to expand...
I hoofed that up, been fixed.
 
My EDC is a Rutgers Security 380. I think that might be more palatable to a jury than “Equalizer” or “Night Stalker.” However the name had nothing to do with my EDC choice.
 
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Riomouse911 said:
Spend some time in the chairs to the opposite side of the prosecutor/ plaintiffs attorney, and you will quickly find out opposing counsel has searched high and low to aid their case. It’s easy to get a quick inflammatory statement in, and even if the jury is told to ignore and testimony is stricken, the bell has been rung. If you can get sullied up by even a casual association with a serial killer in a gun case, ouch!
Click to expand...

I suspect everyone here is well aware of that. Unfortunately, the people who this marketed towards refuse to believe it.
 
JTQ
With the "Equalizer", my first thought is always of the Edward Woodward version, though I don't think he uses a gun at all in the show.
Click to expand...

I believe on some occasions he packed a stainless steel Walther PPK/s. Don't recall if he ever used it or not. He also had a hiding place in his apartment which contained some other arms and equipment. In one episode he lets Mickey (played by Keith Szarbajka), to select a couple of guns from McCall's secret stash.
 
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