Not Movies but Books

[mack]

I read the thread on how movies have often impacted many of our decisions as to what guns we own. But as I read it, I realized that for me - movies have played only a small part. In fact books, magazines, articles, newsgroups and forums have all influence my gun buying decisions much more so than movies or tv.

I read up on the life and work of John Moses Browning - I have 1911's, Hi powers, a Browning Winchester designed lever gun, and I would love to have a 50 cal. BMG and a 30 cal. BAR.

I read up on "Assault Weapons" and have an AR15 and a AK47

I read about Korea, WWII and John Garand and got an M1

So I find that reading leads me to buy most of my guns.

 

[BigBlueEyedDevil]

"Marine Sniper" the book about the Carlos Hathcock inspired me to get a .308 bolt action. I just recently picked up my Savage 10FP .308.

Reading Louis L'Amor inspire me to get a single action Colt .45

 

[Titus]

Skeeter Skelton made me get a .44, and Ross Seyfried made me have it turned into a .45 by John Linebaugh. I remember getting sent to the principal's office in school and sitting there reading that old Guns & Ammo article where Ross hunts the cape buffalo with his revolver. I thought man, I have to do that! Later on, Skeeter "made" me trade my perfectly good 686 towards a .44 Blackhawk. Couldn't stand not having a .44. Then I couldn't stand not having a Linebaugh gun (John Taffin egging me on too) but didn't have the scratch for the full-on .475 or .500, so I went with the .45 conversion, which was a good bit less back then. The 350 grain bullets seem to have satisfied my big-bore needs, so I never bothered to go back for the bigger guns. Don't think I'll ever actually get around to the cape buffalo part either.

 

[Gunnutz13]

My readings...

When I read the 2nd Admendment to the US Constitution, I just knew that I would be a concealed carrying, gun collecting, target shooting, deer hunting SOB...God bless America

 

[mack69]

RE:

My first interests in guns began with the Lois L'amor books and the Mack Bolan series by Don Pendleton. In the Bolan series they used to have pictures and stats on all the different weapons in the front and back covers with pictures. Really got my interest then....

 

[sm]

Again I can say I didn't buy any guns based on movies. I didn't buy any based on Books either. I learned a lot about guns, always got a kick when a character used one like or similar to one I had. Books did prompt me try a Vodka Martini , shaken- not stirred...I joined the "Mile High Club" while traveling in a Bonanza because of something I read.

 

[Thirties]

"Cold Zero", by Christopher Whitcomb

a book recommendation: Cold Zero

author: Christopher Whitcomb

He was an FBI sniper. This book is an excellent account of his training and two major FBI events — Ruby Ridge & Waco, as well as other good stuff.

Very well-written book.

 

[Eskimo Jim]

After I did some historical re-enacting, I was doing some geneological research and found information on a relative that was in WWI. That got me into searching for SMLEs and the rest is history.

-Jim

 

[B36]

Movies??

Don't go, don't rent, don't watch much tv, etc.

Books, read a lot. Usually two to three books a week. Public library is a couple of miles from my house. Personal library has several hundred books in it, tho most are firearms and training research books.

Magazines--do not take the gun rags, but do take a few mags and papers like L&O, IALEFI, ASLET, Police, GW, and LEN.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I read a lot. I read a lot of bad pulp in high school like Don Pendelton's "The Executioner"... while I look at those "books" with disdain these days... I still want a 44 Auto Mag. (Well before Dirty harry packed one.)

Historically speaking, the book "Thunder on the Mountain" chronicles theWVA mine wars of the early 1920's, and the shoot-out at Matewan. Sid Hatfield, the chief of police of Matewan carried TWO Colt New Service "army" .45's... and that's one of the reasons I picked up a New Service. Phillip Marlowe (very good pulp) carried one in his car, too.

Take your inspiration whereever you can...

Books are a good thing. Reading books is a grand thing.

 

[ACP230]

Reading the ads in Shotgun News and American Rifleman is usually what gets me buying.
Sometimes it takes years, however. I saw the first ads for the Ruger .44 Mag carbine in American Rifleman years ago. I just put money down on one Tuesday.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I suppose if you read Bernard Cornwall's Sharp's Rifle series you'd want a Baker Rifle (note: that rifle was never officially called the Baker back then)? Read about Tim Murphy and you'd want a longrifle. Read about California Joe and you'd want a double trigger Sharps 1859 (and you may only get a M1863 repro). Read about Billy Dixon and you'd want a Sharps Breechloader.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I've read a lot about great white hunter Frederick Courtney Selous. But it sure as hell hasn't caused me to go out looking for a vintage 4-bore.

 

[Old Dog]

Read "Guadalcanal Diary" as a grade-schooler ... that's when I first decided I wanted an M-1 ...

Robert Ruark. No titles come to mind, but I read all of his stuff when I was in high school and college ... the guy knew Africa and really made me want to go live there ... be on safari.

I too read all the Mack Bolan books as a teenager (my dad, a college prof wasn't real happy when he found that out) but it wasn't the great plots I was interested in, of course --