Sons of Guns

[Jeff White]

GEM said;

But what is is with the local cops taking some nice old antique gun and getting it chopped into a monstrosity? Buy a new M4.

I would bet money that the show's producer approached the sheriff and said; "I produce this show on the Discovery Channel called Son's of Guns. We want to convert a semi-auto Thompson back into a sub gun for an episode of the show but we need an LE request letter so we can get the paperwork through the BATFE to build it. Here is a check for (fill in amount here) and we will pay you and your deputies union scale for your bit arts in the show. Think of the national exposure you will get and the free publicity at reelection time."

They lost me totally when they had Tiger McKee talking about how the test of a good AR was setting up a malfunction and then clearing it. You can clear those malfunctions in the biggest POS no name maker AR. The test is if you can run it all day and not have to clear malfunctions.

I think the show is good in that it exposes the public to the idea that private citizens can own machine guns and suppressors, but it makes the gun culture look like idiots.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I did think the "setting up a malfunction" part was kinda funny...
That's just cause I'm old enough to remember when the M-16 was called the "bang, bang...OH %$#@."

 

[GEM]

Mohawk - wasn't talking about you. The "I'm Will" was something that Will said when arguing with one guy. Implied that he (Will on the show) was never wrong.

He might be a good guy caught up in show business. If the show is successful, then tell off the producers.

 

[sc1911cwp]

Biggest piece of CRAP on TV.

 

[Mohawk]

Thanks for the clarifications, Gem. I'll admit there's quite a bit of grandstanding on the show and this can grate on the "informed" viewer. I do know that now that Will has quite a bit of creative control, season two, that will start shooting in about 6 weeks will be more comprehensive, less format oriented and more informative about what the local gun industry is really all about. Hopefully it will retain it's broad viewership and entertain at the same time.

 

[kayak-man]

I like the show. I think its good to see guns in a slightly more possitive light than usual, and I find it entertaining. I don't mind the drama, I'd prefer mroe guns and shooting, but 50% guns and gun building still wins out over 0% guns and gun building.

I can understand not hiring the guy because Kris didn't like him: If I'm running a buiseness, and one of my guys says that he refuses to work with the new guy for a legitimate reason (I consider being unable to trust someone a legitimate reason) the new guy is gone.

I thought I heard the sheriff with the Thompson say that they had a lot of 45ACP laying around that they wanted to usilize, so it makes sense, in a round about way. Should they have kept it stock? Well, yea, from a colector stand point, but I think that the end result was a bit more functional.

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[Craig_AR]

Does anyone else think the daughter looks like one of them Troll Dolls?

low road and uncalled for

 

[smince]

low road and uncalled for

Vast majority of this thread has been 'low road'...

 

[KodiakBeer]

Should they have kept it stock? Well, yea, from a colector stand point, but I think that the end result was a bit more functional.

It was NOT a vintage Thompson. It was one of the semi's being produced for about a thousand bucks by Kahr Arms.

 

[smince]

Mohawk:

I'm of the thought that even if Will was given creative control, he might not change the show a whole lot.

If you know what Red Jacket makes and that's what you want, RJ can supply it. As evidenced by this thread, the vast majority of gun owners would never by an RJ product in the first place. Too many 'haters'.

He doesn't cater to the Ed Brown/Bill Wilson blue steel and walnut crowd (and doesn't apparently want to). Who could blame him?

Still, his business success can't be argued with.

 

[Kingofthehill]

Still, his business success can't be argued with.

according to his show/script, it can be argued.

every project will "BREAK THEM" if they don't sell 3 or 9... so what kind of "Business success" will let 10-20k "Break Them"?

 

[mikeypizano]

Honestly I think you guys are over reacting. First off, it is the first season. Give it a chance. I don't think the show is sooooo horrible and I know a bit about guns. Stop over analyzing everything and just enjoy a show that doesn't make guns out to be evil or bad.

I personally think its a great 30 minute show. I hope that it stays on the air so I have something that I actually enjoy watching on TV for a change! If you think the show is that bad then why don't you do something instead of complaining. You can get a good camcorder and make your own show!

 

[hueytaxi]

Show has some distractions. I think they use selective fire and fully auto too much. Also too many stunt explosions. The novice viewer already believes any weapon with a magazine (they would say clip) is fully automatic.

I see the obvious comparison to OCC.

 

[Atlantic Firearms]

We have to agree with Mohawk , Our firm has worked with Will & Red Jacket for over 10- 12 years they produce nice firearms are honest & stand behind their products. Unfortunatley the Discovery channel has pushed the scripted part a but far and this distorts the real Red Jacket .Will has been a very humble man in all our dealings with their firm . Hopefully in the 2nd season they can the right mix of entertainment flare with nitty gritty gun builds & facts .

 

[stonecutter2]

Mohawk:

I'm of the thought that even if Will was given creative control, he might not change the show a whole lot.

If you know what Red Jacket makes and that's what you want, RJ can supply it. As evidenced by this thread, the vast majority of gun owners would never by an RJ product in the first place. Too many 'haters'.

He doesn't cater to the Ed Brown/Bill Wilson blue steel and walnut crowd (and doesn't apparently want to). Who could blame him?

Still, his business success can't be argued with.

I think RJ makes some interesting firearms, but I just don't like their treatment of walk-in customers that the show portrays. I think the show has focused on that a few times, and it ends up making them look rude or arrogant, instead of producing some laughs or whatever they're going for.

Just my opinion, but i've been in rude gunshops before...it's a sore spot for me.

I do enjoy RJ's enthusiasm in whatever they're doing. I hope the 2nd season gets them in their stride, and has less of a "set up" feel to the shop and customers.

 

[honestlou]

I can't manage a quote on my iPhone, but someone asked "so you can't have an opnion without being a DB?"

Of course you CAN; it's just that most of you haven't managed to do so!

I've never seen more jealous, petty, whiny-baby BS! So many of you are so much smarter, better educated about guns, have much higher standards and machining skills; I bet y'all wouldn't take that shop if it was given to you!

What a load of crap from you guys-- and I know how to spell "crap" correctly-- I didn't have to come back and edit it!

What I find most interesting is how many people hate this show but love Top Shot. Talk about drama, and and so much of that show isn't even firearms! I guess there's just nothing there to be jealous about for all you super gunsmiths and machinists.

And for whoever said these guys are "coonasses", you obviously have not ever been around a "Cajun", much less a "coonass". Not even close.

 

[Kingofthehill]

I was listening to Tom Gresham's gun talk podcast and he said he can't and won't watch this show and it makes people from Louisiana and gun owners looks bad.

Interesting

 

[helitack32f1]

We have to agree with Mohawk , Our firm has worked with Will & Red Jacket for over 10- 12 years they produce nice firearms are honest & stand behind their products. Unfortunatley the Discovery channel has pushed the scripted part a but far and this distorts the real Red Jacket .Will has been a very humble man in all our dealings with their firm . Hopefully in the 2nd season they can the right mix of entertainment flare with nitty gritty gun builds & facts .

Thank you to you and the others who have piped in with first hand knowledge. It is nice to get insight into what they are really like and I am happy to hear they are pretty good people. I hope the show does well, along with Top Shot. I am a major gun nut but there are only so many serious, tactical, self protection, gun history shows a person can watch. I find both these shows quite entertaining.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

Over rated. One poster somewhere likened it to "Jersey Shore with NFA toys" and I'd say that assessment is spot on. The editing and production is terrible, like watching a bunch of people struggling to read cue cards belting out corny and awkward lines. Also, it seems like the cast is trying WAY too hard to fill that outlaw/badass/rock n roll kind of image.

And for a "professional" shop that supposedly deals with mil/LEO sales I am appalled by their complete ignorance of terms and the mall ninja crap they make. Seriously, I'd love to see what the military experts would actually think of that heavy, bulky, awkward Saiga-12 shotgun with a magazine hanging out of it mounted to a rifle. Now, THAT assessment would make for great TV

EDIT: Also, on the Saiga-12 boards they have moderators there actively working to ban ANYONE who gives a less than positive review. It's sad when the only way to defend yourself from criticism is to simply smash anyone who does not agree. Just goes to show that something is wonky, when they cannot tolerate any criticism of the show.

 

[helitack32f1]

Does anyone else think the daughter looks like one of them Troll Dolls?

Actually I have found her to be a very attractive person. Not just from a looks standpoint but also in her dedication to her Dad and the family business. She seems like a really descent person, deserving of much more than troll doll comparisons.

 

[Mohawk]

All comments good and bad are being evaluated and considered for the next run. Right now, feedback is important to the future success of the program. For every one who finds the daughter grating, there's a hundred wive's of gun owners who want to know more about her and her relationship to the whole operation. It's called identifying with the players. There's probably a couple million Stephanies out there and a couple million more guys who wish they were in those second banana, gunbuilders, shoes right now.

I have 35 years in the electronic media production industry and I'll tell you how it works. If the content is bad, blame the producer. If a scene is bad and you don't like it blame the director. If something looks stupid to you, blame the editing. But you never blame the actor. The actor walks through the scene exactly as the director tells him to. The actor follows a script exactly as the producer has presented him. The actor reads the lines the writers write for him. It's never the actor's fault, it's his job. The actor is the one person who has none or very little control over the final result. Especially if it's the first season. There are times I've snickered at some of the action but I know Will, and realize that it's the process, not the man. But maybe that's because I've spent so much time in the industry that I see every edit and cue.

In the end, the show will tailor itself over time to appeal to the largest demographic it is capable of. And Will Hayden will continue to be a premier builder in the firearms industry, long after it's all over, considering the market he serves.

 

[Bigphil54]

over all the show seems good so far but going back to that tompson they rebuild, i wouldn't be the man carring it if i knew there was an armed man on the other side of the door. It just didnt strike me as the most reliable customization ever and with all the money they spent on it I would much rather a dependable MP5, UMP45 or short barreled AR in my hands. But over all i believe they do good work and its a good show for the first season.

 

[Mohawk]

The Thompson was a little hokey. But it was a recent clone not a vintage thompson and at least he turned a semi auto clone into a "fugugly" working machine gun. Those LEOs will probably take it out when they have range practice and just have fun with it.

 

[FourTeeFive]

PS: My wife loves Sons of Guns and Top Shot even though she would not watch any gun history or tech shows on TV.

I call that a win for gun owners. We can use all of the support we can get.

 

[mbogo]

I've seen some or all of every episode so far (in decreasing amounts).

It only takes a few minutes' watching to know that this is a bad show; RJ may be a cracker jack outfit with Saigas, but they don't come off as knowledgeable with other guns. Will may be humble, but he certainly doesn't come off that way. The daughter may be as sweet as sugar, but she comes off as a domineering, spoiled brat. The guys in the shop may be skilled machinists, but anyone who takes a grinder and a Dremel to my guns would be considered a hack.
Blame the producer? Okay. Blame the director? Sure.

The ones I really blame are the ones who network clowns who green-lighted this mess.

mbogo