Well said, but one correction...

Posted by Michaelson from leo2space140.utsi.edu on January 05, 2001 at 12:43:41:

In Reply to: I just tend to be touchy about firearm safety... posted by WndJameR on January 04, 2001 at 20:53:31:

: That is why I recommend replicas. Although the cheaper cost is a nice benifit, it is and has always been my number one concern that safety comes first. Since most of us tend to jump at the chance to show our outfits off, I try and help my fellow costumers as best I can. I agree that in public, even where legal, I would not wear a replica. I have in the past carried both openly and legally concealed. However, it is that costume party or amateur fim production that I am trying to help my fellow Indy fans out. In Hollywood, they can actually use up to 4 variations of the same weapon: the solid resin or rubber throw down model for background or action shots where the weapon will be dropped; a none firing, however functional replica for "hero" shots, a blank firing model, and in some rare instances, the real thing. Brandon Lee was killed during the filming of "The Crow" when a real revolver was used. One scene called for a close up front shot where bullets in the chambers of the cylinder were viseable. They used wooden bullets for safety's sake, however a chunk of one broke off in the chamber. When the weapon was loaded with blanks, the force propelled the chunk out just like a bullet. The weapons master had gone home early that day, and only the property master was on the set. He failed to properly check the weapon. You're right in the fact I wore a uniform to defend our right to bear arms. It's just the old sergeant in me that pushes the safety aspect.

...Brandon Lee was shot with a full load .44 mag., not a piece of a wooden chunk of prop. According to a recent A & E Biography program, they examined this particular shooting accident, and said that two differnt prop masters handled the Smith that day. They needed a close up, and substituted full load .44 Mag bullets for that shot. The heads of the rounds are color coded to alert anyone handling the weapon which rounds are blanks, and which are bullet loaded but empty of powder or primer for close up shots and safety reasons. For some reason they didn't have any bullet loaded, powder empty rounds, and so substituted real rounds for the close up. When they were ready for the action sequence, a live round some how was loaded WITH 5 of the blanks in the revolver, and as fate had it, it was the first round in the cylinder when it revolved to fire at Lee. Unfortunate, but once again proves you can not take anything for granted when handling a firearm. It's only as safe as the individual handling it. Thanks for the reminder. It's always timely. Regards. Michaelson

Follow Ups:

Re: Well said, but one correction...and something to add.... Indiana Jimmie 22:14:00 1/05/2001 (1)
- and one more thing MK 12:25:27 1/06/2001 (0)
And do you remember what happened to Jon Erik Huxem (sp?) Another safety nut. 16:22:43 1/05/2001 (1)
- I sure do. (nm) Michaelson 16:28:42 1/05/2001 (0)

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: : That is why I recommend replicas.  Although the cheaper cost is a nice benifit, it is and has always been my number one concern that safety comes first.  Since most of us tend to jump at the chance to show our outfits off, I try and help my fellow costumers as best I can.  I agree that in public, even where legal, I would not wear a replica.  I have in the past carried both openly and legally concealed.  However, it is that costume party or amateur fim production that I am trying to help my fellow Indy fans out.  In Hollywood, they can actually use up to 4 variations of the same weapon:  the solid resin or rubber throw down model for background or action shots where the weapon will be dropped; a none firing, however functional replica for "hero" shots, a blank firing model, and in some rare instances, the real thing.  Brandon Lee was killed during the filming of "The Crow" when a real revolver was used.  One scene called for a close up front shot where bullets in the chambers of the cylinder were viseable.  They used wooden bullets for safety's sake, however a chunk of one broke off in the chamber.  When the weapon was loaded with blanks, the force propelled the chunk out just like a bullet.  The weapons master had gone home early that day, and only the property master was on the set.  He failed to properly check the weapon.  You're right in the fact I wore a uniform to defend our right to bear arms.  It's just the old sergeant in me that pushes the safety aspect.

: ...Brandon Lee was shot with a full load .44 mag., not a piece of a wooden chunk of prop. According to a recent A & E Biography program, they examined this particular shooting accident, and said that two differnt prop masters handled the Smith that day. They needed a close up, and substituted full load .44 Mag bullets for that shot. The heads of the rounds are color coded to alert anyone handling the weapon which rounds are blanks, and which are bullet loaded but empty of powder or primer for close up shots and safety reasons. For some reason they didn't have any bullet loaded, powder empty rounds, and so substituted real rounds for the close up. When they were ready for the action sequence, a live round some how was loaded WITH 5 of the blanks in the revolver, and as fate had it, it was the first round in the cylinder when it revolved to fire at Lee. Unfortunate, but once again proves you can not take anything for granted when handling a firearm. It's only as safe as the individual handling it. Thanks for the reminder. It's always timely. Regards. Michaelson

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