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Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:20 pm
by puma guy
I was trying to find information on a Wollensak scope on Dad's old Winchester single shot .22 and ran across a pdf Guns Magazine dated August 1955. I thought you folks would enjoy it, especially the article titled "What's Wrong With Gun Laws" authored by a Chicago policeman.
http://www.gunsmagazine.com/1955issues/G0855.pdf
Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:30 pm
by WildBill
puma guy wrote:I was trying to find information on a Wollensak scope on Dad's old Winchester single shot .22 and ran across a pdf Guns Magazine dated August 1955. I thought you folks would enjoy it, especially the article titled "What's Wrong With Gun Laws" authored by a Chicago policeman.
http://www.gunsmagazine.com/1955issues/G0855.pdf
Wow that is a blast from the past. Thanks for posting.
BTW I have a couple of scopes that are advertised on Page 8.
Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:42 pm
by Jusme
Wow the whole issue was an eye opener from how the police used to train, to the "quick draw" guy had his finger on the trigger pulling the revolver out of his pocket. Even the boy shooting the revolver with one hand, no eye or ear protection.
We have come a long way on so many things, but every word written by the Chicago police officer, in 1955 could have been written this week.
Great post thanks for sharing it.

Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:48 pm
by WildBill
Jusme wrote:Wow the whole issue was an eye opener from how the police used to train, to the "quick draw" guy had his finger on the trigger pulling the revolver out of his pocket. Even the boy shooting the revolver with one hand, no eye or ear protection.
We have come a long way on so many things, but every word written by the Chicago police officer, in 1955 could have been written this week.
Great post thanks for sharing it.

Look at Pages 12 and 19. Back then people were taught to shoot pistols with one hand. Only a girl or sissy had to use two hands to hold, aim and fire a pistol.

Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:51 pm
by Jusme
WildBill wrote:Jusme wrote:Wow the whole issue was an eye opener from how the police used to train, to the "quick draw" guy had his finger on the trigger pulling the revolver out of his pocket. Even the boy shooting the revolver with one hand, no eye or ear protection.
We have come a long way on so many things, but every word written by the Chicago police officer, in 1955 could have been written this week.
Great post thanks for sharing it.

Look at Pages 12 and 19. Back then people were taught to shoot pistols with one hand. Only a girl or sissy had to use two hands to hold, aim and fire a pistol.

Yeah I saw that and single action only he described the police as thumbing the hammer back before firing. What I thought was funny was the off hand was put into the pocket, I assume to keep it warm.

Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 4:09 pm
by WildBill
Jusme wrote:WildBill wrote:Jusme wrote:Wow the whole issue was an eye opener from how the police used to train, to the "quick draw" guy had his finger on the trigger pulling the revolver out of his pocket. Even the boy shooting the revolver with one hand, no eye or ear protection.
We have come a long way on so many things, but every word written by the Chicago police officer, in 1955 could have been written this week.
Great post thanks for sharing it.

Look at Pages 12 and 19. Back then people were taught to shoot pistols with one hand. Only a girl or sissy had to use two hands to hold, aim and fire a pistol.

Yeah I saw that and single action only he described the police as thumbing the hammer back before firing. What I thought was funny was the off hand was put into the pocket, I assume to keep it warm.

Back then wearing only one glove wasn't in fashion.

Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:01 pm
by puma guy
WildBill wrote:puma guy wrote:I was trying to find information on a Wollensak scope on Dad's old Winchester single shot .22 and ran across a pdf Guns Magazine dated August 1955. I thought you folks would enjoy it, especially the article titled "What's Wrong With Gun Laws" authored by a Chicago policeman.
http://www.gunsmagazine.com/1955issues/G0855.pdf
Wow that is a blast from the past. Thanks for posting.
BTW I have a couple of scopes that are advertised on Page 8.
Wow! I never heard of that brand and at $98.50 the one pictured is Pricey! I saw an ad for the Lyman EZ Loader shot shell press on page 7. I got one for Christmas around 1962. I watched the original owner of "The Marksman Range" in South Houston Tom Mixon shoot in the style pictured. He put could center punch all 5 shots from a S&W Air Weight Chiefs Special in the black on a standard 50 ft target. Always amazed me that he could do that consistently.
Did anyone notice the article by Gary Cooper and Walter Slezak?
Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 8:35 pm
by WildBill
puma guy wrote:WildBill wrote:puma guy wrote:I was trying to find information on a Wollensak scope on Dad's old Winchester single shot .22 and ran across a pdf Guns Magazine dated August 1955. I thought you folks would enjoy it, especially the article titled "What's Wrong With Gun Laws" authored by a Chicago policeman.
http://www.gunsmagazine.com/1955issues/G0855.pdf
Wow that is a blast from the past. Thanks for posting.
BTW I have a couple of scopes that are advertised on Page 8.
Wow! I never heard of that brand and at $98.50 the one pictured is Pricey! I saw an ad for the Lyman EZ Loader shot shell press on page 7. I got one for Christmas around 1962. I watched the original owner of "The Marksman Range" in South Houston Tom Mixon shoot in the style pictured. He put could center punch all 5 shots from a S&W Air Weight Chiefs Special in the black on a standard 50 ft target. Always amazed me that he could do that consistently.
Did anyone notice the article by Gary Cooper and Walter Slezak?
I did notice the Gary Cooper article.
Yeah the scopes are the same as the Unertyl brand. You can sometimes find them on used gun forums. They are available used for pretty high prices.
I was taught to shoot one-handed with the hand in the pocket. All of the world's Bulls-eye and Olympic champion shooters did it that way.
There was one guy at our gun club who was a terrific marksman. He was one of the best shooters I ever saw.
One night at the indoor range he shot my mom's new 2 inch Colt Python and at 50 ft put all of the rounds into one ragged hole.
He offered to buy it, but she declined.
I shot this way for my first CHL qualification. When the instructor saw me shooting he came over and stood behind me to watch.
I think he may have been surprised that I was hitting the target. The strange part was that he is older than me and was probably taught to shoot the same way.

Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 8:43 pm
by WildBill
koine2002 wrote:There's a video on YT from the 40s/50s that instructs police officers how to use the SW double action revolver. They are instructed to shoot one handed, in a semi-crouch, and from the hip. Aiming with the iron sights is discouraged as it increases the response time between identification of threat and trigger pull. I was shocked. When I find it I'll post it. I'm on a network that filters URL's right now and YT is not allowed.
The one-handed, semi-crouch, from the hip stance was the standard for teaching new FBI Special Agents how to shoot.
I sometimes wonder in forty more years what the shooters will think about what is taught now.
Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 9:52 pm
by puma guy
WildBill wrote:koine2002 wrote:There's a video on YT from the 40s/50s that instructs police officers how to use the SW double action revolver. They are instructed to shoot one handed, in a semi-crouch, and from the hip. Aiming with the iron sights is discouraged as it increases the response time between identification of threat and trigger pull. I was shocked. When I find it I'll post it. I'm on a network that filters URL's right now and YT is not allowed.
The one-handed, semi-crouch, from the hip stance was the standard for teaching new FBI Special Agents how to shoot.
I sometimes wonder in forty more years what the shooters will think about what is taught now.
Just show them this. Jerry Miculek shoots one handed with a hand in his pocket. (Don't know how to post You Tube without the link)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIwVK_FxGZk
Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 9:56 pm
by joe817
Fantastic WildBill! Many thanks for posting. Truly fascinating! I love looking at really old gun magazines. I especially like the advertisements way back then.
One really caught my attention. It was a military issue, 1918 Bolo knife/machete with scabbard for the whopping price of $3.98. I had that one complete. And I sold it at the Original Ft.Worth Gun Show back in 1991 for $135.00. Wish I would've bought a couple dozen at that price.
I read all the articles and it's amazing that the things they said back then, is what we are saying on this thread today(regarding police proficiency at the gun range, gun control, 2A restrictions vs. bad guys, etc.)
Keep them coming!

Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 10:08 pm
by WildBill
joe817 wrote:Fantastic WildBill! Many thanks for posting. Truly fascinating! I love looking at really old gun magazines. I especially like the advertisements way back then.
One really caught my attention. It was a military issue, 1918 Bolo knife/machete with scabbard for the whopping price of $3.98. I had that one complete. And I sold it at the Original Ft.Worth Gun Show back in 1991 for $135.00. Wish I would've bought a couple dozen at that price.
I read all the articles and it's amazing that the things they said back then, is what we are saying on this thread today(regarding police proficiency at the gun range, gun control, 2A restrictions vs. bad guys, etc.)
Keep them coming!

Thanks, but Puma Guy is the one who posted the link to the gun magazine.
Things seems cheap, but back then I didn't have any money so mostly I looked and wished.
As for Jerry Miculek, I don't believe that he is human.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIwVK_FxGZk
Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 10:29 pm
by joe817
My apologies PumaGuy!

I was so excited to read the link that I got lost.
Well done, and please post more of stuff like that!

Re: Why Gun Laws Don't Work 1955 style
Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 10:38 pm
by Skiprr
puma guy wrote:I was trying to find information on a Wollensak scope on Dad's old Winchester single shot .22 and ran across a pdf Guns Magazine dated August 1955. I thought you folks would enjoy it, especially the article titled "What's Wrong With Gun Laws" authored by a Chicago policeman.
http://www.gunsmagazine.com/1955issues/G0855.pdf
Darn you. I didn't need another time-sink.
It looks like their archives go back to January 1955: Volume 1, Number 1. I've spent over an hour browsing this blast from the past, and will no doubt spend more. A glimpse into the world of 60 years ago.