When it comes to guns, everybody has strong thoughts one way or another. Not very often have I found folks that walk the middle of the road on firearms. I guess it’s what you’d call a “Hot Topic” these days.

I’m not here to get into a debate on guns. I grew up with guns. My grandfather carried one every day, as did my dad. They weren’t in law enforcement. My grandfather owned Smith Music Company, which sold pinball machines, juke boxes, pool tables, skill games, and – when my dad and uncle took it over – also went into video games. My grandfather came from a time when you really didn’t have to have a permit to carry a gun. Most of the time, he knew the police, state troopers and such. The same was true with my dad. They knew that my dad and grandfather had to check “Locations.” – places where they had their machines, bars, taverns, dives as well as family places, drug stores, etc.

My family was “On Call” at nights, meaning that if a machine broke down or a location needed change for the machines, someone in my family would go and fix the machine, bring them change, whatever they may need. That sometimes meant going out into deep country to bars where there are more fields than buildings. Folks drink in bars – some more than others – so they tend to get a little high-spirited.

When my grandfather or my dad would leave at 10:00 at night to take care of one of these Locations, especially on a Friday or Saturday night, things could get a bit rowdy. So picture them in one of these locations. The customers, some drunk, would say “Hey, juke box man, put some Conway Twitty on that machine!” That request was always the easy part. Dad would fulfill that request and then punch up about 10 free songs as a courtesy. That was good for business. We would also empty the machine while we were there, and give the bar owner their split. Dad always carried a good amount of money with him to transact any business that may be needed at the location. Most folks knew this. Some, of less morals and more beer intake, would sometimes get the idea to liberate some of that money from “the juke box man.”

That’s why Dad and my grandfather always carried a gun.

Usually there was a pistol on their person. Grandfather favored a hammerless .32 Smith & Wesson revolver, which was easy to get out of his pocket. Dad was prone to lean for more firepower and variety. From time to time, he would carry a Smith & Wesson .38 with a four inch barrel, or a Walther .380, because James Bond had one. He had a Colt Diamondback .38, for a while in the mid-‘70s he carried a big ass Colt .357 Python with a six inch barrel for the Starsky & Hutch era. Finally he settled on a Colt .38 Agent snub nose. I think the snubby ended up being his favorite for power and handling.

In the trunk they always had a Remington 12 gauge pump. Both my grandfather and my dad carried a “SlapJack” or as some call it a “BlackJack” and a billy club or “Thumper” as it was called. In reality the SlapJack and the club were what they had to use the most. Yeah, there was a time or two when they had to fire a gun in a warning shot when outnumbered, but those times were rare. (At least that’s what dad told mom.) The SlapJack and the Thumper were used on more than a few occasions.

I have both of them and you can tell by the looks that they were carried and used a lot. Every now and then, Dad would tell me of some of the “dust ups” that went on when a drunk decided that Smith Music Company didn’t need all that money. He always said that the best way to end such a situation before it became an “unhappy moment” was to end it quickly. That meant when the threat was in mid-sentence, the SlapJack or the Thumper was introduced to the drunk’s – not all were drunk, some were just mean and criminal – knee, head, nose or throat. That usually ended things. Dad was over six feet tall and went around 250 pounds, hence the nickname “Big Rog.” He could always use his size as well. My grandfather was the same height and weighed a very fit 180. He did 100 push-ups and 100 sit ups every day all his life just as sure as he wore a tie and a fedora, funny how as a kid you remember those things. My grandfather had a nickname as well; it was “Mr. Smith.”

Yeah, those were different times. Things were different from 1947 through 1970s. I’m not saying they were better, worse, right or wrong, just different.

So yes, I’ve been around guns all my life. I was taught to respect them and that drinking and guns do not mix well. I sold guns when I was going to college, I’ve hunted, but not in a good 25 years. I loved being out, tracking and scouting, but my interest in the kill petered out after a while. I was good-to-go knowing I tracked and saw them. I have no problem with my buddies that still hunt. I think most folks should know how to do it.

I turned my admiration of guns more towards the target range and honing my skills there. I’ve always been interested in the workings and mechanics of weapons. I love older guns that have a story behind them. I enjoy a revolver and its simplicity. Military weapons always have a tech side that I find of interest.

I’m not a gun snob like some people. Like my friends, I like something that’s good and dependable. Something you can always rely on. I have some high-end weapons – Smith & Wesson, Remington, Colt, Ruger, and I also have my share of inexpensive and old military guns that work well without fail. One of those inexpensive weapons is a USA made .45 automatic pistol made in Ohio by Hi-Point Firearms.

It is a beast! By that I mean it‘s big, not real pretty and has never jammed or caused me any sort of problem. As you can see by the photo of me and the pistol, we’re both kinda ugly. My friends that have seen it in action always curl their lip up when they first see this Sasquatch of a gun, but after I fire it a few times, it’s not long before they want to try it and that curl of the lip quickly becomes a smile. When I tell them I only paid $189.00 for it brand new, well, I can see that they are starting to consider it in their collection right away.

The owner of Hi-Point Firearms wanted to make guns for the everyman, a blue collar line of pistols and carbines that a regular working guy could buy and be very happy with. Please note, this is not an ad for guns or Hi-Point, just my thoughts and opinions like Busted Knuckles always is. Mostly I talk about comics, TV, films and pop culture; other times, like today, I talk about me. (Wait a minute, I always talk about ME!)

The Roundup section is just my part of Busted Knuckles where I share a bit of me with you (Some of you may say force me on you…) As I said before, guns are a hot topic these days, and everyone has their good and their bad stories when it comes to guns. What’s important is that the owner has respect for the gun and for themselves in knowing how to handle it and how to use it in a world where we live with other folks.

Okay, I’ve bent your ear far too long. I’ll see you next time.

Your amigo,

Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch

Hey!  Here is a new review on my graphic novel WYNONNA EARP: The Yeti: Wars.  Please check it out and leave the reviewer some comments.  Thanks!

 http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2011/01/27/a-review-a-day-wynonna-earp-the-yeti-wars/

Today would’ve been the 103rd birthday of John Wayne-great American film actor-if his physical body could’ve kept up with his immortal, legendary, iconic spirit.  I grew up and older watching John Wayne movies and even today, he remains my favorite actor.  To celebrate his birthday I hope you take the time this week to sit and watch one of his always entertaining films.  My personal suggestions would be:

Wake Of The Red Witch

The Searchers

The Shootist

Red River

Rio Bravo

Big Jake

That should get you started.  I hope you enjoy.

Beau Smith

The Flying Fist Ranch 

My Official Website.  Come Visit!

Beau Smith-Writer