Alpo Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 The book is Farnham's Freehold. Robert Heinlein post-apocalyptic world story written in 1964 at the height of the Cold War. For those that have not read it, they are in the bomb shelter when one lands on top of it and knocks them into the future, where things are different. Boy howdy things are different. Hugh Farnham carries a .45. That's the only way it was described, but near the end of the book someone removes the magazine. So it was a 45 automatic. If this was you and your bomb shelter - you are not expecting to be knocked several hundred years into the future - what pistol would you put in your bomb shelter? Remember. It is 1964. No Glock, no 10, no 40, no 357 SIG. No Comblock anything. Probably the only available 9s were Browning, Luger and P38. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocWard Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Probably the aforementioned .45acp, presumably a 1911, or something along the lines of a Smith & Wesson Model 10. Then as now, I would look for commonly found guns and ammunition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Brules Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 In 1964? Preparing for such a time jump? I would want the 9mm Browning Hi-Power and an extra magazine. Oh, and in 1964, if you said, “a .45,” it was generally understood it to be.a M1911 .45acp. Cat Brules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 A Smith & Wesson K-22. Lots and lots of .22 ammo takes up very little space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joke 'um Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Ruger Standard 22 Automatic Pistol, several extra magazines and a few bricks of .22 LR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Colt Or SW In .357 mag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocWard Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 38 minutes ago, Cat Brules said: In 1964? Preparing for such a time jump? I would want the 9mm Browning Hi-Power and an extra magazine. Oh, and in 1964, if you said, “a .45,” it was generally understood it to be.a M1911 .45acp. Cat Brules He said " you are not expecting to be knocked several hundred years into the future." (emphasis added) I agree with your assessment if I were planning on such a jump, but what if you weren't? I agree with you in the ".45" meaning a 1911, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 I'd have two - the aforementioned 1911, and a Ruger Mk. 1. Branching out into rifles, something in a bolt action 30 aught 6, and something in a bolt action .22. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Brules Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 34 minutes ago, DocWard said: He said " you are not expecting to be knocked several hundred years into the future." (emphasis added) I agree with your assessment if I were planning on such a jump, but what if you weren't? I agree with you in the ".45" meaning a 1911, too. RE:, " you are not expecting to be knocked ....... Yeah, ooops! Cat Brules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Bob #35998 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Just how far in the future? you might only need rocks and a pointed stick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 8 minutes ago, Utah Bob #35998 said: Just how far in the future? you might only need rocks and a pointed stick All the more reason to be the only guy with a .45...... LL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 1911 in .45 , SAA in .45 Colt , a "J" frame S&W in .22 rimfire, 12ga. Hammered Double and a Marlin 93 in .38-55 ... This being the short list .... Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Wilson Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 I would want a Thompson machine gun (aka the Chicago Typewriter) and 4 or 5 50 round magazines and lots of ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 6, 2020 Author Share Posted July 6, 2020 41 minutes ago, Arizona Gunfighter said: I would want a Thompson machine gun (aka the Chicago Typewriter) and 4 or 5 50 round magazines and lots of ammo. You would do better with 30 round sticks. Drums look cool, but they are slow to load - both slow to put ammunition in, and slow to put into the gun - and can be finicky. 4 hours ago, Alpo said: what pistol would you put in your bomb shelter? Also I am fairly certain it would not qualify as a pistol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 In 1964 the only pistol we had was dads woodsman. I know rifles were not part of the question, but I find it interesting to note AR15s were first sold to the public in 1964. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 18 minutes ago, Alpo said: Also I am fairly certain it would not qualify as a pistol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 If I were in 1964 I am sure that my mindset would be that a S&W model 10 would be the gun I would put in my Fallout Shelter. So, S&W model 10 and a few boxes of ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Ruger in .44 Mag, M1 Garand, 1897 Win, yes only the first is a handgun...but Imis also 1911 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Like J.Bar....... I would also go with a S&W K-22. My 2nd choice would also be a .22 from High-Standard. ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Wilson Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 2 hours ago, Alpo said: 2 hours ago, Arizona Gunfighter said: I would want a Thompson machine gun (aka the Chicago Typewriter) and 4 or 5 50 round magazines and lots of ammo. You would do better with 30 round sticks. Drums look cool, but they are slow to load - both slow to put ammunition in, and slow to put into the gun - and can be finicky. 6 hours ago, Alpo said: what pistol would you put in your bomb shelter? Also I am fairly certain it would not qualify as a pistol. You're right on both counts Alpo, the sticks would be better than the drums so I'll change my answer to sticks, about 10 of them. And it is not a pistol, but it's MY bomb shelter and I still would have a Thompson machine gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dantankerous Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 Smith Highway Patrolman .357 mag. What's that? A model 28? Several boxes ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 6, 2020 Author Share Posted July 6, 2020 3 hours ago, Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 said: Did not exist in 1964. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 6, 2020 Author Share Posted July 6, 2020 1 hour ago, Arizona Gunfighter said: You're right on both counts Alpo, the sticks would be better than the drums so I'll change my answer to sticks, about 10 of them. And it is not a pistol, but it's MY bomb shelter and I still would have a Thompson machine gun. He had other guns. He had hunting rifles. "Our armament includes two lovely ladies’ guns, .22 magnum rimfires with telescopic sights." And he had at least one Tommy Gun. But the question was about pistols. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 S&W 1917 revolver in .45 ACP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 6, 2020 Author Share Posted July 6, 2020 That was my original thought. I really liked that one. Actually a 1950, which is the same gun but it has a 4-inch barrel instead of a 5 and 1/2. With a 1950 and full moon clips you can reload as fast as somebody with a 1911. And when you dump them IT is so much easier to see those six shells all clipped together been THAN trying to find individual brass thrown around by that 1911. But - full moon clips did not exist yet. Half-Moon clips were not intended to be reused. By their design they are flimsy. And AR brass puts you right back with any other DA revolver - slower to load than the automatic, and looking for brass one case at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 1 hour ago, Alpo said: Did not exist in 1964. Are you sure?? Drums were available in the 1920's and so was the plain forearm.. General John T. Thompson holding an M1921 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 The gun he is showing is the 1927 A5 pistol. https://www.auto-ordnance.com/thompson-pistol/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 .45 ACPs: M1911 and S&W 1917, and any Tommy gun I could get.....and a box car full of magazines and moon clips, all pre-loaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 9 hours ago, Utah Bob #35998 said: Just how far in the future? you might only need rocks and a pointed stick Just got to the point in the book where they figured it out. Two thousand one hundred and three years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 9 hours ago, Utah Bob #35998 said: Just how far in the future? you might only need rocks and a pointed stick To paraphrase..."In the land of the man armed with rocks and a pointed stick, the man with a 45 is King". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 49 minutes ago, LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L said: To paraphrase..."In the land of the man armed with rocks and a pointed stick, the man with a 45 is King". There's a story I read once.... Gun writer Chuck Taylor is transported back in time to the age of the vikings, with his 1911 and competition gear. In the story, it turned out that HE was the inspiration for Thor. Good story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 I liked that story. Except for the "everybody carries a mallet to crack their nuts with, and nobody touches anyone else's mallet". That just seems like a big stretch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 19 hours ago, Alpo said: You would do better with 30 round sticks. Drums look cool, but they are slow to load - both slow to put ammunition in, and slow to put into the gun - and can be finicky. Also I am fairly certain it would not qualify as a pistol. "Can be"? The ones I had in 'Nam were useless. I had a couple of twenty round mags (handy for riding in Huey and other vehicles) and a gas mask bag full of 30 rounders. I sold the two drums to a Korean who just had to have them. I later traded the 26A1 for an M1 Thompson. It only accepted stick mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 So far mine have not given me trouble, but some I've seen have been a real pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Hangtree Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 14 hours ago, Alpo said: That was my original thought. I really liked that one. Actually a 1950, which is the same gun but it has a 4-inch barrel instead of a 5 and 1/2. With a 1950 and full moon clips you can reload as fast as somebody with a 1911. And when you dump them IT is so much easier to see those six shells all clipped together been THAN trying to find individual brass thrown around by that 1911. But - full moon clips did not exist yet. Half-Moon clips were not intended to be reused. By their design they are flimsy. And AR brass puts you right back with any other DA revolver - slower to load than the automatic, and looking for brass one case at the time. Why would you be looking around for individual brass? I don't think you'll be doing much reloading in a bomb shelter situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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