Benjamin Sobieck's Blog, page 12
June 24, 2015
Do Revolvers Use Clips?
TLDR: Yes, revolvers use clips, but write them specifically as “moon clips.” As covered previously, 99 percent of the time the right term for “detachable thing that holds ammunition” is “magazine,” not “clip.” That’s despite “clip” being used instead of “magazine” in about 99 percent of instances in fiction. It’s an easy fix – just write […]
June 17, 2015
An Update on the Writer’s Guide to Weapons
Plenty is happening since the launch of The Writer’s Guide to Weapons last week. I tried to condense everything into some social posts, but it got too long. Here’s the recap. Tips for Writing Guns and Knives, Now in Print The Writer’s Guide to Weapons is available everywhere, but only as a paperback so far. The […]
June 16, 2015
Can a “Bulletproof Vest” Also Stop a Knife?
TLDR: Most likely not. Bulletproof vests on walls of corpses sparked the idea for today’s topic. But before I get into that, a point of clarification. “Bulletproof vest” is a misnomer. No vest, as this post explained, is bulletproof. That’s why it’s better to refer to that gear as a “ballistics vest,” “ballistic resistant vest,” “ballistic […]
June 11, 2015
What Are Smart Guns?
TLDR: Smart guns use emerging technology to limit their use to pre-approved people and/or places. Feel free to explore them in fiction, but don’t expect to see them in reality all that much. There are smart phones, smart TVs and sarcastic smart asses, so why shouldn’t there be smart guns? Well, there are smart guns […]
June 8, 2015
Perfect for Fiction: Assisted Opening Trench Knife
A trench knife is a like a combination between brass knuckles and a fixed blade knife. This type of knife has been around for quite a while, but it’s only recently that something like this comes along: Watch a video demo of it here. It takes the classic trench knife a step further by adding […]
June 6, 2015
Could a Wall of Corpses Wearing Body Armor Offer Protection During a Gunfight?
TLDR: Yes, but not much. Holy Hannah, what a question. This one came from crime writer James Pierson, who tells me he’s nearing completion of his crime novel. Here’s how he laid it out: So I have my rogue special forces guy and everyone is hunting him. He’s taken shelter in a cottage where he […]
June 5, 2015
A Good Knife for an Ex-Military Character to Do Some Serious Damage
TLDR: The military uses many kinds of knives, but few can match the iconic KA-BAR USMC. BJ Wolf is a crime writer (check out her website here and follow her on Twitter here) working on the first in a trilogy of novels featuring detective Karen Yellowtail. She sent me a note looking for some feedback on assigning […]
June 4, 2015
As Seen in The Godfather: Does a Towel Really Work as a DIY Silencer/Suppressor?
TLDR: No, a towel does not make for a good DIY silencer/suppressor. Quick note from Ben: Crime writer James Pierson wrote in recently with a question about gun smoke in a scene he’s working on. The questions he sends via the contact form are always interesting, so I’ll turn his latest into a proper post again. Also, […]
June 3, 2015
On Writing Knives: Don’t Confuse Switchblades with Assisted Openers
It’s my lucky day, because the hits keep on coming. Lee Lofland hosted my guest blog post about the differences between switchblade and assisted opening knives over at The Graveyard Shift. Check it out for an interesting analysis of knife laws and current events as they relate to fiction. As many of you already […]
Choosing a Knife for a Vigilante Detective Character
Thriller writer Jennifer Chase popped a note to me the other day. She was looking for a recommendation for a backup knife for her vigilante detective character, Emily Stone. It seems the protagonist sometimes can’t access her sidearms, and needed something for last-ditch defense. I enjoyed playing Q, and the resulting guest blog post is […]
