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WILCO
07-06-2014, 04:21 PM
Spent some time reading "Letters to Jim Hack" in the Gun Digest 1971 Edition.
Classic stuff by today's "Gimme" thread standards. [smilie=l:


Here's a post from another forum, referencing the above topic:

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-215360.html


Bullet Bob
August 12, 2006, 08:38 AM
The following are taken from a humorous article in the 1971 issue of Gun Digest. Written anonomously by the fictitious “Jack Hack” editor of “Shooting & Blasting”, it is a collection of letters allegedly written to Mr Hack by readers. Although everything is tongue in cheek, you know there’s a lot of truth contained therein. What strikes me is that in this information age where we can search for answers very easily, some version of these questions still show up on the internet every day.


I’ve always wondered if one person wrote the article, or it was a result of a bull session by some gun writers. A WAG on my part would be that it was written by Jim Carmichel or George Nonte Jr.

Anyway, here are just a couple of the letters submitted:
__________________________________________________


Dear Jim: I am 16 years old and I am interested in guns. I have a 22 and a single-shot 410. Last fall I killed two pheasants and two cottontails. I have been thinking about My Work in Life. I think I would like to be a Gun Editor. I read where you do a lot of Hunting. Do your pay your way, or does Shooting & Blasting pay your way? Or do these “Outfitters” and Aeroplane Companies give you free trips. How much do you make? How many hours a day do you work? What courses should I take in College so I could be a Gun Editor? How long are your vacations? How did you get your Job? You do not look very smart in your pictures, but maybe you are.
Cletus Todd, Age 16
Mary Lou Idaho

Dear Mr. Hack: I am taking advantage as a subscriber of Shooting & Blasting, of your Free Information Service. Please answer the following questions at your earliest convenience:

1 – What is the diameter of the following bullets, 280 Ross, 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffrey, 8x46R, 470, 505 Gibbs, 450-400 Jeffrey, 500-465 H&H.

2 – Describe in detail the alloy used in the Winchester 21 frame and describe the heat treatment.

3 – I have a model 93 Marlin 30/30 cal., serial number 61145. Please tell me what year, month, and day it was shipped from the factory, to what retailer, and what jobber. Give list price and wholesale price, also original owner if possible and oblige.

Marvin T. Smith
Yankton S.D.


Dear Mr. Hack:
Please tell me where I can get parts for a World War II Germany pistol, where I can get it fixed, and how much it will cost.
Paul Krammer
Glasgow PA.


Dear Sir: I have a gun. It was in a closet behind some old boots where my late father died. In the same room, I mean. It has a number on it. It says 83561. Please tell me all about it. Where was it made. How much did it cost? I hear antique guns are very valuable. Is this an antique gun?

Hyman K Perkins
Rough & Ready Ariz.
Gen. Del.

WILCO
07-06-2014, 04:22 PM
Here's an opportunity for 20 free Gun Digest downloads: http://www.gundigest.com/gun-books/gun-digest-annuals/gun-digest-annual-toc-1971

Bad Water Bill
07-06-2014, 04:31 PM
Now I am going to dig my copy out and see what else was in it.[smilie=s:

WILCO
07-06-2014, 04:52 PM
Glad you have a copy BWB!

HollandNut
07-06-2014, 05:04 PM
I remember those articles , that wudda been right about the time Carmichel came aboard ..

Bad Water Bill
07-06-2014, 05:08 PM
Guess we need to start our own loaner library somewhere.

Then I just might have a way of clearing out hundreds of pounds of old gun magazines and other gun books.

Who wants to become the librarian?:bigsmyl2:

HollandNut
07-06-2014, 05:13 PM
that would be neat , on an African forum , there were a handful of us who loved reading any books regarding Africa , and we did that very thing , we just posted what books we had , lots of overlap of course , but , we would put our names in our books , and if someone wanted to read it , just send it to them and each person would sign it as they read it ,no one ever lost a book ..

Bent Ramrod
07-06-2014, 05:36 PM
It is my understanding that Jack O'Connor wrote the "Letters to Jack Hack" article. It was based on his experience of many years of being Outdoor Life's answer man on gun topics. He touches on the trials and tribulations of having to answer readers' questions (without admitting to writing the article) in much the same manner in his posthumous The Last Book.