Random Duke Venturino question

[Patrick L]

I wasn't sure where to post this.

So I'm a fan of Duke, have been for years. My question is, early in his career did he write under an assumed name? I like acquiring old Gun Digests, Guns Illustrated, etc. I recently got the 1983 Guns Illustrated, and there is an article about reloading for the .30 Carbine Blackhawk penned by a guy named Brandon Wolf. In the photos he looks for all the world like a young Duke. There is even a photo of "the author's wife" that sure looks like Yvonne.

Was this something he did back then? I know it used to be a thing for some writers.

Just curious.

[Bazoo]

You mean mike venturino? Does he go by duke? Never heard of that.

[elmacgyver0]

You mean mike venturino? Does he go by duke? Never heard of that.

You must not read the gun rags.

[Bazoo]

Not much. Just handloader.

[Nobade]

If you are on Facebook you could ask him. He is on there.

[porthos]

some magazines; he is "duke" in others he is mike. he is not John Wayne!

[M-Tecs]

He was a member here and may still be under a different name. Message his on Facebook.

[Patrick L]

Dinosaur here, I don't do Facebook.

Fire bad!!!!!

[Nueces]

I can confirm that Mike did publish the occasional article under the nom de plume of Brandon Wolf. George C Nonte used C George Charles. Was common practice at 1980s gunzines.

[Patrick L]

Thank you Nueces!

[lotech]

It may not apply in the above cases, but sometimes an editor would have too many articles by one author yet he wants to publish all of them in the same publication. The reasoning was that it looks better if there at least appears to be a greater number of writers for the edition than there really were. I never figured out such reasoning but it was a common practice years ago especially with the various GUN DIGEST publications (GUNS ILLUSTRATED, etc.). Someone mentioned George Nonte; I think his most used alias was Otto Schofield. This practice didn't lessen the quality of an article, but it may have been a little less than ethical. A lesser example of the same practice but one that was commonly employed was using a writer's full name, Charles James Smith instead of of the usual Charlie Smith that readers were familiar with.

[Outpost75]

Who was the "phantom gun writer" aka P.G. Wrighter?

[StrawHat]

… he is not John Wayne!…

I don’t recall Mike or anyone else claiming he was/is JW.

Kevin

[Patrick L]

I don't recall where, but somewhere years ago I read something penned by Mike where he explained where he got the nickname "Duke" and I don't believe it has anything to do with John Wayne. I can't for the life of me remember where.

[Electrod47]

I don't recall where, but somewhere years ago I read something penned by Mike where he explained where he got the nickname "Duke" and I don't believe it has anything to do with John Wayne. I can't for the life of me remember where.

As I recall Mr. Venturino explained in an article his nickname Duke was given him as a boy by his family. He had a horse ( or a dog ) named Duke. They were so inseparable that the family just called them both by the same name. In his story he wanted to make plain he was not trying to channel John Wayne.

[mdi]

John Wayne- "The Duke". Mike Vinturino- "Duke"...

[derek45]

Dinosaur here, I don't do Facebook.

Fire bad!!!!!

You're better off without

FB is a vile, anti 1st & 2nd amendment, leftist sesspool of idiot soccermom Karens from hell.

.

[Bazoo]

I like mikes articles. Especially the older ones. He has a passion for firearms much the same as me. Except o like a slightly different style of guns than he does.

[StrawHat]

As I recall Mr. Venturino explained in an article his nickname Duke was given him as a boy by his family. He had a horse ( or a dog ) named Duke. They were so inseparable that the family just called them both by the same name. In his story he wanted to make plain he was not trying to channel John Wayne.

John Wayne had a dog named Duke. I think you have conjoined your myths.

Kevin

[Green Frog]

Indiana Jones got his name from his dog... it’s a fine old tradition!