Choose Your Weapon with Crystal L. Barnes

Hey everyone! Today Crystal L. Barnes joins us at the Junction to discuss weapons of choice and to give away one of her books. Please join us in welcoming Crystal!

What would the Old West be without the Colt Peacemaker or Winchester Repeating rifle? Or maybe your character’s choice would be the Henry Repeater? Or a lady’s favorite, the derringer?

Howdy y’all! Crystal Barnes here and what better place to talk about guns than on Petticoats and Pistols. (Thanks so much for having me back.) Recently I attended my local ACFW chapter meeting where fellow writer and fight scene consultant Carla Hoch spoke on Writing Your Fight Scenes Right. To start off the discussion, we all introduced ourselves and stated our (or our character’s) weapon of choice. Let me tell you, we got some great laughs out of this. We got answers that ranged from magic swords to swinging sickles. Maybe that’s part of the reason that has stuck with me.

What was my weapon of choice, you ask?

A Cast-iron skillet.

Not what you expected, right? I also mentioned the Colt Peacemaker for my hero, but I had to mention the skillet because I’d just recently written a scene in my WIP Hook, Line, & Suitor (Marriage & Mayhem,  Book 3) where my heroine cold-conked the guy with one.

I’m sure you Disney-loving fans are thinking of Tangled and Rapunzel’s hilarious use of the skillet, and I have to admit that’s probably where part of that idea stemmed from but not entirely. We joke around in my family and call cast-iron skillets an “equalizer.” J

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNd73Y4PYMA&feature=youtu.be" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNd73Y4PYMA&feature=youtu.be</a>

In book two of my Marriage and Mayhem series, Love, Stock, & Barrel, I did a ton of research on guns because my heroine grew up helping in her father’s gunsmith shop. She played with stocks, locks, and barrels more than she did with toys and tops. J Which is why, when she’s caught in a shotgun wedding with the barrel pointed at her, she can name the type of gun without blinking.

They say when a firearm is pointed at someone their focus fixates on the barrel opening. So how could my heroine still name the gun? I’m so glad you asked. J

In my research, I stumbled upon a Confederate sharpshooter rifle that was so unique a trained marksman could hit a man-sized target at a thousand yards easy. Some could boast two thousand. The price of the rifle was so comparatively high that only the best of the best got them. What made it so unique? Well, a Whitworth sharpshooter rifle had a hexagonal-shaped barrel, instead of the normal octagon opening. Thus, my heroine could stare down the barrel and know its make and model and her odds of getting away unscathed. Very slim to say the least.

Another interesting pair of weapons worth mentioning is the 1873 Winchester Repeating Rifle and the .44-40 Colt SAA revolver (aka the Peacemaker). I used these as my sheriff’s weapons of choice. Why? Because both firearms shot the same .44-40 ammunition. Pretty convenient for a lawman, right?

 

How about you? What is your (or your character’s) weapon of choice?

I’ll be giving away a FREE copy (ebook or paperback) of one of my stories to one of this post’s commentors. (Winner’s choice of title. Paperback for contiguous US winners only.)

An award-winning author, bona fide country girl, and former competitive gymnast, Crystal L Barnes tells stories of fun, faith, and friction that allow her to share her love of Texas, old-fashioned things, and the Lord—not necessarily in that order. When she’s not writing, reading, singing, or acting, Crystal enjoys exploring on road-trips, spending time with family, and watching old movies/sitcoms. I Love Lucy and Little House on the Prairie are two of her favorites. You can find out more and connect with Crystal at http://www.crystal-barnes.com.

Find her also on her blog, the Stitches Thru Time group blog, her , GoodreadsPinterestGoogle+, or on her Facebook author page.

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35 thoughts on “Choose Your Weapon with Crystal L. Barnes”

  1. A rolling pin…haha! A great pie crust implement but also a threat to anyone trying to sneak a piece of that pie before I’m ready to serve it 🙂 Or a wooden spoon, and as I dubbed it when my kids were young, an “attitude adjuster” !

    I did read a book where the heroine playfully threatened the hero with a rolling pin, I immediately loved her, haha! It certainly stopped any argument between the two grown brothers!

    I remember this movie and Rupunzels use of a cast iron, too funny. My mom loved her set and cooking lots of good food with them.

    Thanks for the fun post & giveaway chance, Crystal!

    • Haha, Trixi. Love it. In my family/neck of the woods, we call rolling pins “husband tamers”. 🙂 Been known to put wooden spoons to use too. 😉

      Thanks so much for stopping by. So glad you enjoyed the post.

  2. My fictional character would handle anyone threatening her with a stinging, disarming, verbal attack that would unman anyone.

  3. Hi Crystal……Welcome back!! We’re so happy to have you. I love your post! Weapons come in all shapes and sizes. Some of mine have been the butt end of a gun, a broom, a pan, and a stick of wood. Usually whatever is handy.

    Wishing you much success and happiness always.

  4. I think if I was in the kitchen my go-to would be a knife or the frying pan whichever is closest at the time.

    • Right! I’m with you. 🙂 That’s how it was with the scene I was writing in my WIP. The frying pan was closest. 🙂

      Thanks so much for dropping by, Kerri! Happy Easter!

    • Hi, Kelly!!!!
      A fire poker–wow! That would definitely be a good weapon. 🙂
      As for the rolling pin, don’t you have a husband tamer in your house? 😉 Heehee.

      So glad you stopped in. Have a very happy Easter!!!

  5. Sorry if this repeats – I got a blank page, so I’m trying again.

    I guess it would depend on the situation but I usually call for the hubby! 🙂

    Happy Easter to all!

  6. My favorite weapon – the brain. It can be used to figure out just what the situation requires and how to make it happen. Something unexpected and effective is usually the best bet.

  7. I probably wouldn’t have one in the house but a have used a hoe more than once as a weapon. Snakes have been killed with my hoe, a bull was once diverted by my hoe and many spiders have scared me for the last time after meeting the same hoe. Thank goodness, I have never fought off an intruder with my hoe but I bet I could :-).
    Thanks for a fun post!

    • LOL!!! A hoe is definitely an effective weapon. I’ve got a shovel I keep nearby for similar purposes, although me and spiders normally get along. 🙂

      So glad you dropped by, Connie. Happy Easter!

  8. Whatever is close at hand. A cast iron skillet would do right nicely I sure. A baseball bat would work as well. 🙂

    Smiles & Blessings,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com

  9. I love that you listed cast iron skillet as a weapon of choice. That would definitely make an impression. Literally and figuratively. I have a 380 and a 12 gage shotgun.
    susanmsj at msn dot com

  10. I have been tempted to use an iron skillet myself a few times, but I really wouldn’t. I think I would use a .22 if I had to protect myself.

    • Hi, Quilt Lady! I know what you mean, although if I was desperate, there’s no telling what is grab. I’ve known a snake or two that has met up with a .22 mag. 😉
      Thanks for stopping in. Happy Easter!!

  11. I carry a .45 most of the time, so that’s pretty much my weapon of choice. Although, our cats do a lot of damage to people they don’t like; so they might work just as well. Especially if there’s a can of food up for grabs.

    • Melanie, right!?! For some reason my mind goes to that scene in McLintock where that man is jabbing a shotgun in John Wayne’s stomach just before he belts him. 🙂

      Thanks so much for stopping by!!!

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