Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 09:07:22 -0400
From: moonshine
Subject: [VP] Hutch's Gun and more....

Dear Venice Place,

Please find below some stuff I typed up a year+ ago.  Some of the 
info about the guns Starsky and Hutch use came directly from an 
old article that came out during the show, which (I think) was 
printed or possibly re-printed in one of the British Monthly S&H 
magazines.  The copy of the article I had was pretty chopped up 
and didn't have the author listed, otherwise I would credit the 
author.  At the time I typed this up, I remember streamlining it 
for clarity and space and consulting some cop buddies who 
occasionally come into my place of employ for accuracy.  A good 
chunk of the stuff below includes some of my own humble opinions, 
which I've tried to back up with episode references. Don't roast 
me guys, if you find an error--just know I've tried not to let 
any creep in.  Hope this helps!

Pax, 
Kath

************************************

Starsky's Weapons: 

The real name of the gun Starsky uses is a Smith & Wesson Model 
59 9mm automatic, but fandom (and Paul Michael Glaser) has dubbed 
it a Baretta.  It is approximately 8" long, weighs 36.5 ounces 
fully loaded with a clip of fourteen rounds; one extra round can 
be in the chamber making a total of 15 rounds.  I think Starsky 
would carry a couple of extra clips normally--possibly more if he 
expected trouble.  This gun is an updated version of the Model 39 
sidearm used by U.S. forces during Vietnam (a reason why Starsky 
uses it?) but isn't really considered to have a good reputation 
due to jamming. Individual guns can and do give good service, and 
Starsky probably appreciates the rapid fire action and extra 
rounds it holds.  We see Starsky quite expertly shoot the gas 
tank of an escaping vehicle with a rifle Hutch calls "an elephant 
gun" (The Psychic), causing it to explode.  He uses machine guns 
with banana clips expertly (The Set Up).  Handles a confiscated 
high-powered rifle with ease (90 lbs. of Trouble).  While 
captured and bound, he tells a cultist threatening him with a 
knife, (paraphrased) "You'd better be damn good with that, honey. 
I ain't gonna go easy." (Bloodbath)

During the series:

David Michael Starsky is a Detective Sergeant with the (Los 
Angeles) Bay City Police Department.  He and Hutch met during 
their police academy days, but presumably did not work together 
in uniform (Deadly Imposter).  By the end of the 4 year series, 
S&H would have been partners roughly 8-9 years.  Starsky made 
Detective grade before Hutch.  

Starsky has never been married, has a living mother (name 
unknown) whom he calls every friday, and a brother (Nicholas 
Marvin Starsky) who "sells things that fall off the back of 
trucks."  Nicky came to visit Starsky, had a brush with some 
heavy organized crime-types, is rescued by S&H. then returns to 
New York hopefully wiser (Starsky's Brother).  His father was 
killed while Starsky was young and the funeral was paid for by 
Gangland Mobster Joe Durniak (The Set Up). 

We see several hobbies and interests displayed by Starskyþhe 
builds complicated, delicate model ships (Fatal Charm), likes to 
read and is good at research, has an interest in photography 
(Blindfold, The Groupie), baseball cards (The Monster), movies in 
general, classic films (Humphrey Bogart and Bela Lagosi seem to 
have been favorites, along with westerns and comedies), and is an 
enthusiastic dancer (Moonshine, Discomania, etc...) skilled 
enough to successfully go undercover as a dance instructor (Tap 
Dancing).  Starsky plays Monopoly (poorly) (Starsky's Lady), 
chess (Iron Mike), and can ride a motorcycle (The Psychic).

Starsky is superstitious (The Vampire), suspicious of non-city, 
"natural" environments (Satan's Witches), and is considered more 
a man of the people, one interested in common pleasures--fast 
food, beer, bowling, and other all-American past-times.  He has 
been (legitimately) frightened by a bear (Bloodbath) and a 
rattlesnake (Satan's Witches), and doesn't seem to care much for 
what he perceives as "wild" animals.  His major relationships 
have been with (women) people who are socially responsible (Rosie 
Malone, Starsky's Lady, Lady Blue).  He is fair with the "street" 
people  hookers, bums, scam artists), but rarely interacts warmly 
with them as Hutch is wont to do given the right circumstances. 
Starsky is nostalgic about the people he grew up with, seeming to 
keep track of their careers (Running, The Specialist).  He is 
fond of "get rich quick" schemes (Hutchinson for Murder One).

In addition to being a good cop, Starsky doesn't accept graft, 
and is fiercely loyal to Hutch.  



Hutch's Weapons: 

Hutch carries a Colt Python .357 Magnum (That's the manufacturers 
whole name--so when fans call it a Colt, a Python or a Magnum 
they're all correct!), which has an six inch barrel, making an 
overall length of 11.5 inches.  Gun experts in 1975 considered 
this the best revolver available.  It is hand built, extremely 
accurate, has tremendous stopping power and is capable of 
withstanding 20 years of heavy use without major repairs.  It 
weighs 57 ounces fully loaded with six rounds.  Hutch's gun has 
been customized; replacing the original walnut grips are black 
rubber grips which help absorb the recoil.  Brand new, this gun 
cost almost $500. in 1975 and went up in value as a used gun 
because it was much in demand and often out of stock.  Due to its 
size and kick, strong hands and wrists are necessary for proper 
use of this firearm. This weapon is in character for Hutch, if 
one assumes he comes from money, is used to having the best, and 
is willing to pay to get what he wants.  Starsky says, "Hutch 
wouldn't go to see his mother without his gun."  Yet, he is 
without his gun at Pine Lake (Satan's Witches).  At need, Hutch 
will wear on his left ankle a holster which holds a (what looks 
to me to be) snub nosed .38 revolver (Deckwatch).
  
During the series:

Kenneth Hutchinson is assumed by many fans to have come from a 
financially well-heeled family.  His best friend from high 
school, Jack Mitchell, was very wealthy (Jack and Hutch shared 
the nickname The Prince and the Pauper, with Jack being the 
"Prince" and Hutch the "Pauper.)  Hearing this, Starsky asks 
Hutch with dawning incredulity, "You were poor?" Hutch 
categorically denies this.  He says that by comparison he was 
poor because Jack's family was so filthy rich. We see that Hutch 
drives a marginal motor vehicle, lives rather frugally in an 
almost "Bohemian" fashion. His apartments look as though they've 
been decorated with an eclectic blend of rummage sale cast offs 
and (possibly some) antiques. 

Hutch was married and divorced--his wife's name was Vanessa.  She 
was murdered in Hutch's apartment and Hutch was initially 
implicated, then cleared (Hutchinson for Murder One).  Fandom 
assumes Hutch has a sister (Starsky's Lady) and he is in contact 
with his mother (Murder On Stage 17).  No mention is made of 
Hutch's father, but he talks of a grandfather who owned a farm 
(Tap Dancing).  Hutch has been unlucky in love (with women) 
falling for a gold-digging bitch, Vanessa (Hutchinson for Murder 
One), a hooker named Gillian (Gillian), and being chosen as an 
object of romantic-homicidal obsession by Nurse Diana Harmon 
(Fatal Charm).

Like his partner, Hutch has several hobbies: Blues/Jazz music 
(The Game, Losing Streak), fishing (Satan's Witches, Class In 
Crime), and a plethora of house plants (with whom he talks).  He 
knows how to play chess (Iron Mike), wins at Monopoly (Starsky's 
Lady) and rides a motorcycle (Moonshine).  Hutch can drive a "big 
rig" 18-wheeler (The Set Up).

Hutch believes in human psychic ability (The Psychic), and has 
been know to practice meditation, bio-rhythm, fasting, and 
regularly consumes various health food concoctions.  He is kind 
to those he perceives as needy, giving small gifts of money to 
street types and hookers (S&H Movie of the Week, The Heroes, 
Losing Streak) which gives him the reputation of having a "White 
Knight" or rescuer personality.  Hutch is a "Big Brother" to 
Kiko, a young at-risk Hispanic boy in his neighborhood. Hutch 
does not keep track of old friends (Las Vegas Strangler) and his 
blood type is B-negative (HFMO).  Hutch seems to like dogs 
(Snowstorm) and deals effectively with "wild" animals, like 
rattlesnakes (Satan's Witches).  Hutch has what I call a "stress 
stutter", which makes an occasional appearance under duress--
usually when he's worried about his partner.  He can be quite 
clumsy at times (Body Worth Guarding, Omaha Tiger) but almost 
always rises to the occasion when the chips are down (Las Vegas 
Strangler, Bloodbath).

An extremely intelligent cop, Hutch is incorruptible.  He is 
fiercely protective, and devoted to Starsky.


