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.