Does anyone use pens like this one anymore? I don’t know, but they make for nice photos, eh? (Wojtek Wolañski photo via sxc.hu)

The analytics running behind the scenes here at The Writer’s Guide to Weapons offer interesting insights into the depraved minds creative undertakings the writerfolk pursue when researching guns and knives for writing fiction. Here’s a review of 2015’s traffic.

The Most Searched for Terms that Got You Here in 2015 (Plus Links to the Answers)

• “magazine vs clip”
• “ben sobieck” (aw, you shouldn’t have)
• “cordite” and “cordite smell”
• “machine gun vs submachine gun”
• “pistols detective novels”
• “armor piercing knife”
• “italian stiletto”
• “smith and wesson model 52”
• “ex military knives”
• “do revolvers have safeties”
• “pillow as a silencer”
• “will a 223 round penetrate a car door?”

The Top 10 Most Read Articles of 2015

• What’s that Smell? Cordite vs. Gunpowder vs. Propellant
• Characteristics of a Good Survival Knife
• Can a “Bulletproof Vest” Also Stop a Knife?
• Gripes About Guns in Movies from a Retired Law Enforcement Officer
• Best Handguns for Detectives in Fiction
• How Loud is a Silencer?
• Magazine vs. Clip: What’s the Difference?
• As Seen in The Godfather: Does a Towel Really Work as a DIY Silencer/Suppressor?
• What are Armor-Piercing Knives?
• Step-by-Step: How to Load and Accurately Shoot a Pistol

Get More Answers to Questions About Writing Weapons in Fiction

The Writer’s Guide to Weapons: A Practical Reference for Using Firearms and Knives in Fiction (Writer’s Digest Books) comes with everything but the ammo. Pick up a print or digital copy from these fine retailers:

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Writer’s Digest Shop