Alternative Weapons

Tips for writing about alternative or unusual weapons in fiction.

Can a Nail Gun be Used like a Firearm?

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Nail Gun as a Weapon

It has the word “gun” in its name, so a nail gun should be a fine substitute for a traditional firearm, right? (Shutterstock image)

I’m over at crime writer Sue Coletta’s stellar blog today discussing whether a nail gun can actually be used like a firearm. I won’t spoil it for you, but I take a look at how a nail in flight compares to a bullet fired from a traditional gun. It turns out there’s a simple mathematical formula to help determine just that. Take a look. I think you’ll enjoy the analysis.

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What are 3D-Printed Guns?

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TLDR: No one can say what the future holds for 3D-printed guns, but the possibility of printing off weapons at home is a great avenue for fiction to explore.

Like smart guns, 3D-printed firearms are an emerging technology that’s perfect for speculation when writing fiction. This is an area of firearms the real world isn’t yet sure about. With the proliferation of 3D printers across the consumer market, you can bet 3D-printed firearms will be showing up in fiction sooner rather than later.

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Taurus Curve: The Hot New Handgun on the Block for Fiction

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Like any other industry, the firearms market is subject to fads and flavors of the month, especially when it comes to handguns. The hype machine bit me good for the latest hot model on the block, the Taurus Curve. I think it’s worth noting for fiction writers, because it’s a fresh take on many of the features characters need in a handgun. Continue reading →

On Writing Explosives: How to Blow Up a Boat in 1889

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on track for murder stephen childsToday’s guest blog post comes from Stephen Childs, author of the forthcoming On Track for Murder. It hits shelves on Sept. 1, 2015, and from the description it sounds pretty cool.

With her father stabbed to death, her brother caught with the bloody murder weapon, and her stepmother suspiciously missing, 18-year-old Abigail Sergeant is forced into a dangerous cross country adventure to uncover the truth and bring the real killer to justice.

What makes this crime novel stand out is the late 1800s setting. I invited Childs to contribute a post about selecting weapons for that period.

I think you’ll enjoy how he came to, as the title says, blow up a boat in 1889.

~Ben

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Bra Holsters for Female Characters

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Concealed Carry for Women

“Concealed Carry for Women” by Gila Hayes is a great resource for learning how female characters can pack heat.

Choosing a handgun for a female character (or a knife) doesn’t need to be entirely different from selecting one for a male. I think some writers get too caught up on how a female’s firearm should look and not on the basics, such as the character’s hand size and firearms experience. But there’s one area where gender definitely draws a line in the sand: holsters.

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