Brass Tacks

I can understand that and I have absolutely no idea what it takes to get one published. However, if done like those from R.L. Wilson and Dennis Adler, I would have to have two or three because I know I'd wear the first one out.

 

[tonybones]

As a writer of supernatural horror I have no intention at this time of going the conventional agent/publisher/submission/rejection slip route. JK Rowling was rejected by 38 publishers before the 39th sold 2 billion of those stupid Harry Potter books.

At this time the money is in Kindle/Amazon self-publishing. At this time. Write, illustrate, edit, your book in WORD or some other compatible word processor. Royalties for conventional publishing is 18% if you're lucky. Amazon pays an average of 17%

The conventional book has survived radio, movies, TV and will survive the "digital age" At the time the money and success rate with Kindle style books for tablet computers is one that can be profitable, moreso than conventional publishing. That is why I do not read fiction: Many "editors" for large, well distributed publishing house would not know a good book if it jumped up and bit them in the posterior.

Bones

 

[Johnny Too-Tall]

Go for it, and tie a turkey feather and some beads from the middle of the barrel area. Gives the gun a nice indian look.

 

[Bill Hall]

Back in the 70's and early 80's, brass tacks were all the rage. If you had a new rifle, someone would walk up and say, "Nice rifle, just needs a few tacks on it". Nowadays, as you probably surmised, they are looked down upon, unless meant to represent a specific era, area, and time.

Many years ago, I tacked up a plains rifle I built. My excuse was that it would help me grip the rifle better, like checkering. I didn't regret doing it, but it didn't add more grip, and really didn't make it look any more 'mountain manish".

But I gotta say, that rifle that David50 tacked up looks pretty nice. Bill

 

[cynthialee]

I think a gun that is sporting brass tacks looks really cool.
But I am also swayed by group think and common opinion, so I wouldn't put tacks on my rifles just so I wouldn't have to hear about it.

 

[crockett]

Chuck- on the book thing. The data you have collected over the years is invaluable. I wouldn't worry about writing any type of literary work, I would think about simply putting out something along the lines of "a collection of notes and data". You could do a desktop publishing type book- that's a book that is on a flash card or disc and when someone wants a copy you just print out a book (one at a time) for that person. There are some inexpensive machines that clamp all the pages, glue the back edge and apply a cover (paperback), the other option are some of the self published type printers. There are some really good deals floating around right now- for $300-$600 "ish" you can set up a deal where they publish your "book" or collection of notes. They take orders and print out books and send you a percentage of the sales price. For our "community" inwhich the total amount sold may be rather small- one of these deals may be just the ticket. In any event, I don't think you need to write anything, just a collection of all the data and the sources, references- that is invaluable.
Dave

PS- sorry to hear about the health issues- take care of yourself.

 

[LaBonte]

Thanks Dave and actually I'm working on a blog, but would like to maybe one day put out a couple of coffee table type books with lots of images - have a couple of publisher's in mind, but again right now "work and life" is most important.

 

[cynthialee]

If you want to self publish actual books I would sugest Lulu.com
There are other on demand publishers but Lulu is the one I am familiar with.

I wrote a rules book for a role playing game I developed and having it printed into actual books has made the play testing phase so much easier.
Also you can buy one book (at the inflated 1 book price) or you can get cases of them printed at discount.
Also I have made a few bucks here and there when one of my books is bought by a friend or someone who is interested in the game.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I have a T/C New Englander that has a slick Tru-Oil hand rubbed stock. Problem is it's light and, especially when wearing wool mitts, it tends to be a slippery little minx to hold and handle on the forearm. I solve it with a few tacks.

Really nothing to lose as it's not a copy of anything so tacks violate no historical precident.

The tacks did help with grip and doubtless look better than any checkering I was apt to chop in.

 

[Black Hand]

...especially when wearing wool mitts, it tends to be a slippery little minx to hold and handle on the forearm. I solve it with a few tacks.

I sewed chamois leather to the palms of my blanket mittens to solve the issue.

 

[Scorpmann3518]

Sorta my view on my T/C. Just redid the entire stock and added some decoration. I'm not trying to be P/C or please anyone other than me. Sorta have this thing about decorating rifles anyways. At least as long as it isn't anything of historical value.

 

[Darto]

http://buffalodays.cz/articles/index.php?p=square-shank-brass-tacks

^ source for brass tacks in Europe? ^

 

[Sabotdart]

Nice job, really like your set up. Is that a powder measure made from deer bone.