I need help

[Susan Breen]

I am going over the copy editor's notes on my novel and she asked a question that I am sure someone here will know the answer to.
At one point I mention that my favorite moment in the movies is in The Great Escape, when Richard Attenborough says he has never been so happy, and at that moment he hears the machine gun cocked.
My copy editor points out, and rightly so, that you probably do not "cock" a machine gun, and, for that matter, it might not be a machine gun. So, does anyone know what type of gun that is and what type of verb I should use.
Thanks.

[johnzakour]

I'm not a gun expert but I would just cut the word "machine" from that line and you'll be okay. Obviously he did hear a gun cock and that's the important thing. Actually I guess I would say, "...he hears a gun cock..."

I'm pretty good at fudging around old movies that I remember but don't quite totally remember.

[Willowmound]

Why wouldn't you cock a machine gun? On the one I used to play with (which happened to be both German and from WWII) you slid the thing back and it went click-click, and then you could shoot. I'd say that was 'cocking'.

[JJ Cooper]

Every machine gun I've ever used (lots) has to be cocked. And the lever you pull back is normally called 'the cocking handle'.

JJ

[Marcusthefish]

I've seen the movie, but I don't remember the scene. If it's a small handheld weapon without a stock (or with a folding stock), it's probably more accurately described as a submachine gun.

Machine gun usually refers to really big guns that are mounted or otherwise fired from a resting position (if you can carry it around, it's usually called a light machine gun). But if the words are coming from a character who doesn't know guns, I'd say it's an acceptable generic term.

MTF

[Susan Breen]

Thank you so much. So it sounds like I am safe with "cocked." And that's a very good point. This character doesn't know guns, so I wouldn't expect her to know the right word anyway. Thanks!

[Sassee]

Why wouldn't you cock a machine gun? On the one I used to play with (which happened to be both German and from WWII) you slid the thing back and it went click-click, and then you could shoot. I'd say that was 'cocking'.

Change it to "he hears the click-click of the machine gun being cocked."

[wordmonkey]

The ominous CLICK of the first round being chambered?

[johnzakour]

I've learn with fiction sometimes it's possible to be too specific which opens you up to mistakes which means a reader or two will notice and ask you about these mistakes when you are doing conventions.

In one of my books the man character mentions something about a star (I believe Sirius A) being 8.9 light years away. It's amazing the number of people that I saw at conventions that year that corrected me on that.

I justified it by saying my character was speaking off the top of his head...

[Novelhistorian]

I remember the movie very well, and the moment happens exactly as you describe. The weapon in question is a heavy machine gun, therefore mounted, not hand-held, and firing a belt of ammunition. I'm not sure "cocked" is the right word, however. I associate that with revolvers or handguns that aren't automatic. For automatic weapons, I've heard the word "primed," as in the weapon is primed and ready to fire. You can also "chamber a round," but that sounds like what you'd do with a rifle, not a machine gun.

[Willowmound]

I justified it by saying my character was speaking off the top of his head...

And you were writing off the top of your head, as well, were you? ;)

[johnzakour]

And you were writing off the top of your head, as well, were you? ;)

Oh yes. That's kind of assumed.

[shakeysix]

AHA!!! I paid $ .75 to see that movie. I am almost certain that what Roger hears is the gate of the truck being dropped. He then looks up to see the eye of the machine gun. You could probably check this out by going to youtube. Strangely there are specific clips of movies and tv series posted there. Strangely, because I do not understand why anyone would take the time to do this and aren't there copyright laws to consider? My high school students showed me around the site --s6

[Linx]

Cocked would be correct if its a mounted machine gun - or you can say "Pulled back the cocking lever"

Google is your friend :
"
Picture and specifications of captured 7.62mm Goryunov Heavy Machine Gun, SG43. ... and the cocking handle was under the receiver, with no dust covers to
"

"
Many heavy machine guns, such as the Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun, are accurate ... Cocking the trigger mechanism so the weapon can be fired again
"

:)