The Bruce Lee Firearm Collection...

[WillBrink]

I've read articles in the 80s after Lee's death that reported he kept a 1911 handy toward the end of his life because of his fear of the mobs.

And smart enough to know you don't bring MA to gun fight if you can avoid it. Good on him. He obviously knew MA has it's place, but a blaster close by dramatically increases ones chances of survival.

[SteyrAUG]

And smart enough to know you don't bring MA to gun fight if you can avoid it. Good on him. He obviously knew MA has it's place, but a baster close by dramatically increases ones chances of survival.

Lee's problem with the mob were a tad exaggerated by some people he worked with after he died in order to cash in on their acquaintance and the Asian media's love of a juicy story.

When he made films in Hong Kong paying the Triads off was a standard production cost just like in the US if you want to make tall buildings and employ union workers.

There was also a "mob trying to control my life" central theme in what was his last movie (although he didn't complete it and it was released years after his death by using a stand in and recycled footage from his earlier films) "The Game of Death." There were also many psuedo documentaries and exploitation films done to cash in on Lee's fame and death where anyone who ever held a camera or delivered a package to Lee were given "insider account" status to tell their previously unknown story of Bruce Lee.

The Asian mob itself was instrumental in creating and spreading many of the "Bruce Lee lives in fear of the mob" stories to make themselves seem much more prominent. The only time Bruce Lee told the mob to "get bent" was when he was filming "Way of the Dragon" (aka Return of the Dragon) in Rome and he was the actual producer of the film. When the local families tried reaching into his pocket for everything, especially when it came to mafia "families" with little or no actual power, he told all the wannabe gangsters standing in line with their hands out to go fly a kite.

He paid service fees only to those who controlled workers and services necessary to the completion of his film and nothing more. Obviously all the other "mafioso" threatened him with all manner of nasty scenarios but the reality is the mafia families with actual power were already being paid and wouldn't let some small fry screw up their "big film project" which is bringing in decent money.

The film itself was also about the mob trying to muscle in on a family business and many people got their 15 minutes claiming this resulted in the mafia vowing revenge or vendettas for the insult. But once Bruce left Rome and returned to Hong Kong he left behind any threats real, imagined or created for publication.

It is likely Lee had a defensive firearm while filming in Rome, but that was probably to make sure nobody tried to steal his convertible and things like that than fear of the mob. His greatest concern was probably film equipment going out the back door at night when they shut down for the day.

[WillBrink]

Lee's problem with the mob were a tad exaggerated by some people he worked with after he died in order to cash in on their acquaintance and the Asian media's love of a juicy story.

When he made films in Hong Kong paying the Triads off was a standard production cost just like in the US if you want to make tall buildings and employ union workers.

There was also a "mob trying to control my life" central theme in what was his last movie (although he didn't complete it and it was released years after his death by using a stand in and recycled footage from his earlier films) "The Game of Death." There were also many psuedo documentaries and exploitation films done to cash in on Lee's fame and death where anyone who ever held a camera or delivered a package to Lee were given "insider account" status to tell their previously unknown story of Bruce Lee.

The Asian mob itself was instrumental in creating and spreading many of the "Bruce Lee lives in fear of the mob" stories to make themselves seem much more prominent. The only time Bruce Lee told the mob to "get bent" was when he was filming "Way of the Dragon" (aka Return of the Dragon) in Rome and he was the actual producer of the film. When the local families tried reaching into his pocket for everything, especially when it came to mafia "families" with little or no actual power, he told all the wannabe gangsters standing in line with their hands out to go fly a kite.

He paid service fees only to those who controlled workers and services necessary to the completion of his film and nothing more. Obviously all the other "mafioso" threatened him with all manner of nasty scenarios but the reality is the mafia families with actual power were already being paid and wouldn't let some small fry screw up their "big film project" which is bringing in decent money.

The film itself was also about the mob trying to muscle in on a family business and many people got their 15 minutes claiming this resulted in the mafia vowing revenge or vendettas for the insult. But once Bruce left Rome and returned to Hong Kong he left behind any threats real, imagined or created for publication.

It is likely Lee had a defensive firearm while filming in Rome, but that was probably to make sure nobody tried to steal his convertible and things like that than fear of the mob. His greatest concern was probably film equipment going out the back door at night when they shut down for the day.

Interesting stuff! My comment was a general one of course vs. any knowledge of his mob related issues, or lack there of. It's nice to know that as talented in MA as he was, he knew the value of a good blaster it seems.

[SteyrAUG]

Interesting stuff! My comment was a general one of course vs. any knowledge of his mob related issues, or lack there of. It's nice to know that as talented in MA as he was, he knew the value of a good blaster it seems.

I knew that, but the issue was raised (actually by Sam) so I thought I'd give the big picture. Sadly as soon as Lee died virtually everyone that every met him suddenly claimed BFF status and sold their story. By contrast, those who actually were his best friends such as Jesse Glover, Taky Kimura, Dan Inosanto, Stirling Silliphant, James Coburn, Steve McQueen and Joe Hyams were reluctant to talk to the media about him in any context out of fear of being misquoted or taken out of context.

[MistWolf]

One of the saddest things I saw, after Bruce Lee died, was a campaign promoting Chuck Norris as "The Man Who Killed Bruce Lee". I heard later that Chuck Norris was very upset about that.

There are some real vultures out there

[SteyrAUG]

One of the saddest things I saw, after Bruce Lee died, was a campaign promoting Chuck Norris as "The Man Who Killed Bruce Lee". I heard later that Chuck Norris was very upset about that.

There are some real vultures out there

A lot of people were upset with Raymond Chow of Golden Harvest who produced Lee's earlier films for completing "Game of Death" the way he did, including open casket footage of Bruce Lee's Hong Kong viewing to help advance the plot line. Chuck Norris objected to the use of the "Lee / Norris" fight scene from "Way of the Dragon" (aka Return of the Dragon) being used despite the fact that Golden Harvest owned the rights.

Other notable vultures include Aaron Banks in the film "Fist of Fear / Touch of Death" done in a documentary style who suggested he knew the secret of how Lee was killed and who did it although he was "reluctant to discuss it on film." It is probably one of the most offensive film insults to Lee and Banks continued his fine tradition of being a truly reprehensible individual who never missed a chance to try and advance himself through the fame of others far more talented than he was.

[Surf]

Maybe I grew up in an unusual martial arts crowd. All weapons, including firearms was of interest to those I grew up around and trained with. I find it more interesting that someone would think it unusual that Bruce Lee liked firearms.

[SteyrAUG]

Maybe I grew up in an unusual martial arts crowd. All weapons, including firearms was of interest to those I grew up around and trained with. I find it more interesting that someone would think it unusual that Bruce Lee liked firearms.

While most of the 50/60s US generation of martial artists were typically military types who grew up with guns, during about the mid 70s after Lee's death came the notion of "black belts who could kick guns and knives out of bag guys hands" and other absurd nonsense.

Of course any martial artist who had a realistic approach to anything knew better, but as is often the case they were sometimes outnumbered by the idiots.

[QuietShootr]

While most of the 50/60s US generation of martial artists were typically military types who grew up with guns, during about the mid 70s after Lee's death came the notion of "black belts who could kick guns and knives out of bag guys hands" and other absurd nonsense.

Of course any martial artist who had a realistic approach to anything knew better, but as is often the case they were sometimes outnumbered by the idiots.

They're everywhere. I helped a semi-well-known author who is always extolling the virtues of Tae Kwon Do (and his black belt) with some firearms details for a book he was writing about a year ago. Nice guy, but very wrapped up in the mystical chop-socky bullshit. He got mugged and got his ass thoroughly kicked in downtown Indianapolis last summer. Couldn't even describe his attackers, because while he was focused on the one with the gun, the other one crowned him with a booze bottle.

[Koshinn]

My brother's kung fu master is a huge advocate of bringing a gun to a gun fight. He does teach the cultural, spiritual, and self-defense aspects of his style of kung fu as well, but is also practical.

The best time to kick a man is when he's down. When you fight, you fight to win. That includes bringing the right tool for the job.

I wonder if the Chinese martial arts are more in tune with the practical side than the Japanese and the Korean styles?