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Chris -- 2018-04-11

#1 2010-09-23 22:38:33

patschwieterman
Administrator
From: California
Registered: 2005-10-25
Posts: 1680

"Smith and Western" for "Smith and Wesson"

The Smith and Wesson company was founded in 1856, and its revolvers quickly became associated with the “opening” of the American West. The Western icon Wyatt Earp was said to favor the company’s products. The conflation of “Wesson” and “western” seems inevitable, and in fact “Smith and Western” is the name of a railroad, a restaurant chain and a rock band. As a result, this is hard to count Examples:

Shooting a Smith and Western .44 Revolver! WOW!
http://www.gorgs4gold.com/

if some one uses a smith and western to shoot 15 kids in a high school…..are smith and western liable
http://torrentfreak.com/afact-v-iinet-b … es-091110/

He uses his fist and legs mostly but when forced will draw a dagger and use it, he also uses a Smith and Western M 500 magnum.
http://tviruslab.proboards.com/index.cg … hread=6437

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#2 2010-09-24 11:32:31

kem
Eggcornista
From: Victoria, BC
Registered: 2007-08-28
Posts: 2872

Re: "Smith and Western" for "Smith and Wesson"

For an old man (in forum-years) you are still finding some outstanding eggcorns, Pat. One of the best this year.

I’m believe that somewhere in my misspent, gun-toting youth I made this exact mistake.

A Smith and Wesson is commonly called a “Smith and Weston.” Not sure why-perhaps because “Smith and Wesson” has too many sibilants to roll comfortably from the tongue? Or could “west” be exercising some semantic pull?


Hatching new language, one eggcorn at a time.

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