"MythBusters'" analysis of the bamboo cannon proved enlightening and certainly implied a potentially very different outcome. For those few who have not yet seen the science show segment, the "Build Team" demonstrated two drawbacks to Kirk's strategy. One, it is a major challenge to "mix" gunpowder/black powder by "eye" even under controlled circumstances, let alone "in the wild" as Kirk did. The best Tori and Grant managed was a rather energetic "smoke bomb" formula. But, in theory it's not impossible. Let's assume as a youth lil' Jimmy Kirk was something of a mischievous prodigy and learned to "eyeball" the formula, irritating his cantankerous uncle to no end. (Yeah, I know Kirk's dad supposedly lived long enough in the prime timeline to see Jim graduate. We'll assume these were summer visits rather than a custody scenario.)
And while it was clever to wrap a length of "fiber" (a naturally growing rope-like vine native to that world?) to help reinforce the bamboo, the "Build Team" discovered it didn't help when they poured professional grade gunpowder into the "chamber". When it ignited, it promptly exploded, "taking out" the crash test dummy the production affectionately nicknamed "Buster" (who filled in for "Kirk" though wearing a red shirt). But, to their surprise, some shards of crystal (quartz substituting for the "diamond") did indeed strike a life-size cutout depicting the Gorn they had made for the experiment. As with the chances of mixing viable gunpowder by eye, we'll make allowances for the episode. Let's say the "bamboo" was a far tougher plant compared to its terrestrial counterpart.
At the end of the segment Tory noted that Kirk might have been better off giving the cannon to the Gorn. As described, the first thing that came to my mind was a Warner Bros./Tex Avery slapstick scenario. I suddenly imagined cartoon Kirk in a kind of Bugs Bunny role politely handing the lit bamboo cannon to a bug eyed gator-like creature, nearly twice Kirk's size with hulking shoulders and rams but with teeny lil' legs, almost Tasmanian Devil proportions. "Aww, what's up, Croc'? Here; this might help." As the Gorn hefts the woody cylinder upon his shoulder to take aim... "BOOM!!!" Once the smoke clears, we see a soot covered, black silhouette, the faceted eyes suddenly much more human looking and "crossed" for humorous effect. Crumpling into a modest pile of dust, a tiny white flag emerges, waving defeat.
But oddly enough, I think this setup could have been portrayed seriously. Kirk has mixes the ingredients and has poured the contents and shards into the bamboo as depicted in the episode. But while trying to "flint" the strip of fabric to serve as a fuse, the Gorn draws closer than he managed in the show. He swings his obsidian dagger at Kirk who ducks out of the way. But now he's out of reach of his improvised cannon. The alien reptile realizes the purpose of the tube. Knowing the human can outrun him, the Gorn lifts the bamboo construct to his hip intending to turn Kirk's weapon against him. He places the burning fabric to the hole... But, as in the real life experiment, the assembly explodes instead of properly launching the diamond fragments. the Gorn crumples to the ground and the scene plays out pretty much as in the broadcast episode.
Instead of two improbable conditions, Kirk mixing viable gunpowder AND the construct NOT exploding violently enough to kill him, we just have one "questionable" factor.
Sincerely,
Bill
Spockboy
