I know for me he's been a huge influence on my life when it comes to the outdoors, hunting, shooting, reloading, philosophies about calibers, etc... Anyone else here who's found him to be one of the truly great firearms experts of all time??

I like Capstick also, along with Skeeter Skelton and Jeff Cooper.

EK and Finn AAGard told it well.Cooper is Cooper. Capstick was good. Skeeter was a running favorite for me. His son is also good.

An old rancher friend gave me his copy of "****, I Was There" and I just finished reading it. I enjoyed the book.

The hunting style kind of bothered me though. It seems there was just an attitude of "let's get some lead in them" no matter what the distance or shot angle. I realize that these where different times and if you didn't get it on the ground... you didn't eat. This style seemed to stick with him throughout his life. Based on this, I would hate to have my grandsons read it until they are at the point in hunting that they the understand the times and circumstances. In the present time, flinging lead at game will get you ushered right out the gate of my ranch.

I've never bought the gun rags... so I've never kept up with the various writters over my lifetime.

I can't believe it... the ****ing software that runs this program won't let you use "***" as the title of a book.

We have gotten so "right" in this country... sad. I wonder what Elmer Keith would think of it? I know he was pissed when his material was edited.

Hi,

Sorry about the auto-censor. It's thorough, but none too smart.

Unfortunately, if you don't put some measures in place to keep the discussion civil, it gets ugly fast. Been there, done that.

Better to have a few '*'s here and there, and still have a pleasant place to visit.

On Keith - a tough man who lived through tough times. Amazing life story, maybe not the best model for today.

I read "H..., I Was There" a few months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ol' Elmer was pretty self-centered and had little time for the "small bore" folks, but he was definately a character I would have liked to have met. Many do not believe his exploits - I think he gave his version of every one that did, indeed, happen. Seems he was sorta fast to pull his six-shooter on those that gave him a hard time - maybe so, maybe not.

The best yarns were those of his ranching days and the recovery from the terrible fire he was in.

The main puzzlement to me was - how did he acquire all the custom firearms and ammunition to use when money was so tight? His wife and family must have been very patient with his projects.

I have had the pleasure to have read years of Elmer's writings in Guns & Ammo as well as a couple of his books. Like all of us, he was a man of many shortcommings. Unlike most of us, he did not care what most folks thought and carried out his life accordingly. Still in all, he was simply brilliant in much of his work with firearms. I remember his accounts of how he decided to hot rod the 44 Special. It had a lot to do with the problem that the 45 Colts kept blowing up! When you consider the profound lack of technology, and poor quality components he had to work with, it is simply amazing he was able to overcome and figure out all he did. His record of shooting ability is as remarkable today as it was 70 years ago. If you follow his logic as to what makes a good big game cartridge, you will notice that he tended to settle on the minimum cartridge/bullet that would work under the worst of conditions. With the poor bullets of the day, he ended up with some pretty monsterous cartidges to achieve seemingly simple results. You may not agree, but his logic was sound... if you don't mind massive recoil and a big/heavy rifle. The list of Elmer Keith's achievements is very very long.

Elmer was a man that grew up and, in his early days, lived in a world I cannot relate to any more than the middle ages. I do, however, believe that the man deserves to be honored for what he achieved. He would probably make a lousy neighbor or friend in our times. He had his faults but was still a man of considerable achievements in a tough life. That part is a good lesson for our kids. Our politically correct casper milktoast world is not what I want for my kids, or their kids. Elmer Keith is not one of my hero's but all my hero's were "Cowboys".

Bill :D

I bought sixguns when i was a teenager, and never really read it until i started shooting pistols years later. Elmer was the real deal who learned alot by just doing things to see what worked. I know that he must have never sat idle for very long. I have read most of his books thru inter-library loan at the local library. like was said before there was not much out ther as far as jacketed bullets 70-80 years ago. this is where large bores and big bullets come in. Not many hunters today will ever see anything close to the amount of big game that he killed or help recover. there were no butcher shops or supermarkets on the ranches and farms. years ago if you needed meat you had to make it. He looked at hunting from a much different perspective than the people today. Wish I could have met him. Jim.

Elmer,ah another ded hero..
He had a big influence on me as a kid.
He was considered ruff and upfront and in your face,but so was the world in which he lived..
It is amazing that he did what he did with what he had to do it with.
He sed something one time and I know this isn't the exact quote but it affected me and to this day I consider a .30 a small bore because of it.
It was something to the effect of "If big is Good,then,Bigger is Better".
I read one time where on an antelope (I believe) hunt with a 243 rite after they came out,with open sites he shot a running animal with one shot,and the guide ,thinking he had missed,asked what he thought of the little gun,and his reply was something to the effect of "It's ok for a little gun",perfect heart shot.
Bigger than life to a kid like me,way back when,but we also had Pete Brown,O'Connor (rumor was he and Elmer actually got along well in private),Lucien Carey and a host of others to travel the world with on exotic hunts.
The closest to Elmer since his passing?
Always a fan of Carmicheal,but would have to say AAgard,cause he was no non sense as well.
And now that he is gone,maybe George Sitton,but I think he has retired "again"..
I always wanted to be the one to fill Elmer's shoes but it wasn't meant to be.
Jack

I read "H..., I Was There" a few months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.



The main puzzlement to me was - how did he acquire all the custom firearms and ammunition to use when money was so tight? His wife and family must have been very patient with his projects.

Kdub; Try to imagine living without TV, without computors,CD players, without 4WD pick up's, 4wheelers, snowmobiles, motorcycles & bikes, W/o McDonalds, Wendys. Living w/o credit cards. Living w/o these things you would be able to afford a cased set of Greeners too. Not only that , you'd have more time to work for your gun money and more time to hunt. God bless him, I'd a loved to have him as a neighbor. Pepe Ray

I too have read and enjoyed Elmer's stories. It may be sacrilege, but I often questioned if they were embellished a bit for better reading.
Elmer was one of a kind, and I was fortunate to have met and spoke with him at a gun show in Spokane in the late 1970's. He was definitely full of himself, and never lacked in words to describe his exploits! He sure had a lot of unique experiences, and knew a lot of other unusual folks too.

I own and read Keith's book "Helll, I Was There" and couldn't put the book down. What a great read.
I am currently reading an autobiographical book about Col . Townsend Whelen.
I have read books by Carmichael and ended up turning into a .270 Winchester fan as a result of that read.
Keith is one of my favorites!

I started reading Keith's stuff at the end of 1959 when he was a regular columnist for "Guns" Magazine. I liked him then and still pick up his books to re-read or to check on something he wrote about. He was one of the best all around riflemen writers of his time. He not only hunted big game but was active in high power as well. He also was familiar with all rifle types and was considered an authority on double rifles at a time when most American gunwriters were vaguely familiar with them. I miss his by-line to this day.

In defense of old Elmer, I think he was a great example of a hunter, or mentor. Elmer always stated he would rather shoot a bedded animal at close range, if given the choice. This ensured a sure, quick, clean kill. When shots were taken that crippled or wounded, Elmer had the skill, drive, and ethics to follow up such game, and finish the job. He scolded those for using inadequite calibers for given game, and laziness for not trailing wounded game. In defense to his long range shooting exploits, particularly the 600 yd shot with his 4" .44 Mag, Keith stated he only shot because the animal was already crippled by another hunter. One should read,"Elmer Keith, The other side of a western legend" by Gene Brown. It's a good read, and very informative. Brown gives several instances where he questions Keiths exploits, only to be proven correct by eye witnesses. I for one wish there were more men like Elmer around today. Just my humble opinion. Jeff

I know for me he's been a huge influence on my life when it comes to the outdoors, hunting, shooting, reloading, philosophies about calibers, etc... Anyone else here who's found him to be one of the truly great firearms experts of all time??

I like Capstick also, along with Skeeter Skelton and Jeff Cooper.
Many fine names come up here, each one in His own right,. I believe Mr. Keith, was His own man, and one of a kind for sure. The same holding true for, Mr.Bill Jordan,bless His Memory, and so many others who are, and are not with us now. Their souls will live forever in the hearts of those who knew, know, and respect them, and their teachings, and ideas. I have most of Mr. Keiths books, either 1st editions, or reprints, little matter. I still enjoy sitting down in an evening, raising a glass to them and spending a quiet hour or two re-reading their thoughts. The time is well spent. Just this morning I took delivery of an engraved 4" mdl 29, and it WILL sport Ivories.And it will be used. Somewhere across that crystal shore, I am sure Mr. Keith is smiling approval.:)

Elmer was old school, I have followed his readings since I was a kid, the man was ahead of his time, this week I got the new midway catalog, with guess who with a huge water buff, yup good old Elmer, reading story's of these old salts got me interested in reloading when I was a teen. To this day I look back to references elmer spoke about, now a day's you have these guys that are bought out bye huge corps to satisfy what they want them to say, I can say Elmer was not one, he told it like it was. A great man of his time. I miss reading his articles. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

I'll drink to that my friend. I also grew up reading Elmer's writings and became a big bore revolver fan due to them. Here's to Midway for placing him on the cover of their new catalog (which I also received a few days ago). As you so rightly put it he was, "A great man of his time".

Bill