Elmer Keith a mans man

[Dean Ekstrom]

Had to take a break for our online church service as icy roads kept us home this morning. Anyway back to the story.

After Sheri and I got back in the house Jack introduced us to his wife Eleanor and we visited for a while at which point he said "well we better do the tour" and led us upstairs. First he showed us a bedroom with a tiger skin on the floor and said "nothing dresses up's bedroom like a tiger skin". Then we went into his office/study. He had a standup gun rack along one wall and I was surprised at how few guns were there, however, quality made up for lack of quantity. We looked at and handled several Biesen stocked Model 70's that were amazing. Classic and understated, but perfect borderless checking, with skeleton grip caps and butt plates and wonderful figure in the wood. He also had 2 model 21 Winchester shotguns in the rack, again both custom stocked by Al Biesen. I was a big fan of 21's and actually had one at that time (owned numerous others through the years). Anyway I knew a gun dealer in southern Iowa by the name of Russell Scheckler who was a big 21 fan and had a collection of 70 Model 21 Winchesters of all grades. I mentioned this to Jack thinking it would impress him. His response, "that guy doesn't have much imagination".....there was never a question about what O'Connor thought! He had just returned from a Stone Sheep hunt in BC and we looked at all the hunt pictures from that trip that I would later see in the article about the trip in Outdoor Life. After more visiting (it would take too many words to cover the whole conversation), he took us downstairs and out to his trophy room. His trophy room was actually a separate building beside his house where you would normally find a detached garage. When we got in the trophy room he offered and poured us drinks of B&B and we looked at and heard stories about the numerous sheep and other heads and pictures on the walls. It was particularly interesting in that I had seen many those heads in the stories he had written. After a lengthy tour Jack said "boys and girls, it's time to call it a day" I thanked him for his hospitality, we said our goodbyes and went on our way. I was literally in a daze. It is still one of the memorable days of my life even though along with our marriage it will be 54 years ago next August.

I never had the opportunity to meet Elmer Keith. I saw him at an NRA convention in Kansas City in the late 1970's, but he was engaged in conversation with other people and the chance to say hello never materialized.

Anyway in brief, that's the story.

 

[JSH]

They for sure were not fairy tails, but true life experiences Elmer Lived! I have been a member on Lee Martins forum and correspond with several old six gunners that knew Elmer well. Dick Thompson for one, another real mans man! Dick is no imposter, and has freely posted many pictures of him in his youth on elmers porch, and can confirm, Elmer didn't have to make chit up, he lived life the way he tells it.

Fact is I'm not much of 44 fan, like elmer I prefer the 45. If Elmer had found a gun strong enough that would have been his legacy, but the truth is, he gave up as the larger bore in the cylinders could not handle the pressures the smaller bored 44 would. Until finally Bill Ruger produced the hell for strong Blackhawk. Then a few short years after its introduction Bill brought it out in the 45 Colt, my personal preference for hunting, till the 480 Ruger was introduced in 5 shot, small light and in reality all one would ever need for dangerous game.

If you like Elmers writings and haven't read John Linbaughs "Writings" you should. John, another pupil of Elmers work took it from there. Here is a link to a download of the article. It doesn't seem to be accessible as web search since John has left the range as well, another true mans man, and handgun pionier.

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/attachments/linebaughs-custom-sixguns-the-45-colt-dissolving-the-myth-discovering-the-legend-pdf.8560008/

I have not been over there for a number of years as my shooting has swung back around to rifles.
A huge amount of knowledge and history over there for sure. Fermin gave me a holler some time back and we had a good visit, he is one of the busiest people I know.

 

[Heavy Metal 1]

"I remember watching the auction for his gun collection a few years ago. I was hoping for something I could afford but, it didn't work out. I would have loved to own a piece of his legacy."

All I have is a Remington M17 with his inspection cartouche on it. I have pointed it out to a few people, but only the old farts in the gun club know who he is/was. I mention he was one of the cocreators of the 357 & 44 magnums....then it's "oh, ok, that's cool"

This of course pales in comparison to the folks on the forum here who have had the fortune to meet the great writers.

 

[Uncle Bruce]

"I remember watching the auction for his gun collection a few years ago. I was hoping for something I could afford but, it didn't work out. I would have loved to own a piece of his legacy."

All I have is a Remington M17 with his inspection cartouche on it. I have pointed it out to a few people, but only the old farts in the gun club know who he is/was. I mention he was one of the cocreators of the 357 & 44 magnums....then it's "oh, ok, that's cool"

This of course pales in comparison to the folks on the forum here who have had the fortune to meet the great writers.

I have a m1 garand with his carouche on it also. Just a little bit of history very few people have any idea who he was.

 

[GotRDid]

As a long time and avid Garand Collector, I am intrigued by all the history behind its survival all these years.
Which Arsenal/Inspector marks does your’s have? There were two for the Ogden UT facility.



Full article, if anyone is interested.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | M1 Garand Rebuilds: History & Markings

Collectors today often look down their noses at “rebuilt” M1 Garands, but hundreds of thousands of M1s had their useful lives extended through the efforts and dedication of skilled ordnance personnel.

www.americanrifleman.org

 

[Old Navy]

I bought my first copy of Sixguns in early winter of 1969. I was on my first tour in RVN, attached to a MAC-V SOG Advisory Team in Ly Tin Province, just North of Chu Lai. I just sent a letter to: Elmer Keith, Salmon, Idaho asking how to buy a copy. About two weeks later, a copy showed up in my mail with a note saying "No charge to a Soldier fighting for our country...". It was pretty dogeared in September of 1971 from being passed around the Ranger Company. I gave it to one of my team members.

I moved to SW Idaho in summer of 1978, and was able to visit Keith in Salmon several times. His gunsmith, Don Mihalovic (pronunciation, not correct spelling) lived a couple miles South of Salmon on what was left of an old ranch. Don was from a nearby town in Illinois where I grew up. He would let me stay in the old Bunkhouse when I visited.

Elmer Keith was one of the most fascinating human beings I have ever met. My first visit, I just walked up to his front door and knocked. He came to the door, and I introduced myself. He asked if I were an NRA member, and I told him "yes sir, a life member". He opened the screen door and said "Come in, any member is welcome to my home. He turned to Mrs Keith and said "Mother, we have company. Could we get a few of those cookies (Oatmeal Raisin, iirc) and some Iced Tea?". She had baked cookies just a few minutes earlier, and the smell filled that house. On another visit, he had just acquired a Diamond Jubilee double H&H in .600 NE. It commemorated the 75th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth. Gold and Silver Inlays, engraved African game, wow. I asked him how the recoil was, and he simply replied "Let's drive out to Don's place and you can shoot it.". We did. Don kept plastic milk jugs, filled them with water and some food dye, and froze them. He had two fence posts set about six foot apart and four feet high. He set a jug atop each one, and Mr Keith uncased that .600. The rounds looked like Churchill cigars. I put one in each barrel, and focused on a jug. The sound is indescribable, and your right shoulder is sending messages to your brain saying "Something Major has just occurred...". Luckily, the jug explodes, and it looks like a snow cone blew up. About ten seconds later, I fire the left barrel. Repeat performance. He had told me I would have to buy the ammunition, but seeing both jugs blow up, he told me "anybody crazy enough to fire the second shot and make both hits, ammo is on me.".

That is when I told him about getting a copy of Sixguns from him in RVN. He just took a big hit off that ever present cigar and said "I remember your name now...". I used to go to Salmon every couple weeks, just to visit and hear his stories for a couple years.

I could go on and on, meeting Bill Jordan at his house one time; and his stories. I watched him shoot at his gunsmith's ranch more than once. I was privileged to meet most of the old timers, Ackley at his shop in Salt Lake city, John buhmiller at his shop in Montana, and watching Bob Munden put on a shooting exhibition at a gunshop in Boise one afternoon. I had just finally saved enough money to buy a Colt SAA. Munden did his "field tune" on it. Smooth as butter 3lb trigger pull.

(side note; my brother and I were in RVN together for about seven months. He was a Triage Medic at 27th Surgical Hospital. He had the ugliest job in Country. When choppers brought wounded in he had to separate them into three groups. Group I, get them into surgery NOW!! to save their lives. Group II, can wait until Group I are operated on. Group III, cannot be saved. They were put in a dimly lit room and spent their last few minutes with a Chaplain and a clerk who could write to their families telling how that Soldier died.). After he got out and returned to the farm he never spoke of that again, even to me.

enough for one long, rambling post.


ISS

Excellent post. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Heavy Metal 1]

My rifle has OGEK in a box, hence Mr. Keith's stamp. The letters are large case, not small case on my weapon.

 

[GotRDid]

My rifle has OGEK in a box, hence Mr. Keith's stamp. The letters are large case, not small case on my weapon.

A Treasure!

 

[M-61]

Col Jeff Cooper

Lieutenant Colonel

 

[rabradshaw]

Lieutenant Colonel

I’m aware, being a Veteran and a career LEO.

Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence.

 

[Tesoro]

Just watched the Elmer Keith bio. If I had been his dad, I would have waited and shot the arsonist the day AFTER he was released from 9 years of prison. Dual punishment.

 

[M-61]

I’m aware, being a Veteran and a career LEO.

Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence.

I’m fully aware of the ranks and how they may be abbreviated.
There is a gigantic step between Lt.Col and a full bird colonel.
You would refer in speech to both as a colonel. Written I certainly would like that very large difference stated.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Hell, I was there!

 

[rabradshaw]

I’m fully aware of the ranks and how they may be abbreviated.
There is a gigantic step between Lt.Col and a full bird colonel.
You would refer in speech to both as a colonel. Written I certainly would like that very large difference stated.

You can like anything you want. “Unofficial correspondence” would definitely include a post on a forum. When you write your post feel free to call it whatever you like. I left home at 17 and joined the military, I don’t need correcting and I have a father. You’re dismissed.

 

[jackieschmidt]

As a long time and avid Garand Collector, I am intrigued by all the history behind its survival all these years.
Which Arsenal/Inspector marks does your’s have? There were two for the Ogden UT facility.

View attachment 1617894

Full article, if anyone is interested.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | M1 Garand Rebuilds: History & Markings

Collectors today often look down their noses at “rebuilt” M1 Garands, but hundreds of thousands of M1s had their useful lives extended through the efforts and dedication of skilled ordnance personnel.

www.americanrifleman.org

Thanks for the article.

As for the chasm between O5 and O6, in the real world it’s more than just one pay grade.

 

[Knotwild]

Charles Askins Jr. was another one from those days. I found my copy of Unrepentant Sinner about the time this thread started and started reading it again. He was a killer who had no apprehension about the job at hand. We need people like him to address the gangs our government has invited to our country. Sadly, that same government would jail him today.

Here's a sample:

Charles Askins Jr

 

[GotRDid]