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Elmer Keith

Many of those writers were born a generation too early.

They would be right at home on todays Internet. Heck, you can be an authority on any shooting related subject while never setting foot on a Rifle Range.
Jackie, they may be writing here on the internet now while drinking a Bud Light.:oops:
 
Another who deserves a place among these writers: Maj. George C. Nonte.

Besides many reloading and firearms articles, he wrote the first book (actually more of a mini magazine,
stapled in the center) on "Bobcatting" -shortening a 1911 in both directions. The kind of pistol you can
now buy from dozens of makers simply did not exist at the time. It was all cutting and welding.
He wrote an article on "Reloading for all of todays popular 9mm pistols":
A Luger, P-38, Browning Hi-Power, Colt 9mm Commander, and S&W M39. That was all of them, then.
 
I was told by "Buck' Buckner, who knew Jack O'Conner and wrote a book about him, that he killed more game with an '06 than a 270. He had 2 Model 70s, that looked similar, one an '06, the other a 270, both built by Spokane, WA gunsmith, Al Bisen. He had taught English at the college level in Arizona. Both O'Conner and Keith produced a lot of good reading, and knowledge.
Al Bisen is a well known name in some circles around these parts. Just saw Al's daughter-in-law (Rogers wife) a couple of hours ago. Attended a funeral of a friend of the Bisen family. A guy named Bob Barnett. Bob knew Al, Roger and Paula well. Rogers wife said that Bob was a member of the family.

Some of these guys really got around. Bob hunted with Al's rifles all over Africa, the US and including up in Alaska. He was a bush pilot and guide. We were looking at pictures of hunting trips with Roger Bisen and of crashed airplanes in Alaska (sounds like one of his planes litterely got blown into the ground). I shot sporting clays with Bob and thought I knew him fairly well. I only knew the tip of the iceberg.
 
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Al Bisen is a well known name in some circles around these parts. Just saw Al's daughter-in-law (Rogers wife) a couple of hours ago. Attended a funeral of a friend of the Bisen family. A guy named Bob Barnett. Bob knew Al, Roger and Paula well. Rogers wife said that Bob was a member of the family.

Some of these guys really got around. Bob hunted with Al's rifles all over Africa, the US and including up in Alaska. He was a bush pilot and guide. We were looking at pictures of hunting trips with Roger Bisen and of crashed airplanes in Alaska (sounds like one of his planes litterely got blown into the ground). I shot sporting clays with Bob and thought I knew him fairly. I only knew the tip of the iceberg.
Al Bisen was a very well known gun builder, some of his children were also involved. I believe his daughter was doing some engraving for Cooper rifles a just few years back. Some of Jack O'Conner's guns were at a 'double gun' shoot in Baker City, Oregon a few years ago. Some of my friends were able to shoot that Al Bisen 270 Win. I believe there is a 'Jack O'Conner Museum' in Lewiston, Idaho where his guns are on display.
 
I will be 74 in September, if I make it. All these names were my heroes and role models growing up. My first tour in RVN one of the guys in my Ranger Company had a dogeared copy of Hell I Was There he loaned me. I decided I needed my own, so I wrote Keith. Easy address: Elmer Keith, Salmon, Idaho, USA. I had asked how much. About two weeks later it came in the mail. He had written a short note, thanking me for my service, and wrote "No Charge to a young man serving his Country...". Yeah, I still have it.

My other great story involved Bill Jordan. I wrote for a few Shooting & Outdoor magazines for several years. One of the magazines sponsored a Prairie Dog Shoot in Zortman, Montana. I was invited to attend, and since my wife was from Montana we drove up. I wrangled to get on a team with Bill Jordan. The first afternoon, after we got back to town, we ended up in the casino on adjoining slot machines. This was so long ago, the slots used real silver dollars. I hit a short streak of luck, and rode the tiger to about a hundred bucks. Bill was about even for the hour we spent. We head back up to our rooms to get ready for the banquet. He has the room across from mine. When we got there, I asked him if he had brought his service revolver and gun belt. "Of course...". I ask him if he would show me his legendary fast draw. "yes...". He goes in his room, buckles up, and comes back out in the hall. He used to close his shows by placing a silver dollar on the back of his hand, which was resting on the butt of that S&W and drawing. He was so fast, the dollar would fall in the holster. He says, "Richard, can I have one of those yankee dollars you won?". I hand him one, he sets it on his hand, and, and does that draw. Dollar falls in the holster and gun goes "click". He puts the dollar in his vest pocket. WOW!! I ask to see it again, and he says, "got another dollar?". I do, and he does it again. Nobody else comes down the hall, and he repeats this for about five minutes. Our wives come down the hall, and it is time to get cleaned up. I realize that he has seventeen of my Silver Dollars in his vest pocket. I ask him if he is going to keep my money. He grins this big grin, and says "Richard, most people would be happy to pay a lot more than seventeen-dollars for a private fast draw lesson from me.". I said "yessir, keep the money...".
His wife is watching all this, and quietly tells him, "Bill, you give Richard his money back.". My wife would have none of that, and tells him "Mr Jordan, you keep that money. He will never top that in his life...".

He did autograph a copy of his "No Second Place Winner for me.

I also have all of Keith's books, autographed to me.

ISS
 
My favorite Elmer Keith rifle is the one I own; his 280 O.K.H. I’m out of town on business, so I can’t take a picture right now, but it’s this rifle with the accessories. It’s a 375 H&H magnum necked down to 7mm, built on a ‘98 Mauser. It was a bargain. I think it’s all pretty cool.
 

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