A 1911 that was Elmer Keith's

lawandorder said:
Here is some info on E. A. Price from Timothy J. Mullins' book "Handbook Of Handguns".

He says Price was a gentleman farmer from Arkansas with an experimental turn of mind. During the 1920s Price wrote a series of articles for "American Rifleman" in which he discussed at length the value of the Colt .45.
Unfortunately, his findings only appeared in magazines, not in books, and they didn't reach as wide an audience as they could have.
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I was interested in Arkansas connection too. Frankly, I had never heard of "Garland City" Arkansas. I suspected the article meant "Garland County". But Garland City is little town where locals work in timber/farming/oil and gas close to Texarkana. Years ago I represented some Prices down in that same area that were big landowners. I bet they are EA's family.
 
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Once you get that pistol paid off ... don't ever sell it. I wouldn't deep clean it either, leave that Keith DNA where it is!
 
153 said:
Once you get that pistol paid off ... don't ever sell it. I wouldn't deep clean it either, leave that Keith DNA where it is!
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I have to say this question has been bothering me. I think I am going to have to clean it to make sure there's no active rust.

Also I'm going to have to clean it after shooting it. I imagine Keith's ghost would haunt me forever if I never shot the gun.

What do you guys think about replacing the gold bead in the front sight? Looks like it fell out at some point, I was thinking of getting a jeweler to put a new one in there.
 
SixgunStrumpet said:
I have to say this question has been bothering me. I think I am going to have to clean it to make sure there's no active rust.

Also I'm going to have to clean it after shooting it. I imagine Keith's ghost would haunt me forever if I never shot the gun.

What do you guys think about replacing the gold bead in the front sight? Looks like it fell out at some point, I was thinking of getting a jeweler to put a new one in there.
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Shoot it at over 200 yards lying on your left side with your right knee drawn up and your hand rested on the outside of your knee. Use your left arm to support your upper body. Elmer will be watching.

I say go for the gold bead. It would just add history and not really be an alteration.
 
SixgunStrumpet said:
I have to say this question has been bothering me. I think I am going to have to clean it to make sure there's no active rust.

Also I'm going to have to clean it after shooting it. I imagine Keith's ghost would haunt me forever if I never shot the gun.

What do you guys think about replacing the gold bead in the front sight? Looks like it fell out at some point, I was thinking of getting a jeweler to put a new one in there.
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I think it was more likely to be an ivory bead. The little groove in the rear sight probably started out with white paint in it.
 
I thought the gentleman with the post & pictures of the double rifles had the best post of the week.
However, I think, you sir, edged him out for best post of the week.. :)
I Really enjoy the post & pictures. Thank you for sharing .
 
boykinlp said:
Great gun! Just curious - is there any markings on the back of the grips?
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Why yes, yes there is. Elmer scratched his initials in there it would appear, and a date:




I'm thinking it's 1924?

XNozpR3.jpg



kwill1911 said:
I think it was more likely to be an ivory bead. The little groove in the rear sight probably started out with white paint in it.
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Ooh, good point.

I may need to get some scrap ivory and see about replacing it.
 
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Congratulations on your purchase and thanks for the very interesting post you have made with the pictures and articles. I enjoyed reading every line of it. I have always been a fan of Elmer Keith and have read lots of his writings.
 
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SixgunStrumpet said:
Why yes, yes there is. Elmer scratched his initials in there it would appear, and a date:




I'm thinking it's 1924?

XNozpR3.jpg





Ooh, good point.

I may need to get some scrap ivory and see about replacing it.
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I had to do it once on a King sight on a Registered Magnum. It needs to be shaped like a golf ball on a tee. IOW, it needs to have a little tail that pushes down into the sight. It is a clever design and if you look into the sight with a good light and a loupe you should see a tapered hole that accepts the "tail." I also used a tiny drop of epoxy.
 
Most of the King reflector ramp blades I have seen have either a white or red plastic insert. In King catalog #19 (1930's?) it cost $4.00 to have the reflector ramp installed on 1911 with red,white, or gold insert. Nice pistol, I chased it a little while! :)
 
"DOC" Lott said:
By the way, what auction were those guns in ??
How did i miss that event ??
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This gun was in the James D. Julia auction on March 15th, there were also Elmer Keith guns in the Poulin auction that same week.


I decided to take a group shot of my 1911s. I like them to have some character:

 
Excellent story and fabulous gun! I've been googling all I can find about the accident. I can't imagine what a hell that must have been to experience.
On a side note, the only vintage 1911 I've ever owned was a authentic Springfield Armory. I didn't have any significant knowledge on these guns (still don't) and therefore never realized how few SA 1911's are out there. Good Ole Lee Barner printed out several pages from the Clawson book for me and I savored the gun for a while....then promptly traded it for a few S&W wheel guns.

Your gun is very high on the cool factor. I'm glad you got it.

Roger
 
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