opoefc
US Veteran
Nice recap on Elmer. Having known Elmer for many years, he was the real thing. I could not convince him to join the S&WCA, however as he said he was a "shooter" not a collector! Ed.
My first triple lock... was Elmer Keith's
- Thread starter beetledude
- Start date
Thank you for sharing, Beetledude. Excellent writing and photos, and congratulation's on your wonderful acquisitions. Thanks again for such interesting, articulate and inspiring research. -S2
Extended lunch break......
I accidentally took a longer lunch break reading this thread. What a great story....... Didn't know what a triple lock was, nor who Elmer Kieth was. Schooled!
Thank you
Bob
I accidentally took a longer lunch break reading this thread. What a great story....... Didn't know what a triple lock was, nor who Elmer Kieth was. Schooled!
Thank you
Bob
RobertJ.
Member
That was truly excellent!
Welcome aboard!
Welcome aboard!
model70hunter
Member
Nice entrance write up. A short blurb on how the bidding went and how you ended up being successful might be another short piece.
On the dresses comment. At the turn of the last century it was custom to dress boys in dresses. I saw the baby photos of all my older uncles, their pics were in a dress. They too were from Missouri, any negative comment on a dress might become a bone of contention.
I asked my maternal grandmother about my uncles in dresses, she said it was the style of the day.
On the dresses comment. At the turn of the last century it was custom to dress boys in dresses. I saw the baby photos of all my older uncles, their pics were in a dress. They too were from Missouri, any negative comment on a dress might become a bone of contention.
I asked my maternal grandmother about my uncles in dresses, she said it was the style of the day.
Joe S.
Member
Excellent!! Thanks for sharing!
OP
beetledude
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Hi Everyone.
Thanks for the kind comments. Half the fun of being a collector is being able to share!
oops you are correct. third degree burns. the guys chin was basically fused to his chest! I would say those were some gruesome burns.
Bibliography - See all of Elmer Keith's books!
I tried to find one but gigantic cowboy hats are not readily available in my neck of the woods! I thought it was a 10 gallon hat, but have no experience with this sort of thing. ha ha!
Yes I'll probably put a few rounds through it and try to channel some of Keith's spirit. Perhaps I may even hit something!
Not much to tell really. I had them call me for a telephone bid. The first lot I was interested in was Keith's Colt 1905 with shoulder holster (my main area of collecting is early automatics and 1911s). But it quickly got into the realm of "serious money" and i had to conserve as this was the lot I really wanted. Then when this lot came up I told the agent to "keep me in until $X". A couple of times I thought I had it but then it crossed over my stated max. One interesting thing I seem to remember was that Julia did not stick to their bid increments so there were some off bids (increases of $500 instead of $1000). Anyways I think I bid one or two more times after my stated "max" and the next thing you know the agent told me I had won it.
Thanks for the kind comments. Half the fun of being a collector is being able to share!
Love the article, and as i am a bit of an accuracy nazi, I have a question.
Did you mean to say third degrees burns? Becasue first degree burns are sunburn level.
And #2 Where is your bibliography???
oops you are correct. third degree burns. the guys chin was basically fused to his chest! I would say those were some gruesome burns.
Bibliography - See all of Elmer Keith's books!
I tried to find one but gigantic cowboy hats are not readily available in my neck of the woods! I thought it was a 10 gallon hat, but have no experience with this sort of thing. ha ha!
Yes I'll probably put a few rounds through it and try to channel some of Keith's spirit. Perhaps I may even hit something!
Not much to tell really. I had them call me for a telephone bid. The first lot I was interested in was Keith's Colt 1905 with shoulder holster (my main area of collecting is early automatics and 1911s). But it quickly got into the realm of "serious money" and i had to conserve as this was the lot I really wanted. Then when this lot came up I told the agent to "keep me in until $X". A couple of times I thought I had it but then it crossed over my stated max. One interesting thing I seem to remember was that Julia did not stick to their bid increments so there were some off bids (increases of $500 instead of $1000). Anyways I think I bid one or two more times after my stated "max" and the next thing you know the agent told me I had won it.
Every week when I go to one of my buddies house for Friday PM drinks after work, I see the picture of him and Elmer Keith taken when he stopped by Salmon ID and visited him. My buddy, being a plumber, happily fixed Elmer's toilet for him. They had no appointment, but just stopped by Elmer's house and he invited them in.
stevebarracuda
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Beautiful , Beautiful , Beautiful , what a pair and excellent article....Thank You
Great stuff beetle. Congrats and thanks for sharing. One question though, Did you use the same belt hole as Elmer? Man what a feeling it must be wearing those around the house. I'd sleep with them on! Cheers, Theo
TheHobbyist
Member
Well done and a hell of an entrance!
OP
beetledude
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No I don't think it is the same belt hole. Based on the wear marks I'm guessing Elmer was a svelte 30" waist. I'm about a 32". He was using one of the inner holes while I'm using the outer ones.
Yes I had the holster set on pretty much the whole day. My wife just rolled her eyes. LOL
Beetle, After showing us these great guns that Elmer wore around his waist i have a rather rookie question to ask.
The triple locks seem to show little holster wear. Would you attribute that to only being used on occasion or did he wear his rig quite often.
Second could you tell me if its a lined holster. Could the holster design influence light wear?
The triple locks seem to show little holster wear. Would you attribute that to only being used on occasion or did he wear his rig quite often.
Second could you tell me if its a lined holster. Could the holster design influence light wear?
OP
beetledude
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I'm pretty sure that Keith used the holster with different guns back in the day. I recall him writing that he used the Berns-Martin speed holster with a 1917. In addition John Taffin shows this same holster with a pair of Keith's SAAs.
The holster itself is not lined, but the way it is designed results in very little contact with the gun. Essentially the barrel free floats inside the hoster, and the gun is held in place just by the cylinder.
My guess is that Keith paired the triple locks with the holster later in life and did not use/carry it much.
Congrats on your recent acquisitions. And thanks for the wonderful post, pics, and story. I look forward to seeing more in the future.
Jerry
Jerry
Welcome aboard. It's going to be real hard to top that entrance post.
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Awesome! Congratulations and thank you for sharing. Amazing stuff there.
Russell Cottle
Member
Thanks for sharing your story and the photos! Congratulations on acquiring the outfit.
Impressive!
That pair of TLs is truly iconic! Add me to the list of interested buyers if in the future you want to focus on 1911s. I might want to trade you a 1911 NM toward these...well, probably I'd keep the NM and deal with you on the TLs and holster rig. That will be a while, I guess. Meanwhile, I will enjoy the few items I have in my collection with provenance, but way less significant provenance than yours.
That pair of TLs is truly iconic! Add me to the list of interested buyers if in the future you want to focus on 1911s. I might want to trade you a 1911 NM toward these...well, probably I'd keep the NM and deal with you on the TLs and holster rig. That will be a while, I guess. Meanwhile, I will enjoy the few items I have in my collection with provenance, but way less significant provenance than yours.
