Charles "Skeeter" Skelton: died 17 Jan 89

El Biblioitecario · Jan 17, 2012

Tomorrow marks the 23d observence of the death of Charles 'Skeeter" Skelton. I suppose it's silly of me to make this post--I never met the man. Nevertheless he was an influence on my life. After over two decades I still remember the acute sense of loss I felt when I heard of his demise.

I began reading Skelton's work in 1968. Then, as today, most gun writers came across as fifty pounds of hot air in a twenty five pound bag. In contrast Skelton's style was self-deprecating and tongue-in-cheek. A neophyte pistolero, I followed his advice avidly. Fascinated by his long range pistol shooting, I bought an N frame .357 and loaded it with his pet load of the Lyman 358156 gascheck bullet and 13.5 grains of 2400. To this date I've yet to find a better .357 load. When he purchased a Walther PPK/S in .22LR, I followed suit, and found it a dandy kit gun.

Lest readers think me a total syncophant, I had a few disagreements with the man. When I had adjustible sights installed on my Browning HighPower, I specfied a .1 width front sight, Skelton's favorite width. In retropsect I wish I'd gotten a wider front sight blade. And the 4" Model 24 I bought as a homage in the year of his death has never become the favorite I hoped it would. But Skelton got the last laugh. A year ago I purchased a Ruger Bisley flat top in .44 Special--a weapon I know would have delighted Skelton. I am totally enthralled with this pistol--and I think of him whenever I shoot it.

I've managed to outlive Skelton--but if the devil offered to trade my mundane life for Skelton's experiences I'd give it some serious consideration.

I'm neither a religionist nor a theologian. It's my pagan view that our immortality is predicated on the memories we leave. I hope those old enough to remember Skelton join me tomorrow in having a few drinks to his memory--*laff*--the man definitely liked his booze. And I hope that those neophyte pistoleros who happen on this post take the time to read the advice he left for them.

It would be to their advantage.

Chubbs103 · Jan 17, 2012

It has been a long time since I had read anything from Skeeter. That is until recently. Over the Christmas holidays, I had an unexplained resurgence in my interest in his articles. I even tried looking for some of his books that I have wanted for a long time, but they are priced extremely high and currently out of print.

His writing style was always enjoyable.

Chubbs

earplug · Jan 17, 2012

Skeeter was a fun read

I almost always enjoyed his stories and the results of his handgun experiences he put down on paper.
Thanks for the reminder.

papajohn428 · Jan 17, 2012

I think I learned more about handguns from Skeeter than I did from any of the other gunwriters of the day. I subscribed to all the gunzines back then, and he was the lead handgun writer for Shooting Times until illness forced him to retire. I read everything I could find of his, and was delighted when Shooting Times started re-running his stories and articles again a few years ago.

I think the biggest reason I have a couple 44 Specials (and am always on the hunt for more) was because of Skeeter. I never developed his love of single-action revolvers, but I saw it as a major coup when he cajoled S&W into bringing back the Model 24 in the early 80's. I finally managed to pick one up a few years ago, and it immediately became a favorite.

God Bless ya, Skeeter.

Raider · Jan 17, 2012

Skeeter would have been 82 years old today. He was a fine man and one of the few truly knowledgable gunwriters. He got me interested in both the .44 specials and the Colt SAA. He is sorely missed.

Charlie

Six Dollar Dave · Jan 17, 2012

Skeeter is without a doubt, one of the all time great's. Loved reading his stuff. He is missed.

CajunBass · Jan 17, 2012

Skeeter was an old friend, I never met.

He is still missed today.

sceva · Jan 17, 2012

I miss his writing. I am lucky to have both books, his wife's book, most of the special Shooting Times editions like handgun Tales, Skeeter on Handguns etc so I can re-read him when ever I wish.

CajunBass · Jan 17, 2012

I forgot to mention. I used to have both "Handgun Tails", and "On Handguns" (I think I remember the titles correctly). My son, who was about 12 years old at the time, literally read them until they fell apart.

On one hand, I wish I had them today. On the other hand, I wouldn't trade the enjoyment HE got reading them, for whatever they'd be worth today.

brucev · Jan 17, 2012

One article of the many Skelton wrote was (IIRC) was something along the lines of the .38 Special being his "friend." The handload he recommended (8 gr. of Unique w/ a 158-160 gr. LSWC in a .38 Special case) is one I have used for many many years. When I bought a Thunder Ranch 21-4, my decision was in large part driven by the fact that it was a .44 Special. He was one of my favorite writers of that era.

(8 gr. of Unique w/ a 158-160 gr. LSWC in a .38 Special case) To one and all I very much beg your pardon. The load I listed is not from Skelton. It is my own error. The correct load is 5.0 gr. of Unique w/ a 158-160 gr. LSWC in a .38 Special case. To use 8.0 gr. of Unique with that weight bullet in a .38 Special would not at all be wise. I italics the error in the original post and offer to one and all this correction. Again, do not use the load I erroneously listed when I first made this post! Sincerely. brucev.

Wyatt Burp · Jan 17, 2012

I didn't need any help in the Colt single Action department but Keith and Skelton made me "need" a 4" Model 24. Thanks to SS I got one new in 1983. If I had never read any Skelton stuff I'd have never picked up this 5" 27-2 fifteen years ago. Those Kuracs have the look of his Ropers, too. That was no accident.

Texas Star · Jan 17, 2012

I knew Skeeter slightly and read all of his material. One holster maker told me that he kept a bottle of whiskey on hand for his visits. Several of the older gun writers drank quite a bit. I've always wondered if the stroke that one suffered had to do with his intake. I saw him put Scotch in his tea at breakfast...

A very famous gun writer told me that one well known here probably died because he drank a barrel of whiskey a year and smoked like a chimney. He thought that had a lot to do with that man's throat cancer. Sobering thought...

I do retain many pleasant memories of Skeeter and his prose. He was one of the most practical gun writers, and unlike most now, he really gave useful info, instead of just hyping advertisers' products, although he did some of that, too. You don't get into most gun rags without doing that, and it has just gotten worse. But Skelton mostly plugged what he actually felt was good, and he told a lot about how to use guns and for what. His boyhood and law enforcement experiences were interesting, too.

I was impressed with some of his info, like how he blew a cylinder on a Colt 1917 .45 with handloads using 7.5 grains of Unique as then made. I think some load those guns too hot.

He told how to aim at a rattler so that the snake would align its head with the bullet. Never tried it, but it sounded like it might work.

Bill Jordan once said of Skeeter that if you pointed out something to shoot at, Skeeter would hit it for you. Considering Bill's own vast skill with guns, that was an impressive statement.

I think that Brian Pearce is our closest equivalent to Skeeter and to Elmer Keith. I hope to meet him someday. He's a modern link to a colorful gunwriting past, and he gives a lot of good info. They don't make many scribes like that now.

m657 · Jan 17, 2012

....as I continue my exploration of the Turkey Track Outback, the lessons and joy from Skeeter ease my own passage through the decades.

sps282 · Jan 17, 2012

Skeeter was my favorite gun writer, he had a style of writing that can not be found today.

29aholic · Jan 17, 2012

I have practically wore out the two books of his writings...literally. I was born about 2 months after he first started writing for ST in 1966, so I missed his early stuff unless it was reprinted but read his later stuff voraciously.
He is the reason for this gun, my own ode to Skeeter.

LEO918 · Jan 17, 2012

I bought a nice Colt SAA .45 from Sally and Bart Skelton soon after Skeeter's death. I wish I had kept it.

Alpo · Jan 17, 2012

I'm surprised no one has linked this.

For that that have never read him (surely there must be somebody that hasn't) and those that miss him greatly.

Skeeter Skelton

rags · Jan 17, 2012

TS, How did you come to befriend, and where did you have breakfast with the Famous gun writer?

PALADIN85020 · Jan 17, 2012

Although I lived for quite a while in Skeeter's neck of the woods (southern NM and El Paso, TX), I never met the man. I did enjoy his writing, often based on his real-world experiences. His fictional "me and Joe" stuff was expertly written. He died in an El Paso hospital, so he was in my city when he passed.

Not long after he died, I had the honor of meeting his lovely wife at a gun show, where she was offering and autographing a number of Skeeter's books. She was a gracious lady, and I could see why Skeeter loved her.

One of the gun mags has been doing reprises of Skeeter's old columns in recent years. They have been timeless and fun to read all over again.

A good man, sorely missed.

John

max · Jan 17, 2012

I have often thought of writing to Skeeter and thanking or blaming him for my safe full of stuff he made me buy. I have a Gold Cup thanks to an article he did. I also have several nickel N frames because he had a really good looking M-29. There is also a High Power, several Security Sixes, a PPK/s, some Smith autos and the list goes on and on.

Skeeter, my mother and my dog all died within a month or so of each other. That was a really bad time for me.

BruceV, are you sure about 8 grains of Unique? I have never heard of that much Unique?

Charles "Skeeter" Skelton: died 17 Jan 89

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