How many of us have a copy of Sixguns by Elmer Keith?

I've had my copy for more than 30 years. I usually get it down at least once a year for reference, and I try to read it through about every four or five years. I grew up reading his stuff, along with Askins, Skelton, Jordan, Cooper, Page, O'Conner, et al.

Later, Taffin, Ayoob, etc.

None, though, past or present, could match up to Keith. (Sorry, Mr. Ayoob, but that's like comparing a present-day hitter to Ted Williams or Ty Cobb.)

I plan to give my book to my nephew, who is somewhat of a sixgunner in his own right, having killed several head of big game (that's how Keith would put it) with a Ruger Vaquero himself.

If you have a copy and don't use it anymore, give it to a youngster. I intend to read mine one more time, then pass it on.

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Georgia On My Mind

First read, "Sixguns" when I was about 12. Have two copies. Plan to pass one on to the grandson, now 12, himself.

T-Star

I've had mine about 25 years.I go through it about twice a year.I want to also get his book ''Hell I was There''.

Ken

I have a good collection of them.
Had them since I was an early teenager- good reading, and great daydreaming.

I didn't have Bill Jordan's book until not long ago (about 10 years ago), although I had read it.

You don't suppose Keith might have embellished the truth just a smidgen,
do you?

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Hell, I Was There is a more readable book.
Whoever did the actual writing for Sixguns was overly formal and stilted. Great information, my copy is nearly worn out.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

Bought a copy with my first paycheck in Anchorage, Alaska in 1963. I still occasionally take it down to check or review something. Although written over fifty years ago the book is pretty timeless. If I had never bought another book on pistol shooting (or read all those forgettable gun articles!) it really wouldn't have mattered.

As the introduction to the book said, it was (and is) a book that a lot of people would have given a lot for.

It certainly has stood the test of time.

I knew Elmer, and am satisfied that he wrote it. But his prose was appalling. He was always heavily edited.

If you wonder whether he could shoot that well, especially at long range...I saw him shoot a .44 Magnum at 200 yards in his late 70's, and he did quite well.

T-Star

Hell I was There! too.....I'm a fan.....

Met a guy in Salmon River country this summer who was a neighbor and hunted with EK.....had a fascinating story of his own too....

I read Elmer for years & years all them decades ago....

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Having met Mr. Keith once (1981), I believe he spoke the truth in his tales. He was an amazing character. I treasure that brief moment in time spent speaking with him. I have no doubt he did all he said he did.

I've had a copy of "Sixguns" by Keith since the middle 1960s. The old guy was crusty, drove his proofreaders nuts with his spelling (or lack of it) and grammar (or lack of it). But duly edited, what shows through is his encyclopedic knowledge of firearms, and in particular, revolvers. If Keith said it was so, then, by damn, it was SO. Never been another like him.

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

If Elmer had a failing, other than his language skills, it was that he covered foreign pistols rather poorly.

Geoffrey Boothroyd wrote, "The Handgun", which is the best all-round pistol book that I've seen.

If you own it and, "Sixguns", you have the basics on handguns. The modern stuff isn't there, but the basics and history are.

T-Star

I bought some Elmer Keith books in the late 1970's by mail and they were autographed by him. I had the feeling this was an option if you ordered them directly.

Your right S&W Forever, it was an option. I remember ordering my copy from a Guns and Ammo ad while Elmer was an editor for them.
Between him and Skeeter, I had the hardest time waiting for next months issues to come out. Great memories.

Bought my copy in 1972, I was unaware that you could order from him direct, alas.
My favorite passage from "Sixguns" is where he says:
"Someone will figure, this fellow Keith, he cut his load by a few grains to get it into print so I'll just add a few grains and get his real load.
Anyone doing that WILL get a real load-most likely a new gun as well. Handloading is not for such logical minded jaspers."
Keith was like Ben Franklin and Thomas Edison-not much formal education, no access to journals or papers, but an insatiable curiousity, tremendous powers of observation and a willingness to experiment.

I've had my copy of "Sixguns" for more year than I care to remember. I also have an autographed copy.

grizz

Received my copy of "Sixguns" for my B.D. June 1956. Still have it minus dust jacket. Still read it now & then. It's going to my son along with the other gun books when I don't need them anymore.

I have had mine for many years and always enjoy reading it. My favorite is when he is discussing the new Python and he states "No handgun is worth a week's salary." I agree with him.

Yep!


Tim

Fond memories!

I have a very old autographed sixguns. Mine has some mistakes in order of pages etc. I also have hell I was there, and shotguns by keith etc.

I don't care if any of his stories were true. He is my all time favorite author!

The Python retailed for $125. The S&W M-29, which Keith loved, sold for $140. Go figure.

I think he had issues with Colt. He certainly preferred the S&W action and the way that his short fingers could reach the trigger better than on Colt.

T-Star