A 1911 that was Elmer Keith's

[SPEEDGUNNER]

This is a GREAT thread, really. And although I like all guns, at heart I am truly a 1911 fanboy. Admitting that, I gotta tell ya all, this ol' Springfield and the history and story behind it gives me a real chubby.

Well bought at any price. Shoot, display, enjoy!! And special thanks for sharing!!

 

[6518John]

Way late with this but Elmer believed Mr. Strong was killed as he was about to audit something in the State's business. Elmer believed with out actually accusing him that the shooting was probably intentional.

In one of my favorite books and movies, Affliction by Russell Banks, there is a hunting accident/shooting under questionable circumstance amazingly similar to the incident Mr. Keith experienced and describes in his article.

I never thought about it when this thread originally came up, but I can’t help but wonder if that is where Banks got the idea for the shooting in Affliction.

 

[Modified]

A zombie thread no one can complain about. Great thread.

Haha, this forum is the best gun forum on the internet, and this is one of the reasons.

There is an incredible wealth of information lurking here. Old threads popping up is one of the things I love about hanging out here. I'd say that some of them aren't really zombies, so much as hibernating bear threads. Ready to roar back to life after groggily exiting their dens.

 

[OLDSTER]

What a great thread. And congrats to the OP. These threads are what I wish we'd see more of. I wish I could add something

 

[SAFireman]

Haha, this forum is the best gun forum on the internet, and this is one of the reasons.

There is an incredible wealth of information lurking here. Old threads popping up is one of the things I love about hanging out here. I'd say that some of them aren't really zombies, so much as hibernating bear threads. Ready to roar back to life after groggily exiting their dens.

I for one am glad to see it come around again. This is one that really needs to be shown, shot & loved

 

[gnystrom]

Beautiful gun and story.
Look as to how to care for and protect that ivory.

 

[ladder13]

There is no handgun like a 1911, period.

 

[Farmer17]

I read a lot of Keith's magazine articles in Guns and Ammo growing up and had a subscription from the time I was 10 or 11 until I went to college. I remember him talking about defensive handguns and he definitely preferred revolvers to autos. He liked the double action first shot on the S&W M39 9/mm but had no respect for the caliber and also didn't like the aluminum alloy frame. He preferred the strength of steel and also didn't like aluminum because it couldn't be "touch up" blued. He said he carried the Government 1911 .45 acp in his chaps pocket when he worked as a cowboy and as long as it was kept well oiled it was a good gun and he seemed to think it would work just fine as a manstopper even with full metal jacket ammo. Strangely I don't remember him saying much about the .357 Magnum, I guess he was satisfied with his 4" M29 and was quite content with it as a concealed carry weapon even though he was only about 5'-8" and 155 lbs. It's kinda funny how you hear people griping today about carrying something larger than the micro polymer .380s and 9m/ms.