A quick retrospective on Skeeter Skelton

[CajunBass]

The more I think of these two characters (Skelton and Jordan) I seem to remember them trading barbs and "insults" back and forth when they wrote for competing magazines, especially in the question and answer sections. Jordan wrote for Guns and Ammo, and Skelton for Shooting Times.

Is my memory correct or am I confusing some others or just making something up?

 

[JackM]

The more I think of these two characters (Skelton and Jordan) I seem to remember them trading barbs and "insults" back and forth when they wrote for competing magazines, especially in the question and answer sections. Jordan wrote for Guns and Ammo, and Skelton for Shooting Times.

Is my memory correct or am I confusing some others or just making something up?

I remember one article in which Skeeter describes a Model 19 that he had personally worked on to improve the action. Jordan admires it and then hands him Jordan’s own M-19 telling him, “you can have yours back when you make mine that smooth,” the word ‘yours’ spelled out in Southern drawl. Skelton also describes Jordan’s incredibly fast draw. The two men clearly held each other in high regard.

 

[NYlakesider]

The more I think of these two characters (Skelton and Jordan) I seem to remember them trading barbs and "insults" back and forth when they wrote for competing magazines, especially in the question and answer sections. Jordan wrote for Guns and Ammo, and Skelton for Shooting Times.

Is my memory correct or am I confusing some others or just making something up?

Your memory is right on. They had a friendly exchange of articles.

As a guess I would think that both magazines profited from that "Fight"

 

[Muley Gil]

Y'all are wrong, dead wrong! Skeeter was an evil, evil man!

A large chunk of my firearms were bought because of his writings. .44 Specials, .32-20s, Model 27s and Model 19s, Colt New Service revolvers. The list goes on and on.

Skeeter was in a bad auto accident while working for the DEA. Combined with his addiction to tobacco and George Dickel, he went down hill quickly.

May he and Bart RIP.

 

[steelslaver]

My wife can't believe the way my brothers, some of my buddies and I give each other a hard time.

As an indicator of how highly Skeeter's writing are held, go look for any of his books, you might find a beat up copy of one for under $150
Over twice what most Jordan or Kieth books cost

 

[margethatcher]

Smoking.

My guess is he smoked like a chimney.

I got a feeling he and George Nonte enjoyed a few cocktails as well,

 

[6string]

The more I think of these two characters (Skelton and Jordan) I seem to remember them trading barbs and "insults" back and forth when they wrote for competing magazines, especially in the question and answer sections. Jordan wrote for Guns and Ammo, and Skelton for Shooting Times.

Is my memory correct or am I confusing some others or just making something up?

Not sure about Skeeter and Jordan, but it sounds likely. There was a friendly "back and forth" between Skeeter and Charles Askins, though. Most notably, they traded off in a couple of "revolver vs. auto" articles. Charles was the "auto guy" and Skeeter was the "revolver guy".
They both made good points, took a few pokes at each other (clearly in the spirit of fun) and together it made for some enjoyable reading, not to mention fuel for debate with your other shooting buddies!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

My guess is he smoked like a chimney.

He also liked his bourbon. Different times back then.

 

[Farmer17]

Here's a link for many of Skeeters old articles.

Skeeter Skelton

 

[Denverd0n]

Skeeter was one of the good ones. Had two of his books, but in a moment of financial need, about 15 years ago, I sold them on ebay. Got $95 for one of them, and $110 for the other. That was the same year I sold my 2nd generation Colt SAA and bought an Uberti to replace it.

Ah well. Sometimes putting bread on the table is more important than the "things" we have on the shelf.

 

[Xfuzz]

I did a karma a couple years back with one
of Skelton's books.
The idea was to read it and pass it along in another
karma.
I think maybe it made it to 2-3 members then kaput...nothing.

 

[NYlakesider]

I did a karma a couple years back with one
of Skelton's books.
The idea was to read it and pass it along in another
karma.
I think maybe it made it to 2-3 members then kaput...nothing.

I remember that well. I was the first winner and passed it on


It only takes one to mess up something nice. To be totally honest I expected better of forum members!

 

[sceva]

He was a very gifted writer. I always enjoyed his stuff, and have all the books referenced in that video.

One thing I’ve always wondered. He died young, at 60. Anyone know the circumstances of his passing?

Lung Cancer

 

[SmithSwede]

Thanks for the info.

 

[bobsguns]

He also liked his bourbon. Different times back then.

Many of us like bourbon.

I would bet those old timers had beaten-up bodies & used bourbon as a pain killer, or to at least slow it down some. There were no knee or hip replacements back then.

 

[bobsguns]

I remember that well. I was the first winner and passed it on


It only takes one to mess up something nice. To be totally honest I expected better of forum members!

Mabe a soon-to-be ex-wife stole it & sold it?

 

[Muley Gil]

Mabe a soon-to-be ex-wife stole it & sold it?

Been there, lost stuff.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

...
Elmer Keith, as good as he was, sometimes was a little too full of himself and repetitively self derivative...

You might blame a large part of that on the editors and copy writers at the magazines. Elmer Keith's grasp of writing was rudimentary at best, and most of his articles were the product of extensive rewrites at the publisher.

 

[stanmerrell]

Growing up, I read a lot of articles that were published. Sometimes several times. Skeeter's writing would sometimes make me laugh out loud. I'm glad I knew him, in a way, through his writing. The other writers were good too, but Skeeter's stories transported me right to where he was. Maybe I'll meet him in heaven.

 

[steelslaver]

Skeeter made you feel like you were along for the ride.