I hunted deer in 1990 in Gibbonsvile, ID.Just north of Salmon. The wife & I went into Salmon to get groceries a couple of times & went by Haverman's hardware store had Elmer's trophy heads hung on the wall. I was impressed to say the least.I have most of Elmers books & re read them often, I believe most of his stories. In fact I met his son Ted at the NRA Convention in Reno in 1987. Very tall man.Gave him 20 bucks for Elmers Museum.
Elmer Keith
- Thread starter jgh4445
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Fishinfool
Member
As a teenager growing up in the 1970's, I read and followed everything by Keith. He was a big influence in making me a handgun hunter, with the 44 mag being my favorite caliber, of course. When I was 13, it was his influence that caused me to spend my trap line money, and buy a 1909 Argentine Mauser in full military trim, and to sportsterize it, and re-bore it to 35 Whelen. Just like he said, it was, and is, hell on those big Maine whitetails. Still have the rifle, pictured below.
Larry
Larry
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trapper704
Member
He's from the same era my dad and uncles were, they lived a hard life moonshineing, breakeing horses, working on ranches and farms. Anything to make a living. but they had values, they treated people with respect unless they were screwed with, then you were at their mercy. I can attest to that from my young memorys. My dad told me that if you ever feel like some one is screwing with you that there is no reason for only one of you to be mad about it. Back in the 50's I can rember 5 men being shot and 1 tar and feathering, in our little logging town. A much better community than we have today. Back then the dope heads we have on welfare now wouldn't have been a problem, they would have been coyote feed. Wished we still had these values, instead of all the tree hugging queer dopers, that vote for muslim blacks to destroy our country.
I just finished reading "Hell, I was there..." a few hours ago, and am working on "Sixguns." I admit I told my wife that it's a wonder Elmer didn't dislocate his shoulder, patting himself on the back, but I really don't think he thought of it as bragging. He was just telling what happened. And I believe it did.
I'm old enough to remember when Elmer was alive and still writing. He and Jack O'Connor were my favorite gun writers. Now you want to talk about two different characters.
I'm old enough to remember when Elmer was alive and still writing. He and Jack O'Connor were my favorite gun writers. Now you want to talk about two different characters.
Elmer was once asked, if he could only own 3 hunting guns what would it be?
He said, his .577 double rifle, a 10 or 12 gauge side by side, and a .338 magnum.
Elmer did not have much use for wimp guns!
He said, his .577 double rifle, a 10 or 12 gauge side by side, and a .338 magnum.
Elmer did not have much use for wimp guns!
JPriest
Member
I guess after all that testing with lesser calibers the lessons really stuck. I was pretty surprised to read in "Hell I was there" that he tried to take an elk (could have been a deer) at one point with a .22. I guess a lot of people wouldn't look on that too kindly, but at least all of the experimenting he did with different calibres he recorded for the benefit of those who follow. He really was in the forefront of the development of the cartridges and rifles and handguns we take for granted today. I think we'd be a lot further behind if it hadn't been for him.
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trapper704
Member
I was raised in a family of 7 in tough times, we lived on deer and elk meat , potatos and other food from our garden, chickens and milk cow. Most of the deer and elk fell to a 22 rifle. It's shot placement, not size that counts.
rebel0994
Member
I 1st read Sixguns when I was 12,and Hell, I was there at 14. Elmer Keith was as much of a childhood hero to me as my Dad. He influenced my love of firearms, (specially big frame Smiths)as much as anything else in my life. I hung on every word, and still believe all of them. I have made shots at targets at 500-600 yards with a model 29, so I have no problem believing the mule deer shot. I regret never meeting him, he was larger than life, and a great man!
revolver59
Member
If there were more men like him around today!! Our world would not have been so screwed up right now.
Guess I was surprised that he thought so little of the standard 30 cals for elk and deer! I'm speaking of 30.06, .308 etc. He also didn't think the .284 cals were very good deer getters either. He did favor his .334 and the .338 for small stuff.
Texas Star
US Veteran
But he quietly admitted that the 6.5mm Mannlicher-Schonauer put its long bullets in deep and killed well.
In fairness, I think some of his disdain for lighter calibers was due to them not then being loaded with modern premium bullets. Both Waren Page and Jack O'Connor handloaded Nosler Partition bullets and were satisfied. But they were also a lot less likely than Elmer to take raking shots on departing animals, and waited when possible for a good broadside shot.
Keith sometimes really NEEDED the meat and took whatever shot he could get. He lacked the polish of the other two, who had master's degrees and were skilled wordsmiths as well as good shots and talented hunters. Keith often spoke of not wanting to be behind any man, using terminology that I'd better not reproduce here. I think he wanted to prove that he could always get his game, regardless of where he hit it and if he had to follow up a wounded animal.
The episode in which he fired repeated shots from .41 Magnum revolvers into caribou (?) that weren't dropping was disgusting to most normal sportsmen.
I think that if Elmer and Jack had each gone forth to gather an elk for the freezer, one with his fabled .270 and the other with a .334 OKH, both would have been eating elk that winter.
I think Elmer did like the 30-06 for deer.
Malpasowildlifer
Member
well said.....
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Keith at an NRA convention in Portland, OR a long time ago, and briefly corresponded with him. He autographed my copy of "Hell, I was there!" so that my wife could give it to me for my birthday back in the 70's. An ego as big as his hat (but well earned) and a bit rough in word and deed, but absolutely honest in his words, was my impression of him.
I also met Col Askins at an NRA convention in Philadelphia, PA. He spent most of his time ignoring me, while patting my wife on her knee and suggesting she should join him on a dove hunt in Mexico. Never cared much for him after that, and she didn't seem much impressed with him either!
I also met Col Askins at an NRA convention in Philadelphia, PA. He spent most of his time ignoring me, while patting my wife on her knee and suggesting she should join him on a dove hunt in Mexico. Never cared much for him after that, and she didn't seem much impressed with him either!
MaximumLawman
Member
I would have been even less impressed if he had spent his time patting YOUR knee and ignoring your wife!!
Fine man and excellent writer. Suspicions of his integrity likely are more reflective of what was lacking in the critics than anything lacking in him. Appreciate his books. HIWT is one that I've often enjoyed. I've used some of the stories as illustrations in sermons.
Keith's life, articles and books reflect an era of remarkable change and to some degree his uneven adaptation to those changes. His style of writing was not particularly artistic, but at the same time it was simplistic but well-informed by technical expertise as well as practical experience, the same as with O'Connor, Sharp, Askins, Skelton, Jordan.
I have one of his books,"Sixguns", very enjoyable read. I get it out
occasionally and re-read parts of it and look at the pictures. Elmer was
very opinionated but he seemed honest in his writing and wrote from
the heart, what he really believed. His undying praise of big bore
revolvers and heavy hard cast bullets really did change the sport of
handgun hunting in the U S.
occasionally and re-read parts of it and look at the pictures. Elmer was
very opinionated but he seemed honest in his writing and wrote from
the heart, what he really believed. His undying praise of big bore
revolvers and heavy hard cast bullets really did change the sport of
handgun hunting in the U S.
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