Elmer Keith's 44 Magnum, S147220

[hotrod150]

From "Hell I Was There" (page 198):
"The first 44 magnum ever produced, the tool-room job, is on it's way toyou now by air parcel post." No s/n mentioned but Elmer describes it as having a 6-1/2" barrel. He seemed to prefer a 4" version for EDC, usually carried in a strong-side belt holster with a shroud over the hammer to prevent the hammer spur from tearing up the lining of his coat. Preferred makers seemed to be Lawrence & Sparks. He mentioned in some of his writings an "adjustable welt" incorporated into the holster design which was used (instead of a set screw) to adjust how tightly the gun was retained.

 

[hotrod150]

Oh yeah, the grips....
I've seen many photos of EK's double-action S&W revolvers, and they all seemed to be fitted with ivory grips with a steer-head carved on the RH panel. He mentioned that he preferred that as it filled the gun hand (like a palm swell) and allowed for better control of the gun.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I had mistakenly said, in another thread, quoting John Taffin, that the 4 1/2 inch Elmer had cut down, was Elmer's first 44 Magnum. It seems that Taffin was apparently incorrect (as was I in quoting him). Therefore, I very much appreciate Bill setting the record straight.

So, the first 44 Magnum sent to Elmer was the third one shipped by S&W, and that 6 1/2 inch gun still exists with original barrel. The cut-down 4 1/2 inch gun started as a 6 1/2 inch, but not the first 6 1/2 inch sent to Elmer. That is excellent information. If I repeat three times, I will remember it from now on, despite advanced age!

Thank you, Bill!

 

[packrat2]

I am not sure if the Cabela's folks contracted this out, or they did it in house. &*it happens.

I have a chart that Ted Keith, Elmer's son, left with me of all the serial numbers of all the guns in the Boise display. The Keith Family still owns the guns on display. They are on loan to Cabela's.

If you ever get to Boise, you need to stop in and take a look at this great display.

Thanks Bill for bringing this up.


Dave

Have been up to Boise a few times and stop in to Cabela's
to see the display...

 

[THE PILGRIM]

You probably covered this before-
But could you tell us about that rear sight.
Don't think I ever saw one like it.
I have S166215.

 

[one eye joe]

THIS IS A WONDERFUL THREAD--VERY INFORMATIVE AND ENJOYABLE TO READ. ELMER'S GUN IS GORGEOUS. I WAS SURPRISED AT SEEING THE BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY OF ELMER IN HIS OFFICE. I AGREE WITH SCOOTER123, ELMER PROBABLY DID NOT WEAR HIS HAT WHILE WORKING AT HIS DESK. MOREOVER, HE WAS NOT WEARING A HAT WITH THE "MONTANA" CREASE, THAT HE WAS KNOWN TO FAVOR. FOR ME, IT LACKED AUTHENTICITY, AND LED ME TO QUESTION HOW ACCURATE THE REST OF THE DISPLAY WAS……...

 

[TexasRaider]

Yep, $*it does happen. If you think this is bad, when Sonny Crockett's Bren Ten blank gun was on display at Planet Hollywood in Vegas, it was listed as a Detonics Combat Master. They couldn't even get the gun right.

$*it does happen.

Bruce

Wonder where that gun is now. I thought I had read there were three Bren X guns; a dummy for dropping and two for blank firing. Michael Mann supposedly still has one, not sure about the others.

 

[rbrbrb6]

The wife and I stopped in Boise last week and I took her to Cabela's to see the Elmer Keith display. Unfortunately it looked a little more unattended and dusty than when I had been there in the past. Still, it was great to be able to show her his trophies and guns and especially the guns that have inspired several of my custom revolvers over the years. Supposedly Elmer shot and carried his #5 44 Special so much that according to his son Ted, it had to be reblued twice. Once the 44 mag came out Elmer supposedly switched to it and retired the #5 gun. I also loved looking at his two model 57's that are among some of the first ones shipped. If a person gets a chance to visit the museum, it is well worth the trip.

This is my Keith #5 tribute gun that Hamilton Bowen did on an old Ruger flat top converted to a dual cylinder 41 mag/41 Special.

 

[Göring's S&W]

My question, where is EMK's 38/44 OD?

Elmer's OD rests safely in a glass display case in my gun room. Along with his leather belt, two of his Berns Martin holsters, and a pair of custom Roper grips specifically made to fit his hands. It was in the collection of the late great Ray Cheely for many years. When his wife Sheryl decided to sell the collection she was kind enough to send it my way.

That 38/44 OD was of course part of Ray Cheely's posthumous "Registered Magnum" display which won the SWCA Founder's Award in 2010 at Tuscon, and went on to win 5 awards at the NRA annual convention in Pittsburgh in 2011 (I still regret to missing that NRA show to this very day ). One of the NRA awards that the Cheely display won was a silver medal for the 38/44 OD that belonged to Elmer Keith. That OD was apparently given to Keith by Douglas Wesson himself for Keith to use for research and development. Congratulations Gripper on that acquisition! Its hard to have a S&W more special than that one!

Here is a few photos. First, the display itself...

And, Keith's 38/44 OD

Although I didn't see it in person, FWIW, I always loved the broken bulletproof glass display/stand. It was a piece of bulletproof glass which was shot 4 times by a 45 acp, and all 4 shots failed to penetrate. The glass was then shot by the then new 357 magnum, which shattered and penetrated the glass. This very piece of glass was on Douglas Wesson's desk until he retired. Without Keith's work, who knows if the 357 magnum cartridge would be the legend that it is today.

 

[CajunBass]

This is a great thread. I remember reading Mr. Keith when I was a kid. He and Jack O'Connor. I looked forward to them every month. My grandfather suscribed to all the "outdoor" magazines back then and I had to wait anxiously for him to finish with them before I got them.

My closest brush with Mr. Keith was a couple of years ago, I found a copy of "Hell I Was There" on Amazon. The description of the book said "Apparently someone he hunted and camped with wrote in it." Ok, big deal, I wanted the book anyway.



I was surprised when I opened it and saw this inscription.



Yea, I'd say that was someone he hunted and camped with. Now I wonder who the book originally belonged to.

 

[Green Frog]

Now if you could just find a copy of "No Second Place Winner" autographed by Elmer Keith, you'd have a great pair!

Froggie

 

[SuperMan]

rbrbrb6...you are KILLING Me with that #5 .41!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been to the display twice while in Boise. Just a great place. I do have one question however...where is the Colt Flat Top Target .44 Special? According to what I have read it was THE ONLY FTT made in .44 Special.

I was lucky enough to meet Elmer once in Dallas in 1977. It was the night of my graduation party from the Dallas PD Academy and I skipped it to go see "The Man". My wife and I got got to talk to him for about 15 minutes and he signed my copy of SIXGUNS and KEITH an AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Bob

 

[rbmcmjr]

I was surprised when I opened it and saw this inscription.

That is so cool.

 

[Qmark]

If I recall as I read Elmer's writings in Gun'Z'Ammo. Elmer was very insistent on 4 5/8 and not 4 1/2. I also recall reading Elmer's favorite 44, he mistakenly left in a gas station restroom. When he returned it was gone. Don't know if it was ever recovered.

 

[Doug M.]

Now if you could just find a copy of "No Second Place Winner" autographed by Elmer Keith, you'd have a great pair!

Froggie

*
Wouldn't that be Bill Jordan?

 

[Gregor44Keith]

Elmer Keiths great grandson

Here is a picture of his office at the Cabelas

Keep the darn kids out of my office Elmer would say very loud to his wife Lorraine and son Ted. For some reason I was allowed to play in the trophy room but I was the last Keith to carry on the name and I was shooting big guns at a very young age. When I was 7 I would take my soccer pads with me and put them inside my jacket so the recoil from the 10 guage didn't hit as hard. I was very skinny and short and half blind, but they didn't treat me that way. Just keep shooting until you hit it Elmer would say. Don't pull the trigger. Squeeze the trigger and control your breathing. At 14 I was still legally blind but they just put bigger scopes on everything and we started shooting IPSC

 

[rbmac52]

Man it is just great to have you sharing history with those of us who hold Elmer Keith in such high regard! Thank you so much for doing so!

 

[S.B.]

Thank you for the knowledge. Elmer has been one of my hero's since I began reading Guns & Ammo many moons ago. I'm now 72.
Steve

 

[boykinlp]

Here is a picture of his office at the Cabelas

Keep the darn kids out of my office Elmer would say very loud to his wife Lorraine and son Ted. For some reason I was allowed to play in the trophy room but I was the last Keith to carry on the name and I was shooting big guns at a very young age. When I was 7 I would take my soccer pads with me and put them inside my jacket so the recoil from the 10 guage didn't hit as hard. I was very skinny and short and half blind, but they didn't treat me that way. Just keep shooting until you hit it Elmer would say. Don't pull the trigger. Squeeze the trigger and control your breathing. At 14 I was still legally blind but they just put bigger scopes on everything and we started shooting IPSC

Welcome to the forum! We, on this forum, hold your great grandfather in high regard. We love pictures and stories too.
Larry

 

[S&W ucla]

Welcome to the forum! Your Grandfather? Ted spoke to us when the collectors show was in Boise 2012. So sorry to hear of his passing last year.