Memories of Elmer Keith

[DARE]

I am one of the fortunate people that got to meet the great man. My father, also David Reynolds brought Elmer to Dallas in 1979. He was born in 1899, so guess he was about 80 that year. Besides owning a gun store dad was a gun writer. He wrote free-lance articles for American Handgunner, Gun Digest and others. Also worked for an industry publication named American Firearms Industry. He wrote a regular column and also covered the industry trade shows for them. He met Elmer at some of these shows. I remember dad's account of their first meeting. Elmer said, "my name is Keith and I would like to buy you a drink". Dad said, "bourbon and branch water".
In May of 1977 my father went to Salmon, Idaho and spent a few days with Elmer and Lorraine. At that time he arranged for Elmer to come to Dallas.
We had Elmer at the gun store and then at a banquet at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. There was a meet and greet session, then dinner with Elmer, followed by Mr. Keith speaking for a while. Since dinner was included, maybe it was meat and greet. A great time was had by all.
The next day we hung out at the gun store and then went to the old Winchester Gun Range in Dallas for a shooting session. Elmer and my dad did the shooting. They shot .44 Magnums out to 300 yards. Normally you could not fire a handgun on the rifle range, but hey, he was Elmer Keith. Good memories.

The photos are Elmer being interviewed at the gun range and Mr. Keith and dad at the banquet.

 

[rockquarry]

I remember Dave Reynolds from the UNICAM store on Ross Ave. near downtown Dallas. I occasionally bought loading components there. I also remember an article in one of the GUN DIGEST publications. I used to shoot at the Winchester range. All that was at least thirty years ago, probably longer...

 

[smithra_66]

Great story and thanks for sharing. I've read most of his books. One of a kind!

 

[Valmet]

That was way before my time but I’ve long been a fan of Keith’s writing and am finally starting to look for a nice S&W Pre-29! Thanks for sharing the story and pics OP

 

[DARE]

rockquarry. Yep, that was us. Unicam on Ross Ave. Worked for my dad for 25 years. Actually Dave had an article in Gun Digest every year for several years.

 

[Farmer17]

I was a big Elmer Keith fan growing up. He sure liked big calibers and thought a .338 Magnum was the bare minimum for elk, he probably killed a gazillion of them so he ought to know. He said if he could only own three hunting guns it would be his .577 Nitro Express double rifle, his side by side 12 gauge AYA shotgun he bought from Colonel Charles Askins, and his .338 OKH rifle. He didn't care much for hollow point pistol ammo he liked his own semi wadcutter design bullet cast very hard and didn't care much for semi auto handguns but admitted the Colt 1911 .45 was a good gun if kept well oiled.

 

[smoothshooter]

I am 67 and have been a fan of Keith since the early to mid seventies.
Always wanted to meet him, but never got the chance. Little is said or written about his wife, but she must have been an extremely tough, patient, and tolerant woman beyond belief.
I would like to locate any videos of Keith talking.
Was always curious what he sounded like.
Can anybody list any good sources?

 

[pharmer]

....... He wrote some free-lance articles and also worked for an industry publication named American Firearms Industry.......

I recall some of the articles although it's close to 30 years since I got regular delivery. I think it was included with my yearly membership fee to NAFLFD (Nat'l Assoc of Fed Licensed Firearms Dlr's) an outfit run out of South Florida by a guy named Andy. Met them once on a trip down, don't know if your dad was there sometime in 1995. Elmer was sure one of a kind as I'm sure your dad was. Joe

 

[brucev]

Came of age reading articles by Keith and others of his era. Deeply impressed and made a permanent impression on me. His autobiographical "Hell I Was There!" is on my book shelf next to items by Capstick, Nonte, etc. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[twodog max]

I saved my old issues of Guns and Ammo and read his columns and articles until the magazines fell to pieces. Certainly an icon and a pioneer in shooting.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Someone could make a lot of money compiling Elmer's G&A columns in a book and then publishing. Ditto Skeeter. I'd buy one.

 

[Jack Flash]

My favorite Elmer Keith story:

There was a big firearms trade show (back east somewhere I think) and Elmer Keith was arriving on a commercial flight to attend the show and be a featured speaker at an gun writer's banquet. Gun Digest editor John Amber was to meet him at the airport and drive him to his hotel.

Recall that in those days dress was a lot more formal, and most men traveling on planes wore suits and ties.

John Amber said when he arrived, the passengers had just de-planed and come into the terminal. In that sea of business attired men, Amber saw one man wearing a buckskin shirt and a big Stetson hat. They had never met before, so John Amber introduced himself and welcomed Elmer to the state.

With a puzzled look on his face, Elmer asked "How did you know it was me?"

 

[Greyman50]

Mr Keith wrote some of the best, if not the best gun articles. He was a regular guy, no stuffed shirt. Never had the pleasure of meeting him but did meet and talk to John Amber, also another great gunwriter.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

I am fortuate to reside temporarily in Salmon, Idaho.....the last hometown of Ole Elmer himself. He was not as popular with the locals as he was with the rest of the world/country.....but I personally enjoy his writings very much.

My 86 year old hunting partner lived here in Salmon with his family for a few years in the late 1940's and his father had a chance to hunt/shoot with Elmer. In fact if you check out page 146 in "Hell I Was There" you will see photos that include my hunting partner's father.

Here's some photos I have posted in other threads on this forum.



nearest bp service station to my location

 

[smoothshooter]

Came of age reading articles by Keith and others of his era. Deeply impressed and made a permanent impression on me. His autobiographical "Hell I Was There!" is on my book shelf next to items by Capstick, Nonte, etc. Sincerely. bruce.

Sounds like you and I have a lot of the same books.

 

[remshooter]

I am 67 and have been a fan of Keith since the early to mid seventies.
Always wanted to meet him, but never got the chance. Little is said or written about his wife, but she must have been an extremely tough, patient, and tolerant woman beyond belief.
I would like to locate any videos of Keith talking.
Was always curious what he sounded like.
Can anybody list any good sources? .......google this

Oral history with 82 year old male, Salmon, Idaho (part 1 of 2) | Library of Congress
it a recording of Elmer Keith telling some of his life stories in 1981.when google it will look like this .
Oral history with 82 year old male, Salmon, Idaho (part 1 of 2)
About this Item Title Oral history with 82 year old male, Salmon, Idaho (part 1 of 2) Names Siporin, Steve (Collector) Keith, Elmer (Speaker) Created / Published September 1, 1981 Headings - English language--Dialects--Montana - Men--Idaho--Salmon--Language - Women--Salmon--Language - Anecdotes - Gunfights - Robbery--Montana....click it and click play

 

[RobertJ.]

I grew up reading his work. I started reading gun-related material when I was about ten, and noticed his work somewhere shortly after.

But thirty years ago I lived in Idaho Falls. I was dating a girl whose mother was from Salmon. I asked her if she knew Elmer Keith. She looked shocked and asked, yes, but how do you know him? Well, she had no idea he was a legend! He was just the strange old guy down the road who always wore a big hat and smoked a cigar!

 

[kaaskop49]

Someone could make a lot of money compiling Elmer's G&A columns in a book and then publishing. Ditto Skeeter. I'd buy one.

Re Skeeter: Shooting Times ran a soft cover 'annual' type publication of a number of Skeeter's articles, this in the early 1980s. I especially liked the "Me and Joe" and "Dobe Grant" articles.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[mtgianni]

I think they published Keith Notes 1 & 2 but they are long out of print.

 

[Greyman50]

Remember reading his articles in Guns and Ammo in the 60’s, never forget.