I asked Skeeter once when he began writing, and I think he said in 1958 or '59. The first article I read was about carrying a .38 snub upside down in a coat pocket and drawing it by the barrel. He recalled it very well, and told me the date.
BTW, will you check his byline again? I think he spelled his name"Alan", not "Allan." I could easily be wrong and want to be certain. But many of you will recall his ivory grips with the initials, "CAS" on them.
Another gun writer whose name has often been misspelled is John Wootters. Many leave off the second "t". He was among the finest, most informative gun writers of all time, as well known for his hunting advice as for gun data. In fact, I think he preferred to avoid gun tests, which are a problem for an honest writer. He retired about the time that Bob Petersen died, I think. I'm sure that he is relieved not to have deadlines now, but I miss his splendid prose and photos. Bill Jordan once told me that he was just a shooter who wrote a little, but that John Wootters was a true wordsmith. Bill was being too modest about his own abilities, but he was right about John!
But Skeeter Skelton had a folksy way with words that endeared him to readers, and he knew what to write, not just gun reviews. His articles are among the most useful of all. "Shooting Times" shot themselves in the foot when they quit running material like his.
