mg357
Absent Comrade
Hello i'm seeking some opinions of the Elmer Keith book sixguns because i am thinking about buying a copy of it.
Opinions on the book Elmer keith's book sixguns.
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With all due respect to ELMER and all his followers. He should have stuck to just being a great gun guy and shooter.
I could barely make it through his Books. A writer he is not.
The History and stories are very good, if someone else wrote it.
I could barely make it through his Books. A writer he is not.
The History and stories are very good, if someone else wrote it.
THE PILGRIM
Member
I like mine!
Not sure how anxious I would be to buy at today's prices!
Oops!
Amazon has it in paperback for $13.67.
Go for it!
Not sure how anxious I would be to buy at today's prices!
Oops!
Amazon has it in paperback for $13.67.
Go for it!
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Rpg
Member
Elmer's writing is quaint.
He had some entertaining experiences, but wasn't a great communicator.
His books are certainly of historical interest, but not as readable as some other contemporary gun authors.
He had some entertaining experiences, but wasn't a great communicator.
His books are certainly of historical interest, but not as readable as some other contemporary gun authors.
Watchdog
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Sixguns was first published in 1961, I believe. It was required reading among my gun totin' buddies and me in the early seventies.
Looking at it now, parts of it are still fun to read. Keith was from another era. Some of his exploits and stories that I thought were enlightening and humorous when I was young are no longer acceptable behavior to me as an adult in the 21st Century.
The book is sort of a window into another time and place.
Parts of it now bore me to death, because it seems so dated in 2018.
Should you take everything Elmer Keith said as gospel truth? No, absolutely not.
I think people can still learn a few things from reading it, but well over a half-century after its first publication, it is no longer the be-all-end-all book on sixguns.
Bottom line...is it worth reading now? Yes. Once.
Looking at it now, parts of it are still fun to read. Keith was from another era. Some of his exploits and stories that I thought were enlightening and humorous when I was young are no longer acceptable behavior to me as an adult in the 21st Century.
The book is sort of a window into another time and place.
Parts of it now bore me to death, because it seems so dated in 2018.
Should you take everything Elmer Keith said as gospel truth? No, absolutely not.
I think people can still learn a few things from reading it, but well over a half-century after its first publication, it is no longer the be-all-end-all book on sixguns.
Bottom line...is it worth reading now? Yes. Once.
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I began reading Elmer Keith material about 1962 in GUNS & AMMO when it was a good magazine. I've read much of what he wrote over many years, including a lot of the stuff he did for the AMERICAN RIFLEMAN when I happened across a collection of these magazines from the '40s and '50s.
I've read a couple of his books, including SIXGUNS. I think all Elmer Keith material is probably worth reading, at least once. While the reader may or may not learn from the material, some of it is quite interesting.
I won't criticize or praise Keith as I've always had an indifferent outlook toward his written work; not sure why. Regardless, his articles were better than some of his contemporaries.
I've read a couple of his books, including SIXGUNS. I think all Elmer Keith material is probably worth reading, at least once. While the reader may or may not learn from the material, some of it is quite interesting.
I won't criticize or praise Keith as I've always had an indifferent outlook toward his written work; not sure why. Regardless, his articles were better than some of his contemporaries.
Rock185
US Veteran
I've had a copy of Sixguns for so long, I don't even remember when I bought it. Elmer Keith was probably the first gun writer I followed when I got old enough to develop a serious interest in handguns. I still occasionally enjoy looking through the old book. Keith was a very opinionated character, and the book is very dated. But then, so am I
ParadiseRoad
Member
...I've owned my copy for many years...
...would I buy it again?...yes...
...if you want some really good reading though...find Skeeter Skelton's books...
...would I buy it again?...yes...
...if you want some really good reading though...find Skeeter Skelton's books...
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Alpo
Member
I bought a hardback copy back in the mid 70s. It somehow got destroyed in the late 80s (I'm pretty sure the boy had something to do with that), and I replaced it with a paper copy in the late 90s.
I recommend it.
If you're politically correct, you won't like it. Elmer refers a few times to black people by not-currently-popular terms (although I don't recall the EVIL N-word being used).
And I recall him telling about shooting a golden eagle on the wing with his 44. He justified it (a "good" eagle, that won't steal any more lambs), so even back then he knew there were folks that would be upset by that.
And he uses the "editorial WE", instead of "I" ("We" shot a coyote, and "We used the double berns-martin rig, etc.).
And I agree with ParadiseRoad, Skeeter is a much-more readable writer. Of course, Skeeter's books, in paper, seem to run between 150 and 200 dollars. Wowser.
Yeah. I think you should get it. And a copy of Hell, I Was There.
I recommend it.
If you're politically correct, you won't like it. Elmer refers a few times to black people by not-currently-popular terms (although I don't recall the EVIL N-word being used).
And I recall him telling about shooting a golden eagle on the wing with his 44. He justified it (a "good" eagle, that won't steal any more lambs), so even back then he knew there were folks that would be upset by that.
And he uses the "editorial WE", instead of "I" ("We" shot a coyote, and "We used the double berns-martin rig, etc.).
And I agree with ParadiseRoad, Skeeter is a much-more readable writer. Of course, Skeeter's books, in paper, seem to run between 150 and 200 dollars. Wowser.
Yeah. I think you should get it. And a copy of Hell, I Was There.
Not a fan of Elmers.
I've read everything Jack O'Conner published because at the time I was hunting with a rifle in AZ. in the 60's. He was also an English professor and editor among other things. The guy could write. Keith, not so much. Like Elmer, he grew up in a different time but if he were alive today he would still be a first class writer. Another reason I didn't read much of anything Elmer wrote was because a lot of it was bravado that I found annoying.
I've read everything Jack O'Conner published because at the time I was hunting with a rifle in AZ. in the 60's. He was also an English professor and editor among other things. The guy could write. Keith, not so much. Like Elmer, he grew up in a different time but if he were alive today he would still be a first class writer. Another reason I didn't read much of anything Elmer wrote was because a lot of it was bravado that I found annoying.
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With all due respect to ELMER and all his followers. He should have stuck to just being a great gun guy and shooter.
I could barely make it through his Books. A writer he is not.
The History and stories are very good, if someone else wrote it.
^^^^^This^^^^^
gregintenn
Member
I love Elmer's writings. He wasn't an English major, but anything I've read he wrote, I found very interesting and entertaining.
You'll also want a copy of "Hell, I Was There".
You'll also want a copy of "Hell, I Was There".
Geronimo Jim
Member
I love Elmer Keith and have most of his books. He was the real deal.
He grew up in the wild. A rancher and big game guide. He killed more
game and guided more than any other gun write by far. I spent a couple of days in Salmon, Idaho in 1995 and talked with several people
who knew him. To a person, they said if he said it, it happened. He
was a great man and as of all great men there was a great deal of jealousy among his
peers. In my opinion, lesser peers. In todays politically correct society,
people just can't understand that the bald eagle was a threat to his
livelihood. People who have never spent time with guns, horses, farm
animals, rough hard men, can't understand what life was like back
at the turn of the century. To me, he was a great American hero.
Read what John Taffin said of Keith. Read his autobiography. He was not a
educated man but he was a smart man. My mother always said there is
nothing worse than a educated fool. Sadly, our world is becoming full of
educated fools.
He grew up in the wild. A rancher and big game guide. He killed more
game and guided more than any other gun write by far. I spent a couple of days in Salmon, Idaho in 1995 and talked with several people
who knew him. To a person, they said if he said it, it happened. He
was a great man and as of all great men there was a great deal of jealousy among his
peers. In my opinion, lesser peers. In todays politically correct society,
people just can't understand that the bald eagle was a threat to his
livelihood. People who have never spent time with guns, horses, farm
animals, rough hard men, can't understand what life was like back
at the turn of the century. To me, he was a great American hero.
Read what John Taffin said of Keith. Read his autobiography. He was not a
educated man but he was a smart man. My mother always said there is
nothing worse than a educated fool. Sadly, our world is becoming full of
educated fools.
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mstem
Member
I love mine! I learned a lot reading it. It was hard to put down. Buy it!
keith44spl
Member
Readin EK's works is aliken to sittin around the fire and listen to old tales of men and deeds of days gone by.
Jest about all the gun hacks are full or partly full of sheep dip.
But, most can be entertaining when one's snowbound in the hills....
.
Jest about all the gun hacks are full or partly full of sheep dip.
But, most can be entertaining when one's snowbound in the hills....
.
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THE PILGRIM
Member
Elmer did tell some tales!
Often a little biased and maybe Exaggerated.
Far as I know, he's unique and the only writer to do that.
I like the WWII story when he was the Chief Shotgun Tester at Ogden.
No Shotgun would be shipped until Elmer Fired it and signed off.
So a rush order comes in, Elmer goes into a marathon Shotgun shoot.
He assigns several ladies to load and hand him the guns.
He shots until his shoulder is bleeding!
I wished I could have seen there!
Elmer - why dont you let the ladies shoot a little?
You can watch, rest your shoulder and then sign off the guns.
These ladies are from nearby farms-ranches.
They have spent their lives farming, ranching and stealing sheep.
They can shoot shotguns!
Often a little biased and maybe Exaggerated.
Far as I know, he's unique and the only writer to do that.
I like the WWII story when he was the Chief Shotgun Tester at Ogden.
No Shotgun would be shipped until Elmer Fired it and signed off.
So a rush order comes in, Elmer goes into a marathon Shotgun shoot.
He assigns several ladies to load and hand him the guns.
He shots until his shoulder is bleeding!
I wished I could have seen there!
Elmer - why dont you let the ladies shoot a little?
You can watch, rest your shoulder and then sign off the guns.
These ladies are from nearby farms-ranches.
They have spent their lives farming, ranching and stealing sheep.
They can shoot shotguns!
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Inusuit
Member
I have several of Keith's books including Sixguns and Hell I Was There. They do provide an interesting window into another time.
I agree with LostintheOzone. Jack O'Conner was a much better writer and did so without Elmer's raging ego. The back section of HIWT contains copies of correspondence between Elmer and others including O'Conner. As you all probably know, Jack was a huge fan of the .270 and Keith thought anything less than a .338 was a poodle shooter. In these exchanges, O'Conner was polite and kept his sense of humor. Elmer not so much and he loses respect from me for that. But I'm prejudiced, I suppose, as O'Conner was one of my late Dad's greatly admired sportsmen.
But yeah, buy the book.
I agree with LostintheOzone. Jack O'Conner was a much better writer and did so without Elmer's raging ego. The back section of HIWT contains copies of correspondence between Elmer and others including O'Conner. As you all probably know, Jack was a huge fan of the .270 and Keith thought anything less than a .338 was a poodle shooter. In these exchanges, O'Conner was polite and kept his sense of humor. Elmer not so much and he loses respect from me for that. But I'm prejudiced, I suppose, as O'Conner was one of my late Dad's greatly admired sportsmen.
But yeah, buy the book.
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
I liked and still do, Warren Page, Jack O'Conner, Ted Trueblood. Ted could tell about cooking over an open fire and I could taste the blueberry pie.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
Have a blessed day,
Leon
If my copy of Sixguns came up missing or damaged I would replace it the same week.
Living in or near where he spent years of his life, and having spoken with those who knew him I believe his writings.
Living in or near where he spent years of his life, and having spoken with those who knew him I believe his writings.
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Abbynormal
Member
If you read "Hell I was There" before "Six Guns", it will make more sense.
Elmer had the happenstance to be born in Reconstruction Era Missouri. His family being friends with Frank James.
They thenn moved to Montana/Idaho in the last of the "Wild West" era.
He did know his stuff, but as has been said, shall I say outspoken on his views.
He did have a definitive part in the development of the .357 Magnum and was the true father of the .44 Magnum.
His tales of his pistol shooting are legendary and I won't dispute them, as I wasn't there.
He was a successful guide in Idaho and had many successful safari's in Africa that brought back many a tale!
Elmer had the happenstance to be born in Reconstruction Era Missouri. His family being friends with Frank James.
They thenn moved to Montana/Idaho in the last of the "Wild West" era.
He did know his stuff, but as has been said, shall I say outspoken on his views.
He did have a definitive part in the development of the .357 Magnum and was the true father of the .44 Magnum.
His tales of his pistol shooting are legendary and I won't dispute them, as I wasn't there.
He was a successful guide in Idaho and had many successful safari's in Africa that brought back many a tale!
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