Sammy Davis, Jr. was a gun collector

[Jinglebob]

Admin Edit-
I just deleted 5 posts related to Sammy's race or religion.

Question-
Why?
No one has mentioned Mel's, or Arvo's, or Buddy's, or Jerry's race or religion.

That is a rhetorical question.

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Original Post-

I found this small article penned by Sammy Davis, Jr. in the June 1957 issue of Guns Magazine. I didn’t know that Mr. Davis was a gun collector and practiced fast draw.

And who knew that Mel Torme was also a gun collector.

I’m sure most know who Sammy Davis, Jr. was but if you are not as old as I am, you may not have heard of Mel Torme.

 

[revho]

I think I like the photo better than the article. It's pretty much what you would picture his quick draw to look like. Thanks for posting this.

 

[zzzippper]

No wonder he could tap dance while doing quick draw tricks with 1911s from shoulder holsters in Robin and his Seven Thieves!

 

[redlevel]

Many entertainers are collectors. Eric Clapton collects fine British shotguns. I believe he collects Boss&Co. Guns.

 

[shouldazagged]

I knew of Torme's fondness for guns and his collection. I believe Charlie Watts, the straight-arrow member of the Stones, is also a collector

 

[tops]

I have read that Rodd Redwing helped him with his drawing and shooting. Larry

 

[ACORN]

Buddy Hackett was also a gun guy.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

My President Charlton Heston had an extensive gun collection. And was a hunter, also. I met him & bought his book at the NRA meeting in Reno.

 

[Straightshooter2]

Working with Arvo Ojala must have helped because I seem to remember that Sammy Davis Jr. was one of the fastest draws in Hollywood.

CW

 

[Muley Gil]

Some of Mel Torme's family live in Alabama. One of them owned a grocery store in a low income, high crime area. Cousin Torme went to one of the schools, similar to GunSite. He open carried a Browning High Power.

 

[Alpo]

Mel Torme bought the Chicago Sears Colt.
THE WORLD?S MOST FAMOUS ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, THE SEARS & ROEBUCK ?COW BOY? SPECIAL.

As for Sammy Davis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6aNzFYHyz8

 

[NE450No2]

True story. Sammy Davis was not only one of the fastest draws of all the Hollywood Actors, he was one of the best gun handlers in the USA.

 

[dmar]

True story. Sammy Davis was not only one of the fastest draws of all the Hollywood Actors, he was one of the best gun handlers in the USA.

And a heck of a dancer...

 

[sipowicz]

You'll shoot your eye out......

 

[chief38]

It's hard to believe that with his enormous talent and decades of working in the entertainment world he actually died dead broke! His wife had to sell many of their possessions after he was gone to dig out of their financial hole.

He was a big Colt SAA aficionado and like others have noted - quite good with it.

 

[shouldazagged]

You'll shoot your eye out......

BOOOOO! HISS!

 

[italiansport]

If any of you have acces to Kopek's Colt SAA book; the color photos in the front show several examples that were in Torme's collection including the famous Sears Colt.
Jim

 

[Big Cholla]

Jerry Lewis is another SAA collector and was at the time just as good as Sammy Davis in fast draw and fancy handgun handling, IMHO. ........................ Big Cholla

 

[Bullet Bob]

Arvo Ojala said that Sammy Davis and Jerry Lewis were the best gun handlers he coached, and he taught a bunch of Hollywood actors.

 

[claudel]

I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Davis once and was invited up to the penthouse @ Harrah's in Lake Tahoe.

I was with a band that was performing there when he was in residence.

He was really nice to all of us even though there was a huge culture and generational gap at the time.

If anything, he seemed a bit lonely and was happy to have a few people around who didn't really want anything.

One of the things I first noticed when I met him was the nickel .25 ( 1908 Colt/Browning ? ) he wore in the small of his back...

Didn't really discuss it...