Sheriff Bill Baker - Lemhi County Idaho - Elmer Keith Connection (Update in post #39)

[EarlB]

Alas those days were not that long ago. Zell Miller was about the last of them.

Ah, back in the days when Dems could be conservative and pro gun.

 

[Muley Gil]

Alas those days were not that long ago. Zell Miller was about the last of them.

Yes, Zell was a gooden'. Years ago, I read his book about learning life's lessons in the Marine Corps.

 

[Buford57]

Great tale. I was broken in by a sheriff of that mold, who also lived over the jail. His wife was undersheriff and dispatcher. One of his sons was a knothead and the other was my good friend.

 

[Alk8944]

The revolver. If you blow-up the photo you will see the clearance between the the cylinder and breech is far too wide to have recessed charge holes. Not wide enough to be a .45 ACP. It could be a .44 Spl., .38 Spl. (Outdorsman), or even a .45 Colt.

 

[ken158]

If you read the story linked in post 5, Baker's son wrote a poem after his father's death that referred to his "famous 44" (page 23)

 

[Thinnes]

Awesome!

Thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed the story.Dave

 

[THREEDFLYER]

More photos from my recent visit to Salmon

Here are some additional historical photos for you to enjoy. Still trying to get the information on the sheriff's 44 that Elmer gave to him. Did some looking through the guns with his son Bob while I was in Salmon last week and came across one of his service revolvers which is a 4" Model 19-1 and you can see by the photos that the sheriff "customized" the stocks for his hand.

The .44 is currently in the Salmon museum on display and I am going to get the serial number and order up a letter from Roy as soon as possible.

The .22 Colt pictured was the gun jammed into the sheriff's ribs by the desperate fugitive who hijacked him in the story you read in a previous post on this thread.

 

[g-dad]

What a great thread! Thank you for sharing and updating it.

 

[S&W ucla]

Neat!! Can't wait to hear the results of the letter on the 44!! The Colt is a "Pre-Woodsman". Judging from the diamond grips, probably 1922 or earlier. The model was stamped Woodsman begining ~1927. Someone swapped the barrel to a 4.5" sport (began Sport production in 1933) it would have been a 6 5/8" pencil or medium barrel originally. Skeeter Skelton wrote his first handgun shoot was with his dad's Colt Woodsman Sport around age 6. Glad your friend wasn't shot with it!!! Nice souvenir though.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

UPDATE

Finally got the information off of the revolver in the photo and will be sending off for the letter this week. Will post the results when the letter arrives.

The assumption is that this revolver was given to Sherrif Baker by Elmer Keith, and I am hoping the letter will show that it shipped directly to Elmer......we shall see!

The caliber is indeed .44 S&W Special

 

[S&W ucla]

The caliber is indeed .44 S&W Special

Any 4" 1950 Target is indeed Special!! Good Luck!

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

THE GUN

GREAT history!! Funny how some minds think alike. This 'GUN' came to me some years back. It looks forever like the gun of the 'Sherrif's' She IS a MDL 29 S#-- S ending in 7322. Has done fine for me wearing rosewood 'coke bottle' stocks, which she came to me with. Really too bad these stocks were discountuined as they fit my hand like a glove, every thing else is a runner- up.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

UPDATE: Received factory letter from Mr. Roy Jinks today

This is a scan of the Jinks letter that I received today regarding Sheriff Bill Baker's 4" .44 HE

 

[les.b]

Well....now that's really interesting!! Sure provides provenience for the Lemhi Co Sherriff's office!!

What a great thread this has been...

Thanks for sharing with us, including the letter!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Dakotakid]

Baker mod 24

GREEAT THREAD!!! thanks for sharing---really interesting---

 

[max]

Most interesting!!!!!!!

 

[moosedog]

Great thread, thanks. I wonder what that 1965 or 66 Chevy scout car has under the hood.

 

[jimgoldth]

Any 4" 1950 Target is indeed Special!! Good Luck!

This is a very interesting thread. A 4" 1950 44 Special Target is probably one of the best police Revolvers available in 1954.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

Yet another update to this story......

I sent a copy of Roy's letter to the museum's curator in Salmon and they have placed a copy of the letter in the display case along with Bill's hat and of course the .44 that we have been discussing.

If any of you ever make it to the museum in Salmon.....have someone take a photo of you next to the display and post it!