Skeeter's influence....

[Geronimo Jim]

I looked forward to every issue of Shooting Times. His column was
first thing I read. Have his books and a Colt SAA first gen 38 WCF
that he owned.

 

[L Pete]

I especially remember the stories about Dobe Grant and his childhood in Texas. Good reading for me......

 

[Gunhacker]

I'm a big fan of Skeeter too, after discovering him in 1978 when I bought my first issue of Shooting Times. After that, I became a subscriber, bought both of his books, his Shooting Times special editions, and the compilation book his wife Sally put out after his death.

I've also bought the Shooting Times edition with his first article/column, and many other editions through the 60's, it was a kick to see how his writing style progressed from a novice to a polished expert.

His influence is evidenced in my accumulation of .44 Special SA & DA handguns, and my love for the 5" barrel N-Frames.

The void his death created has been partially filled by capable writers like Brian Pearce (Handloader Magazine) and John Taffin's "Campfile Tales" and gun reviews in GUNS Magazine... I like reading both of those gentlemen because they have attitudes, writing styles and knowledge that's reminiscent of Skeeter, but he's still missed.

 

[cowboy4evr]

He lived for quite a few years over by Deming NM . His wife had a little shop in town . He is really missed for sure and I agree that his loads have always worked for me too . His 357 mag load and his 44 spl are the two I use the most .

 

[Muley Gil]

"Does anyone here remember the story he wrote about a round-butt M&P in
.32-20 WCF that he or a friend carried in a shoulder holster?"

Oh yeah, that story is what got me started on my .32-20 kick. After reading that, I found a 5" square butt .32 WCF Smif and made my first crude attempt of roundbutting a revolver. I've owned a bunch of .32-20 revolvers and rifles since then.

 

[semperfi71]

I met his 20 something Grandson on a movie set a couple of years back. I heard him say his name was "Skelton" and I knew the crew on the set had Deming natives in it. So I walked up to him and said, kinda serious, "Are you Skeeter Skelton's Grandson?" He said yes. Then I said, "You're Grandfather caused me a lot of trouble." He kinda looked at me like he was thinking, "Oh no, law trouble." Then I told him, "Ever since I started reading your Grandfather's stories I have always had to have a .357, .44 Special, and .44 Magnum around." He smiled and we had a nice visit.

I actually think I saw Skeeter about 1978ish in a toy store in a mall in Albuquerque. The man I saw was "Skeeter" from the boots to the iconic short brim western hat. And he saw me looking at him and gave me a direct look as if he was thinking, "Ball's in your court." I was too bashful to walk up and ask so I walked on.

I quit Shooting Times when Skeeter no longer wrote for them. I too have a copy of the special 1980 "Skeeter" issue and his first and maybe second tomes in hardback.

I do have a 5 inch M27-2 but must admit I prefer my 3 1/2 inch.

As to .44 Specials...I have 7 and a bunch of .45 Colts.

His type will never exist again because our PC society does not allow "salty" men to bloom from boyhood.

 

[captaint]

The good old boys

With the passing of Skeeter, Elmer and Bill Jordan, magazines lost their flair. I read Rifle and Handloader for a few years after, but I haven't even read them in a long time. I used to really look forward to the arrival of Shooting Times back in the day.

 

[BUFF]

I think Skeeter Skelton and Jeff Cooper influenced more handgunners than all of the other writers put together.

I only met Skeeter once, at the NRA national convention when he was awarded the Outstanding Handgunner trophy. He's taller than he looks in photographs.

 

[Frank46]

Francisco Bustamonte I hate you was one of Skeeter's stories that I still remember. Frank

 

[CajunBass]

When I read this thread a week or so ago, I was forced to remember that 1980 magazine "Skelton on Handguns" or whatever the exact title is and I went hunting. Sure enough I found one. I will not tell you what I paid for it, but I've enjoyed it as much now, as I did back then.

Maybe more. Some things they don't make anymore are just worth it.

This one will be better taken care of. If my son wants to read it, he can go find his own.

 

[Archie]

Another Skelton fan here. Even at the time, I considered him to be the most well rounded handgun writer of all. He had been in the Marine Corps, he worked as one form of lawman or another most of his life, he hunted and he shot in competition on the side. That about covers the field.

I appreciate the .44 Special - shine it's light for me! - and have two revolvers, both S&W in that caliber. I also have a couple .44 Magnums in both Ruger and S&W flavor. The late Elmer Keith is probably as responsible for that, but Skeeter didn't discourage me any. (And some M27s as well as a couple M19s...)

Nice revolver there, Xfuzz. Long may it shoot.

 

[TAROMAN]

Skeeter could spin a tale like no other.
Never missed Shooting Times during his tenure there.
And, to this day, I have a passel of .44 Specials he inspired me to acquire.
There will never be another like him.
Skeeter's passing left a hole in my heart that will never be filled.

 

[OIF2]

Had this one set up like Skeeter's 27: 5" barrel, standard hammer & trigger, Herrett's Skelton-style Ropers in nice walnut.
Bob

 

[GF1]

Yep, I too was/am a huge fan of Skeeter's, his influence persuaded me to buy this M27-2, 5", new in the wood box in 1981:

The only thing done to it is the obvious - I cut down the target stocks to fit my hand. It's wonderfully accurate, has been lots of places. I hold Model 57s in high regard, maybe the best fit for the N frame; also keen on the K-22 and K-38. But Skeeter had it right about the Model 27, the Cadillac of the Smith and Wesson line.

 

[Frank46]

I have to say I was influenced By Skeeter as in his writings he loved the 44 special. Took me many years before I found one of three I now own. two purely by accident and one I made a effort to find. Frank

 

[gkitch]

Skeeter owned a 7.5" SAA in 32-20 with a spare 32 Long cylinder. He bought it in Chicago to have with him on his ride home to Texas from his stint in the Marines. He later put a 45 bbl and cylinder on it and then sold it but lamented it so much that he mentioned it in numerous articles by serial number in homes it would one day get back to him. The number is 345858 if anyone runs across it.

 

[joebiker]

If Skeeter were here today... He would be packing a Glock 19 gen 4, carried in a Blackhawk Serpa holster, but would regret trading off his gen 3 to Jug Johnson.

 

[Muley Gil]

If Skeeter were here today... He would be packing a Glock 19 gen 4, carried in a Blackhawk Serpa holster, but would regret trading off his gen 3 to Jug Johnson.

Don't count on it!

 

[mtgianni]

Skeeter is the reason I carried a handgun on a combine and baler in my youth.I was the only one I knew that did that but had some fun with them.

 

[BUFF]

"Long live the "Mama Mia Mishap"."

He wrote a lot of funny stuff but that may have been my favorite. He took some flack over what the gun's manufacturer's name meant ("Sons Of Garbage" but in Spanish) but just from some sensitive soreheads that didn't catch that he wrote the whole article self-deprecating himself. Some people just can't laugh.