That’s like being related to royalty. I knew that he had lived in Idaho but I didn’t realize there were periods near Weiser. I was born in Weiser. I’ve got a hard cover copy of Sixguns and am hoping get a copy of Hell I Was There. I wish they would put that one back in print.
He was my mentor. Growing up in the 1950's I read his books and articles over and over until all were nearly memorized. It's a tribute to him that they are still relevant today. I never met him yet feel he was a close friend. I was deeply saddened by his passing.
Yes he was a great guy,really& where he shot elk over 600yards with his pet 4incher,44,but none of us are worthy before God. I see Eastwood ,Dirty Harry even went to meet him.
As a young boy in South Africa in the late 70's and 80's I loved reading Elmer Keith's contributions in Guns and Ammo magazines tough men in tough times living life to it's fullest
Reading Elmer Keith articles is what got me started using handguns for hunting. Have been a Elmer Keith fan all my life. Had the honor of meeting him at a NRA convention, he took the time to chat with me for a good half an hour. . He will always be respected and remembered. Thank you for the video👍👍
Elmer was excellent at shooting big bore pistols at long range. So am I. I can hit a basketball sized target most every shot at 200 yds with a 1911 .45. So could Elmer. He taught me.
Thank you for such a wonderful presentation. Im 60 years old, and i was weaned on GUNS & AMMO, Shooters Digest, and The Shooters bible. Elmer Kieth has been my hero since i was about 8 years old, along with Colonel Jeff Cooper and Masad Ayoob. What a wonderful life this man amoungst men lived. A true American pioneer, hunter, guide, gunsmith, and outdoorsman. A giant of small stature, with a big cigar, a big hat, and big wheelgun on his hip. His contribution to firearms, especially large calibre, high-powered, revolvers, is without peer. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy never be forgotten. Thank you, Mr Kieth. You made my youth a time filled with dreams and beliefs that anything was possible with hard work, determination, courage, and grit. Bob. Australia.
I'm your age, while others our age were hovered around the comic books, I was scouring for the latest gun mag. Hoping an Elmer Keith article would be included. My 16 year I worked my ass off and bought my first S&W 29 on my 17th birthday. I learned to reload for that revolver. I still have that wheel gun.
@billp3337 I honestly admit that I envy you being able to own such a beautiful revolver, we were never allowed, even way back then, to own hanguns of any type except as pistol club members and at that age it was much too expensive. I hope you have it for your whole life. Be safe, well, free, armed, and blessed, mate. Bob. Australia.
@@jackinabox8497 My son is engaged to be married on April 5th 2025. It will be his wedding gift. He grew up shooting it with .44 special level loads. he always asks for it when we go to the range.
@billp3337 You are a wonderful father, and he is a very lucky son. Congratulations to your son and his soon to be wife, and congratulations to you for raising such a wonderful son. Be safe, well, free, armed, and blessed, mate. Bob. Australia.
I never met Elmer in person or talked on the phone. But did correspond by mail with him, Helped me a lot with a 500 NE 3 1/4 inch double rifle getting it shooting right and getting me Bell cases to reload. His books are a good read and for me the Guns & Ammo magazine were the best years with him in it.
Excellent video!! Made my day to learn more about this American Legend. I use the Keith style semi wadcutters in both .38 special and .44 magnum. Mr. Keith has greatly influenced my pursuit of handgun hunting, I have taken wild hogs with hardcast Keith style semi wadcutters in my .44 magnum and must say that the bone crushing straight line peneration of those bullets speaks for itself and demonstrates the effectiveness of all the research that this man put into his life's work. I have told many people that anyone who enjoys and appreciates the magnum handgun cartridges owes Mr. Keith a great deal of gratitude.
A great man. A friend of a friend moved to the USA and met him at a show; bought a copy of Sixguns from him - and took a photo of him signing it, using a 35mm camera - then added the photo to the signed book; the book was gifted to my friend soon after. When my friend sadly passed the book was left to me in his will. It's now in pride of place on my bookshelf. Most of the bullet molds I prefer are the Keith designed types, esp. the 454424 for the .45 Colt, etc. Wish there were more folk like him these days!
Elmer was a character growing up in salmon i had no idea how famous he was he was just elmer to me. We mowed his lawn,trick or treated his house admired his mounts and a few of his stories. Yes he really did wear his pistol everywhere 😂 wore his hat and normally had a cigar in his mouth. He invited many people to go hunt with him in africa few could afford the time or money. Pretty good guy he was always friendly towards us kids.
@@LTArms he was a few years younger than my grandfather so he didn't talk much gun stuff to me and my friends unfortunately. J.d.cannon was the local celebrity then lol mclouds boss on TV series. I do have fond memories of his mounts,first time I'd ever seen a lion,Buffalo, elephant etc mounts.
Una lastima que no entienda Nada. No se ingles pero si se quien es Elmer Keit. Que tipo audaz que fue . Yo conozco la historia de la leyenda. Porque EL FUE UNA LEYENDA.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Good report. I treasure my conversations and correspondence with Elmer in the the early mid and late 1970's. He is the reason I bought my first M29" 4" in 1973 & carried it as my duty firearm instead of the .38 Special M10 I was issued with. Those were the days! RIP Elmer.
This was a GREAT video! When I was MUCH younger I visited Mr. Keith two or three times in his Salmon Idaho home while traveling between Moscow, Idaho and Idaho Falls, Idaho between 1978 and 1980 or 81 (I can't remember exactly). When driving from Northern Idaho to Southeast Idaho it was much faster to go over Lolo Pass and travel south on highway 93 through Montana back into Idaho rather than going straight south in Idaho on highway 95 to Boise and then go east. One of my most treasured possessions is a photo of myself and my cousin Steve on either side of Elmer Keith taken on his side lawn. I'll never forget going into the little building behind his house where he kept most of his hunting trophies and he did his writing. The little cabin had a high ceiling, but he had a huge polar bear rug hanging with the hind feet on the ceiling, the body on the wall, and the head and front feet on the floor!
My father passed down four 1903 Springfield rifles to me that he had acquired over the years through the CMP. One is a sporterized 1903A4 with a beautiful Monte Carlo stock, the other three have the original ladder rear sight though one has a vintage scope mounted to it. My father put a lot of meat on the table using those rifles and passed on that tradition to me. Growing up in Colorado offered fine hunting and fishing, though nothing is as good as it used to be on that subject. Fine story and thank you for bringing it to light. SSG. U.S. Army (Medically Retired) Infantry / Sniper / SOF Intel (SOT-A), multiple tours
A look in my gun safes will quickly show Keith influenced me greatly. My Model 70 is a pre-war 30-06, one of my smaller caliber rifles. Big bore Smith and Wesson revolvers are my favorite guns to shoot, I even made it to Salmon ID for the Second Annual Big Bore revolver shoot. I think I traveled the furthest to attend.
Thank you for this video and the link to Elmer's talk. both very interesting. As a former sixgun shooter in the UK. (We had our pistols confiscated back in in 1996 due to a mass shooting.) I use to regularly shoot SAA IN 45, 44 AND 357 using Keith type bullets, and they are the bests. I always read his articles in Guns & Ammo And have read a couple of his books. He is a legend amonst UK pistol shooters of his era.
I took a tour of the Elmer Keith Museum in Salmon, Idaho before they moved it to Cabela's in Boise, Idaho ... pretty cool ... he was a living legend in Salmon, Idaho ! ! !
I remember his G&A column... it was always my first read on getting me magazine each month..... I had the very first edition of G&A and every one since well up into the late 70s, but somehow they got lost in a house move. Elmer was a real 'no BS' writer and you knew that if he said it, he had done and it was so. Those were the days when we were finding out what made gun accurate and little has been discovered since. I still have Townsend Whelen's "The Ultimate in Rifle Precision" and the price inside the cover is 67s 9d so I must have bought it before 1967 when NZ went to decimal currency... I think it was about 63 or 64. With all of our fancy gear and superb barrels, there's still nothing really new on the gun scene where ammo is concerned; it has all been done before, and mostly before 1980. Those old timers (hark at me, I was born in 1942!) knew their stuff, and our Elmer was among the best of them. We shall not see his like again.
I read some of his books. His knowledge and breakdown of firearms was amazing. I was especially interested in bullet accuracy and how Mr. Keith described it was spot on.
I wish I had kept those G&A issues from the early and mid-1970's. I still treasure a May 1965 issue, which was a bit before my time, where Elmer writes about new Savage Models 110 and 99 with German engraving and Bitterroot bonded core bullets. I remember him mentioning his favourite .44 Mag load - "my" 250gr 429421 over 22.0gr #2400. Elmer was a legend, even down here in South Africa.
Reading about his sixgun shooting in G&A during HS got me started in shooting sixguns at long-range. Had lots of open county land behind my Dads place and could set-up targets out to 300yds. A 36in diameter steel tank end painted yellow was my target. Went from 100/200/300yds shooting at those ranges until I got consistent hits. Due to the price of ammo, I also started reloading. My Ruger Old Model Super Blackhawk .44 mag got replaced by a Ruger Redhawk in .41 Mag shortly after Ruger announced it. In the late 80s~early 90s, I competed in local club metallic silhouette matches and did OK. Don't compete anymore, but other shooters at my club scoff when see I'm shooting a revolver and I set targets at the 100yrs line! Their scoffing stops quickly! Thanx Elmer!
Great comment. Lots of fun to be had shooting at long distance with revolvers. Thank you for watching/commenting. Ruger Redhawk .41 mag is a sweet gun!
I own two Rugers in .44 magnum Ruger Super BlackHawk And a 50th anniversary BlackHawk I’ll be using the Super BlackHawk this coming opening day for deer in my state And yes Elmer and Skeeter influenced me a lot
the shooters of the whole world (I am French) have heard about Elmer Keith, without however really knowing his history. We know that he was the father of 357mag and 44mag, but in the end there is little about his life. Thank you for this summary which allows us to know a little more about this genius of weapons and shooting.
I remember his columns in various gun magazines when I was growing up.I used to read them after school when I was supposed to be doing homework.I was not to good at reciting Shakespeare but I could tell you where the 44 mag came from.
I enjoyed this video immensely. Your inclusion of Mr. Keith"s recordings for the library of Congress is wonderful. I listened to Mr and Mrs Keith talk and was reminded of my grandparents who were the same age and lived the same time. Sincerely, thank you.
Years ago I read SIXGUNS and Hell I was there. Both were great reads and taught you a lot about not only his life, but what life in general was like back then. We heve it so easy today by comparison. Just today I was hunting with a friend, who is much younger, and i was telling him about Elmer and those two books. Then this video pops up and it's perfect. Thank you.
First of your videos I've watched. Immediately subscribed. I love this format. You'll never run out of material... OK, let me go so I can binge your other videos.
I am amazed by the number of young shooters today who have no idea who Elmer was. I had one who professed to be a gun "expert" . LOL. He had never heard of Elmer Kieth. I instantly dismissed him as a wannabe fraud.
Unfortunately, the younger generation has very little appreciation for the roots of their modern gun culture. 😢 All they know is plastic, wonder nines, and fancy optics. Nothing of the basics.
Thanks for sharing. Long time Elmer Keith fan. I read everything he wrote published in Guns and Ammo. His influence on my passion for magnum Wheel Guns is immeasurable. I still shoot a .44mag Ruger Vaquero and at 65 can do ok at 100yds if my eyes are cooperative.
My Dad was an acquaintance of Elmer Keith. I got to handle his handguns when we lived in Salmon, Idaho 1960-1961. Elmer and Dad were Masons and some of pistols were inlaid with Masonic emblems. When we left Salmon we moved to what is now Known as the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana now seen on TV on the Yellowstone series. Our next door neighbor was Erv Malnrich, A guide and friend of Elmer Keith. He is mentioned in the book "Hell I was There". I was Erv that fostered my interest in hunting and fishing. The Ranch at Durkee, Oregon had grazing on Lookout Mountain if I remember and wound up being used by a Cousin of mine many years later. The ranch at Weiser, Idaho pronounced "Weezer" I think was a ranch I helped put up hay on when I was about11 or 12. I didn't appreciate the people I met or the places I lived until late in life. Thanks for the video. I subscribed.
I met Erv and Ardie in 1986 in Hamilton. I attended his guide school. We became friends and he later hired me to teach at his school. I really enjoyed his stories. It seems he and Elmer were always trying to one up each other when it came to packing. Elmer with sawbucks and Erv with Deckers. When Erv pulled the cork, he would yarn all night. I truly miss that old man.
@@emanarfarm3736he didn't seem to mind showing a couple little boys about hunting stuff and fishing. He was showing my Scots Dad and us the new Ruger .44 Magnum when he plugged a porcupine chewing up a wooden bunk salt lick. Impressed us.
I had extensive collection of the outdoor magazines and I always enjoyed the banter between Elmer and Jack O’Conner about big bore versus small bore and I am sad that they are both gone now
Another great video ! I had the honor of meeting Elmer at the shot show and what a thrill for me I have been a hand gunner all my life mostly because of Elmer Keith !❤
Ever since I started reloading Elmer Keith always gets mentioned in the manuals or related literature as the authority on reloading and as far as my personal reloading experiments go it is well deserved. Keith loads work great in all my carbines. I have no handguns sadly. I have always wanted an original Model 70 but the prices are prohibitive for anything in good condition and the new models have never come close to the same quality.
I listened to his recordings and he sounds like a man I would love to go hunting and camping with! I never knew these existed and am so happy that you made me aware of them. I reckon I've read everything Mr. Keith had ever written and would wait expectantly every month to read his magazine articles. They would be the first thing I would turn to. We will never see his like again.
I met him in 1980 at the NRA annual meetings in Kansas City. Apparently he had just arrived. We both locked eyes at the same time from a few feet away. I approached him, we shook hands, and exchanged pleasantries for a few seconds. He was wanting to know where the Pachmayr exhibit was I gave him directions and he headed that way. He was quickly inundated with fans. A while after that Bill Jordan showed up, but I didn’t get to speak with him. Keith reminded me of Pappy Boyington who I also met in person about 3 years earlier. Both of those legendary men were a little short, but they had a lot of hard bark about them. I feel fortunate and honored to have met them both.
After shooting a Ruger Blackhawk in .41 mag i fell in love with the round. Looked for a Blackhawk in .41 for a while.a .41 Taurus stainless tracker came up for sale and had to get it. One of my favorite guns to shoot.
Elmer Kieth said in his book sixguns that the 43/4 Colt was the fastest out of the holster even faster to get into action than any semi automatic pistol
I remember reading Keith in the issues of Guns & Ammo back in the 60s when I was growing up. Got his book "Sixguns" for Christmas one year. Kept large stacks of those gun magazines but lost em in a housefire. Really enjoyed this video ! Keep up the good work !
This is why not to mess with the USA. 150 lbs, wirery, determined, well trained...We have 3+ generations of combat trained Citizens. A trained Rifleman behind every tree in the land. Thats rather comforting 😊
When I was 10 years old in the late 70s I was given a copy of Elmer’s autobiography Hell I was there. I bet I read that book from cover to cover 6 or 7 times throughout the late winter that year. Elmer Keith inspired me to learn to reload and dream of hunting the “Big Seven” in Africa. He was a true American original that inspired many young men and some old ones too.
Keith was and still is a legend He has influenced countless numbers of shooters including myself. Imagine if you will what thus man could have done withtbe technology we have today eith getting his knowledge out to others. This was a long time coming and excellent video on one of the greatest gun scribes in 20th century bar none.
Fantastic video you have made an amazing video, the first time I heard about this American hero was when I saw the Elmer Keith collection at the Boise Idaho Cabela's back in 2013! I have been a fan ever since and i am hooked on revolvers and pistols!
Great video about a great man! I first read about the rooming house fire in a 1965 G&A article. It was "Wizard With a Sixgun" showcasing a young Thell Reed! When Elmer described the hot deer tallow, bandages and wooden paddle "treatment" used by he and his father to straighten that left hand, then walking the floor in agony for two or three days ss the pain subsided is epic! Then forcing himself to use that hand roping, riding and shooting gives "rehab" a whole new meaning! That, as much as All his gun knowledge and prowess, made him a hero for life! Thanks for letting me share, Blsgs, gg🙏✝️❤️🇺🇸🙋☝️
@@LTArms I saw some of his guns on display in the Cabelas in Boise. A standout was his Mannlicher-Schoenaur with a bone or ivory fore-end cap. I shoot .357 in carbines and revolvers. Mostly in carbines.
Excellent bios on O'Connor and Keith! Well done, folks. Just one note, and maybe one more in all the comments:Weiser is pronounced Wee zer, as us Idahoans know, named i believe after a Hudson's Bay trapper in early 19th century. Both these great outdoors giants became part of Idaho's proud legacy ! I grew up with one and graduated to the other, you may deduce how! Thanks again, a country boy.
Great reporting. 74yo. I've been an Elmer Keith fan for as long as I can remember. I've always been partial to wheel guns. Never been a fan of brass chuckers.🥴
Nice job! Great video, I always liked reading his stories, one was just after he got his first 44 mag, and the local slaughter house called and asked him to help put down 10 big range bulls, of course he said yes, but the item you glean from it is, yes he did the job but his results gained from shooting those bulls, was something, great guy for sure.
Elmer Keith was my favorite firearms and hunting writer. I like the Old West, horses, rodeos, and revolvers better than semi-autos so Elmer Keith and his writings were right up my alley. God Bless his memory.
I grew up reading Elmer Keith, Big bore hard cast slow moving bullets. Fathered the 357 Mag as wll as the 44Mag. Thanks to him got a 1917 US Enfiel in 35 Whelen. But Also read Jim Carmichael and his 270 Win. Well Today will build a SS M70 or Ruger Hawkeye in 7 Rem Mag for whatever and pass on to grandson. I also pack a S&W M19 because of Jim Jordan
The Cabela's store in Boise had an Elmer Keith display for a while, complete with an animatronic Elmer Keith at his desk. There was a display of firearms that included a bunch of Rugers that all had the same serial number. It's been gone for quite a few years now. I guess his family decided that they wanted the collection back so they took the whole thing down.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
He was my mom’s uncle. He and aunt Dorothy sent me my first BB gun for my fourth birthday.
Doesn't get much cooler than that!
That’s like being related to royalty. I knew that he had lived in Idaho but I didn’t realize there were periods near Weiser. I was born in Weiser. I’ve got a hard cover copy of Sixguns and am hoping get a copy of Hell I Was There. I wish they would put that one back in print.
This is the best video I've ever heard
So your mother was Si 's daughter?
I got a 22 rifle before a bb gun @ 6.
To the producer of this video I would like to say, well done!
Thank you and thanks for watching!!
We're not worthy, We're not worthy....Elmer has been gone for 40 years now but he was the greatest gun guru ever. Bar none.😢
Wish they would reprint his stuff!
He was my mentor. Growing up in the 1950's I read his books and articles over and over until all were nearly memorized. It's a tribute to him that they are still relevant today. I never met him yet feel he was a close friend. I was deeply saddened by his passing.
Yes he was a great guy,really& where he shot elk over 600yards with his pet 4incher,44,but none of us are worthy before God.
I see Eastwood ,Dirty Harry even went to meet him.
As a kid,wrote Jack OConnor another great&peer in Idaho&got a reply...was over his book on the 22
Respectfully, Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch.
As a young boy in South Africa in the late 70's and 80's I loved reading Elmer Keith's contributions in Guns and Ammo magazines tough men in tough times living life to it's fullest
Great to hear that he had a global reach like that!
Reading Elmer Keith articles is what got me started using handguns for hunting.
Have been a Elmer Keith fan all my life. Had the honor of meeting him at a NRA convention, he took the time to chat with me for a good half an hour.
. He will always be respected and remembered.
Thank you for the video👍👍
You're welcome! That is amazing you had a chance to meet and chat with him!
Elmer was excellent at shooting big bore pistols at long range. So am I. I can hit a basketball sized target most every shot at 200 yds with a 1911 .45. So could Elmer. He taught me.
Thank you for such a wonderful presentation.
Im 60 years old, and i was weaned on GUNS & AMMO, Shooters Digest, and The Shooters bible.
Elmer Kieth has been my hero since i was about 8 years old, along with Colonel Jeff Cooper and Masad Ayoob.
What a wonderful life this man amoungst men lived.
A true American pioneer, hunter, guide, gunsmith, and outdoorsman.
A giant of small stature, with a big cigar, a big hat, and big wheelgun on his hip.
His contribution to firearms, especially large calibre, high-powered, revolvers, is without peer.
May he rest in peace, and may his legacy never be forgotten.
Thank you, Mr Kieth. You made my youth a time filled with dreams and beliefs that anything was possible with hard work, determination, courage, and grit.
Bob. Australia.
I'm your age, while others our age were hovered around the comic books, I was scouring for the latest gun mag. Hoping an Elmer Keith article would be included. My 16 year I worked my ass off and bought my first S&W 29 on my 17th birthday. I learned to reload for that revolver. I still have that wheel gun.
@billp3337
I honestly admit that I envy you being able to own such a beautiful revolver, we were never allowed, even way back then, to own hanguns of any type except as pistol club members and at that age it was much too expensive.
I hope you have it for your whole life.
Be safe, well, free, armed, and blessed, mate.
Bob. Australia.
Thank you for watching and that great comment!
@@jackinabox8497 My son is engaged to be married on April 5th 2025. It will be his wedding gift. He grew up shooting it with .44 special level loads. he always asks for it when we go to the range.
@billp3337
You are a wonderful father, and he is a very lucky son.
Congratulations to your son and his soon to be wife, and congratulations to you for raising such a wonderful son.
Be safe, well, free, armed, and blessed, mate.
Bob. Australia.
What a finely produced video. Thank you. You did Mr. Keith justice.
Thank you for that comment!
Mr. Keith will be revered by sportsmen for as long as we are still popping primers.... R.I.P.
Absolutely!
I never met Elmer in person or talked on the phone. But did correspond by mail with him, Helped me a lot with a 500 NE 3 1/4 inch double rifle getting it shooting right and getting me Bell cases to reload. His books are a good read and for me the Guns & Ammo magazine were the best years with him in it.
Amazing that you were able to communicate with him and learn from him!
Excellent video!! Made my day to learn more about this American Legend. I use the Keith style semi wadcutters in both .38 special and .44 magnum. Mr. Keith has greatly influenced my pursuit of handgun hunting, I have taken wild hogs with hardcast Keith style semi wadcutters in my .44 magnum and must say that the bone crushing straight line peneration of those bullets speaks for itself and demonstrates the effectiveness of all the research that this man put into his life's work. I have told many people that anyone who enjoys and appreciates the magnum handgun cartridges owes Mr. Keith a great deal of gratitude.
Appreciate you commenting, love that you utilize the Keith bullets and put them to actual hunting use!
Love my 41magnum!!
A great man. A friend of a friend moved to the USA and met him at a show; bought a copy of Sixguns from him - and took a photo of him signing it, using a 35mm camera - then added the photo to the signed book; the book was gifted to my friend soon after. When my friend sadly passed the book was left to me in his will. It's now in pride of place on my bookshelf.
Most of the bullet molds I prefer are the Keith designed types, esp. the 454424 for the .45 Colt, etc.
Wish there were more folk like him these days!
Very fortunate to have that book. We definitely need more like him!
Elmer was a character growing up in salmon i had no idea how famous he was he was just elmer to me. We mowed his lawn,trick or treated his house admired his mounts and a few of his stories. Yes he really did wear his pistol everywhere 😂 wore his hat and normally had a cigar in his mouth. He invited many people to go hunt with him in africa few could afford the time or money. Pretty good guy he was always friendly towards us kids.
How fortunate that you were able to experience that!
@@LTArms he was a few years younger than my grandfather so he didn't talk much gun stuff to me and my friends unfortunately. J.d.cannon was the local celebrity then lol mclouds boss on TV series. I do have fond memories of his mounts,first time I'd ever seen a lion,Buffalo, elephant etc mounts.
Bumping the algorithm for another fantastic video, please keep it up!
Thanks, will do!
Thanks for doing shows on these classic gun icons.
You're welcome. We'll keep 'em coming!
Una lastima que no entienda Nada. No se ingles pero si se quien es Elmer Keit. Que tipo audaz que fue . Yo conozco la historia de la leyenda. Porque EL FUE UNA LEYENDA.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
UA-cam necesita crear una opción para subtítulos en español
Good report. I treasure my conversations and correspondence with Elmer in the the early mid and late 1970's. He is the reason I bought my first M29" 4" in 1973 & carried it as my duty firearm
instead of the .38 Special M10 I was issued with. Those were the days! RIP Elmer.
Great that you had some correspondence with him!
I still cast 250 gr heads with the 4 cavity 429421 mold I found at the gun show 20 yrs ago. Truly an impressively bullet.
Nice job keeping the tradition alive!
Excellent video! Despite being a Keith fan for many years I learned plenty in this video. This channel is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
Thank you we really appreciate that!
Outstanding! And the links to Mr. Keith’ audio recordings are priceless, thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This was a GREAT video! When I was MUCH younger I visited Mr. Keith two or three times in his Salmon Idaho home while traveling between Moscow, Idaho and Idaho Falls, Idaho between 1978 and 1980 or 81 (I can't remember exactly). When driving from Northern Idaho to Southeast Idaho it was much faster to go over Lolo Pass and travel south on highway 93 through Montana back into Idaho rather than going straight south in Idaho on highway 95 to Boise and then go east. One of my most treasured possessions is a photo of myself and my cousin Steve on either side of Elmer Keith taken on his side lawn. I'll never forget going into the little building behind his house where he kept most of his hunting trophies and he did his writing. The little cabin had a high ceiling, but he had a huge polar bear rug hanging with the hind feet on the ceiling, the body on the wall, and the head and front feet on the floor!
Amazing! You are very lucky to have those memories.
My father passed down four 1903 Springfield rifles to me that he had acquired over the years through the CMP. One is a sporterized 1903A4 with a beautiful Monte Carlo stock, the other three have the original ladder rear sight though one has a vintage scope mounted to it.
My father put a lot of meat on the table using those rifles and passed on that tradition to me. Growing up in Colorado offered fine hunting and fishing, though nothing is as good as it used to be on that subject.
Fine story and thank you for bringing it to light.
SSG. U.S. Army (Medically Retired) Infantry / Sniper / SOF Intel (SOT-A), multiple tours
Great to hear of that legacy being handed down and great to hear from another Coloradan! Our shop is based in Colorado!
A look in my gun safes will quickly show Keith influenced me greatly. My Model 70 is a pre-war 30-06, one of my smaller caliber rifles. Big bore Smith and Wesson revolvers are my favorite guns to shoot, I even made it to Salmon ID for the Second Annual Big Bore revolver shoot. I think I traveled the furthest to attend.
Something about those big Smiths... They are fantastic to shoot! Thanks for watching!
The audio link is a a true treasure. 🇺🇲💯. Thank you.
You’re welcome!!
I normally do not subscribe to a Chanel until after watching a few videos.
This is the first time I have after just one video.
Exceptional job!
Thank you, much appreciated! We’ll keep these coming every Thursday. Check out some of the previous episodes if you get a chance.
Thank you for the great memories when I would read E.K. in Guns & Ammo.
We need more stories like his these days.
Thank you for this video and the link to Elmer's talk. both very interesting. As a former sixgun shooter in the UK. (We had our pistols confiscated back in in 1996 due to a mass shooting.) I use to regularly shoot SAA IN 45, 44 AND 357 using Keith type bullets, and they are the bests. I always read his articles in Guns & Ammo And have read a couple of his books. He is a legend amonst UK pistol shooters of his era.
You're welcome. Unfortunate that happened in the UK but cool to know he had such a following there!
It was amazing that Elmer survived the house fire. His face wasn’t just weathered, it was badly scarred. God blessed him though with a great career.
Definitely did. He lived an amazing life.
I took a tour of the Elmer Keith Museum in Salmon, Idaho before they moved it to Cabela's in Boise, Idaho ... pretty cool ... he was a living legend in Salmon, Idaho ! ! !
Lucky that you were able to see it in the original location!
@@LTArms… Do we know where Keith’s guns are now? The exhibit from Cabela’s in Boise is long gone
@Idahoguy10157 rock island auctions sold a few this year including his modified colt single action
I remember his G&A column... it was always my first read on getting me magazine each month..... I had the very first edition of G&A and every one since well up into the late 70s, but somehow they got lost in a house move. Elmer was a real 'no BS' writer and you knew that if he said it, he had done and it was so. Those were the days when we were finding out what made gun accurate and little has been discovered since. I still have Townsend Whelen's "The Ultimate in Rifle Precision" and the price inside the cover is 67s 9d so I must have bought it before 1967 when NZ went to decimal currency... I think it was about 63 or 64.
With all of our fancy gear and superb barrels, there's still nothing really new on the gun scene where ammo is concerned; it has all been done before, and mostly before 1980.
Those old timers (hark at me, I was born in 1942!) knew their stuff, and our Elmer was among the best of them. We shall not see his like again.
He was definitely one of a kind, we owe a lot to him and his contemporaries.
I read some of his books. His knowledge and breakdown of firearms was amazing. I was especially interested in bullet accuracy and how Mr. Keith described it was spot on.
Yup, extremely knowledgeable for sure.
I wish I had kept those G&A issues from the early and mid-1970's. I still treasure a May 1965 issue, which was a bit before my time, where Elmer writes about new Savage Models 110 and 99 with German engraving and Bitterroot bonded core bullets. I remember him mentioning his favourite .44 Mag load - "my" 250gr 429421
over 22.0gr #2400. Elmer was a legend, even down here in South Africa.
Thank you for watching down in SA. Glad to hear he has a following down there!
Reading about his sixgun shooting in G&A during HS got me started in shooting sixguns at long-range. Had lots of open county land behind my Dads place and could set-up targets out to 300yds. A 36in diameter steel tank end painted yellow was my target. Went from 100/200/300yds shooting at those ranges until I got consistent hits. Due to the price of ammo, I also started reloading. My Ruger Old Model Super Blackhawk .44 mag got replaced by a Ruger Redhawk in .41 Mag shortly after Ruger announced it. In the late 80s~early 90s, I competed in local club metallic silhouette matches and did OK. Don't compete anymore, but other shooters at my club scoff when see I'm shooting a revolver and I set targets at the 100yrs line! Their scoffing stops quickly! Thanx Elmer!
Great comment. Lots of fun to be had shooting at long distance with revolvers. Thank you for watching/commenting. Ruger Redhawk .41 mag is a sweet gun!
He definitely influenced my thoughts on hand guns. Good video 👍😊.
That's good to hear! Thanks for watching!
I own two Rugers in .44 magnum
Ruger Super BlackHawk
And a 50th anniversary BlackHawk
I’ll be using the Super BlackHawk this coming opening day for deer in my state
And yes Elmer and Skeeter influenced me a lot
That's great to hear. Sweet guns for sure. Let us know your results hunting, love to hear about guys still using large caliber pistols for game!
the shooters of the whole world (I am French) have heard about Elmer Keith, without however really knowing his history. We know that he was the father of 357mag and 44mag, but in the end there is little about his life. Thank you for this summary which allows us to know a little more about this genius of weapons and shooting.
Great to hear that he had a global reach like that, thanks for watching!
He didn’t design either cartridge. Or even the bullets that bear his name.
I remember his columns in various gun magazines when I was growing up.I used to read them after school when I was supposed to be doing homework.I was not to good at reciting Shakespeare but I could tell you where the 44 mag came from.
More useful info for sure! ;)
Amazing presentation, thanks so much for the audio link. Made my day.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I enjoyed this video immensely. Your inclusion of Mr. Keith"s recordings for the library of Congress is wonderful. I listened to Mr and Mrs Keith talk and was reminded of my grandparents who were the same age and lived the same time. Sincerely, thank you.
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching/commenting!
Years ago I read SIXGUNS and Hell I was there. Both were great reads and taught you a lot about not only his life, but what life in general was like back then. We heve it so easy today by comparison. Just today I was hunting with a friend, who is much younger, and i was telling him about Elmer and those two books. Then this video pops up and it's perfect. Thank you.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Good on you for telling that younger hunter about Elmer!
I learned a lot from this. Very well done!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!
Elmer's voice is far less 'country' like than I'd imagined. Thank you for this.
Yeah, it is a bit surprising to hear him. You are very welcome, thanks for watching!
I learned something today!... I did not know that he influenced The Design of The Model 70.... If I did know, I somehow forgot... GREAT VIDEO!
He did so much for the firearms world, thanks for commenting/watching!
Wow, that was really cool. I learned more about the legend Elmer Kieth than I ever knew. Thank you for that, much appreciated!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!!
First of your videos I've watched. Immediately subscribed. I love this format. You'll never run out of material... OK, let me go so I can binge your other videos.
Thank you, we appreciate it and we’ll keep making these!
I am amazed by the number of young shooters today who have no idea who Elmer was. I had one who professed to be a gun "expert" . LOL. He had never heard of Elmer Kieth. I instantly dismissed him as a wannabe fraud.
Agree. Anybody getting into firearms should read his work and get an education on the history of things!
Unfortunately, the younger generation has very little appreciation for the roots of their modern gun culture. 😢 All they know is plastic, wonder nines, and fancy optics. Nothing of the basics.
Thanks for sharing. Long time Elmer Keith fan. I read everything he wrote published in Guns and Ammo. His influence on my passion for magnum Wheel Guns is immeasurable. I still shoot a .44mag Ruger Vaquero and at 65 can do ok at 100yds if my eyes are cooperative.
Thanks for this episode about the great man Elmer Keith. He**ll he was there !
You are very welcome!
My Dad was an acquaintance of Elmer Keith. I got to handle his handguns when we lived in Salmon, Idaho 1960-1961. Elmer and Dad were Masons and some of pistols were inlaid with Masonic emblems. When we left Salmon we moved to what is now Known as the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana now seen on TV on the Yellowstone series. Our next door neighbor was Erv Malnrich, A guide and friend of Elmer Keith. He is mentioned in the book "Hell I was There". I was Erv that fostered my interest in hunting and fishing.
The Ranch at Durkee, Oregon had grazing on Lookout Mountain if I remember and wound up being used by a Cousin of mine many years later.
The ranch at Weiser, Idaho pronounced "Weezer" I think was a ranch I helped put up hay on when I was about11 or 12.
I didn't appreciate the people I met or the places I lived until late in life. Thanks for the video. I subscribed.
That is amazing you got to experience all of that! Thanks for watching and subscribing, we appreciate it!
I met Erv and Ardie in 1986 in Hamilton. I attended his guide school. We became friends and he later hired me to teach at his school. I really enjoyed his stories. It seems he and Elmer were always trying to one up each other when it came to packing. Elmer with sawbucks and Erv with Deckers. When Erv pulled the cork, he would yarn all night. I truly miss that old man.
@@emanarfarm3736he didn't seem to mind showing a couple little boys about hunting stuff and fishing. He was showing my Scots Dad and us the new Ruger .44 Magnum when he plugged a porcupine chewing up a wooden bunk salt lick. Impressed us.
I had extensive collection of the outdoor magazines and I always enjoyed the banter between Elmer and Jack O’Conner about big bore versus small bore and I am sad that they are both gone now
@@RonaldMiller111 Agree!
Definitely one of my favorite channels, keep up the good work 👍💪🇺🇸
We really appreciate that, thanks and will do!
Good video, have all of Elmer’s books and many original American Rifleman mags including the one from 1929 Last Word article
Definite collectors items, fantastic!
Another great video ! I had the honor of meeting Elmer at the shot show and what a thrill for me I have been a hand gunner all my life mostly because of Elmer Keith !❤
Amazing!
Ever since I started reloading Elmer Keith always gets mentioned in the manuals or related literature as the authority on reloading and as far as my personal reloading experiments go it is well deserved. Keith loads work great in all my carbines. I have no handguns sadly.
I have always wanted an original Model 70 but the prices are prohibitive for anything in good condition and the new models have never come close to the same quality.
His loads work greaqt in pistols, carbines, lever guns... pretty much everything! Thanks for watching/commenting!
Very well done. Thanks for this great article about a man that will never be equalled in the world of shooting and writing!
Thank you!!
Thanks for the quick bio on Elmer Keith. I looked forward to and read Gun Notes every month for years.
You're welcome! Those articles are great!
I listened to his recordings and he sounds like a man I would love to go hunting and camping with! I never knew these existed and am so happy that you made me aware of them. I reckon I've read everything Mr. Keith had ever written and would wait expectantly every month to read his magazine articles. They would be the first thing I would turn to. We will never see his like again.
Would be great to sit and listen to him tell stories on a hunt!
That was awesome. I read a book once written by Elmer Keith I’ll definitely be looking for more of them. Great job.
Thank you for watching!
I met him in 1980 at the NRA annual meetings in Kansas City. Apparently he had just arrived. We both locked eyes at the same time from a few feet away. I approached him, we shook hands, and exchanged pleasantries for a few seconds. He was wanting to know where the Pachmayr exhibit was I gave him directions and he headed that way. He was quickly inundated with fans. A while after that Bill Jordan showed up, but I didn’t get to speak with him.
Keith reminded me of Pappy Boyington who I also met in person about 3 years earlier. Both of those legendary men were a little short, but they had a lot of hard bark about them. I feel fortunate and honored to have met them both.
Very fortunate to have met him. Thanks for sharing!!
An outstanding video indeed. Admired him since I became aware of him, back in the 70's.
Thank you for watching/commenting! He was a great writer and innovator for sure!
Legendary man. Great vid.
Glad you enjoyed it
After shooting a Ruger Blackhawk in .41 mag i fell in love with the round.
Looked for a Blackhawk in .41 for a while.a .41 Taurus stainless tracker came up for sale and had to get it.
One of my favorite guns to shoot.
They are great shooters! Thanks for watching/commenting!
Elmer Kieth said in his book sixguns that the 43/4 Colt was the fastest out of the holster even faster to get into action than any semi automatic pistol
Especially in his hands! Thanks!!
I remember as a young boy reading articles by Keith. My Dad was a big fan of his. Thank you for linking that short interview!
You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it!
I have the book Hell I Was There . Great read, great man.
So good!
I remember reading Keith in the issues of Guns & Ammo back in the 60s when I was growing up. Got his book "Sixguns" for Christmas one year. Kept large stacks of those gun magazines but lost em in a housefire.
Really enjoyed this video !
Keep up the good work !
Sorry to hear of the loss in the fire. Thank you for watching though, we appreciate it!
This is why not to mess with the USA. 150 lbs, wirery, determined, well trained...We have 3+ generations of combat trained Citizens. A trained Rifleman behind every tree in the land. Thats rather comforting 😊
Absolutely!
What a great video. Thank you. 👍🏻🇺🇸
You’re welcome!!
When I was 10 years old in the late 70s I was given a copy of Elmer’s autobiography Hell I was there. I bet I read that book from cover to cover 6 or 7 times throughout the late winter that year. Elmer Keith inspired me to learn to reload and dream of hunting the “Big Seven” in Africa. He was a true American original that inspired many young men and some old ones too.
Agreed, he was an interesting and inspiring guy. Need more like him.
So many timeless photos! Really good video.
Many thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thoroughly enjoyed this. I've wanted to get a copy of Hell I Was There for a long time. Maybe some day. Appreciate the great video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
5 thumbs up. Fantastic video
Big thanks
Keith was and still is a legend He has influenced countless numbers of shooters including myself. Imagine if you will what thus man could have done withtbe technology we have today eith getting his knowledge out to others.
This was a long time coming and excellent video on one of the greatest gun scribes in 20th century bar none.
Thank you for that great comment!! So true!
A Very Well Done Presentation! Bravo!
Glad you liked it!
One of the best books I’ve ever read in my life was from Elmer Keith, the name of the book was hell I was there. It’s a great read if you can find it.
We mention it at the end and yes they are hard to find and when you do they are not cheap. Definite collectors items.
I have signed copies of Sixguns and Hell I was there that I got from Elmer dated March 31, 1980 I'm selling.
Fantastic video you have made an amazing video, the first time I heard about this American hero was when I saw the Elmer Keith collection at the Boise Idaho Cabela's back in 2013! I have been a fan ever since and i am hooked on revolvers and pistols!
Nothing quite like a nice revolver! Thank you for the kind comment!
Great video about a great man! I first read about the rooming house fire in a 1965 G&A article. It was "Wizard With a Sixgun" showcasing a young Thell Reed! When Elmer described the hot deer tallow, bandages and wooden paddle "treatment" used by he and his father to straighten that left hand, then walking the floor in agony for two or three days ss the pain subsided is epic! Then forcing himself to use that hand roping, riding and shooting gives "rehab" a whole new meaning! That, as much as All his gun knowledge and prowess, made him a hero for life! Thanks for letting me share, Blsgs, gg🙏✝️❤️🇺🇸🙋☝️
Thanks for sharing that info!
He had excellent taste in hats.
Absolutely!
@@LTArms I saw some of his guns on display in the Cabelas in Boise. A standout was his Mannlicher-Schoenaur with a bone or ivory fore-end cap. I shoot .357 in carbines and revolvers. Mostly in carbines.
His name was learned as a lad. As I gained intrest in firearms and read what ever I could find, and allot was Keith's. Excellent video.
Thank you for watching, much appreciated!
Please publish their books
They absolutely need a reprint!
Excellent bios on O'Connor and Keith! Well done, folks.
Just one note, and maybe one more in all the comments:Weiser is pronounced Wee zer, as us Idahoans know, named i believe after a Hudson's Bay trapper in early 19th century.
Both these great outdoors giants became part of Idaho's proud legacy !
I grew up with one and graduated to the other, you may deduce how!
Thanks again, a country boy.
You are 100% correct on that pronunciation.
And thank you for watching!
I read Hell I was there and then gave to my dad who taught me how to shoot, Thank you Elmer.
Great book. Thanks for sharing!
Great reporting. 74yo. I've been an Elmer Keith fan for as long as I can remember. I've always been partial to wheel guns. Never been a fan of brass chuckers.🥴
Thanks so much for the links to the speaking. I always wondered what his voice was like. And that's exactly what I thought it would be.
You’re welcome!
Great presentation.
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for the video.
I learned a few things.
I got to fondle a 1874 sharps of his about ten years ago at a gun show. At least that was the tale.
That is pretty cool. Not very many people have had that opportunity!
A+ video, well done!
Thank you! Glad you liked it!
Well done sir! An American Idol
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you. I will hold my model 29 and think of your video from here on out. It was great.
Appreciate that! Thanks for watching!!
I have to say this is the best video I have ever heard
Thank you! We appreciate that!
It is a bit strang to learn about your relatives on UA-cam but it is nice to learn all i can. Thank you for your work ln this video 📹
You're welcome! Amazing that you are related to him!
Great info!!!
Glad you think so!
absolutely wonderful. True True American sportsman and a cherished legend !!!!!
Thank you for watching! He is definitely missed
Wonderful article! Thanks!
You’re welcome!
Nice job! Great video, I always liked reading his stories, one was just after he got his first 44 mag, and the local slaughter house called and asked him to help put down 10 big range bulls, of course he said yes, but the item you glean from it is, yes he did the job but his results gained from shooting those bulls, was something, great guy for sure.
Lots of cool stories surrounding Keith. We could probably do 5 videos on him and barely scratch the surface. Thanks for watching!
Ol youtube actually got this one right on the suggestions, never heard of you until now but I have been a lifelong Keith fan now i'm one of yours
Thank you, we appreciate it! We'll keep doing these videos!
Elmer Keith was my favorite firearms and hunting writer. I like the Old West, horses, rodeos, and revolvers better than semi-autos so Elmer Keith and his writings were right up my alley. God Bless his memory.
Agreed, thank you for commenting and watching!
Awesome man 🙏👍
100%!
Great video, terrific content. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
I grew up reading Elmer Keith, Big bore hard cast slow moving bullets. Fathered the 357 Mag as wll as the 44Mag. Thanks to him got a 1917 US Enfiel in 35 Whelen. But Also read Jim Carmichael and his 270 Win. Well Today will build a SS M70 or Ruger Hawkeye in 7 Rem Mag for whatever and pass on to grandson. I also pack a S&W M19 because of Jim Jordan
We'd love to see that build! Great comment and thanks for watching!
Amazing.
Glad you think so! Thank you!
I own a Savage Model 99 in 358 Winchester that was once owned by Elmer Keith. Beautiful rifle.
Wow! That’s definitely a keeper. Cherish that!
@LTArms The Savage 99 is a beautiful rifle anyway; but, when I found this one with the history, I had to have it!
The Cabela's store in Boise had an Elmer Keith display for a while, complete with an animatronic Elmer Keith at his desk. There was a display of firearms that included a bunch of Rugers that all had the same serial number. It's been gone for quite a few years now. I guess his family decided that they wanted the collection back so they took the whole thing down.
Wish that display was still available to see. Wonder what happened to that animatronic Keith