The Guns of Elmer Keith 

Elmer Keith's column in Guns & Ammo was always my go to read.

Helluva guy, Helped develop some of the best cartridges, Was an excellent shot, And hunted grizzlies with a .357 revolver!!😮

Elmer is a gun enthusiast that we must not forget.

I was fortunate to meet Mr. Keith at the NRA annual meetings held in Kansas City in 1979 or 80. I can’t remember which it was. We talked for a minute or two then he asked me for directions to the Pachmayr booths and displays. Saw Bill Jordan shortly after that. Two larger that life legends in one day.

In the early 1970s, I was in a new book store that had just opened in Kansas City, Missouri. My wife was looking through several books and I was ready to move on. I stopped at a bin that several books in it that were on clearance. As I sifted through the bin, I found a late 1950s edition of Elmer Keith’s book, Six Guns. I was so engrossed in looking at some of the pictures of Smith & Wesson and Colt revolvers, I didn’t realize that now my wife was ready to move on. I think the marked price was $9.99 and it was on clearance for $1.99! I bought it and still have it. Most of the photos of guns are from the mid-1950s. Lots of Elmer’s personal photographs and great stories. Although Elmer Keith is usually associated with Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Texas, Mr. Keith was born about 40 miles to the east of where I was standing in the book store, in Hardin, Missouri. Mr. Keith did his part to win WWII by serving as a government inspector at the Ogden, Utah Arsenal. A great American!

One of my boyhood heroes. Along with Skeeter Skelton, Bill Jordan and Jack O'Connor. We didn't have internet or RU-vid, we waited for our monthly magazines so we could read all the pronouncements of these great guys! It seems almost blasphemy to see his guns being auctioned, though. Doesn't the family want them? Isn't there a museum for them?

I bought a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt for just the reasons you state and because of Elmer Keith.

Good video; thanks. I have a couple of Keith books. He was an interesting person. I appreciate you showing proper respect and wearing gloves.

My Dad was an acquaintance of Elmer Keith in Salmon, Idaho. We lived there in1960. I was 5 years old and got to handle A few of his guns that had Masonic emblems on them. He and my Dad were both Masons. Really impressed my little brother and I.

I met Mr Keith in somerset ky when I was a young man he had family there I will always remember his hat

Thanks for the great historic video...

About 5 years ago I had the opportunity to hold in my hands one of his Smith and wesson 44 magnum ,the one thing that impressed me was the double action was super light who ever did that action work was a real gun Smith

Met him in New Mexico along time ago. There was no arguing with him, he was armed.

I love reading the old stories that Keith wrote. My favorite guns of my collection is a New Model Blackhawk in 45LC,7.5" brl. According to Ruger it left the factory the same month and year I was born, December of 79'. It is one I'll never part with.

I took a tour of the Elmer Keith Museum in Salmon Idaho about 20 or 25 years ago before they moved it to the Cabela's in Boise, Id. It was pretty cool to see a lot of his personal weapons and trophy's!

I always enjoyed his books and firearms knowledge and skills as a hunter and big handgun shooter !

If I had deep enough pockets I would buy every single one of those I am a huge Elmer kids fan.

That pre 29 is beautiful ! Definitely my favorite of the 4.

WOW!! The father of the magnum revolver had exquisite taste!

I have not been inside of the Salmon Idaho library for many years. But the last time I was they had one of Elmer's model 29's and one of his hats.

Always remember his story about shooting at the outhouse .

My dad loved Elmer Keith. 🙏🏻

The N°5 SAA is my favourite.

The volume of the most iconic and most beautiful firearms that RIA puts out for auction is simply mind-boggling!

That pre-model 29 is amazing! I love how you said Keith couldn't blow up the Blackhawk's cylinder, someone out there actually owns the Colt one he blew up.😉

Never mind the pun, but yall are really opening the new facility with a bang. Love Elmer a real man's man!

I was lucky enough to be married next to the north fork of the Salmon River on the old Elmer Keith ranch. Wish i could afford to add any of these to my collection.

I’ve read every thing I can find that he wrote it’s all great entertainment and information to learn about firearms of his time period be it rifles shotguns pistols this man’s reach was enormous,,!!!

Real Ivory grips. I used to make ivory grips and did a pair of S&W.44 Magnum large format grips in the mid 1970s with duplicate checkering as to the originals. It ate up alot of checkering tools but they were beautiful. I don't condone the rampant slaughter of elephants but someone should be able to make real synthetic ivory using elephant D.N.A..

I had a really close friend, that Elmer K. Was his Hero. His name was Mike Hutyra " Mad Bo" R.I.P.. Mike

Wow, those are some handsome revolvers! Makes me want to get my EDC engraved!

Very cool, I do wish you had talked about the cylinder and ejection ros color of the 1917 S&W.

I sure would love to have that Ruger Blackhawk.

Imagine if S&W had built its 29 to the same strength that Ruger built the Blackhawk to, that would have been the perfect .44 magnum revolver. I love my 629 but strength is its biggest problem.

Keith went into a gun store the other week and they would not let him buy primers without papers, left with a red ryder.

I was never much into engraving but that Ruger Blackhawk sure is pretty. I'm sure it will go way past my budget at auction.

’ GorgeousAs one would expect from a man who forgot more about guns and most of us will ever know.

Whoa, wait a minute - Bedford, Texas? You guys fleeing the state of IL or is this just an expansion?

Those are some pretty irons.

I used to have a 6 inch barrel 45 magnum and one time I shot at the target range a 4 inch 29 and that thing kicked like not a mule but 2 mules lol

I like the Ruger Blackhawk best!

4:58 picture _ can someone please tell me what model hat the man on the right side is wearing ?? Thank you guys and God bless you all.

Read his book,"He'll, I was there."

What's going on, Keith? You left Brownell's? Or is this a side gig, multitasking, if you will? Going to miss your instructional videos at Brownell's.

You didn't mention his books he was also an author on fast and fancy pistol shooting

Notice you can’t say what those white grips are made of. 😉😃

Elmer didn't try to blow up revolvers. And if you think a Ruger 45 Colt can't be blown up try a case full of Bullseye and 250 grain bullet. I remember Elmer writing about an idiot who had a Super Blackhawk and a Model 29 Smith the guy tried 22 grains of Bullseye and 250 grain Keith bullet he scattered the Ruger which has an investment cast frame the Smith just bulged the frame which could attributed to the Smith frame being forged. Elmer was just sorry that two fine six guns were destroyed by an idiot. But I do agree that Elmer would not have spent all the time with the 44 special if he had a Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt as Ruger 45 would do what he thought a handgun should do . His 44 mag load only produces 12 to 1300 fps the original Remington 44 mag factory loads shot a 240 grain swaged lead slug with a gas check on it around 1500 fps and they leaded the barrel really bad. Elmer's load of 22 grains of Hercules 2400 and his 250 grain hard cast bullet leads very little.

Old school American, not like the feminine men of today.

Need free health care in North Carolina

He was a larger-than-life figure, but also a larger-than-life liar. Running mule deer at 600 yards with a .44 Magnum revolver?🤣🤣 Bullet drop at that range amounts to yards, not inches. Lot's of other doozies in his books.

Monies raised will be donated and pay off the National debt.