So de-cluttering and came across this signed book from him. I remember reading articles in gun magazines way back before internet, Guns and Ammo, Shooting Times, etc..
Anyway thought that was pretty cool and a fun find but useless to me as I don't own a handgun anymore nor a police officer. Pretty certain some of these techniques are probably slightly different these days...or are they the same?
Bill Jordan. I understand he was an excellent exhibition shooter, but not much good for anything else. Legend has it the only man he ever kill was a fellow BP agent. Seems Bill was in his office, practicing his "fast draw", dropped his gun and it went off. The agent in the adjoining office was bent over, polishing his boots. The bullet went through the wall and hit the agent in the head.
Want to read a book about a "REAL" BP agent? Look up the book, "Shod With Iron". That's a real agent!
Bill Jordan. I understand he was an excellent exhibition shooter, but not much good for anything else. Legend has it the only man he ever kill was a fellow BP agent. Seems Bill was in his office, practicing his "fast draw", dropped his gun and it went off. The agent in the adjoining office was bent over, polishing his boots. The bullet went through the wall and hit the agent in the head.
Want to read a book about a "REAL" BP agent? Look up the book, "Shod With Iron". That's a real agent!
Sounds like an interesting book. I’ll look for it. Would be neat to read about a “REAL” bp agent I guess.
So de-cluttering and came across this signed book from him. I remember reading articles in gun magazines way back before internet, Guns and Ammo, Shooting Times, etc..
Anyway thought that was pretty cool and a fun find but useless to me as I don't own a handgun anymore nor a police officer. Pretty certain some of these techniques are probably slightly different these days...or are they the same?
I don’t know much about him other than shooting the fellow agent and that he had giant sized hands that required some modifications to his revolvers IIRC.
Bill Jordan. I understand he was an excellent exhibition shooter, but not much good for anything else. Legend has it the only man he ever kill was a fellow BP agent. Seems Bill was in his office, practicing his "fast draw", dropped his gun and it went off. The agent in the adjoining office was bent over, polishing his boots. The bullet went through the wall and hit the agent in the head.
Want to read a book about a "REAL" BP agent? Look up the book, "Shod With Iron". That's a real agent!
Sounds like an interesting book. I’ll look for it. Would be neat to read about a “REAL” bp agent I guess.
"Shod With Iron" - C.M. "Buck" Newsom
Newsom wrote to his division chief, asking him for money to buy tires for their (Gov't) trucks. The chief sent Newsom a 50 pound box of horse shoes!
Bill Jordan. I understand he was an excellent exhibition shooter, but not much good for anything else. Legend has it the only man he ever kill was a fellow BP agent. Seems Bill was in his office, practicing his "fast draw", dropped his gun and it went off. The agent in the adjoining office was bent over, polishing his boots. The bullet went through the wall and hit the agent in the head.
Ain’t heard this brung up in awhile, not like 20 years back, everybody younger than a Boomer ain’t as aware of the man.
IIRC Mr Jordan did see WWII combat in the Marines in Eintewok and Okinawa, might have killed people there.
As for the manslaughter incident, I don’t believe a dropped gun was involved. They way I have read it he was demonstrating his fast draw for someone. I would guess Mr Jordan had dry fired a revolver about a million times. Having once put a bullet through a wall “dry firing” a revolver for trigger practice myself I find the practice foolish. It gives your subconscious the impression that the gun WON’T always go off when you pull the trigger. Other’s MMV.
In 1956, Jordan fired a .357 revolver in the Chuck Vista CA BP Office. The round went through a wall and hit BP Agent John Rector in the head. He died not long after at the hospital. Jordan “thought” the revolver was empty.
Today it would have been a career-ender, and possibly a conviction and a lawsuit. IIRC Mr Rector’s son was understandably bitter.
I got lucky with my ND. One good outcome was I still get a bit of a chill every time I dry fire now and ordinarily won’t do it unless in locales where I would ordinarily shoot, with the barrel pointing downrange.
Anyhoo…. I sent Mr Jordan’s book to my brother in ‘73 when he became an MP. I saw it advertised in Outdoor Life magazine. My brother did shoot expert but he ain’t shot much less owned a handgun besides mine in the 45 years since he left the service.
I don’t know much about him other than shooting the fellow agent and that he had giant sized hands that required some modifications to his revolvers IIRC.
I met Bill Jordan once at the NRA's national convention in Anaheim, Ca., 1988 or 1989. Indeed, he had hands the size of Virginia Baked Hams. He was a"big fellow," and a pleasant man to meet.
Met Mr.Bill in New Orleans and was starstruck of the slow drawl and fast hands. I don't know if this is accurate but I've heard the number 9 official shootings not counting those from the Marine Corps. He had command presence at 6'6.
Bill Jordan. I understand he was an excellent exhibition shooter, but not much good for anything else. Legend has it the only man he ever kill was a fellow BP agent. Seems Bill was in his office, practicing his "fast draw", dropped his gun and it went off. The agent in the adjoining office was bent over, polishing his boots. The bullet went through the wall and hit the agent in the head.
Ain’t heard this brung up in awhile, not like 20 years back, everybody younger than a Boomer ain’t as aware of the man.
IIRC Mr Jordan did see WWII combat in the Marines in Eintewok and Okinawa, might have killed people there.
As for the manslaughter incident, I don’t believe a dropped gun was involved. They way I have read it he was demonstrating his fast draw for someone. I would guess Mr Jordan had dry fired a revolver about a million times. Having once put a bullet through a wall “dry firing” a revolver for trigger practice myself I find the practice foolish. It gives your subconscious the impression that the gun WON’T always go off when you pull the trigger. Other’s MMV.
In 1956, Jordan fired a .357 revolver in the Chuck Vista CA BP Office. The round went through a wall and hit BP Agent John Rector in the head. He died not long after at the hospital. Jordan “thought” the revolver was empty.
Today it would have been a career-ender, and possibly a conviction and a lawsuit. IIRC Mr Rector’s son was understandably bitter.
I got lucky with my ND. One good outcome was I still get a bit of a chill every time I dry fire now and ordinarily won’t do it unless in locales where I would ordinarily shoot, with the barrel pointing downrange.
Anyhoo…. I sent Mr Jordan’s book to my brother in ‘73 when he became an MP. I saw it advertised in Outdoor Life magazine. My brother did shoot expert but he ain’t shot much less owned a handgun besides mine in the 45 years since he left the service.
He still has the book tho.
Yeppers! These days that would put you on the "Rubber Gun Squad" until they could get your termination papers together.
Another fellow folks don't talk much about was Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson! He was one of those that was born with the hair on! Very interesting. Jackson found a young Mexican kid in jail in Brewster County, (Alpine), Texas. Kid was in for stealing a goat. Joaquin took a liking to the kid and got him a start besides stealing livestock
You may have heard of the kid! His name was Johnny Rodriquez!
It's been years since I read 'No Second Place..." but I seem to recall he advocated planting throw-down guns on unarmed suspects killed under questionable circumstances. Based on that and the negligent killing of a fellow border patrolman, I dismissed the book's contents out of hand.
William Henry "Bill" Jordan, while a native of Rapides Parrish, Louisiana, settled in his wife's hometown of Linden, Texas. He is buried there. He was the author of three books, "No Second Place Winner", "Mostly Huntin", and "Tales of the Rio Grande". I have all three. He was a once famous quick draw artist and was instrumental in getting Smith & Wesson to develop the M-19 Combat Magnum. He was a personal friend of "Skeeter" Skelton. He also retired from the USMC Reserve as either a major or lieutenant colonel (I cannot remember which) on the same day he retired from the U.S. Border Patrol. I think his final Border Patrol title was Assistant Chief Inspector.
I saw Bill Jordan give what was to be one of his last shooting exhibitions in a theater in Raton, NM in 1975-76. His most impressive bit of shooting was when he drew and fired hitting an aspirin tablet across the stage !
So de-cluttering and came across this signed book from him. I remember reading articles in gun magazines way back before internet, Guns and Ammo, Shooting Times, etc..
Anyway thought that was pretty cool and a fun find but useless to me as I don't own a handgun anymore nor a police officer. Pretty certain some of these techniques are probably slightly different these days...or are they the same?
Met Jordan in Rock Springs Wyo. during the 80s oil boom. He was visiting his friend Ed Cantrell and on their way to Cheyenne for one of the first IPSC type shoots ever held. Cantrell was a former Texas Ranger and was severing as Public Safety head for Southern Wyo. Anyway a year or so later Cantrell was tipped that one of his under cover agents was selling narcotics and had him picked up. Cantrell met them - and the agent was setting between two officers ;in the back of the car. Cantrell drew his pistol and shot the agent, claiming self defense. Enter Jerry Spence a famous trial lawyer, who won the Playmates suit against Playboy mag back in those days. During the trial they made a wooden mock up of the car, with a deputy sitting in the seat with a empty pistol and Jordan was standing "out side " the car . The deputy was instructed to shoot Jordan. Jordan drew his gun and "shot" the deputy before he could raise the gun. In front of the jury Spence ask Jordan how fast was Cantrell. and Jordan replied, " He's faster than I am". Cantrell was acquitted. and went to work as security for Spence on Spences cattle ranch in Montana. Cattle rustling stopped.
It's been years since I read 'No Second Place..." but I seem to recall he advocated planting throw-down guns on unarmed suspects killed under questionable circumstances. Based on that and the negligent killing of a fellow border patrolman, I dismissed the book's contents out of hand.
While an MP in the Army in San Antonio (1974) I had a conversation with a fellow who used to be a Texas DPS officer. He rejoined the military to get his 20 year retirement. I don't know if he made it for the full 20.
One night setting down by Salado creek on the backside of Ft. Sam Houston he told me he saw the same (if I recall correctly) throw down gun get used 4 different times out in west Texas. As I recall that was a rough time to be in any Texas law enforcement roll. Mostly due to illegals crossing the border and settling in far out hideout places and rowdy oil patch workers.
I have an autographed book as well. He was born, though moved at an early age, about 30 miles from all of my relatives on my mother’s side.
I talked to Bill once on the telephone, a difficult conversation as his hearing was very poor. I had hoped to meet him, but it never happened!
He had visited and hunted with Basil Bradbury who lived in Glenrock, Wyoming. I knew Basil, not well, but shot the first 60 rounds through my new .375 AI in his 100 yard “underground” shooting range. It’s difficult to visualize a 100 yard underground shooting range! memtb
I worked for Buck Newsom when he had the riding concession in The Basin in Big Bend NP. he had a scrapbook with pictures of head and heeled wetbacks. He was a good roper and put the stretch on them like steers. He was all there. His son Dan was a good man to.
Met Bill and shot with him many years ago. IIRC he was driving a Plymouth Roadrunner. I found that amusing although I would choose otherwise. I had recently bought a Model 19 back when they were a bit scarce. I have nothing bad to say about him.
I can remember Bill Jordan and seeing him on tv “What’s My Line or To Tell the Truth”! Big man with a fast draw. He shot aspirins with a Model 19 revolver in 357. He worked for the Border Patrol when it wasn’t open borders and “Welcome Wagon” duties. The border was protected and the BP fought criminals- smugglers and the like and shootouts were frequent. It was a dangerous occupation.
I can remember Bill Jordan and seeing him on tv “What’s My Line or To Tell the Truth”! Big man with a fast draw. He shot aspirins with a Model 19 revolver in 357. He worked for the Border Patrol when it wasn’t open borders and “Welcome Wagon” duties. The border was protected and the BP fought criminals- smugglers and the like and shootouts were frequent. It was a dangerous occupation.
The Border Patrol was formed in 1924. Buck Newsom and Bill Jordan were agents* when you had to have some grit in your craw. Prior to that, the Tex/Mex border was "protected" (such as it was) by the Texas Rangers. Also a bunch that was pretty rough. It was once a belief that most (?) Texas Rangers were recruited from the other side of the badge. From stories about them, I don't doubt it!
* - Obama combined Customs (blue uniforms) with the Border Patrol (green uniforms) to form the CBP (Customs & Border Protection).Those green uniforms have no love for the blue uniforms.....and vice versa!
I met him at the Tulsa Gun Show years ago. I had heard that he would be there and I took my copy of his book and he signed it. He was a nice fellow to visit with.
He misquoted the Second Amendment, replacing "well regulated" with "well ordered," but it's justified, because in modern parlance, people misconstrue the meaning of "well regulated" as it was used at the time of the Founders. It meant well ordered.
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