Recently, bought a used copy of "Good friends, Good guns, Good whiskey" by Skeeter Skelton from a used bookstore in Redding California (a very good read).

I grew up in the 70's reading Skeeter Skelton's monthly articles in Shooting Times. Remember how sad I was when he passed away in 1988. I know he passed at a hospital in El Paso. Does anyone know the illness that took him?

Yeah, I really liked Skeeter Skelton's articles and stories. Made me sad too when he passed away. I felt like I lost an old friend even though I never met him. I probably read at the time what he died from but, don't remember now. His son, Bart, is on this forum from time to time, or was. Maybe he will see this and say something about it.

IIRC he had a stroke.

I too remember him fondly, and saved several of his magazine articles.

He passed from a stroke. Thank you, I couldn't recall how he passed. Truly a shame.

It always seemed to me that Skeeter was far less impressed with Skeeter than the rest of us were. I mean that as a high compliment. I miss his writing a great deal. He had the gift of being able to write fictional as well as factual material to the same high level. I always looked forward to reading about Dobe Grant (as well as about that tall yahoo with whom Skeeter would trade barbs).

I always did like his writing. Was the first thng I used to read when I recieved a copy of ST.

Me too.

That is a great book. Watch for a used copy of the sequel, "Hoglegs, Hipshots, and Jalapenos." It's just as good.

I gave Bart a tip on one of his dad's old guns that was currently residing in Cedar Rapids. Evidently the price was too dear and he passed on it. A Browning High-Power.

Dan

i liked the story about the horse and bicycle race

One of my favorite paragraphs from his fiction:

"...He sipped his sourmash and leaned expansively back in the rickety kitchen chair. 'I got enough cash to last me. I got too many cows, and maybe too many guns. The guns are more fun than the cows, so I'm gonna cut the mama bunch in half, and I'm going to buy one of every new gun that comes out.' He paused and squinted at me to show he'd take no back talk. 'And you're going to help me shoot 'em'..."

-from the Legend of Dobe Grant

His stories were part nostalgia, part guns, part common sense. I always enjoyed them.

I still reread his "Joe and Me" stories. He and Milek were my favorite gunwriters of the era. I don't think Shooting Times ever recovered from the loss of those two.

Met him once in the late 70s at Mathis Field in San Angelo on my way to deer hunt.....a very old school West Texas gentleman, reminded me of my dad's uncles. Happy to chat with a fan while he waited for his plane.

Skeeter had the ability to interest readers in his subject. Even though I didn't care much for handguns, I got hooked on reading his stuff to the point that I started collecting revolvers with 5" barrels. Ross Seyfried is another writer who can do that.

jim

Skeeter, now there was a gunwriter! I never met the man, but was lucky enough to talk to him on the phone a couple of times.

He never wrote an article I did not enjoy, ever. His articles and books were full of great insight into guns and other products and such, and so full of entertainment about the older, better days of our country.

Skeeter was my favorite gunwriter, bar none.
Virgil B.

Glad that Skeeter doesn't have to see the shape the country's in right now.

+1

Both books are fantastic.

ddj

No writers around anymore that I enjoy reading like I did Skeeter, I always read skeeters stuff first when I got My new issue of Shooting Times.......Rest In Peace Skeeter you are missed........................547.

Always read his stuff, he was the only reason I subscribed to ST. Got to meet him and Bill Jordon at a LE doings in El Paso in the late 60's, Both of them were way interesting to talk to and real down to earth. Skeeter could sure put away the whiskey at the BBQ that followed the conference. Stayed polite and articulate the whole evening too. That was one of the HIGHEST points in my career as a Deputy Sheriff, and they really were interested in what I had to say about rural police work in Florida.

I always read his articles and really appreciated them. His passing was a real loss.

Skeeter's real gift was that he had a whale of a ride in life and had the ability to get lots of us to have a whale fo a ride right along with him!!!

he was a little bit awash when I met him in Angelo, or else he was wearing bourbon after shave, but very nice and controlled.

Bob Milek wife still lives in Thermopolis Wy. She works part time in the local museum.

He only wrote one article I came to dislike and it wasn't his fault. I liked it enough to start with to buy a 45 based on his experience. It was about the AMT Hardballer I think. Anyway I liked what he said about his test gun and bought one of my own. Course he could only test the one they sent him and it worked fine. AMT said that mine should stop jamming every two or three rounds and start feeding better after 500 or 600 rounds had been fired. Sold that piece of junk at a huge loss and went back to my Ruger 357. When I read about Skeeter passing away it left a hollow place like I had lost a good friend, yet I had never met or talked with him. He had talent not only with a gun but also with a pen.

Always liked Skeeter. My favorite article is "Flight From Mexico" which introduces Dobe Grant. My brother in law's dad is a dead ringer for Skeeter, but not as tall. It about broke his heart when I proved to him Dobe was fictional!

If you can find it, read "I Remember Skeeter". It's a collection of stories about the man, written by those who knew him best.

I'd damn sure liked to met him, makes me sad typing this.
Lets all have a shot of "Old Taylor" (IIRC) in remembrance!

Andy

Skelton was a class act. I grew up on his work. The world is a poorer place after his passing. He reminds me of my father.

j

I too have GG,GF,GW, and am looking for a copy of H,H, and H. I got my copy of Good Guns, Good Friends, Good Whiskey when it came out, and took it to college with me. A story a night for quite a while, and it was excellent writing.

How many of us load Skeeter's load of 2400 behind a 158 grain CSWC in our .357s? I use .357 cases, but truly enjoy the load.

Farmall,

Regarding your name; M or H? I have my Dad's Super W-6 gas tractor, in good shape. I should fix it up someday. I last used it on the farm in 1994 to harrow some hayground I had spiked up. My Grandfathers first tractor was an old (pretty new then, I suppose) 15-30, now long gone.

The 400 was always my favorite.

300 Savage,

Actually both. Always been an IH man at heart. Skeeters dad owned a Case dealership prior to his passing, so thats a plus in my book!

Ever since I was a kid, my goal was to be a full time diesel mechanic and part time farmer. Found out you can't make a decent living doing either. Quit farming, and now just wrench for fun.
The 60 series through the 86 series are my specialties, though.

I will say Skeeter was a better man than I for being able to shoot his 44 Special load. Too much for me!

Andy

.

Farmall,

I don't farm anymore either, but still love tractors! They run a close second to guns for me. I can tell the sound of an 4 cylinder McCormick/Deering a mile away.

I have a copy of both books, but my library is in disarray from a move, and I just can't seem to find them.