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Originally Posted by UPhiker
Originally Posted by oldwoody2
I never knew that Capstick had been in the Military. Did he ever write of his experiences during his Service ?

I've never read that he was and I've read most of his books.


I have never come across anything where he mentioned such.


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in his book Maneaters, page 105 he alludes to some type of military service or at least deadly conflict. i always assumed it was in the Rhodesian Bush War. no where else have i come across him claiming service in any nations military.

Last edited by deerstalker; 03/31/21.

the consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded. Robert E Lee
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Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Originally Posted by UPhiker
I agree. I'll never make it to Africa but he made me want to do it. I've always found it "strange" that all of his detractors never came around until way after his death. He was well known and got his start with Winchester, so people knew about him. I liked his one story in Death In The Long Grass where his client said it was his first lion/leopard. Capstick was new at the time and thought "it's my first one, too". He was very self effacing.



Maybe because internet sites like this exist 25 years ago?

Since people that knew him have noted that he acknowledged that he embellished his stories, "jazzing" them up to make them better stories, I'll take their word for it.

The Tink Nathan obituary that started this thread cites his military service in Vietnam as a Special Forces officer. Given the timeline, it seems fishy to me. If PHC did claim military service that never happened, I would consider that an excessive embellishment.
You need to understand that Tink Nathan is as full of sh*t as a Christmas turkey....

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Originally Posted by JimH
Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Originally Posted by UPhiker
I agree. I'll never make it to Africa but he made me want to do it. I've always found it "strange" that all of his detractors never came around until way after his death. He was well known and got his start with Winchester, so people knew about him. I liked his one story in Death In The Long Grass where his client said it was his first lion/leopard. Capstick was new at the time and thought "it's my first one, too". He was very self effacing.



Maybe because internet sites like this exist 25 years ago?

Since people that knew him have noted that he acknowledged that he embellished his stories, "jazzing" them up to make them better stories, I'll take their word for it.

The Tink Nathan obituary that started this thread cites his military service in Vietnam as a Special Forces officer. Given the timeline, it seems fishy to me. If PHC did claim military service that never happened, I would consider that an excessive embellishment.
You need to understand that Tink Nathan is as full of sh*t as a Christmas turkey....


So, are you saying that nothing in Tink Nathan's obituary is true or that some of it has been embellished to enhance PHC's resume? If Nathan really was such a good friend of PHC's as he claims, I wonder why he would embellish military service that might not have happened? Maybe he was just repeating what PHC told him?

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Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Originally Posted by JimH
Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Originally Posted by UPhiker
I agree. I'll never make it to Africa but he made me want to do it. I've always found it "strange" that all of his detractors never came around until way after his death. He was well known and got his start with Winchester, so people knew about him. I liked his one story in Death In The Long Grass where his client said it was his first lion/leopard. Capstick was new at the time and thought "it's my first one, too". He was very self effacing.



Maybe because internet sites like this exist 25 years ago?

Since people that knew him have noted that he acknowledged that he embellished his stories, "jazzing" them up to make them better stories, I'll take their word for it.

The Tink Nathan obituary that started this thread cites his military service in Vietnam as a Special Forces officer. Given the timeline, it seems fishy to me. If PHC did claim military service that never happened, I would consider that an excessive embellishment.
You need to understand that Tink Nathan is as full of sh*t as a Christmas turkey....


So, are you saying that nothing in Tink Nathan's obituary is true or that some of it has been embellished to enhance PHC's resume? If Nathan really was such a good friend of PHC's as he claims, I wonder why he would embellish military service that might not have happened? Maybe he was just repeating what PHC told him?
One question---have you read any of his books? I'm asking because several here who have, have said that Capstick never mentioned it. Yet, someone, in one obit, says something and take it as gospel. You say that you don't want to denigrate Capstick, yet you continue to do it. Maybe Tink wasn't lying, but just mistaken?

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Originally Posted by 260Remguy



Maybe because internet sites like this exist 25 years ago?



Originally Posted by 260Remguy

Somebody posted on this site some years ago that he knew the PH that PHC cited in a story about culling cape buffalo and when asked about it, the PH who was with PHC said that PHC took some liberties with it to make it a better story. IIRC, that PH also claimed that PHC borrowed adventures that other PHs had and claimed them as his own.




It seems internet sites give people a platform to continually post things they heard on the internet so often that it becomes a reality.

Of course Capstick was a story teller. That's what sells books. He added color and creative narrative to create interest. I am of the opinion that a lot of people enjoy trying to bring down the big dogs and that's what you see with those running down PHC.

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Thanks for the thread. I've always appreciated his writings.


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Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Originally Posted by JimH
Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Originally Posted by UPhiker
I agree. I'll never make it to Africa but he made me want to do it. I've always found it "strange" that all of his detractors never came around until way after his death. He was well known and got his start with Winchester, so people knew about him. I liked his one story in Death In The Long Grass where his client said it was his first lion/leopard. Capstick was new at the time and thought "it's my first one, too". He was very self effacing.



Maybe because internet sites like this exist 25 years ago?

Since people that knew him have noted that he acknowledged that he embellished his stories, "jazzing" them up to make them better stories, I'll take their word for it.

The Tink Nathan obituary that started this thread cites his military service in Vietnam as a Special Forces officer. Given the timeline, it seems fishy to me. If PHC did claim military service that never happened, I would consider that an excessive embellishment.
You need to understand that Tink Nathan is as full of sh*t as a Christmas turkey....


So, are you saying that nothing in Tink Nathan's obituary is true or that some of it has been embellished to enhance PHC's resume? If Nathan really was such a good friend of PHC's as he claims, I wonder why he would embellish military service that might not have happened? Maybe he was just repeating what PHC told him?
Tink has a tendency to be a bit extravagant at times...

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There’s no doubt PHC was a compelling story teller but a I think the book most interesting to me was WARRIOR: THE LEGEND OF COLONEL RICHARD MEINERTZHAGEN.

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Originally Posted by George_De_Vries_3rd

There’s no doubt PHC was a compelling story teller but a I think the book most interesting to me was WARRIOR: THE LEGEND OF COLONEL RICHARD MEINERTZHAGEN.


Meinertzhagen was a facinating story, but I struggled with Peter's adaptation of his life and adventures. Peter admitted to me he had run out material for his quick stories and was venturing into more serious writing and it was tough for him without a better writing background. As he said to me half joking "I'm not worthy of tying WIlbur Smith's shoe and wish I could give my subjects justice like he could."


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In looking back over Tink's obit on PHC, the only think that I can't confirm from knowing Peter or other sources is his military service. Also, I was my recollection he dropped out of UVA without graduating. Maybe his draft number came up then, but he never mentioned that period to me.

The rest of it is spot on. Peter was as a rule a friendly and gregarious guy, with a d=good sense of humor. Back in the 1980s when SCI was smaller and still focused on hunting and not art and jewelry, the banter and English school boy insults and digs that he'd engage with the other African hands on the floor was indeed pleasant banter amongst friends. When SCI was at the MGM at Reno, there was a long bar adjacent to the gaming floor, so close you stand at the bar and lean over the rail and place bets. That was the meeting place - the water hole for all the PHs and close friends immediately following the 5p shutdown, especially on Thursday and Friday evenings. Peter would hold court there and the stories would fly. No doubt he collected material from just those evenings. Old Zambian hand Abie DuPlooy used to razz PHC as a "bloody bar tender", because he took a stint at Victoria Falls as a Food and Beverage manager at a hotel during one offseason. Even Abie admits "He tells a bloody good story. I have them all!"

Last edited by hatari; 04/01/21.

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Originally Posted by UPhiker
Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Originally Posted by JimH
Originally Posted by 260Remguy
Originally Posted by UPhiker
I agree. I'll never make it to Africa but he made me want to do it. I've always found it "strange" that all of his detractors never came around until way after his death. He was well known and got his start with Winchester, so people knew about him. I liked his one story in Death In The Long Grass where his client said it was his first lion/leopard. Capstick was new at the time and thought "it's my first one, too". He was very self effacing.



Maybe because internet sites like this exist 25 years ago?

Since people that knew him have noted that he acknowledged that he embellished his stories, "jazzing" them up to make them better stories, I'll take their word for it.

The Tink Nathan obituary that started this thread cites his military service in Vietnam as a Special Forces officer. Given the timeline, it seems fishy to me. If PHC did claim military service that never happened, I would consider that an excessive embellishment.
You need to understand that Tink Nathan is as full of sh*t as a Christmas turkey....


So, are you saying that nothing in Tink Nathan's obituary is true or that some of it has been embellished to enhance PHC's resume? If Nathan really was such a good friend of PHC's as he claims, I wonder why he would embellish military service that might not have happened? Maybe he was just repeating what PHC told him?
One question---have you read any of his books? I'm asking because several here who have, have said that Capstick never mentioned it. Yet, someone, in one obit, says something and take it as gospel. You say that you don't want to denigrate Capstick, yet you continue to do it. Maybe Tink wasn't lying, but just mistaken?


Yes, I've read several of PHC's books, he was a great story teller..

I'm just responding to what I read on this site, nothing more.

Tink Nathan, who claimed to be an intimate friend of PHC's, wrote it, so you'd have to ask him, if he is still alive.

When a person is well known for embellishing his stories, how do you ever know where the truth stops and the embellishment begins? That doesn't mean that the story isn't a great story, but there is a difference between fact and fiction, isn't there?

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i would need strong "for instances", before i would call any of PHC's "embellishments", fiction. the man was such a stickler for fact. Maybe, and a very faint maybe some of the experiences written in the first person were borrowed from others but i would need proof of it.
problem is many youngsters today have no idea what life was available in the late 50', the 60's, if one can remember those, and even early 70's.
the 50's were halcyon days of opportunities for anyone that wanted adventure. 60's if you stayed out of Uncle Sams employment anything went. 70's were ok.
Peter Capstick lived as an adult in those days. it is very well documented that he spent time in many places where every day was an adventure. and every night.
he wrote about those in a manner that seems to make some jealous of his existence. get out and live.
just my opinion. i have spent many many days by PHC's side. the experiences shared are unforgettable. He off in some foreign exotic place and me safe at home.
Thanks Peter.


the consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded. Robert E Lee
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You're free to believe what you want to believe, but so am I. Different perspectives generally lead to different beliefs.

Hatari, who claims to have known PHC said that PHC embellished his stories in order to make them better stories. In this thread he posted the following, "He made no secret that he embellished stories to jazz them up.". Look up the definition of "embellish", "to make (a statement or story) more interesting or entertaining by adding extra details, especially ones that are not true.". Even without any embellishments, he had the discipline, the vision, to make his dreams of living an excited life come true.

I don't think poorly of PHC, actually I don't think of him at all unless someone brings him up on this site. My perspective on PHC is that he was a guy with the knack for spinning a better than average tale and he found a way to turn that skill set into an additional income flow. A lot people have marketable skills that they never exercise. I remember JOC writing in H&B West that his Mother talked about writing a book, but, like most people, she never had the discipline to follow through with it.

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Jeff, it should be easy enough to verify his military service. I'll let you know


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260remguy. you are absolutely right ! each of us has the right to our opinion and likes. and even at this advanced state of decrepit physical being, i would fight to the death for your right. be well.


the consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded. Robert E Lee
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Tinks obit contains LOTS of BS regarding PHC. Tink obviously never served in the US Army when he refers to PHC serving in Vietnam as a “Green Beret Special Forces officer”. First of all, PHC would need to become commissioned as a 2LT either through OCS or ROTC. That would take at least several months. Next would come Infantry Officer Basic, which took 9 weeks back in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. I know because I went through IOBC back in 1970. Next would be 3 weeks of Airborne School at Fort Benning. Last but not least, Ranger School took at least 80 days back in this time period. Add up all the necessary training and PHC just couldn’t have accomplished it, plus a minimum of 12 months in Nam. I doubt he ever served a day on active duty.


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Originally Posted by BulletBud
I doubt he ever served a day on active duty.


Tink or PHC?

So many people (no, not you) know so little about the military and the process and training these days that flaws are easy to find. I cringe every time I see "so and so enlisted to become an officer". Not that enlisted cannot become officers, and indeed some notable ones do but it's a process and not overnight.


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He certainly had a great way of keeping my attention in the books I've read of his. Loved his writing!


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Enjoyed his books, but my favorite of his was the airgun sniping of 9mm empty cases from a pretty good distance. I like long distances with an air rifle. Still I have more than one of his books. Be Well, RZ.


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