Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters How about more on the old gunwriters?

Capitalist,
I remember Jan Libourel too; he came later, Jan Stevenson wrote for "Guns" in the 70's, Jan Libourel wrote for American Handgunner, I think, in the 80's to early 90's.

Jan is a fairly common first name in northern Europe, it's the same as "John"(english) or "Jean"(french).

Libourel was with Petersen Publishing until he left them for Gun World.
It was Petersen's Handguns, not American Handgunner.
Denis

What about John Sundra? He turned me onto the Leupold 6X long before others wrote about using a fixed power for hunting. I know he still has an annual gun magazine, but I don't hear that much about him any more.

Does anyone remember Ed Zern - ? His "To Hell With Hunting" was one of my favorites as a kid in the '50s. His several slants on "Didn't know my azz from a hole in the ground.." are still with me.

Jeeezus you're old
Couldn't resist zinging you my friend
I think I have read some of his stuff before, the name rings a bell at least.

I was just reading some old gun stuff from 1956 and 1964 this weekend. The Gunner's Bible, and I can't remember the other. Some real neat old info in them. Also just read Nonte & Jurras's book Handgun Hunting.

Zern's "To Hell With Hunting" and "To Hell With Fishing" are classics in the field of outdoor humor. If you haven't read him, do so. Everybody will wonder what you're chuckling about. As funny as McManus in his early days.

"I didn't know Mass from a shoal in the sound..."

"I didn't know Massa from a Pole in de ground..."

Tom, thanks for reminding me - you now owe me TWO Guinnesses --

I'd glady ante up on Guiness with you any day.
Maybe I can skip up the hill one of these days soon again.

tbear: FEW of the men mentioned here I haven't heard of or read after a fair amount. ALL had something or LOTS to add to guns, handloading, or hunting for me. I'm indebted to them either for entertainment or instruction or both.
Jon Sundra was VERY instrumental in shaping my gun interest and knowledge, especially handloading. I found his writing not so pointed or opinionated but instructional and suggestive about calibers, bullets, and powders. In 1978 he planted seed about the Rem mm's. He suggested that if one was so amind to collect the Rem 5-8 mm's, he wouldn't be badly armed. I LAUGHED at the thot of having so many guns at one time. THANKS TO JRS, over the years I have come to own the Rem. 5mm,6mm,7mmMag,& 8mmMag. They certainly cover a wide spectrum of hunting applications,not necessarily every aspect,ie dangerous game. I APPLAUD & APPRECIATE him and so many others.
John Wooters is another I looked forward to reading, more on hunting than handloading. I found his writing interesting and informative but my experiences differed somewhat in handloading. Nonetheless, he had lots to contribute.
Dr. Howell, Jim Carmichael, let's not forget JB,(not that he's old) and too many to mention have made my life,not necessarily my wife's,richer and happier! THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! An indebted UNKNOWN friend. Jerry

I got lots of good info from John Taffin in years past.

Big +1. The "me and Jim" stories were great and the "Jug Johnson" stories hilarious.

Each of the old timers had a ton of experience. We all learned from them.

I'm not sure JB would like to be put in the "Old Writers Club" just yet. I think he has four more years to wait.

My favorite is still Robert Ruark and his "Old Man and the Boy" book. I'm sure there is a mountain of dirt on him, but sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

I worshipped O'Connor but must admit that no sporting magazine had a lineup of writers like Field and Stream from the 50's/60's,with the likes of Warren Page, Ted Trueblood,Robert Ruark,and Corey Ford....those not fortunate enough to have read the writings of these folks surely missed out.

I would also add Burton Spiller to the mix.....if his writings on New England grouse hunting do not tug at you,you got no soul....

+1......

Add "Exit, Laughing," by Ed Zern to that list.

123:
Yes Ed Zern as well!Good stuff!

I believe that Gary Sitton was probably my all time favorite.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/content/mi-amigo-sitton


Open-mindedness is vastly overrated. Arriving at old age with a completely open mind may not be much of a character reference; it might mean you never cared very strongly about anything that ever happened to you.--Gary Sitton


I also like Craig Boddington. He has a tremendous amount of hunting experience.