The Accurate Reloading Forums
Was Capstick a wealthy man?

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/57810762

16 July 2003, 05:12
N'gagi
Was Capstick a wealthy man?
I suppose it's really none of my business, but every time I pull out one of my dog eared Capstick books, I wonder from what perspective he's writing. I know the Hathaway shirt company (Remember the ads with the guy with the eye patch?) was big in the 50's and 60's, but did he get any of that money?

Did his books produce a tremendous amount of revenue?

I'm just curious if he was a guy who really knew how to work the system, and use his contacts, or if he was able to be a "professional boy" on the family dole.

Anybody have any ideas?

Nothing like sitting in back yard on a summer evening with a cold drink and a Capstick book. [Big Grin]
16 July 2003, 07:00
Atkinson
I knew Peter and I know Fiona, Peter did quite well financially with his books, how well I don't know, but he was not hurting, and I suspect he had other incomes...

Sinced his death, Fiona has written some books and her latest is "The Winds of Havoc" by Fiona Capstick as told to her by Adelino Pires, another famous PH and also a good friend of mine who suffered greatly at the hands of cruel black governments, a must read for anyone interrested in the politics of africa..Fiona is a class act.
16 July 2003, 07:08
fla3006
Capstick was an investment banker on Wall Street before his PH career. They do pretty well, plus it helps to have "pull" and/or a stellar education to land one of those jobs.
16 July 2003, 07:18
George Semel
His Family owns or owned Hathaway Shirts. I knew he was an Investment Banker and I had heard he also spent some time in the US Army. As for the rest, my guess he was not hurting for money. I myself was never much of a clothes horse. But when I do, i were Hathaway Shirts. Yea you pay for them, but they last a lot longer so it works out to be a better deal than the Wal-mart special. The Buttons just stay on.
16 July 2003, 09:09
MacD37
I'll just say you didn't have to worry about his checks bounceing! [Cool]
16 July 2003, 09:17
Woodhits
I think it says a lot about the man to know that he came from a wealthy family, gave up an extremely high-paying job, and chose to live a hard lifestyle because he enjoyed it. I have no clue what kind of PH the man was, but he was a hell of a writer.
16 July 2003, 09:32
N'gagi
quote:
Originally posted by Woodhits:
I think it says a lot about the man to know that he came from a wealthy family, gave up an extremely high-paying job, and chose to live a hard lifestyle because he enjoyed it. I have no clue what kind of PH the man was, but he was a hell of a writer.
Agree. In a romantic kind of way, I like to imagine him as the black sheep of the family, that chose the road less traveled, making it on his own.

By the same token, most of the wealthy people I know got there through hard work and discipline, both of which he must have practiced to accomplish everything he did.

For all the BS you hear, I'd still love to have shared a camp with him just once.

[ 07-16-2003, 00:39: Message edited by: N'gagi ]
16 July 2003, 10:28
Deerdogs
quote:
Originally posted by Woodhits:
...gave up an extremely high-paying job, and chose to live a hard lifestyle because he enjoyed it...
Anyone who has had any dealings with Wall Street or any Western Stock Exchange will know that to be sucessful in that particular jungle is no walk in the park either.
16 July 2003, 11:30
<allen day>
Capstick once said that he had "turned ink into gold", so I suspect he did pretty well with his books, especially "Death In The Long Grass".

How much of that "gold" he managed to drink up over the years is anyone's guess, but no matter what, Capstick was a highly educated and intelligent man with the type of backgraound that would readily lend itself to long-term financial success.

AD
16 July 2003, 12:26
Blacktailer
It was Capstick's stories in the "American Hunter" that gave me the itch to go to Africa. When was that? 30-35 years ago? If it wasn't for him I wouldn't finally be scratching that itch.
[Big Grin] Blacktailer
16 July 2003, 12:38
zagaya
I don't know that he was all that highly educated from a college standpoint. He did go to UVA (where I live now) but I don't think he ever finished. I have seen his yearbook photo though, doesn't look like the type to end up in africa :-)Smart, hell yeah, and probably was a great reader, but college-wise, I don't think he achieved all that much. Maybe I have it wrong. Will be hanging out with an old friend of his in a while and I'll ask him what his impression was. _Baxter
16 July 2003, 12:41
N'gagi
quote:
Originally posted by zagaya:
I have seen his yearbook photo though, doesn't look like the type to end up in africa :-)
Is that available on line anywhere? That'd be a kick to see. He is rarely seen in any of his own books.
16 July 2003, 13:27
zagaya
I made a photocopy of it. It's at the farm somewhere...I'll try to dig it up. I will try to find any frat pictures of him too as I am sure there are some. _Baxter
16 July 2003, 14:16
RBHunt
Yes, Peter Capstick was a very wealthy man. I doubt that there were many people that met him, especially hunters, that did not bond with him immediately. He was a very friendly person, and a joy to be around. He had lots of friends. He had a job he loved. How much more wealthy than that can you be? I consider it one of the great events of my life that I was able to know him and call him a friend. [Smile]
16 July 2003, 17:42
N'gagi
quote:
Originally posted by RBHunt:
He had lots of friends. He had a job he loved. How much more wealthy than that can you be? I consider it one of the great events of my life that I was able to know him and call him a friend. [Smile]
Thank you.

I hope to aspire to the same.