The wife and I just returned from our vacation to MT and Canada. On the way back we dropped by the new facility built in Lewiston, MT dedicated to Jack. Since I grew up reading Outdoor Life magazine, and have several of his books (including Sheep and Sheep Hunting), I wanted to see his guns. I had a great time! It was somethig special to stand a foot away from his fabled 270 win and his 30-06. Looking at his guns and the many mounts brought back so many memories of magazine articles I read in my youth. His 270 was in remarkably good shape considering the hunts it had been on. His 30-06, built on a mauser action and having a side mount scope, looked a bit rougher. Also saw the 7X57 his wife Elenor used for most of her hunting (she used a 30-06 equally well). Overall, time well spent for one who enjoyed the writings of O'Connor.

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we dropped by the new facility built in Lewiston, MT dedicated to Jack.

Not to be a nit picker, but don't you mean Lewiston, ID?

I've been a fan of O'Connor's for a long time. If I ever get near Lewiston, I'll be sure and look for this facility.

Do they have on display the rifle he shot his own toe off with?

WB.

I haven't heard about him shooting off his toe. His rifles on display consists of a custom 270 win, a custom 30-06, and a beautiful 20 guage double barrel shotgun. Also, Eleanor's custom 7X57 and 30-06 are there. Perhaps one of these guns are the culprit.

LBGuy--have you read his book about his boyhood days? As I remember it is titled "Horse and Buggy West" and it is a great read.

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Originally posted by LBGuy:
I haven't heard about him shooting off his toe.

From-
http://www.booktrail.com/Guns_general/Jack%20O'Connor.asp

"Find out how many (desert) sheep and Grand Slams JOC really shot; how JOC killed the same sable antelope twice (10 years apart!); how his absentmindedness made him lose his car;and how he shot his own toe off."

dustoffer - can't say that I have heard of that book. I'll track one down though. Thanks

On the day we visited, the wife and I were the only people in the facility. The curator/manager gave me the guided tour, complete with lengthly explainations of every mount, rifle, picture, etc. I was told by the curator of the facility (an older gentleman who seemed to know everything about JOC) that a taxidermy firm was hired to go over and repair/spruce up the mounts before the facility opened. They did a fine job as many mounts looked "new". Based on what I was told by the curator/manager, JOC and his wife were long-time smokers. Eleanor had chronic lung problems (perhaps COPD) before she passed away. When I return to MT next year, I'll probably swing down to Lewiston ID for another visit.

Jack made a big impression on me as a kid...He was a professor at Sul Ross College in Alpine, Texas and always hunted on our ranch that my dad had leased at the time..He loved to hunt our Coues deer and Mule Deer..He was the best shot with a rifle I have ever seen. He influenced me as much as anyone to be a hunter and devote my life to hunting and to end up in the hunting business I suppose..He and his wife smoked a lot, but so did everyone else back then, self included later on, but I quit at 45 years old. Don't know anyone that didn't smoke in those days...Morning at the ranch consisted of old men sitting around the table smoking cigerettes and coughing up their lungs and washing them back down with coffee. Jack fit right in...I remember he and his wife argued about everything, and fussed a lot, but they really were best friends. Jack was the real deal and always had time to educate this kid about guns and hunting. For what its worth, he and Elmer Keith really didn't like each other much...Both were pretty good old boys with a lot of experience, and different opinnions on guns and hunting...

Thanks for the post Mr. Atkinson. It is always a pleasure to hear what men of experience (such as yourself) have to say. I have been an ardent JOC fan since 1962 and my first big game rifle was a 270 win. After 20 years I moved on to the magnums, but went back to just the 270 and 30-06 several years ago. Please feel free to share additional stories regarding JOC. Thanks

Well sorry to be a wet blanket. But my father know the man. When we lived in Moscow ID. I was only a kid and have no memery of him what so ever.
Sadly I have heard my father on several campfires. speak of the fact that old Jack had many of his best trophies shot by outfitters and guides.
I have never known my dad to be a lier, so I believe he had some kind of proof, or first hand knowledge. Whether or not he was the shot he claimed to be or not. He sure was a hell of a good writer, and I like some of the old pieces my self.
MM

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Sadly I have heard my father on several campfires. speak of the fact that old Jack had many of his best trophies shot by outfitters and guides.

There are always snipers it seems.

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Well sorry to be a wet blanket. But my father know the man. When we lived in Moscow ID. I was only a kid and have no memery of him what so ever.
Sadly I have heard my father on several campfires. speak of the fact that old Jack had many of his best trophies shot by outfitters and guides.
I have never known my dad to be a lier, so I believe he had some kind of proof, or first hand knowledge. Whether or not he was the shot he claimed to be or not. He sure was a hell of a good writer, and I like some of the old pieces my self.
MM

Well, dont know your dad, but I will say I believe Jack Oconnor

fact based or not, these stories crop up about most of the big name writers. With the exception of Elmer Keith, they all had a love/hate relationship with their readers. I have heard the same told of Fred Bear, and his alleged use of a long barreled revolver hidden in the quiver. Envy or what...
I can tell you JOC did not have the outgoing personality that Keith did.


Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

I knew Jack well enough, and I knew too many folks that knew him to ever belive that..

I also know that anyone that can shoot as good as Jack didn't need an outfitter to shoot for him, he could outshoot about any outfitter...

Some things are just better off going unsaid and your post is one of them, it has no substance one way or the other, the man is dead and cannot defend himself and its tacky and demeans your dad more than it does Jack IMO...

For a guy who used his 270 and 30-06 and other rifles for varmint hunting and on that way gained much shooting experience for future hunts as he said it was his best shooting training and that gave him much practice . That was a very good advice, get a rifle and use it for everything.

I have just read the Robert Andersson book, but it fills a picture of a great guy that might have been a bit shy to get to know but when you got to know him that was a heck of a guy . and with all the famous big game hunters, and writers there is always jealousy , and it will always be that.

He had a way with word and rifle that has been missing in the states for years, and his rifles, boy oh boy, nice and classic pieces of working art that i love to see.

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I have heard the same told of Fred Bear, and his alleged use of a long barreled revolver hidden in the quiver...

Fred carried an 8 3/8 inch Smith&Wesson Model 29 in a shoulder holster when he hunted Alaska,in case of any problems with a grizzly.

As luck would have it,when Fred stuck his best grizzly,he'd left the 44 back in camp.

Anyone who is familiar with Fred Bear knows well enough that he didn't need to use a revolver to kill his game.He could most likely shoot his bow better than a handgun.

I remember Eleanor smoking but not him (1973). I wish I had never SEEN a cigarette.

Well like I said the old man knew him. Not me. FWIW I never said he did it because he was a bad shot, or needed game shot for him. just that it had happened.
I meant no ill will to the man or his memory. Just have no reason to doubt my Dad either.
MM

Point well taken sir!BTW Dad did like the man. Having known him his name would come up at hunting camps and other places when hunting and shooting where talked about. He was not bad mouthing him. It's is my fault it was taken that way, and for that I am sorry!

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Originally posted by Atkinson:
I knew Jack well enough, and I knew too many folks that knew him to ever belive that..

I also know that anyone that can shoot as good as Jack didn't need an outfitter to shoot for him, he could outshoot about any outfitter...

Some things are just better off going unsaid and your post is one of them, it has no substance one way or the other, the man is dead and cannot defend himself and its tacky and demeans your dad more than it does Jack IMO...