This is a hard one to decide I like All of Elmer Keiths books.I think I have read Hell I WAs There and Big Game Hunting The most times.I love Safari and I think Elmer is the king of the Double Rifle shooters.I love Shotguns and have read it twice also.I think of all his books Sixgun Cartridge and Loads is my least Favorite but its good.I like Big Game rifles and cartridges.I think Elmer was disapointed in An Autobiography but its good he redid it alot better with Awesome pictures in Hell I was There.I wish all of Elmers Writings were put in book form.
Dad like Handguns, I like the Africa one. I checked it out years ago in a library. I keep looking for a reasonable copy for sale on ebay. They always go high!
Posts: 4729 | Location: Australia | Registered: 06 February 2005
It is too bad Safari was not reprinted.Keith's Rifles for lagre game is the book John Taylor copied African Rifles and Cartridges.I think some one should reprint both of them.I like all of his books.I learned how to shoot guns bigger than the 30-06 by reading Elmer Keith.He was way ahead of his time.He developed the 44 mag,41 mad,Helped with The winchester model 70,Ruger Blackhawk,the Ruger # 1 and several others.He made range finders for scopes in the 1940s.He worked for the army developing new loads for the 50 bmg .He tested 1903 springfields and others.
Safari. I see there is a copy of Hell I was There in the book case. Don't remember reading it. I read and have several of his books. I see Keith's Rifles for Large Game looking out of another bookcase at me as I type. They only made one Elmer!
Posts: 1700 | Location: USA | Registered: 04 January 2005
Back in the late 70's I purchased Keith- an autobiography. This was the precurser to Hell I was There. I read it so much it eventually fell apart. It sort of set the stage for my appreciation of the larger bores and heavier bullet. After many years of big game hunting across the West and a couple of trips to Africa, I'm inclined to think there was much truth in Keith's observations. My hat is off to the man. RIP.
Posts: 322 | Location: Green Forest, Arkansas | Registered: 24 March 2007
Hell I was there----without a doubt. Elmer could explain various ideas to the average person, where some writers only hurried past the hard parts. He always met problems head on.
Posts: 1096 | Location: UNITED STATES of AMERTCA | Registered: 29 June 2007
Sixguns and then Safari. In about 1980 Keith was offering his books autographed. I sent him a check for, I think, $24 and he sent me an autographed copy of Safari. I still have the envelope he mailed it in. It was addressed by him. When I looked through the book, he had handwritten in correctons to the text and some photos. I wish I would have bought more. The photos in Safari are amazing. He had quite a collection of DG rifles. I, to, wish it would be reprinted, but I remember reading it has something to do with estate of Truman Fowler, who was the co-author of the book, not allowing it to be reprinted.
Posts: 1676 | Location: Colorado, USA | Registered: 11 November 2002
Safari is an awesome book.Elmer Keith was the best on double rifles,big bore and sixguns.His shotgun book is one of the best books on double shotguns also.I have yet to find any of his books that were not awesome.I wish Safari press could put together all of his articles in a book form.I read gunnotes from about 1973 till he went into the hospital with a stroke.Keith's Rifles for Large Game is another very good book.I swear John Taylor coppied his African Rifles and Cartridges from it.They did know each other but I dont think they ever meet.Elmer Keith was way ahead of his time.From his writings I started using the 338 win mag which he really liked.His OKH and KT cartridges were way ahead of their time.He helped Bill Ruger with the Ruger Blackhawk and the Ruger #1.He was very creative and shot and wrote the facts .If a gun was not good he didnt cover it up he told the truth.This is really lacking in todays writers.
Hell I Was There Bought it 23 years ago and reread it often.
Cal30
If it cant be Grown it has to be Mined! Devoted member of Newmont mining company Underground Mine rescue team. Carlin East,Deep Star ,Leeville,Deep Post ,Chukar and now Exodus Where next? Pete Bajo to train newbies on long hole stoping and proper blasting techniques. Back to Exodus mine again learning teaching and operating autonomous loaders in the underground. Bringing everyday life to most individuals 8' at a time!
