Skeeter's brand......

[Bob Wright]

I saw an illustration of a holster bearing Skeeter's Bar T brand.

From what I have read over the years, it was publisher Alex Bartimo (?) who gave Skeeter Skelton his break in writing for Shooting Times many years ago. In honor of his friend, Skeeter named his son Bart. The brand "Bar T" (a bar over the letter "T") was inspired as the spelling of "Bart."

Many years ago Skeeter wrote about if he could design his ideal revolver. He sort of made a composite of several production revolvers, and had that brand as the grip medallion. (This revolver existed as an illustration only.)


'Way I heard/read it.


Bob Wright

 

[LDB]

Arguably the best firearms writer of the last century, and there's really no argument to it. Used to look forward to the magazine arriving every month. Read anything of his first and then whatever was left. Still miss his writing.

 

[bnewberry]

Arguably the best firearms writer of the last century, and there's really no argument to it. Used to look forward to the magazine arriving every month. Read anything of his first and then whatever was left. Still miss his writing.

Skeeter could write a straight up gun article or a humorous story. He was a treasure. I read some of his stories periodically still today.

 

[Johnnu2]

+1 on Skeeter....

Miss his articles.

J.

 

[Jeepnik]

Skeeter is good. But I can only give him a tie with Elmer.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Yeah . . . they were each the best at what they did, the way they did it.

"Me and Joe . . . "

 

[contender]

I too was a big Skeeter fan. I was fortunate to meet him in 1982 at SHOT. Surprised me to see he wasn't a big man,, and was quite soft spoken.
And while he wasn't big in physical stature, he surely is/was a giant in the firearms world.

 

[LSCG]

i found this drawing years ago while searching Skeeter images. did it ever actually get made?

 

[sceva]

I remember that perfect revolver story. As I recall, The Ruger Speed Six came vary close to what he came up with.

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/handgun_reviews_st_skeetersdreamgun_200909/99479

 

[Bob Wright]

i found this drawing years ago while searching Skeeter images. did it ever actually get made?

Very near to it, a tribute after Skeeter's death.

Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

Skeeter is good. But I can only give him a tie with Elmer.

It's hard to compare the two, they were from different eras and areas. Keith's heyday was the era following WW I, the 'Twenties and 'Thirties, and the northwest. Skeeter's era began following WW II, and his bailiwick was the Southwest. Keith was a pioneer, Skeeter an innovator.

Bob Wright

 

[jgt]

Many of us in the southwest identified with what he wrote in the stories as much as we did with his gun articles.

 

[gunzo]

With permission from Bart Skelton, Mike Barranti makes a faithful re-creation of Skeeters favorite single action holster, that is complete with the Bar T brand.

 

[Bob Wright]

With permission from Bart Skelton, Mike Barranti makes a faithful re-creation of Skeeters favorite single action holster, that is complete with the Bar T brand.

Apparently that is the holster I saw depicted.

Bob Wright

 

[loaded round]

I grew up reading Skeeter's stories and his several books. Loved that man!

 

[hpman66]

Please don’t forget Dobe Grant and the Turkey Track Ranch. I remember the story where Dobe has Skeeter at the ranch, assembles a complete Colt SAA(from spare parts that he has) and gives it to Skeeter.

 

[contender]

Yep,, I too remember those stories. And as a much younger man,, I was amazed at the assembly of spare parts story,, thinking "Wow,, can that be done?"

Or the stories of crossing into Mexico, and taking "trade goods" to swap for old Colts. Skeeter could truly write & make you feel the story.

 

[blackhawknj]

I recall a Skeeter story in which he referred to an earlier Bart Skelton ca. 1886 or so , I think Bart was a name in his family.

 

[flattop44]

My old friend Ray Viramontez, master engraver, engraved the Skeeter Specials.
FT44

 

[Bob Wright]

I recall a Skeeter story in which he referred to an earlier Bart Skelton ca. 1886 or so , I think Bart was a name in his family.

By his own story, Bart was selected to honor his friend, Alex Bartimo.

Bob Wright

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I have a three-way tie for favorite gun/outdoor writers: Skeeter, for his versatility as a writer, practical approach to pistol craft, and his love of the American Southwest (I lived 50 miles north of Skeeter's home in New Mexico for several years), Elmer as the leading pioneer of the modern revolver and it's capabilities, and Peter Capstick for his safari stories and Africana. I've been re-reading a bunch of Capstick's works and edits of other writers, and man, he can make you feel the breath of that cape buffalo bearing down on you like an express train.

 

[Gutshot]

I keep very, very few magazines once I have read them. The majority of the one's I have kept are Shooting Times with all of the stories mentioned above.
Skeeter was truly a great writer putting you right their with him no matter what the situation was.

Jeff

 

[LAH]

I remember that perfect revolver story. As I recall, The Ruger Speed Six came vary close to what he came up with.

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/handgun_reviews_st_skeetersdreamgun_200909/99479

Read the article. Only he could say something like this.

Rounding out the inner workings of my hybrid, I would adopt the rebounding firing pin of the Colt Python and Ruger Blackhawk. This is a better deal for the handling of hot loads and prevents anyone trying to use your gun's hammer for a leather punch.

 

[Bob Wright]

I remember that perfect revolver story. As I recall, The Ruger Speed Six came vary close to what he came up with.

https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/handgun_reviews_st_skeetersdreamgun_200909/99479

Read the article. Only he could say something like this.

Rounding out the inner workings of my hybrid, I would adopt the rebounding firing pin of the Colt Python and Ruger Blackhawk. This is a better deal for the handling of hot loads and prevents anyone trying to use your gun's hammer for a leather punch.

I'm surprised Skeeter wrote that. The firing pin is not rebounding but rather the hammer. When the trigger is released, the hammer retracts slightly so as not to be in contact with the firing pin, and allows the hammer block to rise to intervene between the hammer and frame. Nor does the Blackhawk have a rebounding hammer.

Hate to contradict the Old Sage, Skeeter, but both the Python and Blackhawk have spring loaded firing pins. As such, they do provide a gas seal in event of a pierced primer or blown case head.

Bob Wright

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Well, what Skeet was referring to was the removal of the firing pin as a pointed protrusion on the face of the hammer to the spring-loaded arrangement within the gun's frame.

Wonder if he and/or Dobe had used the old fixed, hammer-mounted Colt pins to punch holes in leather. I can see the possibility. :wink:

On the Ruger Old Models, the spring-loaded firing pin does not withdraw into the frame until the hammer is pulled back, at least to the "safety notch".

On the Ruger New Models, after the hammer falls onto the transfer bar which in turn strikes the firing pin, releasing the trigger drops the transfer bar and allows the spring-loaded firing pin to withdraw into the frame, away from the primer.

FWIW, I have absolutely no idea how a Python works, sorry to say.

 

[Badger Matt]

I have a three-way tie for favorite gun/outdoor writers: Skeeter, for his versatility as a writer, practical approach to pistol craft, and his love of the American Southwest (I lived 50 miles north of Skeeter's home in New Mexico for several years), Elmer as the leading pioneer of the modern revolver and it's capabilities, and Peter Capstick for his safari stories and Africana. I've been re-reading a bunch of Capstick's works and edits of other writers, and man, he can make you feel the breath of that cape buffalo bearing down on you like an express train.

We would get along just fine around a campfire with a little brown water.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I have a three-way tie for favorite gun/outdoor writers: Skeeter, for his versatility as a writer, practical approach to pistol craft, and his love of the American Southwest (I lived 50 miles north of Skeeter's home in New Mexico for several years), Elmer as the leading pioneer of the modern revolver and it's capabilities, and Peter Capstick for his safari stories and Africana. I've been re-reading a bunch of Capstick's works and edits of other writers, and man, he can make you feel the breath of that cape buffalo bearing down on you like an express train.

We would get along just fine around a campfire with a little brown water.

Henry McKenna, to be exact. :wink:

 

[Bob Wright]

.......................... FWIW, I have absolutely no idea how a Python works, sorry to say.

The hammer on the Colt Python, as in other DA Colts, and S&W revolvers, retracts slightly when the trigger is released, or allowed to go forward. This is activated by the rebound lever (in Colts) and moves the hammer back from contact with the firing pin or withdraws the firing pin, if hammer mounted, and allows the hammer block to rise between the hammer and frame. This is the rebounding hammer.

Single shot rifles had a similar set-up as the hammer struck the firing pin ad rebounded from spring tension and, at rest, did not contact the firing pin.

Bob Wright