"Hell, I was there!"

by Elmer Keith

Elmer Keith is known as a gun expert and wrote books and articles (including for "Guns & Ammo") for over 50 years. This revised version of the original book (1979?) differs significantly. (1) This edition is an original, unedited tapes version dictated by Elmer Keith in his Salmon Idaho home during long winter evenings in late 1972. It is more like a casual conversation, with a saltiness and Keith's colloquialisms. It represents the true language of the West, and his life seeps through using the style that is true to the West. (2) There are over 30,000 more words than previous edition, and many more photographs. Mr. Keith has been a cowboy, soldier, hunter, rancher, guide, author and is one of the World's leading expert on sporting firearms. He played a part in the .41 and .44 magnum creation with the military. He was the recipient of the first Outstanding Handgunner of the Year Award, and was Executive Editior of "Guns & Ammo" Magazine. This book is a sure thing for people who love the West as it was, through the eyes of someone who lived it, as well as for sportsmen and gun lovers everywhere.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Autobiography, Adventure

308 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Elmer Keith was an Idaho rancher, firearms enthusiast, big game hunter and firearms writer. Among the many handgun and rifle loads that he helped to develop the two most famous would have to the 44 magnum and 41 magnum. At times Keith was described as cranky, obstinate and eccentic, but also outspoken,brilliant, generous and a good friend. Keith was unique and has earned himself a place in the history of American firearms and hunting.

Reviews

[Holly Lindquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now why would an 11 year old girl read the memoirs of a hardbitten, gun-totin', bronco bustin', big game huntin' Montana cowboy?

Well, my dad had received the book as a gift from an authentic local California cowboy and the catchy title made me want to give it a try. I was immediately hooked. It's not even close to being politically correct. This guy shot just about everything at one point or another, and the book is liberally sprinkled with photos of carcasses, some of which fall easily into Endangered or Rare categories. However, Keith was a man from a different time. He was just a dude, dripping testosterone and Old Spice (just a guess), pitting himself full bore against Mother Nature. Sometimes he won, sometimes he got the beans kicked out of him.

The book is rarely boring and certain portions have stuck with me to this day. Keith's account of surviving horrific burns in a time when medicine was 90% homespun guesswork is riveting, gruesome, and incredible.

Hell, I Was There is not for everyone, but if you like true tales of the American West, men styled after Hemingway and Teddy Roosevelt (bully!), snapshots of early Montana pioneer life, gritty survival stories, and lastly, if you don't mind page after page of unrepentant animal carnage, then read this book.

Disclaimer: I liked the book enough to give it 4 stars, even though I personally do not condone what this man did to living creatures on a regular basis. So very, very wrong. Still a good story though.

[CD · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some earlier versions of this work including a couple from the 1960's that I first read.

Keith was a rather colorful character who saw the last of the 'Old West' up close and personal as a boy on the western frontier. He learned to shoot, ride, and raise hell as a part of his survival. This legendary gunmen weaves a fascinating tale/memoir of a bygone era that was vanishing before his eyes.

Not in anyway a politically correct work. If you are interested in some real history of the American West and the 'real' American Riflemen, this is the book for you. Hunting game across the world, and lore and saga of firearms are the primary themes of this book. Hell, I was There! is a Helluva read!

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up for $2.00 at a church garage sale while on vacation, and it kept my attention for until I finished it. Autobiographical account of the life of Elmer Keith, noted (and expert) firearms enthusiast, hunting guide, and writer. It is also a glimpse into the lifestyle and activities of a Western boy and man throughout the 20th century. Cowboy, adventurer, hunter, soldier, rancher, guide, author, family man, Keith was a unique and colorful individual.

[David Braly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventures of a Montana cowboy who gained world fame as a big game hunter. The dean of American gun writers, Elmer Keth tells his own story, cowboy, broncbuster, hunting guide and rancher, Keith maintained an abiding and active interest in firearms, here he takes you from Alaska to Africa on his big game hunts.

[Scout · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading The Longmire Defense where Craig Johnson acknowledge Elmer Keith as his inspiration, I decided to read this book.

While I appreciated the experiences Elmer Keith had when he was growing up and the anectodes of life on a farm, this was really old school. Maybe a little too old school for me.

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elmer a good read, good hunter and good cowboy.

[Max R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could have only five books to read over and over for the rest of my life, this book by the late Elmer Keith would be one of them.

It's conversational, being a transcript of hours and hours of this great storyteller talking about his life's experiences -- people he's known, places he's been, adventures he's enjoyed. Some of the material about firearms and ballistics may be a bit much for the uninitiated to grasp, but I loved it.

Some of the stories are hilarious, including one about a knife fight Keith and his young friends observed at a black folks' shindig along the railroad tracks near Hardin, MO. "Oh, lawdy!" Still makes me chuckle whenever I recall the story of this desperate battle over a woman (both men survived, one minus an ear). Also "Margaritas are not senoritas," a most joyful airplane trip . . .

Keith's account of killing an African elephant, and donating it to the natives for meat, is fascinating; they wasted not a scrap of it.

Great reading here!

[Jeremiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books, this was the second time reading it. I liked reading about life in the early 1900's in the West. I bought my last gun because it was similar to one of Elmer Keith's favorites. I enjoyed all the hunting stories. Now off to Little Dorritt.

[Jeff Hoiland · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book used to be in my room/around the house growing up. it was big and hardcover. I remember looking at the picture and the words. i would think about it a lot, random snippets of this. seems i never read it all the way through. Think i made up my own story of what happened