Jack O’Connor

[Steve Milbocker]

Well with the virus going on, we here in Michigan are locked down pretty much so I’ve been spending a lot of time here on The High Road and reminiscing about the past. One of the threads going on had mention of the 270 and it got me thinking of Jack. My Grandma gave me The Complete Book of Rifles and Shotguns when I was a youngster and I about wore it out. I still have it. I read and watched movies of Jacks hunts and tips on shooting. He had a style of writing that made you feel good. You know, like a whiff of Hoppes #9 or the smell of a just fired Super X paper shotgun shell. I quoted Jack so much I think I caused my dad to hate the man! When I mentioned him my dad would say “is that SOB still alive?He must be 150 years old!” I guess he didn’t languish on every word written about rifles and hunting the way his young son didThe writers today for me just don’t have the same appeal. Maybe I’m just being nostalgic.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I read that book as a child. My dad still has it.
I spent many hours reading the old hunting stories.
I don't know if it was having the imagination of a child, or the writing style, but you could see and feel what was happening.
I don't remember the author, but there was an old book about man eating Lions and a man going from village to village to eradicate them.
If you know who wrote it, I would be grateful.

 

[mcb]

I looked at your pictures and the one of the book spine caught my attention and I realized I have a copy on my shelf. Dad gave me a box of books a few years ago when I moved. I have not read it yet but I might have to change that.


Snapped this picture just now. The gun, a Winchester Model 70 in 270 Winchester came first it was given to my father in 1956 by his father. The book has my father's signature in the front dated 1968.


This picture was taken 5 years ago, later that same day I would take my first deer with a rifle using that rifle. (grew up in Ohio hunting deer in a slug only state, killed lots with slugs and muzzle loaders). That rifle has many many stories it could tell.

 

[troy fairweather]

Are there any pdf's of his books.

 

[Buzznrose]

He was surely one of the best outdoor writers ever. I used to subscribe to Outdoor Life, Field and Stream, and Fur-Fish-Game back in the 70’s and early 80’s.

Other books I will suggest that will have older guys like me reminiscing include:

“Hell, I was there!” Elmer Keith

“The Flying Fisherman” Vernon “Gadabout” Gaddis

“The One That Got Away”. It’s a compilation of classic short stories of fishing

I’d also recommend “Jeff Cooper’s Commentaries”, and his is a massive compilation of thoughts, insight, and pondering from Jeff Cooper. These eventually were incorporated in a book, but these newsletters were sent out free of charge and are not copyrighted as far I understand. There is a absolute ton of excellent writing on everything under the sun. They are available online. Google “Jeff Cooper Commentaries”

http://dvc.org.uk/jeff/

 

[Steve Milbocker]

BFH, I think the book your thinking of is by Peter Hathaway Capstick. Maybe Death in the Long Grass. Or one of his other books. mcb, you have a real treasure there! Buzz rose, I had Elmers book. I will look into the others. Thanks!

 

[Bfh_auto]

BFH, I think the book your thinking of is by Peter Hathaway Capstick. Maybe Death in the Long Grass. Or one of his other books

Thank you. It was death in the long grass.

 

[mcb]

Thank you. It was death in the long grass.

I have read that book too, I enjoyed it. You might like The Man-eaters of Tsavo by John Henry Patterson

 

[Steve Milbocker]

Hey Troy, I just looked to see if there are books on pdf and there appears to be several

 

[whughett]

I looked at your pictures and the one of the book spine caught my attention and I realized I have a copy on my shelf. Dad gave me a box of books a few years ago when I moved. I have not read it yet but I might have to change that.

View attachment 908681
Snapped this picture just now. The gun, a Winchester Model 70 in 270 Winchester came first it was given to my father in 1956 by his father. The book has my father's signature in the front dated 1968.

View attachment 908682
This picture was taken 5 years ago, later that same day I would take my first deer with a rifle using that rifle. (grew up in Ohio hunting deer in a slug only state, killed lots with slugs and muzzle loaders). That rifle has many many stories it could tell.

Off subject but that tree that beautiful rifle is leaning against looks just like several I’d see in Maine after a black bear got done with it. Always gave me the willies deer hunting sitting on the ground under a tree before sunrise knowing the animal that did that was in the neighbor.

 

[mcb]

Off subject but that tree that beautiful rifle is leaning against looks just like several I’d see in Maine after a black bear got done with it. Always gave me the willies deer hunting sitting on the ground under a tree before sunrise knowing the animal that did that was in the neighbor.

It was taken in middle Tennesse, we don't have any bears. It was a deer rub by a very ambitious buck.

 

[ATLDave]

These eventually were incorporated in a book, but these newsletters were sent out free of charge and are not copyrighted as far I understand.

Tiny terminology quibble. Someone wrote them, they're works of authorship, and they are (or were at the time of their creation) subject to copyright by their author. The copyright may not have been registered, and it may never be enforced, and it may have been assigned, and there may be an implied license to use them in a variety of ways, and there's always some constitutionally-protected fair use, and it's even possible that the copyright has expired on some of them. But they're not "not copyrighted."

None of this makes a function difference to someone who wants to find them online and read them. Also, I'm not giving legal advice here.

 

[whughett]

It was taken in middle Tennesse, we don't have any bears. I was a deer rub by a very ambitious buck.

You sure about that Tennessee had a record bear harvest in 2018.

 

[buck460XVR]

Thing was, back in those days it was hard to make a living hunting and writing about it. Nowadays, one only has to watch the Outdoor Channel, Pursuit or any other T.V. hunting channel/series and see just about any good ol' redneck country boy that has access to a video cam and a piece of property with a good population of deer on it, is now a flash in the pan T.V. celebrity. And if he has a hot wife with after-market implants that looks good in camo...woo-hoo. Back in the day when one had to use their imagination to envision the hunt, it took good writing to get you there. There may have been some BS, but there was no posing and adding video later to enhance it. That was back in the day when young boys read those types of books and dreamed of the hunt. Now young boys and old men both, watch T.V. and whisper to themselves, they need to bait more.

 

[wgp]

Highly recommend O'Connor's The Art of Hunting Big Game in North America. I checked it out of our library many times and finally scored my own copy somewhere. Written in 1967 but still plenty applicable to now.

 

[mcb]

You sure about that Tennessee had a record bear harvest in 2018.

Only been hunting here for about 5 years, grew up in Ohio became a "southerner" in 2015 but it is my understanding that we have no black bears in middle Tennesse. We have always had game cameras out on the property. Currently running eight cameras and never caught a bear on camera. So I am pretty confident its a deer rub not a bear.

 

[Sav .250]

He grabbed your attention through his tales/stories, opinions. Especially about the 270. Some writers just know how to communicate!

 

[Archie]

I have the Jack O'Conner book mentioned and have read it.
I've also read Elmer Keith's writings on the subject of hunting and hunting large game.
I've read a couple (may be more) of Terry Weiland's books on hunting. Mr. Weiland is still alive (last I heard) and hunting.
I just finished Bell of Africa by Walter (Karamojo) Bell.
One notes they acted and wrote in different times and conditions. They all discussed rifles and cartridges. I tend to look for agreement more than disagreement.

 

[whughett]

For those who also read fiction based on adventure, snipers or guns in general an Author, Stephen Hunter published , Pale Horse Coming in 2001, an Earl Swagger Novel. Woven into the plot are 5 gun/ hunting writers and one war hero. Elmer Keith, Jack O’Connor, Charles Adkins, Bill Jordon, Ed McGivern and Audie Murphy. Names are changed a bit in the novel bit instantly recognized by any who’ve read their works.

Spell Check the Spell Check. It’s Charles Askins.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

I sat down and read a couple of chapters or maybe I should say reread and enjoyed them as much as ever. When I was younger I hunted as much as I could. These days I hunt whitetails a little and I usually get one or two a year but that’s about it. Sometimes I feel like I’m missing out by not hunting as hard but I really don’t have the drive anymore. The great thing about reading these wonderfully written stories is it’s almost like being there enjoying the hunt.

 

[Terry G]

I still have the Complete Book of rifles and Shotguns. The jacket's beat up a little, but otherwise like new. I loved reading these old Gun Guy's writings. I remember Bill Jordon and Col. Charles Askins having a classic word battle about revolvers versus semi-automatics. I'm sure it sold a lot of magazines.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

https://jack-oconnor.org/jack-oconnor-biography/

 

[doubleh]

I have the book shown and a couple of his other books. IMO O'Conner was at the peak of shooting and hunting authors. Capstick was also excellent and I have several of his books. Funny thing to me is as much as I admired O'Conner's writings and his love of the .270 I still chose a 30-06 as my deer rifle.

 

[.38 Special]

I hated O'Connor! I was a little Elmer disciple and thought O'Connor was the just the worst man on the planet. Eventually I grew up a little bit and came to enjoy and appreciate O'Connor's work - and the .270!

 

[Poper]

I read that book as a child. My dad still has it.
I spent many hours reading the old hunting stories.
I don't know if it was having the imagination of a child, or the writing style, but you could see and feel what was happening.
I don't remember the author, but there was an old book about man eating Lions and a man going from village to village to eradicate them.
If you know who wrote it, I would be grateful.

I believe the book you may be referring to is "The Man-Eaters of Tsavo", by Peter Capstick.