"Old Loudmouf," .45 Auto

Rocky Road

Retired Screen Name
In a recent thread on naming pistols, DougB and Torpedo discussed an old article in which some gunwriter had referred to his .45 as 'Old Loud Mouth." Just happened I had that article on a bookshelf almost within arm's reach.

Dean A. Grennell wrote a book called Pistol & Revolver Digest, published in 1976. It was a large format, paperback book. The cover illustrated the then-new S&Ws, Models 66 and 59.

We are often jaded byy all the new firearms developments and topics, but the majority of this book is as valid now as it was a quarter-century ago. If you have a chance to pick it up at a gun show or used book store, it is worth the reading.

ANYWAY: Dean told of some exploits and projects with his old .45 pistol. The several illustrations show it was a hybrid, a 1911 frame with a WW-II Remington Rand 1911A1 slide atop it. Dean called it "Old Loudmouf." (Note intentional misspelling.)

Mr. Grennell was a prolific writer, doing most of his work, I believe, for "Gun Digest" magazine and allied publications. I write "was," simply because his biography shows he served in the Army Air Force in WW-II. Then, again, I know several veterans of that conflict who are still alive and kicking pretty vigorously.

The late Richard "Skeeter" Skelton was an excellent writer and story teller, but was not the source of this particular gun name. Skeeter was a long time county and federal law officer, and spent a lot of time on the road. He might well have been the source of the hotel room anecdote.

Best regards,
JPG

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---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---

[This message has been edited by Rocky Road (edited July 01, 2000).]
 
I remember seeing a story about Skeeter Skelton regarding C&L carry.

A woman at a supermarket asked him if he knew his gun was cocked

Skeeter "Yessum"

Woman "Isn't that dangerous"

Skeeter "You damn betchum. But not to me..."
 
Dean wrote for GUN WORLD magazine for a long period of time.

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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
 
Thanks Rocky. I didn't remember who wrote that article about old loudmouf. As I recollect Grenell had(has) a pretty good sense of humor and so did Skeeter Skelton. Appreciate you giving us the dope on where the name old loudmouf originated.

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***Torpedo***
Life is great if you can survive it!
 
Rocky, all my personal guns have names. Some for old friends, some descriptive. F'rinstance, my 1911 (made in 1918) is called "John Moses", my 6.5 Swede rifle is "Ole".

I can't pass on this, being a longtime Skeeter fan. His given name was "Charles". RIP.

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Archie
 
Wow, I stand corrected on two points-- Completely on one and partly on the other,

I just flat made a mistake on Skeeter Skelton's first name, Archie-- CHARLES it was, not Richard. Don't know whence that one came! I kinda think he was Charles R. Skelton, but I really can't prove what the middle initial represented. I believe I began reading his work in 1967, and in his first published stuff, the byline used the proper first name. But, to all us longtime fans of Jug Johnson, Dobie Grant, and the others, SKEETER he will always remain!

Jim V--We were both right. In Dean Grennell's biography in front of the above-referenced work, it clearly states,
"In the years since 1957, Grennell has served on the staffs of various firearms publications and has contributed to books such as GUN DIGEST and HANDLOADERS DIGEST, , , , , Since 1966 he has served as the nmanaging editor of GUN WORLD Magazine . . . . "

Brother Grennell's longer tenure and more prolific writing did indeed take place with GUN WORLD, but he had a lot to do with the various DIGEST books and magazines as well.

Good point.

Regards,
JPG

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---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---

[This message has been edited by Rocky Road (edited July 03, 2000).]
 
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