Michael McIntosh

[Charles A. Herzog Sr.]

Saturday, the 14th of August saw the passing of Michael McIntosh. At the age of 66, the world renowned writer gave in to life's final demand.

Michael wrote some 29 books, all of which are cherished and recognized as being of the finest gun and shooting sports related pubications that exist today.

The gun world will forever be the less at Michael's passing.

Charles A. Herzog Sr.

[Bill Mullins]

Michael was very knowledgeable about shotguns of all makes with particular love for the Fox. He had his own unique writing style. I met him several years ago at a book signing. He will be missed!

[George Lander]

I just finished reading through for the second time Mike's "BEST GUNS". He was a talented writer with an obvious love of his subject. Perhaps he and Ansley are together roaming the Elysian fields. He will be missed!

[Dave Noreen]

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully he and Ansley can shoot some long yardage Pigeons in the great beyond. With both our moves around the country we fell out of touch over the last decade. Make the effort to stay in touch.

Dave

[Bill Murphy]

Sorry to hear this. I guess we are all a bit grey in the temples. Enjoy yourselves in the time we have left. Saturday, I was at a wonderful Columbaire shoot and saw many fine guns, many fine cars, and a dark haired young person. She was serving lunch. Soon as she appeared, she was gone.

[Dave Suponski]

I am very sorry to hear of Michael's passing. I am a great fan of his writing's. The doublegun community will miss him.

[Austin W Hogan]

We are diminished; my best to friends and family. I think a great show of respect is to read one of his works in the next few days.

Respectfully, Austin

[Joe Wood]

I am shocked! Michael McIntosh has long been my favorite contemporary sporting writer. A Wordsmith who attained the level of "Master" long ago. I especially loved his occasional controversial opinions--certainly added color! Just happens I'm currently reading "Best Guns" for about the third time......

God speed, Michael.

[james van blaricum]

I had the opportunity to hunt with MM in Idaho one yearon a Shooting Sportsman week end at the Flying B Ranch. The two of us spent an afternoon hunting grouse and had a blast riding back down the mountain setting of the top of the dog box on a jeep and drinking warm beer and smoking a great cigar. Michael was always very much aware of his hair and flowing beard and the angle of the pipe in the corner of his mouth.

[Francis Morin]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mike back in October 1990'ish- he was on a book signing tour with Steve Smith of CountrySport Press if memory serves.
He was never afraid to take a 'controversial position' and express it openly, and that makes him a man of high stature to an old bog trottin' Mick like me-

In HS, our English teacher was a Scotsman name o McDonald (we called him Mr. of course, not Angus- this was 1958 era)-- Every St. Paddy's Day he'd wear a tartan shirt with a big orange tie--and he could quote Kipling cold stone verbatium- as did Mike with the "Gunga Din" saga--

So, I have a fifth of The McCallan somewheres, will sip that on the rocks tonite after dead dark o'clock, whilst star gazing from my deck, fire up a Cuesta Rey and toast them both. The Big Dipper guides us to the true North Star, my guess is Mike's will be with Orion- The Hunter!!

And as Yeats said once: "No one man is essential to all of mankind, but some stand out in their lifetime as to always be missed"!

[Bruce Day]

The current Shooting Sportsman has what may be the last Michael McIntosh article unless he had already sent one to Steve Smith for the next issue. As usual, the article was well written and knowledgeable, and generated discussion. It was about chokes and single selective triggers being unnecessary.

MM was a luminary gun writer and follows a long of writers we grew up with. These good and great writers help keep interest alive.

[Francis Morin]

And I list 21 books, not 29- I have two of his, and now that he is no longer with the living, I will treasure them all the more, as I do my Gene Hill books.
My best recollection about Michael McIntosh is his discussion about his father, who shot a Remington 31 12 bore, later a 11-48 16 with a choke device. What lead him from a 'down to earth' guns are a tool, a means to an end during hunting season, into his serious study of fine double guns is, IMO, one small part of why his books and magazine articles, no matter the exact number, will remain part and parcel of the shotgun sporting scene for years to come..

On balance, I think almost all of us bitten by "Parkeritis" or "Foxitis" or "Elsie-itis" can make a strong case for our favorite make, model and gauge- Michael had that rare ability as a shotgunner and a first-rate wordsmith to let us all feel our preferences were right. Yes, he most likely held the fine A.H. Fox guns as "America's Best", if that was the case, he had also shot and hunted with many of the other fine American mfg. doubles before he wrote his well-researched books on the Fox guns.

Those of you in the PGCA who had the chance to shoot with him and savor the day afield, no matter how the birds and dogwork might have been, are rich indeed for that experience. The late Paul A. Curtis said "The field is the touchstone of the man" and that rings as true today as it did in 1930.

[john hickerson]

Old Hick had some corespondence wth him. He steared me to Tom Roster for my first reloading recipes. He also mentoned he had duck hunted at the Cutof lake at Dalton, Missouri. Same lake and my old club, Moberly Hunting and fishing Club. He also mentioned it was in September and was probably the hottest place in the world that day. He is right there Gene Hill.

HIck

[Darrel Miller]

Thanks Charlie for the post about Michael McIntosh's passing. I had not seen anything about it in any of the publications I take. I have several of his books and always enjoyed his writing. He will be missed.