Michael McIntosh
 

10 years since we lost Michael McIntosh.

I never met the man, but, I have several of his books and have enjoyed reading every one of them.

A guy who got his start in my neck-o-the-woods. Taught literature at one of our sister Missouri institutions, wrote for the Missouri Conservationist (and published articles in that magazine that became the basis for his first shotgun book), hunted with Missourians, Joel Vance and Spencer Turner, hung out in the border regions of Iowa-Missouri (my stomping grounds), and generally knew his shotguns. My first inclination toward double guns was inspired by Michael and Joel Vance.

Thanks for the education, Mr. McIntosh.

He was a true gentleman and a great writer.
I was fortunate enough to spend a few days with him a couple of decades ago at a time when I was traveling with a very ill Labrador. She lost control of her bowels in her crate, as a result of chemo meds, and Michael loved her up as I cleaned out her crate, a kindness which I shall never forget.
I hope he is an a place with lots of birds, great dogs, best guns, and plenty of whisky!

I never met him face to face, but knew him through emails and a couple of phone calls.
Great writer, and very decent human being!

Never expecting him to leave us so soon I waited too long to contact him about a gun I own that he mentioned in the AH Fox book twice. Would have loved to know where and when he handled it and where it was at that time.:banghead:

This doesn't happen very often, but my introduction to Mike was via The Washington Post.

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My Wife got me the book, her notes along the top edge of the clipping.

After reading The Best Shotguns Ever Made in America I began a correspondence with Mike and began feeding him information from my research at The Library of Congress, The National Archives, The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, etc. leading towards what Bill Headrick dubbed The Finest Book in the World.

Years ago at a shoot up at Addieville, "The Great Eastern Lobster Classic", they had a SxS sub event which was won by Andy Duffy....Michael McIntosh was also there and when they gave Andy the trophy, he looked at McIntosh, held up his Parker and said; "This is America's finest shotgun." Everyone that knew what it was all about had a pretty good giggle....

I too waited too long; I always intended to send him my copy of The Book and have him sign it. I did have the pleasure of trading a couple of letters with him, but actually they were about pipe tobacco and whisky, not shotguns.

I still have one of Mike's tobacco tins. ;)

Did you keep the letters, I hope?

Yep; tucked safely between the pages of my copy of A.H. Fox, "The Finest Gun in the World" :).

A great gentleman, like Gene Hill, they wrote it so well you felt you were there and you felt like you knew them. I think Gene might have been writing to Michael just before he left us when he wrote, "Enjoy all things for the bullet with your name on it was fired a long time ago" Their conversations about good times, scotch, old dogs and each other will forever bring a smile when we recall them and there lies there forever legacy.

What a small world it really is - he held a book signing at our now long-defunct little jewel of a gunshop in Bethesda MD when the book came out. I snagged three signed copies, two for myself (one to stain up with gun oil & grease and one to "shelve") and gave the third one as a gift.

The reviewer in Dave's Washington Post article, Bill Smart, was a member of our hunt club on MD's Eastern Shore for some years. He would occasionally bring Angus Phillips, the "hook and bullet" sports columnist for the Post over to hunt. I forever wondered why Smart, a Style section writer, was given the assignment to review McIntosh's book. Over time the virulent anti-gun culture developed by the Post explained it all.

Bill told me one time when we were skeet shooting down at Indian Head, that the regular book reviewer was on vacation and he managed to slip that one in.

Kevin, I thought you might be regaling us with Trevalion/McIntosh stories.

Pulled out a 2001 Shooting Sportsman last night with an article about Michael and his guns. I always found it interesting that he had some really fine guns which he loved and shot, never seemed to try for number of this or that, just a special few like his Purdey hammer gun that I believe Trevalion may have redone some for him. As you mentioned he and Michael left some great stories behind about their exploits, often passing as brothers. Some of our Parker guys are out there right now, brothers, building stories to be told. Good luck John and Bruce, great examples for us all.

Correction, that was Sep/Oct 2011 Shooting Sportsman

You should hear David's rendition of their trip to Russia.... hilarious!

I enjoy thumbing through David's copy of their book.... it is stuffed with notes and clippings and small editorials hand-written by David throughout the book. It's always great fun visiting with him.





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In deference to the deceased, I'll keep my mouth shut until we're "live" again.

One of the great gunwriters for sure. I disagree with a lot of his opinions, but respect them and enjoy reading them. He spoke from experience and knew how to write

I have I believe 5 of his books and have always found them quite enjoyable. Do not have the Fox book but don't have any foxes either. Big fan of his writing.