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. ;)