Author Topic: Al Goerg (Read 2727 times)

257 weatherby · « **on:** June 27, 2004, 05:39:34 PM »

I'm new here but I have been reading some of the topics and see some of you are Al Goerg fans like me. I was wondering if any of you could scan the famous photo of him and the first scoped 44 magnum brown bear for me? I have read the story but haven't been able to get the photo. It really is sad that no one writes about him anymore he is the reason that we have all the great hunting handguns and equipment today. Thanks for any help.

CJ · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2004, 04:16:58 AM »

Cant help with a photo, but welcome aboard.
I've been hunting a copy of "Pioneering Handgun Hunting" for a while now. Missed 1 by a day a few weeks back. Ever wonder why books like that and Skeeters books aren't reprinted? They get snatched up fast for scalpers prices, you would think someone would print a run.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2004, 08:47:29 AM »

257 weatherby
Welcome to GBO i think you will like it here, I can't help you on the pic.s
either, But would like to comment on your handle as it is one of my favorite rifles, Good choice, As for Al's book and all the rest of the old timmers i guess they have drifted on in space and time.
Take care and stay safe...............Joe.............................................

casper_zip · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2004, 12:39:24 PM »

Hey there: :grin:

Give me some time, think I can scan the photo for you. Have to take my book to some one who can scan it better than me. This is something, matter of fact, just yesterday, wife was re-doing a room, and asked me, where did you get all these books ?? I have one of the very first of his books, "Handgun Pioneering."

He also made me a custom holster just like the one he is wearing in the book. Of course, I still have the holster, and use it. I think back then, he charged a whopping $32 for it, the complete rig, shoulder holster and ammo loops for a 44 Mag Model 29 with 8 3/8" barrel. Yep, those 8 3/8" ones were tough to get then, too. I was reading his book yesterday, really bringing back ole times. Next to his book is an autographed copy of Elmer Keith's book "Sixguns." I told my wife the story on that one, too.

Lots of history I have in my library. My truly great regrets is not having an autographed copy of Bill Jordan's book, he was an ole Louisiana guy, and also no autographed books of ole Skeeter. Sure regret that, but too late, now.

Will try and get a pic scanned when I see my buddy for you. All the best.

Casper_zip :grin: :grin: :grin:

wildwing · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2004, 10:41:06 AM »

It is great to read that there is still interest about my father and the early work he did with scoped handguns. There are not many pioneerning Handgun Hunting books around ,as he published them on his own and died before they were distributed. He did market a shoulder holster and a hollow pointer, as well.
If anyone is interested in a specific photo, I might be able to get it scanned and sent to them. Richard Goerg
http;//mywebpage.netscape.com/richardgoerg

wildwing · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2004, 12:58:57 PM »

It is great to read that there is still interest concerning my father and the early work he did with scoped handguns. There are not many Pioneering Handgun Hunting books around ,as he published them on his own and died in an airplane accident before they were widely distributed. He did market a great shoulder holster and a hollow pointer, as well.
If anyone is interested in a specific photo, I might be able to get it scanned and sent to them. (I took the one of my father and the brown bear.) Richard Goerg
http;//mywebpage.netscape.com/richardgoerg[/quote]

S.B. · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2004, 05:31:32 PM »

Hope this is the one you wanted? I ordered my cope of the book from Mr.Georg in late '60's-early '70's. Thought I was the only old timer on this forum.

S.B. · « **Reply #7 on:** July 02, 2004, 05:43:52 PM »

Richard, I had a shoulder holster from your father for a non scoped 8 3/8" .44 and still own the hollow pointer and exploding bullet drill set. The packaging is going fast but the tools are still perfect. Man, do you bring back some memories of reading your fathers book and the many evenings I spent doing so. Good to hear from you. Stephen Bennett from Streator Illinios at that time.

casper_zip · « **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2004, 04:17:36 AM »

Hello Richard: :grin:

It was great to read all this on the late and great Al Georg. He was truly a great influence on my life. I've always been a handgunner, and he was one of the ones who started me on that path. They laughed at me here in Louisiana when I put scopes on my pistols. I blew an ole Bushnell off many times, got hit on the head with it, too.

I've killed many head of game with scoped guns. I shot IHSMA for years too, but the ole eyes started needing the scoped guns as I got older. I probably read the Al Goerg book at least once a year. I get out the scoped holster, and clean, and admire it, too. It's really a small world, when you look back on your life, all the people who played a part of it. I've enjoyed my handguns so much, and now, I'm really back big time doing the scoped handgun thing.

I often wonder what Mr. Al would have thought if he could see what we use nowadays, the big boomers in the Contenders, and also the Encores. Of course, he had the beautiful cut down "handgun" with the beautiful Herrett stocks on it, so he was also a forerunner of things to come in the single shots.

All the best, keep all the historical stuff coming, we have a great sport. Thanks again for all the memories again, I'm going to go read some more in the Al Goerg book again.

Casper_zip :grin: :grin: :grin:

257 weatherby · « **Reply #9 on:** July 03, 2004, 05:32:24 PM »

Thank you for the photo and all the replies. It's great to here from Mr. Goerg's son, like the others have said your fathers writing has really got me into handgun hunting. I can't understand why he doesn't get mentioned in the magazine articles. Maybe we should start a website in honor of mr. Goerg? Anyone know how to do this?

wildwing · « **Reply #10 on:** July 05, 2004, 08:47:17 AM »

Thanks for all the good comments concerning my father. His younger son, Jim Goerg, has continued with his inherited talents for writing and is the owner/publisher/editor of The Reel News...a Washington/Oregon/B.C. monthly paper about fishing in the Northwest..... Richard

Questor · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2005, 04:40:20 AM »

To Richard Goerg:

I too am a big fan of Al Goerg. He is the father of modern handgun hunting. He put all the pieces together and made them work, despite being considered a bit of a crank by the gun writing establishment. I own a copy of the Pioneering Handgun Hunting, which includes a separate page that is a catalog of the items he sold. It was signed and annotated by your mother, and was apparently included with the sale of the book after your father's death.

I recall reading in the book that Al Goerg had reason to dislike Jeff Cooper because, Goerg alleged, that Cooper had used some of his material in a book on handgunning without attribution. In effect, he was saying that Cooper had plagiarized the work. At first I thought that this was just sour grapes, but indeed it was not. I recently found and read the Cooper book in question and it is very clear that Cooper had made Goerg's work appear to be his own. I lost all respect for Cooper after reading that book, and Goerg was not the only victim of this charade. In fact, Cooper had simply selected articles, assembled them into a book, and claimed to be the author. This practice is often used today, but with a big difference. Such compendia are stated to be "edited by".

Lone Star · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2005, 08:43:09 AM »

I made a comment about the late Al Goerg in another thread a month ago, and I wanted to clarify what I meant. After re-reading that post recently I see that it could have been interpreted as being disrespectful to Mr. Goerg, and that was absolutely not my intention. My comments were intended as instructional and were based on hindsight, something that a pioneer like Al of course did not have. His writings, both the book and a few articles in magazines, had a profound effect on my own handgun hunting career in Alaska and elsewhere. Thanks Al.

90north · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2005, 05:19:23 AM »

I too am a fan of Mr. Goerg, and have serched in vain for a copy of his book. He was truley a pioneer and I can only wonder what would have happened had he not died.