"What really made Elmer special was not his skill with or knowledge of guns, but his commonness. Even though he was to be the most famous gun writer of all, he always had time to talk to the ordinary guy and often answered, personally, without a secretary....... In 1911, Elmer was burned terribly in a hotel fire ... with his left hand turned upside down on the back of his left wrist.... 'I told Father I had to have a left hand so I could hold a rifle and do normal things'. Father contacted every doctor in Helena to try...