Post by Doc Barranti on Mar 13, 2014 8:52:00 GMT -5
Like many Sixgunners, the late Skeeter Skelton is my all-time favorite gunwriter. Nearly 30 years ago, I bought the magazine Skeeter Skelton’s Handgun Tales, and read an article titled ‘Skeeter’s Favorite Work Rigs’. The article included gunleather from various makers, but one rig intrigued me the most; Skeeter’s favorite rig built by the late Garrett Allen. It was a classic looking sixgun rig, featuring full floral carving complete with Skeeter’s Bar-T brand. I still have that magazine, and when I pick it up, it practically falls open to that article which has been read countless times over all these years since I bought it.
Fast forward to 2011: I received an email from a name I recognized; Bart Skelton, Skeeter’s son. Bart had stumbled onto my website and wanted to compliment me on reviving classic old gunleather designs, and since then, we've had many conversations about sixguns and gunleather. That first email opened a door, and I am glad to be able to call Bart my friend.
The idea of re-creating the Allen/Skeeter rig has been with me a long time, and with Bart’s help, I have done just that. I had some photos from Skeeter’s articles, but none were detailed enough to get a good look at the carving. Bart was kind enough to send me a few photos, and he also helped me name the new rig: The Bar-T. Like the EK-No.5 model, my tribute to Elmer Keith, this new shuck will be serial numbered and available for 4-5/8”-4-3/4” and 5-1/2” single actions only.
Here’s to Garrett Allen and Skeeter Skelton…and a tip of my hat to Bart Skelton.