Thell Reed (Shooter)
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Thell Reed is an exhibition shooter, specializing in fast draw, who is a consultant to the movie industry, stuntman, armorer and extra. Thell Reed began his shooting career at seven years of age when his father presented him with a pair of Colt pistols and built for him an indoor range in which to practice.[1]
As a teenager Thell Reed competed in Jeff Cooper's Big Bear "Leatherslaps" shooting competitions at Big Bear Lake, California. The Leatherslaps became the "South Western Combat Pistol League" or "SWCPL". Thell Reed competed so successfully that he became one of the six "Combat Masters", so called because they would almost always take the first six places in the competition.[2] Of the six Combat Masters, Thell Reed had the quickest draw.[3]
The Combat Masters were:
- Jack Weaver
- John Plähn
- Elden Carl
- Ray Chapman
- Thell Reed
- Jeff Cooper
After the SWCPL matches Thell Reed went on to compete in fast draw competitions in which he achieved fame. His celebrity gained him entry into the movie industry and he became an advisor to the movie industry on the use of firearms. He trained actors such as Russell Crowe and Brad Pitt for acting rôles involving the use of pistols.
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ "Beginnings" Thell Reed.
- ^ Cooper, Jeff (2006). Shotluck. Wisdom Publishing, 51. ISBN 0965540960.
- ^ Jeff Cooper's Commentaries Vol 4 No 11 September 1996 paragraph 23.
