Breckinridge Elkins

Introduction

“Breck” Elkins is a hillbilly from Bear Creek, a fictional location in the Humboldt Mountains of Nevada. He is “mighty of stature and small of brain”—a physically huge and imposing figure, and his reputation as a short-tempered and ferocious fighter often precedes him throughout the Southwest. He is usually found in the company of Cap’n Kidd, his equally fierce and cantankerous horse. He sometimes wears a coonskin cap and is depicted wearing one in several illustrations that accompanied the stories in the original pulp magazine. Elkins is a man of limited intelligence and education, illiterate in some of the stories, while able to read in others.

Although Howard referred to the Elkins stories as “Westerns,” they all have exaggerated elements and humor that make them closer in tone to Texas “Tall Lying” stories (such as the well-known tall tales of Pecos Bill) than to traditional Western action stories. Breckinridge is a larger-than-life figure whose ability to dish out and absorb punishment goes well beyond the limits of credulity. He is the first-person narrator (in hillbilly dialect) of all of his stories, and much of the humor is derived from his limited understanding of situations, leading to confusion and complications. His ill-fated attempts to help friends and relatives usually come to grief for himself and often those he was ostensibly aiding. His repeated romantic failures in wooing the eligible women he encounters are another recurring theme in the stories.

Descripton

Breckinridge Elkins is a giant grizzly bear of a man, well over 6 feet tall. So iron is his constitution that he can drink jug after jug of moonshine without serious inebriation.

Although incredibly strong and tough, the gent from Bear Creek isn’t terribly smart and is easily fooled. Discovering that he has been tricked is liable to make him mad, however, and an angry Breckinridge Elkins has been the end to many a villainous scheme.

He has been known to break through solid timber walls, carry his mule, hurl a mountain lion into a cabin, and throw rocks with explosive force.

Cap’n Kidd is Breckinridge Elkin’s horse – the only horse strong enough to carry him. He allows only Breckinridge or Glory McGraw to ride him. Anyone who attempts to ride Cap’n Kidd is met with hoofs or bite attacks.

Glory McGraw is Breckinridge Elkin’s love interest.

History and reception

Howard wrote twenty-six Breckinridge Elkins stories in all, starting with “Mountain Man,” which was completed by July 1933. While he is better remembered for creating characters such as Conan and Solomon Kane, the Breckinridge Elkins stories were the longest-running and most commercially successful series of Howard’s writing career, running in every issue of Action Stories from “Mountain Man” in March–April 1934 through “The Conquerin’ Hero of the Humbolts” in October 1936 after his death. Despite being overlooked by comparison with his contributions to the swords-and-sorcery genre, some critics have thought that in the Breckinridge Elkins stories “Finally, Robert’s real storytelling voice, unfiltered through books and imagined histories, could be heard, and in the medium in which he was most familiar.”

Based upon the success of the Breckinridge Elkins tales, during the summer of 1935 Howard edited together several of the previously published short stories along with some new material to form the chapters of an episodic novel, A Gent from Bear Creek. The common (and newly added) thread that held the chapters together was Breck’s rocky romance with a young woman named Glory McGraw. Her ultimate consent to marry him marks one of the few unequivocally happy endings in Howard’s writings. Although he had come close several times before, Howard had yet to have a full-length book published. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, was once again unsuccessful in finding an American publisher for A Gent from Bear Creek. It was eventually published in the United Kingdom by Herbert Jenkins in 1937, the year after Howard committed suicide, and copies of that rare first edition have sold for upwards of $14500.

Stories


A Elkins Never Surrenders	A Elkins Never Surrenders is an early Breckinridge Elkins form of the story later reworked around Bearfield Elston. Kline first logged the Elkins title in August 1934; after the story was returned to Howard, it reappeared in the agency records…	—	—
A Elkins Never SurrendersDraft 1 · Unclassified	A Elkins Never Surrenders is an early Breckinridge Elkins form of the story later reworked around Bearfield Elston. Kline first logged the Elkins title in August 1934; after the story was returned to Howard, it reappeared in the agency records…	—	—
A Elkins Never SurrendersDraft 2 · Unclassified	A Elkins Never Surrenders is an early Breckinridge Elkins form of the story later reworked around Bearfield Elston. Kline first logged the Elkins title in August 1934; after the story was returned to Howard, it reappeared in the agency records…	—	—
A Elkins Never SurrendersDraft 3 · Unclassified	A Elkins Never Surrenders is an early Breckinridge Elkins form of the story later reworked around Bearfield Elston. Kline first logged the Elkins title in August 1934; after the story was returned to Howard, it reappeared in the agency records…	—	—
A Gent from Bear CreekShort Story	A Gent from Bear Creek is both the title of an original Breckinridge Elkins short story and of the later fix-up novel assembled from revised stories plus new material. The short story was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline,…	1934	$46.75
A Gent from Bear Creek (draft)Draft · Short Story · Work: A Gent from Bear Creek	This first draft of the short story A Gent from Bear Creek is separate from the later fix-up novel of the same title. Told by Breckinridge Elkins, it centers on a family dispute in the Humbolt Mountains and preserves an…	—	—
A Gent from Bear CreekDraft 1 · Short Story	A Gent from Bear Creek is both the title of an original Breckinridge Elkins short story and of the later fix-up novel assembled from revised stories plus new material. The short story was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline,…	—	—
A Gent from Bear CreekDraft 1-1 · Short Story	A Gent from Bear Creek is both the title of an original Breckinridge Elkins short story and of the later fix-up novel assembled from revised stories plus new material. The short story was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline,…	—	—
A Gent from Bear CreekDraft 1-2 · Short Story	A Gent from Bear Creek is both the title of an original Breckinridge Elkins short story and of the later fix-up novel assembled from revised stories plus new material. The short story was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline,…	—	—
A Gent from Bear CreekDraft 2 · Short Story	A Gent from Bear Creek is both the title of an original Breckinridge Elkins short story and of the later fix-up novel assembled from revised stories plus new material. The short story was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline,…	—	—
A Gent from Bear CreekDraft 3 · Short Story	A Gent from Bear Creek is both the title of an original Breckinridge Elkins short story and of the later fix-up novel assembled from revised stories plus new material. The short story was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline,…	—	—
A Gent from Bear CreekNovel	The novel A Gent from Bear Creek was assembled from revised Breckinridge Elkins stories together with new linking and original material. Kline received the manuscript on August 31, 1935, and submitted it to several publishers during 1935–36. The surviving chapter…	—	—
A Gent from Bear CreekDraft 1 · Novel	The novel A Gent from Bear Creek was assembled from revised Breckinridge Elkins stories together with new linking and original material. Kline received the manuscript on August 31, 1935, and submitted it to several publishers during 1935–36. The surviving chapter…	—	—
A Gent from Bear CreekDraft 2 · Novel	The novel A Gent from Bear Creek was assembled from revised Breckinridge Elkins stories together with new linking and original material. Kline received the manuscript on August 31, 1935, and submitted it to several publishers during 1935–36. The surviving chapter…	—	—
A Gent from Bear CreekDraft 3 · Novel	The novel A Gent from Bear Creek was assembled from revised Breckinridge Elkins stories together with new linking and original material. Kline received the manuscript on August 31, 1935, and submitted it to several publishers during 1935–36. The surviving chapter…	—	—
A Gent from Bear Creek — Draft 4Draft 4 · Novel · Work: A Gent from Bear Creek	The novel A Gent from Bear Creek was assembled from revised Breckinridge Elkins stories together with new linking and original material. Kline received the manuscript on August 31, 1935, and submitted it to several publishers during 1935–36. The surviving chapter…	—	—
Cupid from Bear Creek	“Cupid from Bear Creek” is a raucous and energetic short story in the Breckinridge Elkins cycle, a tale of romantic rivalry, outlaw treachery, and unintended mayhem. Originally written under the title The Peaceful Pilgrim, it was revised significantly before its…	—	—
Cupid from Bear Creek (untitled synopsis)Synopsis · Short Story · Work: Cupid from Bear Creek	A brief synopsis for “Cupid from Bear Creek,” outlining the Breckinridge Elkins story.	—	—
Cupid from Bear Creek — Draft 1Draft 1 · Short Story · Work: Cupid from Bear Creek	“Cupid from Bear Creek” is a raucous and energetic short story in the Breckinridge Elkins cycle, a tale of romantic rivalry, outlaw treachery, and unintended mayhem. Originally written under the title The Peaceful Pilgrim, it was revised significantly before its…	—	—
Cupid from Bear Creek — Draft 2Draft 2 · Short Story · Work: Cupid from Bear Creek	“Cupid from Bear Creek” is a raucous and energetic short story in the Breckinridge Elkins cycle, a tale of romantic rivalry, outlaw treachery, and unintended mayhem. Originally written under the title The Peaceful Pilgrim, it was revised significantly before its…	—	—
Cupid from Bear Creek — Draft 3Draft 3 · Short Story · Work: Cupid from Bear Creek	“Cupid from Bear Creek” is a raucous and energetic short story in the Breckinridge Elkins cycle, a tale of romantic rivalry, outlaw treachery, and unintended mayhem. Originally written under the title The Peaceful Pilgrim, it was revised significantly before its…	—	—
Cupid from Bear Creek — Draft 4Draft 4 · Short Story · Work: Cupid from Bear Creek	“Cupid from Bear Creek” is a raucous and energetic short story in the Breckinridge Elkins cycle, a tale of romantic rivalry, outlaw treachery, and unintended mayhem. Originally written under the title The Peaceful Pilgrim, it was revised significantly before its…	—	—
Evil Deeds at Red Cougar	Evil Deeds at Red Cougar is a Breckinridge Elkins story, first published in Action Stories in June 1936. Told in Breckinridge’s first-person voice, it sends him into the corrupt mountain town of Red Cougar, where his efforts to help lead…	1936	$ ?
Untitled synopsis (Evil Deeds at Red Cougar)Synopsis · Short Story · Work: Evil Deeds at Red Cougar	Featuring Breckinridge Elkins. Incomplete synopsis. This untitled synopsis, later realized as Evil Deeds at Red Cougar, is part of Robert E. Howard’s Breckinridge Elkins Westerns. It blends rugged action, deception, and betrayal with the humor and brawling energy typical of…	—	—
Evil Deeds at Red CougarDraft 1 · Short Story	Evil Deeds at Red Cougar is a Breckinridge Elkins story, first published in Action Stories in June 1936. Told in Breckinridge’s first-person voice, it sends him into the corrupt mountain town of Red Cougar, where his efforts to help lead…	—	—
Evil Deeds at Red CougarDraft 2 · Short Story	Evil Deeds at Red Cougar is a Breckinridge Elkins story, first published in Action Stories in June 1936. Told in Breckinridge’s first-person voice, it sends him into the corrupt mountain town of Red Cougar, where his efforts to help lead…	—	—
Evil Deeds at Red CougarDraft 3 · Short Story	Evil Deeds at Red Cougar is a Breckinridge Elkins story, first published in Action Stories in June 1936. Told in Breckinridge’s first-person voice, it sends him into the corrupt mountain town of Red Cougar, where his efforts to help lead…	—	—
Gents in Buckskin	"No Cowherders Wanted" featuring Breckinridge Elkins.First published in Action Stories, September 1936. “Gents in Buckskin” is a tall-tale Western comedy by Robert E. Howard, first published in Action Stories (September 1936) under the title “No Cowherders Wanted.” Like other stories…	1936	$ ?
Gents in BuckskinDraft 1 · Short Story	"No Cowherders Wanted" featuring Breckinridge Elkins.First published in Action Stories, September 1936. “Gents in Buckskin” is a tall-tale Western comedy by Robert E. Howard, first published in Action Stories (September 1936) under the title “No Cowherders Wanted.” Like other stories…	—	—
Gents in BuckskinDraft 2 · Short Story	"No Cowherders Wanted" featuring Breckinridge Elkins.First published in Action Stories, September 1936. “Gents in Buckskin” is a tall-tale Western comedy by Robert E. Howard, first published in Action Stories (September 1936) under the title “No Cowherders Wanted.” Like other stories…	—	—
Gents in BuckskinDraft 3 · Short Story	"No Cowherders Wanted" featuring Breckinridge Elkins.First published in Action Stories, September 1936. “Gents in Buckskin” is a tall-tale Western comedy by Robert E. Howard, first published in Action Stories (September 1936) under the title “No Cowherders Wanted.” Like other stories…	—	—
Gents in BuckskinDraft 4 · Short Story	"No Cowherders Wanted" featuring Breckinridge Elkins.First published in Action Stories, September 1936. “Gents in Buckskin” is a tall-tale Western comedy by Robert E. Howard, first published in Action Stories (September 1936) under the title “No Cowherders Wanted.” Like other stories…	—	—
Gents on the Rampage	Gents on the Rampage was first published in Action Stories, volume 13, number 9 (August 1936), under the title High Horse Rampage. The story follows Breckinridge Elkins as he sets out to “rescue” his cousin Bearfield Buckner from an imagined…	1936	$ ?
Gents on the Rampage — SynopsisSynopsis · Short Story · Work: Gents on the Rampage	An untitled synopsis later developed into Gents on the Rampage, featuring Breckinridge Elkins and a chain of mistaken assumptions, stolen property, fights and a runaway train.	—	—
Gents on the Rampage — Draft 1Draft 1 · Short Story · Work: Gents on the Rampage	Gents on the Rampage was first published in Action Stories, volume 13, number 9 (August 1936), under the title High Horse Rampage. The story follows Breckinridge Elkins as he sets out to “rescue” his cousin Bearfield Buckner from an imagined…	—	—
Gents on the Rampage — Draft 2Draft 2 · Short Story · Work: Gents on the Rampage	Gents on the Rampage was first published in Action Stories, volume 13, number 9 (August 1936), under the title High Horse Rampage. The story follows Breckinridge Elkins as he sets out to “rescue” his cousin Bearfield Buckner from an imagined…	—	—
Gents on the Rampage — Draft 3Draft 3 · Short Story · Work: Gents on the Rampage	Gents on the Rampage was first published in Action Stories, volume 13, number 9 (August 1936), under the title High Horse Rampage. The story follows Breckinridge Elkins as he sets out to “rescue” his cousin Bearfield Buckner from an imagined…	—	—
Guns of the Mountains	Guns of the Mountains, along with The Ghost with the Silk Hat and A Gent from Bear Creek, was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Kline, on November 8, 1933. It was published in Action Stories in May–June 1934. The story…	1934	$42.50
Guns of the MountainsDraft 1 · Unclassified	Guns of the Mountains, along with The Ghost with the Silk Hat and A Gent from Bear Creek, was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Kline, on November 8, 1933. It was published in Action Stories in May–June 1934. The story…	—	—
Guns of the MountainsDraft 2 · Unclassified	Guns of the Mountains, along with The Ghost with the Silk Hat and A Gent from Bear Creek, was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Kline, on November 8, 1933. It was published in Action Stories in May–June 1934. The story…	—	—
Guns of the MountainsDraft 3 · Unclassified	Guns of the Mountains, along with The Ghost with the Silk Hat and A Gent from Bear Creek, was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Kline, on November 8, 1933. It was published in Action Stories in May–June 1934. The story…	—	—
Guns of the MountainsDraft 4 · Unclassified	Guns of the Mountains, along with The Ghost with the Silk Hat and A Gent from Bear Creek, was received by Howard’s agent, Otis Kline, on November 8, 1933. It was published in Action Stories in May–June 1934. The story…	—	—
Mayhem and TaxesDraft 1 · Unclassified	A Breckinridge Elkins story, first published in The Summit Country Journal in 1967.	—	—
Mayhem and TaxesDraft 2 · Unclassified	A Breckinridge Elkins story, first published in The Summit Country Journal in 1967.	—	—
Meet Cap'n Kidd	Meet Cap'n Kidd is a Breckinridge Elkins story centered on Breckinridge's attempt to capture and tame the notoriously savage horse Cap'n Kidd. The story was slightly altered to become Chapter 3 of the novel A Gent From Bear Creek. It…	—	—
Meet Cap'n KiddDraft 1 · Novel Chapter	Meet Cap'n Kidd is a Breckinridge Elkins story centered on Breckinridge's attempt to capture and tame the notoriously savage horse Cap'n Kidd. The story was slightly altered to become Chapter 3 of the novel A Gent From Bear Creek. It…	—	—
Mountain Man	Mountain Man is a Breckinridge Elkins story in which Breckinridge rides to Tomahawk to collect a letter for his father and becomes entangled in a chain of mistaken identities and brawls. Howard's agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received the story on…	1934	$46.75
Mountain ManDraft 1 · Unclassified	Mountain Man is a Breckinridge Elkins story in which Breckinridge rides to Tomahawk to collect a letter for his father and becomes entangled in a chain of mistaken identities and brawls. Howard's agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received the story on…	—	—
Mountain ManDraft 2 · Unclassified	Mountain Man is a Breckinridge Elkins story in which Breckinridge rides to Tomahawk to collect a letter for his father and becomes entangled in a chain of mistaken identities and brawls. Howard's agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received the story on…	—	—
Mountain ManDraft 3 · Unclassified	Mountain Man is a Breckinridge Elkins story in which Breckinridge rides to Tomahawk to collect a letter for his father and becomes entangled in a chain of mistaken identities and brawls. Howard's agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received the story on…	—	—
Pilgrims to the Pecos	Pilgrims to the Pecos is one of Robert E. Howard's humorous Westerns featuring the towering, temperamental mountain man Breckinridge Elkins. Sold to Action Stories on October 8, 1935, for $60, it was originally titled Weary Pilgrims on the Road. Set…	1936	$60
Pilgrims to the PecosDraft 1 · Unclassified	Pilgrims to the Pecos is one of Robert E. Howard's humorous Westerns featuring the towering, temperamental mountain man Breckinridge Elkins. Sold to Action Stories on October 8, 1935, for $60, it was originally titled Weary Pilgrims on the Road. Set…	—	—
Pilgrims to the PecosDraft 2 · Unclassified	Pilgrims to the Pecos is one of Robert E. Howard's humorous Westerns featuring the towering, temperamental mountain man Breckinridge Elkins. Sold to Action Stories on October 8, 1935, for $60, it was originally titled Weary Pilgrims on the Road. Set…	—	—
Pilgrims to the PecosDraft 3 · Unclassified	Pilgrims to the Pecos is one of Robert E. Howard's humorous Westerns featuring the towering, temperamental mountain man Breckinridge Elkins. Sold to Action Stories on October 8, 1935, for $60, it was originally titled Weary Pilgrims on the Road. Set…	—	—
Pistol Politics	“Pistol Politics” was first published in Action Stories Volume 13 Number 7, Fiction House, Inc., April 1936. The story follows the explosive mix of politics, liquor, and literacy in the rough frontier mining camp of Yeller Dog, as Breckinridge Elkins…	1936	$ ?
Pistol PoliticsDraft 1 · Short Story	“Pistol Politics” was first published in Action Stories Volume 13 Number 7, Fiction House, Inc., April 1936. The story follows the explosive mix of politics, liquor, and literacy in the rough frontier mining camp of Yeller Dog, as Breckinridge Elkins…	—	—
Pistol PoliticsDraft 2 · Short Story	“Pistol Politics” was first published in Action Stories Volume 13 Number 7, Fiction House, Inc., April 1936. The story follows the explosive mix of politics, liquor, and literacy in the rough frontier mining camp of Yeller Dog, as Breckinridge Elkins…	—	—
Pistol PoliticsDraft 3 · Short Story	“Pistol Politics” was first published in Action Stories Volume 13 Number 7, Fiction House, Inc., April 1936. The story follows the explosive mix of politics, liquor, and literacy in the rough frontier mining camp of Yeller Dog, as Breckinridge Elkins…	—	—
Pistol PoliticsDraft 4 · Short Story	“Pistol Politics” was first published in Action Stories Volume 13 Number 7, Fiction House, Inc., April 1936. The story follows the explosive mix of politics, liquor, and literacy in the rough frontier mining camp of Yeller Dog, as Breckinridge Elkins…	—	—
Pistol PoliticsDraft 5 · Short Story	“Pistol Politics” was first published in Action Stories Volume 13 Number 7, Fiction House, Inc., April 1936. The story follows the explosive mix of politics, liquor, and literacy in the rough frontier mining camp of Yeller Dog, as Breckinridge Elkins…	—	—
Pistol PoliticsDraft 6 · Short Story	“Pistol Politics” was first published in Action Stories Volume 13 Number 7, Fiction House, Inc., April 1936. The story follows the explosive mix of politics, liquor, and literacy in the rough frontier mining camp of Yeller Dog, as Breckinridge Elkins…	—	—
Politics at Lonesome Lizard	“Politics at Lonesome Lizard” was first published under the title The Conquerin’ Hero of the Humbolts in Action Stories, Volume 13, Number 11, by Fiction House, Inc., October 1936. The original manuscript title was Politics at Blue Lizard, but as…	1936	$ ?
Politics at Lonesome LizardDraft 1 · Short Story	“Politics at Lonesome Lizard” was first published under the title The Conquerin’ Hero of the Humbolts in Action Stories, Volume 13, Number 11, by Fiction House, Inc., October 1936. The original manuscript title was Politics at Blue Lizard, but as…	—	—
Politics at Lonesome LizardDraft 2 · Short Story	“Politics at Lonesome Lizard” was first published under the title The Conquerin’ Hero of the Humbolts in Action Stories, Volume 13, Number 11, by Fiction House, Inc., October 1936. The original manuscript title was Politics at Blue Lizard, but as…	—	—
Politics at Blue LizardDraft 3 · Short Story · Work: Politics at Lonesome Lizard	The original title of 'The Conquerin' Hero of the Humbolts' is 'Politics at Blue Lizard.' However, Howard undoubtedly meant "Politics at Lonesome Lizard" which is the name of the town in the story.	—	—
Ring-Tailed Tornado	A Ring-tailed Tornado originated as a Buckner J. Grimes story under the title Ring-Tailed Tornado. The Kline agency received it on April 16, 1936; surviving evidence indicates that someone at the agency later rewrote it into a Breckinridge Elkins story.	—	$24.75
Sharp's Gun Serenade	—	1937	$ ?
Sharp's Gun Serenade — Draft 1Draft 1 · Short Story · Work: Sharp's Gun Serenade	—	—	—
Sharp's Gun Serenade — Draft 2Draft 2 · Short Story · Work: Sharp's Gun Serenade	—	—	—
Striped Shirts and Busted Hearts	Striped Shirts and Busted Hearts is a humorous Breckinridge Elkins story set around Bear Creek, involving Glory McGraw and Snake River Wilkinson. Howard later altered the story slightly for use as Chapter 1 of the novel A Gent from Bear…	—	—
Striped Shirts and Busted HeartsDraft 1 · Novel Chapter	Striped Shirts and Busted Hearts is a humorous Breckinridge Elkins story set around Bear Creek, involving Glory McGraw and Snake River Wilkinson. Howard later altered the story slightly for use as Chapter 1 of the novel A Gent from Bear…	—	—
Striped Shirts and Busted HeartsDraft 2 · Novel Chapter	Striped Shirts and Busted Hearts is a humorous Breckinridge Elkins story set around Bear Creek, involving Glory McGraw and Snake River Wilkinson. Howard later altered the story slightly for use as Chapter 1 of the novel A Gent from Bear…	—	—
The Apache Mountain War	The Apache Mountain War is a 1935 Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in December 1935. At least four drafts are known, making the story unusually well represented in surviving developmental material.	1935	$ ?
The Apache Mountain WarSynopsis · Unclassified	A brief surviving synopsis for The Apache Mountain War. It sets out the frame of Breckinridge Elkins’s trip to the Apache Mountain settlement and his eventual return to Uncle Shadrach Polk’s cabin, without detailing most of the intervening action.	—	—
The Apache Mountain WarDraft 1 · Unclassified	The Apache Mountain War is a 1935 Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in December 1935. At least four drafts are known, making the story unusually well represented in surviving developmental material.	—	—
The Apache Mountain WarDraft 2 · Unclassified	The Apache Mountain War is a 1935 Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in December 1935. At least four drafts are known, making the story unusually well represented in surviving developmental material.	—	—
The Apache Mountain War (Draft 3)Draft 3 · Unclassified · Work: The Apache Mountain War	Draft 3 of The Apache Mountain War, one of at least four known drafts of the 1935 Breckinridge Elkins story. The surviving draft is nearly complete and represents a well-developed stage before the final version; the published story appears to…	—	—
The Apache Mountain WarDraft 4 · Unclassified	The Apache Mountain War is a 1935 Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in December 1935. At least four drafts are known, making the story unusually well represented in surviving developmental material.	—	—
The Feud Buster	The Feud Buster is a Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in June 1935. Howard later altered it slightly for use as chapter 6 of A Gent from Bear Creek. The story combines family-feud misunderstandings with the humor…	1935	$ ?
The Feud BusterDraft 1 · Unclassified	The Feud Buster is a Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in June 1935. Howard later altered it slightly for use as chapter 6 of A Gent from Bear Creek. The story combines family-feud misunderstandings with the humor…	—	—
The Feud BusterDraft 2 · Unclassified	The Feud Buster is a Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in June 1935. Howard later altered it slightly for use as chapter 6 of A Gent from Bear Creek. The story combines family-feud misunderstandings with the humor…	—	—
The Feud BusterDraft 3 · Unclassified	The Feud Buster is a Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in June 1935. Howard later altered it slightly for use as chapter 6 of A Gent from Bear Creek. The story combines family-feud misunderstandings with the humor…	—	—
The Haunted Mountain	The Haunted Mountain is a humorous Breckinridge Elkins story later revised and incorporated as Chapter 10 of the novel A Gent from Bear Creek. Robert McIlvaine discusses a possible literary influence on the story in “The Influence of Joseph A.…	1935	$ ?
The Haunted MountainDraft 1 · Unclassified	The Haunted Mountain is a humorous Breckinridge Elkins story later revised and incorporated as Chapter 10 of the novel A Gent from Bear Creek. Robert McIlvaine discusses a possible literary influence on the story in “The Influence of Joseph A.…	—	—
The Haunted MountainDraft 2 · Unclassified	The Haunted Mountain is a humorous Breckinridge Elkins story later revised and incorporated as Chapter 10 of the novel A Gent from Bear Creek. Robert McIlvaine discusses a possible literary influence on the story in “The Influence of Joseph A.…	—	—
The Haunted MountainDraft 3 · Unclassified	The Haunted Mountain is a humorous Breckinridge Elkins story later revised and incorporated as Chapter 10 of the novel A Gent from Bear Creek. Robert McIlvaine discusses a possible literary influence on the story in “The Influence of Joseph A.…	—	—
The Peaceful PilgrimDraft 1 · Unclassified	—	—	—
The Peaceful PilgrimDraft 2 · Unclassified	—	—	—
The Riot at Cougar Paw	The Riot at Cougar Paw is a Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in October 1935. The amount Howard was paid is not recorded in the current catalogue data.	1935	$ ?
The Riot at Cougar PawSynopsis · Unclassified	The Road to Cougar Paw is the title associated with this very brief synopsis for The Riot at Cougar Paw. It outlines Breckinridge Elkins leaving Bear Creek, becoming involved with a girl in Cougar Paw and eventually returning home.	—	—
The Riot at Cougar PawDraft 1 · Unclassified	The Riot at Cougar Paw is a Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in October 1935. The amount Howard was paid is not recorded in the current catalogue data.	—	—
The Riot at Cougar PawDraft 2 · Unclassified	The Riot at Cougar Paw is a Breckinridge Elkins story first published in Action Stories in October 1935. The amount Howard was paid is not recorded in the current catalogue data.	—	—
The Road to Bear Creek	The Road to Bear Creek is a Breckinridge Elkins story. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received it on March 19, 1934. The story sold for $50; after the Kline Agency’s commission, Howard received $42.50.Howard later altered the story slightly and…	1934	$42.50
Untitled synopsis (The Road to Bear Creek)Synopsis · Unclassified · Work: The Road to Bear Creek	This synopsis for The Road to Bear Creek follows Breckinridge Elkins as he sets out to find a missing uncle and becomes entangled in a case of mistaken identity involving an outlaw. It preserves the broad sequence of the Bear…	—	—
The Road to Bear CreekDraft 1 · Unclassified	The Road to Bear Creek is a Breckinridge Elkins story. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received it on March 19, 1934. The story sold for $50; after the Kline Agency’s commission, Howard received $42.50.Howard later altered the story slightly and…	—	—
The Road to Bear CreekDraft 2 · Unclassified	The Road to Bear Creek is a Breckinridge Elkins story. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received it on March 19, 1934. The story sold for $50; after the Kline Agency’s commission, Howard received $42.50.Howard later altered the story slightly and…	—	—
The Road to Bear CreekDraft 3 · Unclassified	The Road to Bear Creek is a Breckinridge Elkins story. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received it on March 19, 1934. The story sold for $50; after the Kline Agency’s commission, Howard received $42.50.Howard later altered the story slightly and…	—	—
The Scalp Hunter	The Scalp Hunter is a Breckinridge Elkins story. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received it on January 29, 1934, and Fiction House accepted it on February 21. The story sold for $60; after the Kline Agency’s commission, Howard received $51.Howard…	1934	$51
The Scalp HunterDraft 1 · Unclassified	The Scalp Hunter is a Breckinridge Elkins story. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received it on January 29, 1934, and Fiction House accepted it on February 21. The story sold for $60; after the Kline Agency’s commission, Howard received $51.Howard…	—	—
The Scalp HunterDraft 2 · Unclassified	The Scalp Hunter is a Breckinridge Elkins story. Howard’s agent, Otis Adelbert Kline, received it on January 29, 1934, and Fiction House accepted it on February 21. The story sold for $60; after the Kline Agency’s commission, Howard received $51.Howard…	—	—
War on Bear Creek	War on Bear Creek. Received by Kline Agency on November 19, 1934. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins.First published in Action Stories, April 1935. The story sold for $60 and Howard earned $54 after Kline Agency got their commission fee.This short story was…	1935	$54
War on Bear CreekDraft 1 · Unclassified	War on Bear Creek. Received by Kline Agency on November 19, 1934. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins.First published in Action Stories, April 1935. The story sold for $60 and Howard earned $54 after Kline Agency got their commission fee.This short story was…	—	—
War on Bear CreekDraft 2 · Unclassified	War on Bear Creek. Received by Kline Agency on November 19, 1934. Featuring Breckinridge Elkins.First published in Action Stories, April 1935. The story sold for $60 and Howard earned $54 after Kline Agency got their commission fee.This short story was…	—	—

Every Breckinridge Elkins, Pike Bearfield, and Buckner J. Grimes story that Howard wrote and we know of is collected in the collection from REHF Press. Check out the contents of each book below:

In other media

From 2010 until 2014 Breckinridge Elkins was the subject of a webcomic adaptation by Gary Chaloner. This comic was also published by Dark Horse in their Savage Sword issues. The website was first created by Paradox and the rights for publication went to Dark Horse. I’ve been allowed to provide a sneak peek of this comic here, but you should really visit www.breckinridge.com to see it all.

In 2019 Stanislav Roud published a video adaptation of Mountain Man: Adventures of Breckinridge Elkins. The description goes like this:

A simple farm boy is sent into town for the first time in his life, where he is met with a series of unfortunate yet thrilling events.

Also available on YouTube is several audiobooks:

This is a video podcast of “Gouged Eyes and Chawed Ears: The Rough and Tumble World of Breckinridge Elkins,” a presentation given by Jeffrey Shanks athe the 2011 PCA/ACA national conference. The paper examines the use of violence as comedy in pulp writer Robert E. Howard’s humorous westerns.

Chip Slater’s Storytime Theater – YouTube