The Hash Knife Outfit

This book is an adventure into the world of Westerners, cowpunchers, and desperados. Jim Traft, referred to as ‘the old rancher’, runs a large cattle ranch in Flagstaff, Arizona. When his nephew, Jim, comes to The West, he falls in love with the beauty and ruggedness of the wild country. He becomes the leader of the Diamond, an outfit of cowboys containing a wild assortment of men, including Curly Prentiss, the handsome, honest cowpuncher, Bud, Curly’s best friend, and Slinger Dunn, the backwoodsman. When Jim’s sister, Gloriana, a beautiful but delicate Easterner, decides to visit, the Diamond sets out on a task to toughen her up while fighting the dreaded Hash Knife Outfit, which has been stealing Traft’s cattle and causing show more general mayhem in the Arizona communities.

The book offers the reader an authentic glimpse into the rugged countryside of untamed Arizona, a time when cowboys could hang cattle rustlers and shootouts were a common occurrence. Zane Grey also writes with humor as he pits the Diamond cowboys against each other to win the affection of Gloriana, who even turns the head of Jed Stone, the hardened leader of the Hash Knife Outfit. I found this book entertaining. show less

My grandfather liked these: he tried to get my father to read them, unsuccessfully I believe. I tried this one (Hodder & Stoughton paperback with yellow cover, 1950), but I couldn't get on with it either. There seemed to be a lot of sitting around in log cabins, smoking, eating steak and drinking coffee, but not a lot of action.
"Reckon this storm looks like a early winter," remarked Jed Stone, leader of the outfit.

Sequel to [b:The Drift Fence|121304|The Drift Fence|Zane Grey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329014352l/121304._SY75_.jpg|2932500]. Both are very fine reads.

Western