Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Col. Askins

That's probably pretty close, actually. Charlie reputedly did a lot more than he ever let on in print. Unrepentant Sinner just captures the "highlights".

Yup,me too.

Aware of that as well. Still stick by what I said on ALL counts...

You ever suspect that some of the young men who kill on behalf of this country might not be wrapped around the axle of self doubt and guilt? Hint.

Regards, Matt.

I already ordered me a copy.

Gonna be awhile before I do,have a safari to prepare for.

$25 on ebay.

When I was about 7 years old, my parents took my little brother and me to an all-day barbecue at Harry Jersig's Auerhahn Ranch near Bandera, Texas. Jersig was the CEO of the Lone Star Brewery and one of my Dad's biggest customers. There were apparently a lot of movers and shakers there, although most of that was lost on me. I was just under strict orders to mind my P's and Q's and stay out of people's way. The major entertainment of the day was Col. Charles Askins and a small contingent from Camp Bullis.

There were shooting demonstrations and hand to hand combat exhibitions, featuring Judo, an art form that was just making itself known--at least to me. Col. Askins was not afraid to have his guys mix it up and there were some pretty hard falls taken with the good Colonel egging them on. Having grown up (to that point) on WW II movies at the Saturday "Fun Club", along with the fact that virtually every adult that I knew had been involved in WW II, it made a big impression on me.

I managed to get a chance to shake his hand and told him that I wanted to be a soldier, too, when I grew up. I still remember him sitting down on the ground beside me and talking about what it meant to be a soldier and what I would have to do if I were going to be a good one. Sixty-six years or so later, I don't remember too many details--just the pleasure of sitting beside someone who was supposed to be a hero and having him talk to me like I was someone much more important than I was.

A real hard azz, no doubt, Col. Askins had a soft spot for certain things. Those included his Dad, his Wife and his family. He lost his older son, Chucky, who died a slow death following an auto accident while the Col. was over seas. He was close to his second son, Bill. I don't think he ever got over losing his first born, just moved on.

You probably were of similar age to those boys and no doubt that had some influence. Even in his old age, he fed squirrels in his yard, had a soft spot for small animals.

He was a complex human.

DF

Very interesting stuff!

A little off topic but Cabelas claims to have for sale his LH converted Model 70 .308 Norma

It is interesting.

I think Charlie Askins would have been a formidable apponent to about any famous/infamous gunfighter of yesteryear.

I'd put my money on Charlie. He had the temperament, mind set and skills to pull it off.

He had a few friends and a lot of enemies, a number of the latter prematurely deceased.

DF

Bill Askins ended up with a bunch of his Dad's left handed rifles that he needed to move. He is more into dressage and fancy horses than hunting, shooting or guns. Those guns were sold at auction, so there are a number of them out there, some in unusual wildcat rounds, all custom to one degree or another.

I would think that one is authentic. They should have documentation.

DF

Sweet!

Mudhen, a very cool story.. You were lucky that day..

Moose and elk, Charlies book is a great one.. Every once in a while I take it down for a reread.. I have often wondered where the got the $ for all his hunting trips..

Somewhere I have a story by the Col. about hunting polar bear with a custom .308 Norma on a converted model 70..

How did he fund his hunts...?

While working as a WWII ordinance officer in North Africa recovering battle damaged tanks, during a lull in the fighting, he took a jeep and with a buddy, hunted sheep.

While in Viet Nam, he hooked up with a Chinese outfitter, hunted big game in S.E. Asia, using elephants in the high grass.

He improvised, took advantage of whatever situation he found himself in. I'm sure as a prominant gun writer, he got support from the industry for his safari's.

DF

Dirt. those late African hunts were the ones I wondered about.. He made a trip there almost every year for many years.. I knew he made lots of hunts while in the army..
You have some great stuff on his dad.. I enjoyed the material on the Browning..

Anyone know at what age he died and what he died from ?

bc, I believe the Col. was at least 90, as for the cause of death I do not know. I have heard when he passed one of his friends told another, Hell just got fuller, Charlie passed on.

1907-1999, but he died at age 91, short of his 1999 birthday.