Old warriors - Campfire Tales

Guns Magazine, August, 2003 by John Taffin

Col. Charles Askins Jr. not only served his country from World War II through the early days of Vietnam, he was also in the Border Patrol in the 1930s at a time when, as he described it, there was a gunfight every 10 days. He also hunted big game all over the world and was without a doubt the most controversial gun writer of the 20th century. I am sure in my mind that much of what he wrote was simply designed to be controversial. I also believe he did many things in his life that perhaps needed to be done but shouldn't have been talked about.

In spite of his rough exterior and often combative personality, I found him to be quite the gentleman. My first experience with the Colonel was in the early days of my writing experiences when I was hardly known by anyone let alone other gun writers. During one of the NRA Conventions I found myself with a busload of famous gun writers taking a factory tour. I wound up paired with Col. Askins who had not the slightest idea who I was.

He treated me as if I were a longtime member of the "in-crowd" of the gun writing fraternity. I've never forgotten it, and have always appreciated it to the extent I try to do the same anytime I encounter someone who is trying to become a gun writer.

Applegate Of The O.S.S.

Col. Rex Applegate was one of the original members of the O.S.S. during World War II. After I got to know him he sent me taped copies of the original footage of the training the men went through. It was during this training Col. Applegate wedded himself to a style of self-defense shooting known as point shooting. Until the day he died he stayed with his original theory and always joked about butting heads with those who espoused using the sights in close range defensive situations. Applegate's theory of point shooting was definitely not hip shooting, but rather with the handgun brought up, arm straight, and the handgun "pointed" at the target.

Col. Applegate was not only a colonel in the United States Army, he also held the rank of general in the Mexican Army, spending much of this time south of the border. It was during one of these excursions he used an old S&W "Lemon Squeezer" chambered in .38 Smith & Wesson. It was necessary to empty the little five-shooter on his assailant.

After this experience he was highly responsible for the advent of five-shot S&W's chambered in the more powerful .38 Special cartridge, the hammerless versions in particular. You would expect a man with both of Col. Doug Wesson's original .357 Magnums in his possession to have some pull with Smith & Wesson.

I first met the Colonel when he was one of the nominees for the Outstanding American Handgunner (OAH) Award. When I later visited him at his home and private museum on the Oregon coast, the first two things I found as we entered the museum were his OAH bronze with a .45 Colt New Service Fitz Special revolver leaning against one leg of the bronze. The .45 was engraved "To Rex From Fitz." His two most prized possessions were the first encountered by anyone accorded an invitation into the museum.

Col. Applegate was an authority on riot control and self-defense. He was in his later 80's the last time he found it necessary to employ his methods. Three young would be toughs tried to mug him outside his hotel. When the police arrived, all three had been knocked silly by the cane in his able hands. It will be a long time before those three try to attack another "defenseless old man."

"That Little Guy?"

Col. Walter Walsh is another true American hero. Born in 1907, Walter Walsh would be one of the FBI agents during the turbulent 1930s. During this time he personally captured Doc Barker, son of the infamous Ma Barker and also the Al Brady gang, being wounded in the process. He also found time to take part in the National Matches shooting both rifle and pistol.

While serving with the FBI, Walsh's favored sidearm was Smith & Wesson's .357 Magnum. He carried this gun with him as a marine in World War II, however he used another favorite handgun, his personal 1911 Government Model .45, to take Out a Japanese sniper at 90 yards.

I first encountered Col. Walsh by reading about him in a book by Lucian Gary in the 1950s. I was drawn to a photo of Walsh firing a S&W that was identified as a .38-44 Heavy Duty. I still have that picture and later Col. Walsh would tell me the picture was labeled wrong and it was actually a .357 Magnum.

I would not meet Col. Walsh personally until he was a nominee for the OAH Award. It was my pleasure to write Bill Jordan's speech acknowledging Col. Walsh as the recipient of the coveted bronze trophy.

Bill Jordan also told me a wonderful story about Col. Walsh. During the National Matches a man came up to the easily recognizable 6 foot, 6 inch-tall Jordan and asked him if he could point out Walter Walsh. Jordan said, "that's him on the firing line right now." "That little guy?" responded the inquirer, looking at Col. Walsh at not much over five feet tall. Jordan said to him: "When he is finished shooting go over and look in his eyes." The man did this and returned with: "I see exactly what you mean!"