Col. Charles Askins Book "The Gunfighters"...Good stuff

[Bottom Dealin Mike, SASS #22273]

I'm on a bit of a western history jag lately. I read J. Evetts Haley's excellent bio of Charles Goodnight, And before tackling Robert K. DeArment's bio of Bat Masterson I thought I'd tackle something light, so I picked up Charlie Askins book, "The Gunfighters".

 

It was excellent. I started reading Askins magazine articles when I was a kid in the late 1960s. I always liked his style, but this book was even better than I expected. It deals with Texas gunmen, lawmen, banditos, indians and indian fighters. The last chapter is on the border patrol and it covers some of the ground that he wrote about 20 years later in his autobiography, "Unrepentant Sinner"

 

The bibliography alone was worth the price of the book. I've already ordered three books listed there that I hadn't read.

 

So if you're looking for an action packed read that is based on history, give this book a try. And, if you haven't read "Unrepentant Sinner" buy it immediately. I've read my copy three times in the last 10 years or so...may have to read it again...

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

Yup, Askins was one of the great ones.

 

Since you like this one, dig around for Elmer Keith's "Hell, I Was There!" It's his first-hand account of growing up. It is probably his autobiography, but not officially called that.

 

Bill Jordan's "No Second Place Winner" is a great one too. It's ostensibly about how to be a better gunfighter, but there are a lot of stories mixed in to make it a wonderful read.

 

Peter Capstick kept me entertained with his stories about African hunting.

 

Anything by Skeeter Skelton is worth finding and reading over and over and over.... He was my favorite gun writer of all time. Every time I take down "Good Friends, Good Guns, Good Whiskey", it takes me back to a different time and place. His tales of Dobe Grant and Jug Johnson are fabulous in every way. His "Me and Joe" tales were an honest window into the life of growing up dirt poor but happy and proud during the Depression.

 

It's a shame the publishing market won't support writing like these guys any more. Everything has to be about a new widget that the manufacturers are trying to sell. Bart Skelton, Jim Wilson, and Mike Venturino are all good writers, but we'll never hear about their "Joe friends".

[Bottom Dealin Mike, SASS #22273]

I read every book Capstick wrote.

 

Skeeter was my idol as a kid in JR High and High School.

 

I liked Jordan, George Nonte, and for rifles, Jack O'Connor and Jon Sundra, who is still around and writing a bit for Rifle Firepower.

 

I never was too crazy about Elmer Keith's articles, but I loved his books.

 

Despite the fact that I write for gun magazines, I don't read many of them these days. I just don't think the writers measure up.

[Gunsmoke Cowboy]

Yup, Askins was one of the great ones.

 

Since you like this one, dig around for Elmer Keith's "Hell, I Was There!" It's his first-hand account of growing up. It is probably his autobiography, but not officially called that.

 

Bill Jordan's "No Second Place Winner" is a great one too. It's ostensibly about how to be a better gunfighter, but there are a lot of stories mixed in to make it a wonderful read.

 

Peter Capstick kept me entertained with his stories about African hunting.

 

Anything by Skeeter Skelton is worth finding and reading over and over and over.... He was my favorite gun writer of all time. Every time I take down "Good Friends, Good Guns, Good Whiskey", it takes me back to a different time and place. His tales of Dobe Grant and Jug Johnson are fabulous in every way. His "Me and Joe" tales were an honest window into the life of growing up dirt poor but happy and proud during the Depression.

 

It's a shame the publishing market won't support writing like these guys any more. Everything has to be about a new widget that the manufacturers are trying to sell. Bart Skelton, Jim Wilson, and Mike Venturino are all good writers, but we'll never hear about their "Joe friends".

+1 On Keith, Jordan ,Skelton and Capstick

[Texas Man]

In His day Charles Askins lived the life and never looked back. He give a different account of a number of things that I found he shared from his personal expence in his stories. In His last years He lived around the corner from Me and it was sad to see His mind had gone down. He would get out of His house and wonder around not knowing where He was. Just to remind all of Us to live for the day we have. I respected Him and He left behind some great stories.

 

Texas Man

[Noz]

Capsticks stories about hunting jaguar with a spear cause frost to form in the crotch area.

 

I think I'll dig out "Hell, I was there" and read it again

[the Black Spot]

Capstick could make you feel like you were there! And he had a way with telling the story!

"I snuck up on the pair of black mambas like i was sneaking up on a pair of black mambas"

[Cleburne, SASS # 39597]

Texas Man, I recall reading one or two of your very interesting stories in the past. I wish you'd grace us with your own autobiography. It'd likely do well with the cowboy gangs hanging around here.