The name Charles Askins resonates through the annals of American law enforcement, military history, and firearms literature. Born on October 28, 1907, and passing on March 2, 1999, Charles Askins lived a life of extraordinary intensity and achievement, serving as an American lawman, a decorated U.S. Army officer, and an influential writer whose experiences shaped the understanding of combat and marksmanship for generations. His career spanned decades, marked by a unique blend of daring, skill, and controversy, making him one of the most compelling figures of the 20th century in the realm of armed conflict and firearms expertise.
Askins’ journey began with service in the U.S. Forest Service before he transitioned to the highly dangerous world of the U.S. Border Patrol in the American Southwest prior to World War II. It was during this period that his reputation as a formidable and unyielding lawman began to solidify. He and his colleagues on the Rio Grande border faced daily threats from smugglers and outlaws during the tumultuous Prohibition era, an environment that demanded extreme courage and exceptional proficiency with firearms. Askins embraced this reality, understanding that every shift could bring a life-or-death confrontation.
The Sharpshooter and Innovator of the Border Patrol
Askins quickly distinguished himself as an expert pistol shot, a skill that earned him national recognition as a two-time national champion in competitive shooting. His prowess was so undeniable that he eventually rose to become the lead firearms instructor for the U.S. Border Patrol. In this crucial role, he not only trained countless officers but also personally inspected all new firearms acquired by the organization, ensuring they met the rigorous demands of the job. He estimated firing over 750,000 documented rounds in practice over ten years, a testament to his dedication to mastering his craft.
Beyond his remarkable shooting skills, Askins was a pragmatic innovator, constantly seeking to improve the tools and tactics available to law enforcement. He famously modified a semi-automatic Remington Model 11 shotgun, cutting its barrel down to 22 inches and adding an 8-shot magazine extension. This custom work, a significant undertaking in an era before commercial modifications were readily available, exemplified his commitment to practical solutions for real-world gunfights.
Perhaps his most enduring contribution to firearms equipment was his collaboration with B.E. Meyers to develop a new duty holster. Building upon the established Tom Threepersons design, Askins’ holster maintained a 15-degree forward cant for a natural draw. Its distinctive unfitted “bucket” positioned the gun low on the hip via a drop loop, while a steel reinforcing shank ensured stability and shape. A snapped retention strap secured the firearm, and the entire assembly rode on a robust “Sam Browne” belt rig. This design was a significant advancement, offering a quicker and more consistent draw, and versions of the Askins holster remain in production by various manufacturers even today, underscoring its timeless functionality.
A Decorated Military Career Across Continents
When World War II erupted, Askins leveraged his Army Reserve commission to join the regular Army, aided by his friend General Hatcher. He served with distinction, leading ordnance teams tasked with the perilous recovery of vital equipment from contested battlefronts, often under heavy enemy fire. In the North African and Sicilian campaigns, he favored a customized 1911 pistol. However, for the D-Day landing and subsequent European hostilities, he switched to a more potent double-action Colt New Service revolver chambered in .44-40, relying on his pistols in close-quarters combat, particularly for clearing urban structures.
After the war, Charles Askins continued his international service, attached to the U.S. Embassy in Spain as an advisor and military attaché. During his several years in Madrid with his family, he assisted the Franco administration in rebuilding the nation’s arms and ammunition factories and indulged his passion for bird hunting in the Spanish countryside. His adventurous spirit led him to earn airborne qualifications with both U.S. and foreign forces, accumulating an impressive 132 jumps before retiring from government service in 1963.
His final recorded gunfight occurred in 1959 while serving as a U.S. advisor to the Republic of South Vietnam. During a hunting excursion, he encountered and shot and killed a Viet Minh operative with an S&W .44 Magnum, adding another chapter to his unparalleled record of combat engagements.
A Prolific Pen: Author and Conservationist
Even after his retirement, Askins remained deeply involved in the world of firearms and outdoor pursuits. He continued to write extensively about his combat experiences and his global hunting adventures. A passionate conservationist, he expressed concerns about over-hunting, the impacts of poaching, and the development of game farms to sustain hunting in the face of anticipated growth. His dedication to both the art of the hunt and the preservation of wildlife highlighted another complex facet of his character.
Askins was a regular contributor to prominent publications such as American Handgunner and the American Rifleman, penning an estimated 1,000 magazine articles. Beyond periodicals, he authored a substantial body of work, solidifying his legacy as a firearms authority. His notable books include:
- Hitting the Bull’s-Eye (c. 1939)
- The Art of Handgun Shooting (1941)
- Wing and Trap Shooting (1948)
- The Pistol Shooter’s Book (1953, 2nd ed. 1961)
- Unrepentant Sinner: The Autobiography of Colonel Charles Askins (1991)
- The Gunfighters: True Tales of Outlaws, Lawmen, and Indians on the Texas Frontier with William Askins
- Shotgun-ology: A Handbook of Useful Shotgun Information
- The African Hunt
- Asian Jungle, African Bush
- The Shotgunner’s Book – A Modern Encyclopedia
- Texans, Guns & History
- The Federalist (The Firearms Classics Library)
A Complex Legacy and Unrepentant Sinner
Despite his undeniable achievements and contributions, Charles Askins was not without his controversies and personal struggles. He candidly questioned his own mental health concerning his willingness to kill, a trait he acknowledged as integral to his survival in dangerous armed conflicts. Critics have suggested that some of his numerous gunfights, if subjected to modern scrutiny, might have resulted in charges of manslaughter or worse. Those who knew him understood that his aggressive nature could sometimes teeter on the edge of impropriety, especially given his disturbing practice of dismissing encounters with minority opponents from his tally of kills.
Nonetheless, his close friend, the legendary gun writer Skeeter Skelton, offered a poignant summary of Askins’ life, stating, “If Charley Askins had been born 100 years earlier, he would have been a mountain man, an Indian scout, a buffalo hunter, or a horse soldier. As it is, close to the end of the 20th century, he has lived the kind of life boys think they’re going to live and that most old men wish they had.” This quote encapsulates the larger-than-life persona of a man who truly lived on the edge.
Conclusion
Charles Askins passed away in 1999, leaving behind a legacy that few can ever hope to match. His multifaceted career as a lawman, soldier, firearms innovator, and prolific author cemented his place in history. From the dangerous borders of the American Southwest to the battlefields of World War II and the jungles of Vietnam, and from the competitive shooting ranges to the pages of countless magazines and books, Askins’ life was an extraordinary testament to courage, skill, and an unwavering, albeit sometimes controversial, resolve. His impact on firearms training, equipment design, and the literature of armed encounters continues to be felt, ensuring that the legend of Charles Askins endures.
