A Not Forgotten Gunwriter
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A Not Forgotten Gunwriter
When I was just getting interested in the outdoors and hunting and shooting I read all the magazines I could find that had any articles related to the outdoors and especially the shooting sports. I read Boy’s Life, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield along with The American Rifleman (when I could find one at my neighbor’s house), True, Argosy and probably a few more. Finally I discovered real shooting magazines like Guns, Guns and Ammo, Shooting Times, and Gun World. Along with Elmer Keith and Skeeter Skelton I also read articles from guys like Nonte, Askins, Crossman, Milek, Sundra, Aagard, Weatherby and one of my favorites, Tommy L. Bish.
Tommy Bish wrote articles for Gun World magazine if I remember correctly but he also put out at least one gunsmithing book, “The Home Gunsmithing Digest”, I have the 3rd edition in paperback. His articles were usually geared towards projects ranging from making your own handgun grips to making your rifle a true custom work of art. He seemed very knowledgeable and his articles guided many of my home ‘smithing’ projects and I even kept his book as a reference in my shop.
One of the first custom touches on my 1903 Springfield was a floorplate push button that Tommy described in one of his articles and I used his article on how to build a cartridge trap for a rifle stock and installed one on my “03” as well. I followed his tips when I put a schnobble cap on my 22 rifle when I restocked it with a mannlicher stock. He wrote about things like how to fit a gun to a holster or how to do gold or silver pegging to inlay stocks or grips. Some of his articles were about repairs and some of them were about remodeling things to make a gun have that custom feel. He wrote about how to do things that a regular gun tinkerer like me could do and he spelled things out simply and clearly.
I think the variety of his projects contributed to his mystique. Whether the article was about a simple task such as replacing a sight blade or a complete series on how to make a custom Martini sporting rifle he made it seem doable. He obviously was a skilled smith and he made things that were practical, often using common materials to complete a job. His first cartridge trap was made from iron pipe hack sawed to shape and filed and fitted to look like a work of art. I saw custom traps made by famous makers that didn’t look any better than his homemade one. Perhaps that was the reason I liked his articles and I do know that as I read over the ones I saved it brings back a lot of memories of time well spent working on my guns.
I don’t know what ever happened to Tommy Bish; sometime in the past his articles just stopped and I never noticed. I let subscriptions lapse and when I did get another magazine issue he was absent from the pages. I looked for him on-line but there is little information other than his book so he is just like that “Old Soldier” who just faded away. In today’s world of digital data and fast paced living there is a bit of that old “do it yourself” hands on drive missing. We seem not to be able to appreciate the things that our predecessors learned to do the hard way, by trial and error or by apprenticeship to learn the tricks of fine craftsmanship. I have probably a dozen or more old Tommy Bish articles that I saved over the years and I intend to read them all again just for the heck of it!
Chris
Early 80's Bob Milek spent 10 days hunting in Zimbabwe with me. Nice guy interesting stories especially remember his take on Askins. He used a TC in 30 Herrett, Steve Herrett a very good friend of Milek's was to join us but died earlier that year.
HI Len: I just love listening to the writers and reading their stories. It makes an old man like me reminisce about the "Good Ole Days" as a boy when I read every thing about hunting and the outdoors I could lay my hands on. I have heard some say Askins was a real hard case and not one to mess with, whether that's good or bad I don't know. Chris
Len, I forgot to mention that Bob Milek wrote an article way back when that was instrumental in my building a 35 Brown-Whelen rifle. Bob wrote about the standard 35 Whelen before it was a factory option and in the article he mentioned the Brown-Whelen as an sort of improved-improved Whelen. It is a little known wildcat that is overshadowed by the parent Whelen and Ackly improved Whelen. I admit it is a chore to load for it as you must fire form and experiment to get it where it is a viable round but I think it was worth the effort. It is a pleasure to shoot and I will get a lot of flack from everyone but I think it out performs the 338 Winchester since it can handle 250 -300 grain bullets with ease. Chris
Chris,
Your bringing back memories I once owned a 35 Brown Whelen it was a beautiful rifle that was owned by a friend of Elmer's and it was built in the same style and appointments that you would see on Keith's personal guns. Sadly I traded it never even had a chance to shoot it. All I have I left is the RCBS 30 to 40 caliber ex-pander die with a type written letter from Huntington to the former owner explaining how to form the case.
The 35 calibers were every bit as good as the 338s there was just never a good variety of bullets available. My favorite medium bore is 338 my wildcat and I used 250 grain bullets exclusively.
I knew several people who knew Askins quit well. Bob Milek felt he was a cold blooded killer and from the expressions on his face when he spoke of him he meant it. Another writer still with us was of the opinion Askins killed more men with a handgun than anyone alive at that time. I have been around Askins at NRA conventions but never met him. Another friend of mine who knew Askins well said he always like to say things to shock people whether it was true or not. His well publicized remark when asked where was the best place to shoot someone and he replied in the back!
Jorden who was also in a lot of gun fights would not write about shooting people but in private he would tell his friends it was always better t shoot a Mexican on their side of the border so you did not have to clean up.
Bob Milek was a nice guy and a genuine cowboy If I find any of the African photos I will try and scan them so I can post them.
Len, sounds like you have met some great people over the years. I can honestly say I have never had to shoot anyone in my lifetime and I count myself lucky I guess. I have been shot at a few times and have been close to having to defend myself but, thankfully, it never got that far. I readily acknowledge that some of the people we talk of lived in hard times and circumstances made them do what had to be done so I'm not condeming anyone for their actions, even if some of them enjoyed it. I have to say I had a hard time finding bullets for my Whelen when I first started. I tried some of the custom brands like Beartooth (I think and Bitterroot maybe) and the old Barnes and finally settled on the Speer 250 grain softpoint boattail. The Speer is a pretty heavy bullet and seems to retain it's weight well while still mushrooming and penetrating. My son shot his first whitail buck with the Whelen and it dropped in it's tracks. I have used it on several deer and it definitely gets their attention. I used a tapered expander plug until the factory 35 Whelen ammo came along and now I just bump the bullets out a bit and fire them in the Brown-Whelen and it forms them up quite nicely. Unfortunately I don't shoot it much anymore either but that is the way things go. Chris
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