Courtesy Guy J. Sagi

We are diminished. 

Wiley Clapp, Shooting Illustrated contributor and “Fightin’ Iron” columnist, died this week. He joined the magazine when it was in its infancy, and his byline graced the pages every month for more than 20 years. Clapp had an uncanny ability to captivate readers with a lively writing style that delivered a savory mix of pertinent facts and his signature humor. He was one of the magazine’s most valuable assets.

“Wiley Clapp played an enormous role in the history and growth of Shooting Illustrated,” said Shooting Illustrated Editor-in-Chief Ed Friedman. “He wrote the back-page column—“Fightin’ Iron”—under every editor-in-chief the magazine has had in its history, and it was consistently the most popular page every month.”

Military and Law Enforcement Careers

Clapp became an officer in the United States Marine Corp after graduating from the Virginia Military Institute in 1957. He assumed command of a platoon in the 3rd Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment. By 1965 he was in this thick of fighting in Vietnam, commanding a company in the 1st Marine Division.

After mustering out of the military in 1969 he signed on with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in California. He served and protected law-abiding citizens there for 17 years before retiring from law enforcement. His gun-writing career began in 1986 at Gun World.

“Wiley brought depth and authenticity to everything he wrote,” said Doug Hamlin, NRA Executive Vice President and CEO. “He leaned heavily on his real-life experience as a U.S. Marine Corps officer who served with distinction as a company commander in Vietnam. He knew small arms not just from the bench, but from the battlefield—and his writing reflected that rare perspective. Whether contributing features or penning his well-known Fightin’ Iron column on the back page of Shooting Illustrated, Wiley brought history, humor, and hard-earned insight to every word.”

His expertise didn’t escape the notice of many major gun manufacturers. When Ruger harnessed his wisdom and heeded his advice, the result was the popular Wiley Clapp GP100 revolver. Colt’s Manufacturing introduced a Wiley Clapp CCO (Concealed Carry Officers) 1911-style pistol as well.

Clapp contributed to a variety of books during his long career. In 1986 he was co-author of “The Gun Digest Book of 9 mm Handguns.” In 2002, Wiley wrote the book “Concealed Carry: The Shooter's Guide to Selecting Handguns,” and there are likely other titles on bookshelves across the nation. He was a prolific writer.

In 2022 he was honored by Gunsite Academy for his lifetime of dedication. A classroom at the famed training facility was named in his honor.

“Another icon has passed,” said Buz Mills, Gunsite owner after learning about Clapp’s death. “Wiley was truly a great American. A graduate of VMI, a Captain of U.S. Marines in Vietnam. A leader in the law enforcement community, an educator and a protector of our Second Amendment. Wiley will be missed by not just our community but by all Americans. Another of a generation of leaders and contributors has passed. We are diminished.”

More Than a Gun Expert

“I had the privilege of knowing Wiley Clapp for more than 35 years,” Hamlin said. “We first met in the early 1990s, when I was publisher at Guns & Ammo and Wiley was a valued member of the editorial staff. We were based in Los Angeles. One Monday evening, I noticed him packing up early and asked where he was off to. He said, ‘Church.’ I said, ‘Wiley, it’s Monday—not Sunday.’ He smiled and replied, ‘Monday Night Football is on.’ That was Wiley: sharp-witted, good-humored and always quick with a dry comeback.”

Despite the books, awards and accomplishments, Clapp also cared deeply about others. “I will never forget one day in the Spring of 2020, at the height of the COVID lockdowns and the chaos they were causing,” Friedman said. “I got a call from Wiley—then in his mid-80s—asking if there was anything he could do to help us out, as he knew things were very uncertain at the time. We spoke for maybe an hour about guns, his history with the magazine and life in general, and my spirits were lifted by his kindness. While he was a legend in our world, he was an even more exceptional human being, and I miss him already.”

“He will be deeply missed—not just as a writer and a Marine, but as a friend,” Hamlin summarized. “Wiley Clapp leaves behind a legacy of integrity, excellence, and a clear-eyed view of the world. Rest in peace, my friend.”

He is survived by his wife, Nancy. Services were not announced at the time this story was posted, but Shooting Illustrated will update readers as details become available.

– Guy J. Sagi

Editor’s Note: We wish to thank the National Rifle Association, Shooting Illustrated, and Guy J. Sagi for allowing us the opportunity to share their wonderful In Memoriam piece on Wiley Clapp, an icon within the firearms and publishing industry.