Image from Gun Digest Media.

I was recently asked to take a look at the new book from Gun Digest Media, Gun Digest Classics: Stories from the World’s Greatest Gun Writers. Featuring aces like Jack O’Connor, Elmer Keith, Charles Askins, Townsend Whelen, John T. Amber and Warren Page, it brings the stories of the writers of my early life to denizens of the latest version of the Gun Culture.

We always hear from folks my age that the real gun writers – entertainers as well as experts – are all long gone. Now we have the reference to prove that the best of the writers were more than technically proficient; they were great storytellers.

The book includes hunting stories, a primer on casting your own projectiles, discussions of rifle accuracy, gun fighting – even a color section on Elmer Keith’s gun collection.

I’ve been spending some time with this book, enjoying opposing pieces on selection of the “proper big game rifle” from opponents O’Connor and Keith, skeet and upland game pieces from Askins, “facts” on handguns and “sixguns” – the first from Col. Askins, the next from Elmer Keith. Gun Digest covers the ground from their first issues in 1944 forward.

It seems like so many of us like the guns of old over the current crop of firearms. This was a time when raw materials were more costly than human labor. That has changed; modern manufacturing may not be as pretty, but the parts are more cheaply and precisely manufactured now. The expense is in the human resource.

Looking at the old guns brings back the pride of ownership. It also causes us to ask ourselves, “have they never heard of Rule 3?”

A color section depicts some of the collection of Elmer Keith, shown above. Below, Col. Askins teaches handgun match shooting of the early style.

It was a different era. Looking back to think our predecessors weren’t very sharp misses the point; we’re where we are because they were here first. What they learned and passed along advanced the state of the art. And these writers were superb.

Yes, we’re missing Charles A. “Skeeter” Skelton, Bob Milek and Jeff Cooper – among others. We had an embarrassing number of talented commentators. This selection gives a good take on the usual Gun Digest annual book from the beginning through the 1950s. For me, the handgun stuff was most interesting – but I read the hunting stories, gun collecting and wingshooting pieces as well.

From a story about Texas gunfighters to the early history of the 44 Magnum revolver to Keith on “Handguns for Hunting,” the Classics cover the state of the art at that time in history.

Like expansive gun tests? Check Askins’ “Operation Testfire,” was a piece about a test of nine of the newer autoloading shotguns, run by Askins and five senior NCOs who were wing shooters. He’d covered up the makers’ markings and had the troops answer 25 questions after significant gun handling and shooting. The conclusion was a bit of a surprise to me.

This compilation of historic gun articles should sell well. Everyone talks about “the old days” with such fondness and this book fills the bill. Available in hardcover or as a PDF online, it’s a book every shooter should have.

- - Rich Grassi