I was doing some online research on the Autry Museum of the West firearms collection for an upcoming episode of COWBOYS when I came across this picture, which I figured you'd all like to see.
It's a Colt New Service .38 Special that once belonged to Border Patrolman, gunfighter, gunwriter and general all-around reprobate Colonel Charles Askins. The big frame .38 has been given the Fitz treatment — note the cutaway trigger guard for faster access to the trigger. The barrel's been shortened and fitted with a vent ramp and adjustable sights. Grips are ivory with a scrimshaw steerhead; the other side features Askins' initials and the date "1936."
The story goes that Askins switched the Border Patrol to the wildly oversized (and darn near indestructable) .38 New Services because he just hated fiddling around with half-moon clips in .45 1917 Colts, which became the New Service in its commercial guise. Of course, when the .357 came on the scene in the mid-1930s, Askins quickly became a huge proponent.
I just don't get jazzed by the butchery of the 'Fitz' treatment to an otherwise perfectly serviceable weapon.
ReplyDeleteIt may be history.
It may be unique.
I think it's dumb.
Just MHO, I may be wrong.
The fact that nobody does it anymore except to note an obscure historical handgun reference speaks volumes.
If someone has that much trouble, and needs that much help, finding the trigger on a revolver, the nurses need to keep all the sharp objects away from them.
kmitch200
kmith, I certainly can't argue with you on those points!
ReplyDeleteThe Fitz was, at best, a flawed vessel, but in many ways a reflection of handgunning technique at the time (which was largely a holdover of late 1800s cowboy techniques). It really wasn't until Jeff Cooper that things began to change.
Still, it's 'way cool!
mb
I still like and carry a fitz colt cobra works good. What more do you need?
ReplyDelete