Collection of Custom Rifles of Colonel Charles Askins

The late Colonel Charles Askins, a prominent hunter, writer, and firearms authority, amassed a substantial collection of firearms during his lifetime. Of particular significance is the collection of bolt action hunting rifles which he used in the field from 1960-1995. All of these rifles are left handed bolt actions, many are custom pieces, and many are wildcat calibers developed by Askins in the course of his experiments to find calibers developed by Askins to find optimum hunting calibers. Most of these rifles have been written about extensively in GUNS AND AMMO, GUNS, GUNWORLD, THE AMERICAN RIFLEMAN, THE AMERICAN HUNTER, PETERSONS HUNTING GUIDE, GUN DIGEST, and other sporting publications which Askins contributed to during this period in his long career.

Details of the individual rifles follow. It should be noted that most of these rifles show some wear from use in the field. Bores are excellent, and all are usable, unless otherwise noted. Virtually all are personalized in one fashion or another, and some are noted as gifts from the manufacturers; Askins was on close terms with the owners of most of the firearms manufacturing companies.

RIFLES

1. 8mm REMINGTON MAGNUM, MD 7218 Receiver, SR No. 346297, Griffen and Howe barrel SR No. 2572, handsome custom stock, left cheek rest, custom left hand action, conversion by Guise, 3X-9X Tasco Variable Scope with cross hairs, steel buttplate, shows some field use.

2. 6.5mm REMINGTON MAGNUM, barrel by Po Ackley, REM MD 600 Receiver, custom left hand bolt conversion, SR No. 56928, Bushnell 3X-9X scope, MD scope Chief VI, crosshairs, custom stock, fancy pistol grip cap amd foreend, fine checkering good grain in stock, steel buttplat, shows some field use.

3. .257 WEATHERBY MAGNUM, REM barrel rechambered, REM MD 700 receiver, SR No. 632939, custom left bolt conversion, Tasco armored scope, 3X-9X variable, fancy zebra laminated stock with contrasting forend, raised cheek piece, steel buttplate, super trigger pull, shows field use.

4. 9.3 X 64, P.O. Ackely on GEW receiver with 3 crown proof marks, SR No. 34353 with Belgian Lion and Sword mark, left bolt conversion, 3X Lyman All-American scope, post with horizontal cross hair, mounts by Buehler, handsome stock with recoil pad, inlaid grip cap, ebony forend, good checkering and stippling.

5. 9.3 mm X .404 on WEATHERBY MARK V ACTION, SR No. 22901 or 22961, Bushnell 4X scope, fine crosshairs, custom left hand bolt conversion, elegant stock, recoil pad, grip cap and forend in contrasting wood, with ivory and ebony spacers, good checkering, sling swivel posts, some signs of field use.

6. 7mm X .308 NORMA MAGNUM, by AJ, REM 7mm MAG barrell, REM model 725 receiver, custom left hand bolt, SR No. 703277, Leupold scope mounts, 3X-9X variable scope, wide angle hunting scope, with fine cross hairs, and variable field of vision, 50-1000 rangefinder, standard stock, with recoil pad, sling swivel posts, ebony pistol grip cap and forend, front sight ramp in place, sight has been removed.

7. 6.5mm X .300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM on SAVAGE MD 110L reciever, WEAVER 2X-3X scope on Buehler mounts, barrel by RB(?), pretty stock, rubber buttplate, good trigger.

8. 8mm-.308 NORMA MAG on REM MD 700LH, Sr No. B6369318, no scope but has rings and mounts installed, like new, no wear visible on stock, left hand cheek piece, solid recoil pad, wonderful trigger.

9. .284 WINCHESTER, barrel by Bliss Titus, Weatherby receiver no. 1589, custom left hand bolt conversion, Lyman All American 6X scope, fine cross hairs. Montecarlo stock, recoil pad, contrasting wood in grip cap and forend, good checkering, sling swivel post, very pretty piece.

10. .8mm-.308 NORM MAG, Weatherby Mark V Custom rifle, left handed bolt, SR No. H158760, drilled for scope mounts, no sights, cracked and repaired toe of stock at sling swivel post, fancy stock, with gold inlay on pistol grip with initials "CA." Has sticker with ".358/8 mm REMINGTON MAGNUM" typed out.

11. Heavy SAKO Rifle, caliber undetermined, Leupold 2X scope, SR No. possibly 6329 (partially covered by stock) no marks on barrel, very handsome stock, whittled away behind bolt by Col. Askins, heavy recoil pad. Appears to be original barrel. Ebony cap and pistol grip.

12. 8mm-.340 on MAUSER Action, SR No. 87964, scope mount, no scope, really good trigger, recoil pad, inlaid pistol grip, embossed floor plate with Stag figure, rifle shows some field use.

13. .308 NORMA MAG on SAVAGE model 110L action, SR No. 32728, scope mounts, no scope, unusual banded barrel with flutes at base of barrel. Excellent grain in stock, carved pistol grip cap, solid recoil pad, left cheek rest.

14. .340 WEATHERBY MAG, SR No. 23172, left handed MARK V Action, receiver tapped for scope mount, handsome laminated stock, gift from Roy Weatherby, some bluing on barrel.

15. Light caliber rifle, built on WINCHESTER left handed action, appears to be factory barrel, no markings, Birdseye Maple stock, pistol grip cap in silver, engraved "Charles Askins." Bishop buttplate in hard plastic.

16. .25X .308 NORMA MAG, barrel marked RB, receiver marked L61R, No. 141, and JV Mark, recoil pad, contrasting cap and forend, pretty stock.

17. 7mm X 8mm REM MAG, on REM Model 700 Action, left hand conversion, SR No. 3599, Dark Birdseye Maple stock, recoil pad, barrel No. markings but tapped 6 inches forward of receiver on left side with small screws, and same on left side of barrel about 3/4 inches from muzzle. Stock shows a lot of use.

18. .284 by P.O. Ackley on SAVAGE Action MD 110L, SR No. 31386, sling swivel posts, scope mounts, average stock, thin savage recoil pad, nice cap and forend.

19. 8MM-340 on Mauser action, sr. no. 87964, scope mounts, no scope (will provide), really good trigger, recoil pad, inlaid pistol grip, embossed floorplate with stag figure, rifle shows some field use.

20. .308 Norma Magnum on Savage Model 110L action, sr. no. 32728, scope mounts, no scope (will provide), unusual banded barrel with flutes at the base of barrel. Excellent grain in stock, carved pistol grip cap, solid recoil pad, left cheek rest.

21. .340Weatherby magnum, sr. no 23172, lefthanded Mark V action, receiver tapped for scope mounts, handsome laminated stock, gift from Roy Weatherby, some bluing on barrel.

22. Light caliber rifle, built on Winchester left handed action, appears to be a factory barrel, no markings, birdeye maple stock, pistol grip cap in silver, engraved "Charles Askins" Bishop buttplate in hard plastic.

23. .25 x .308 Norma Magnum, barrel marked "RB," receiver marked L61R, No. 141, and JV proof mark, recoil pad, contrasting cap and forend, pretty stock.

24. 7mmX8mm Remington Magnum, on Remington Model 700 action, left hand conversion, sr. no. 3599, dark birdseye maple stock, recoil pad, barrel with no markings but tapped 6 inches forward of receiver on left side with 2 small screws, same on left side of barrel about 3/4 inches from muzzle, stocks shows a lot of use.

25. .284 by P.O. Ackley on Savage action model 110L, sr. no. 31386, sling swivel posts, scope mounts, average stock, thin Savage recoil pad, nice cap and foreend.

GENERAL REMARKS

Further detail can be provided on each rifle, along with photos and/or video tape.

Rifles are stored at a prominent San Antonio Gun Shop and can be inspected by appointment.

Prices will be provided on each rifle by request.

Letters attesting to ownership of each rifle by Col. Askins will be provided at time of sale, and possibly photos and details on development and use by Col. Askins of each rifle.

There sure are some oddballs in that group.

There is a classified forum here on AR that you might want to use.

I think you will have a better luck in the classified section unless you have some really big bore stuff. Good luck.