Charles Karwan

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Filed in: Current Events, Shooting industry

It's sad to report that Charles "Chuck" Karwan died this last week. For those of you unfamiliar with his work, he was a "gunwriter" - but not just any example of the breed. His work stood apart and above most of what you can read today.

Karwan was a West Point graduate and Vietnam veteran whose knowledge of knives, guns and ballistics was encyclopedic, but never pedantic. He had a way of writing that was lean and refreshingly frank, and his books and articles have the distinctive stamp of someone with the practical experience to back up his talk.

It was not uncommon to encounter Chuck at gun and knife shows here in Oregon. A few years back my wife and saw him sitting behind a table at a large knife show, liquidating part of the estate of his friend Rex Applegate. I'd met him before - quite briefly - but had never gotten the chance to really get to know him. This time we talked for quite a bit, long enough that my knife-loving wife got bored and wandered the show by herself.

I was struck by both his intelligence and humility. When I asked why he hadn't been writing as many books and articles lately, he just shrugged and said "you gotta ask the editors!" I guess his firm opinions and no-nonsense style weren't everyone's cup of tea, particularly in the age of "gunzine whores." He had a reputation for being brutally honest, and I for one appreciated that trait - even if is editors weren't always of the same mind.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife and family.

-=[ Grant ]=-
© 2010 Grant Cunningham Click to email me!