Castner's Cutthroats

the lone gunman

the lone gunman

Joined
May 29, 2008
Messages
938
There was a good show on History Channel this morning about these guys. Talk about survival, but for these men, it was like every day life. Amazing. Google comes up with a lot of info if your interested.
 
I saw this one before when they ran it. Very intersting on several points. All were some of the most experianced outdoorsmen they could find, along with native personel who really knew the outdoors. Picked .22 Colt woodsman for survival arm to live off the land, keeping thier rifles for in case of engaging the Japanese.
 
I'd never seen that, super cool story. My favorite is the wikipedia quote...
He was joined in early 1942 by Lt. Earl C. Acuff, a University of Idaho graduate and rival football player. Acuff had been stationed on a remote Aleutian island to spy on Japanese planes. After several months went by without hearing from him, the army charged Castner's Cutthroats with recovery of his body. When they found him alive and well, he was quickly transferred to the Alaskan Scouts.

"I was living like a king. I was diving for king crab and eating fresh seafood and fowl -- wild ptarmigan, ducks and geese -- for dinner. They told me not to break radio sound unless I saw a Japanese plane, so I didn't. When the Alaskan Scouts came to 'rescue' me, they started thinking that maybe they'd like to stay with me." - Lt Acuff[2]
Click to expand...

Anyone know what specific rifles they used? Says 'sniper rifles', I assume '03 springfields?
 
They are very interesting.

You can find a few videos about them on youtube as well.
 
That's affirm. I had a chance to meet Mr. Jim Rearden of the Alaska Scouts a few years back. Members did have access to govt issue Springfields, but they were also allowed to use their own rifle (and equipment) of choice. Most chose and relied on their regular/personal hunting rifle, for them invariably a well worn Winchester or Remington 30-06. Mr. Rearden also wrote the book Castner's Cuthroats -- Saga of the Alaska Scouts, to document/tell their story while a few were still around. If you can find it, I highly recommend obtaining a copy. Col Acuff, mentioned above, wrote the introduction to the book.

"All were long on woodsmanship and short on military polish. We were ready for war."
A favorite quote from the book.
 
I only caught a part of this particular documentary, but what I did see impressed me. It seems to me that they were something like Roger's Rangers of the contemporary era.

Men to admire, but not to mess with.

:thumbup:
 
That was a great segment from the history channel. I wish they would do a show focused primarily on the cutthroats. Local knowledge is always sooo important. I need to get the book. Throughout history there have been military advances from non military people who had local knowledge & common sense. Nathan Bedford Forrest comes to mind. He basically bought his way to leadership in the confederate cavalry, where he immediately recognized swords would be useless and ordered his men to buy and carry two revolvers instead. I guess that explains why his charges were always so successful. He was passed over for command of the army of Tennessee several times because he was uneducated in the ways of west point. He was once dressed down for his unorthox ways by general bragg and replied simply" General, if I knew as much about west point as you , I guess i'd be gettin my ass whiped regular too".

John
 
I'm all about the .22- my H&R Spportsman 6 is a great field gun. And while I'd probably go for a .375 up there, a .30-06 or even a .30-30 improved would be fine.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE KNIVES?!?!?!?!
 
Wasn't there also a unit in the Italian Alps made up of hunters and other outdoorsmen? I seem to remember reading about them using bows to eliminate sentries, etc. The name slips my mind at the moment.
 
I have heard of them before but not read up on them enough. Great post and has got me looking for a book on them.
 
Frostyfingers,

You may be thinking of the 10th Mountain Division?

Initially composed of downhill skiers and outdoorsmen (though anyone was soon admitted), they were formed to meet a possible German invasion through Canada. They ended up serving in the Kiska operation in Alaska, and later briefly in Northern Italy.

If I ever make it home to WI, I have a fairly decent library of out-of-print books covering these types of operations, and will post the best titles. (You never know what you might find on sites like Alibris.) Finnish resistence during WWII, in particular, applies to this forum and like the Alaska Scouts can remind and inspire.
 
schlotskey said:
That's affirm. I had a chance to meet Mr. Jim Rearden of the Alaska Scouts a few years back. Members did have access to govt issue Springfields, but they were also allowed to use their own rifle (and equipment) of choice. Most chose and relied on their regular/personal hunting rifle, for them invariably a well worn Winchester or Remington 30-06. Mr. Rearden also wrote the book Castner's Cuthroats -- Saga of the Alaska Scouts, to document/tell their story while a few were still around. If you can find it, I highly recommend obtaining a copy. Col Acuff, mentioned above, wrote the introduction to the book.

"All were long on woodsmanship and short on military polish. We were ready for war."
A favorite quote from the book.
Click to expand...


I found that book on amazon.com , but look at the price.

Castner's Cutthroats: Saga Of The Alaskan Scouts. by JIM. REARDEN (Paperback - 2008)
2 Used & new from $99.80
 
Hard training does work.I knew a couple of original 10 Mtn guys and some more recent ones. They all have a quiet great self confidence knowing they can handle any problem. They are now a 'light infantry 'division based in Camp Drum in NY state.
 
The softcover is around $30 from A&J Arms Booksellers in Tucson. They have a website.

There was a Wolfe Publishing hardcover, but have been out of stock for some time. They are bringing some big prices.
 
Last edited:
Gunman,

Agreed. Rather than Amazon, you're better off looking in privately owned used book stores (the ones that look disorganized and smell of old books) or a more dedicated site like alibris or abebooks. You'll likely have to keep looking awhile, but they do appear at lower prices. I can't believe anyone would pay $100 for a paperback... the out-of-print HC that will last forever yes.
 
If anyone is looking for the book still, I just ordered it new from Barnes and Noble. It has not arrived yet, but since they gave me a ship date I assume they must have access to them.

Shipping Method: Standard (3-8 business days)

Product Description Quantity Expected Ship Date Price

Castner's Cutthroats: Saga of the Alaska Scouts 1 02-05-2009 $12.92
 
Clutch45 said:
If anyone is looking for the book still, I just ordered it new from Barnes and Noble. It has not arrived yet, but since they gave me a ship date I assume they must have access to them.

Shipping Method: Standard (3-8 business days)

Product Description Quantity Expected Ship Date Price

Castner's Cutthroats: Saga of the Alaska Scouts 1 02-05-2009 $12.92
Click to expand...

Thanks, I going to check thaT out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top