If you could go to.....

Kevin Stenberg

Well-Known Member
A factory is a factory. But a 2 or 3 man shop that custom designs and produces a product. That is what I would like to see. Hey isn't that what our Tom has!!!! Hey Tom here I come.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
Or the workshop of a late 1800s firearms designer in Ogden?

I think you'd be disappointed in what you found there.
much like watching the first Dan Wesson revolver being built on a kitchen table with a file.

if I had to pick a place I would spend a little time deciding between St.Etienne, and Paul/Peter Mauser's places.
I have been to Freedom Arms several times [before and after Dick was there] and spent quite a bit of my teenage years in Parker Ackley's place.
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Wow...

Vintage Factory - Winchester/Sharps/Mauser/Colt/Marlin/Savage - pick one - in that order.

Current factory/custom shops- Turnbull/Wilson/Lee (molds - would love to be able to provide feedback!)/NOE/Ruger/Wyndham

I would trade ALL the current factories for a single vintage one!!!

If we are including individuals/shops...

Vintage - Mauser Brothers/John Browning/Samuel Colt/Elmer Keith/Ken Waters/Skeeter Skelton/COL Cooper

Current - Turnbull/Mike-Ranch Dog!/Kenny Jarrett/Wilson Combat

And last, but CERTAINLY NOT LEAST - and a friend of mine - Bob Levine! Custom knife maker/member of both NA and German Knife Maker's Guild/BP guru!/walking/living history!
 

Rally Hess

Well-Known Member
I'd like to go back far enough to tell John Moses Browning thanks for the A5. I'm pretty fond of the A5 in any gauge.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Anyone else notice a strong interest in craftsmanship over production? Yes, the late 1800s Colt shop was mass production but there was still much hand work involved.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
In the early 80's I went to an interesting factory in Pa. Don't remember the name of the owner. They made tools there, the owner was the guy who made a concrete house. IIRC they had a steam engine for power and belt drives all over the place, making saws, files, axes, etc. IIRC it was some kind of museum.
edit: it was Mercer's house. A 2 wk goof off trip with Dad in 80 or 81 between Allentown and Trenton. Factory was a 4(?) story concrete place with ramps up to the worker's floors. They made files by heating stock and cutting teeth with chisels. Sharpened and made kerf on saws by hand. Really interesting.
 
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oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
There is a tractor trailer full of the old belt driven tools and machines at the Piney Chapel Antique Engine & Tractor show here every fall. It really makes you think about how things were made! And appreciate how they were made. Also helps understand when you try to replace parts on older guns and things! They were all semi-hand made and fitted!
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
I've spent hundreds (maybe into the thousands) of hours running flat leather belt/cone drive lathes and drill presses. It's the bench work, the hand work, that I'd like to see.

Another here who would have loved to spend at least a few months with Harry Pope.
 

Tony

Active Member
I have spent a day with Kenny Jarrett in his shop. He had recently purchased Harold Broughton's barrel making equipment and was unpacking it. Kenny's shop was quite similar to that of several shops I've visited, at least those of top drawer riflesmiths. The shop was not anywhere near as interesting as the conversation.
 

Ben

Moderator
Staff member
Ben - went to the original Mauser factory when I was stationed n Germany. outside only. If you want some pics, let me know. More than happy to make copies!

Why don't we meet at Larry's soon ?
Eat lunch afterwards and bring your photos and I'll see them then.

Ben
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
I would like to see Turnbull's operation. I met him many years ago at a gun show
here, had never heard of him or his work. Just cruising along and then I see this
just, shockingly beautiful, PERFECT 1892 Winchester. But it HAD to be a replica, so
I checked the markings, it said Winchester. But it was perfect, it was NEW. I was
baffled. After a couple of minutes of detailed staring, I looked up at the guy behind
the table, Mr. Turnbull. I asked (kinda stupidly) "What is it? It's not a replica, but it
is new." He grinned proudly and said "It is a Winchester." me- "But how is it so
perfect? So new?" He said, "I restored it." Proud as a new papa. I was just blown away.
His work has to be seen in person to be believed. I'd love to see how they do it.

Pete, a friend, a tool and die maker, recently retired from making that stuff for
a big bullet maker near here. I was talking to him about it, and he was a bit
irritated that the cost of parts was such a big deal to them. He is a hard nosed old
guy, and was not pleased with some of the young guys who, in his opinion, were
not doing the kind of work that they should have been, but they did work cheaper.

Bill