My Story
I grew up in a time when guns were considered an everyday part of life in rural western North Carolina. By age 8, I was squirrel and rabbit hunting unsupervised by adults. Today there are laws against children having free access to firearms and ammunition without an adult present, but those were different times.
At 14, I bought my first gun with money I earned mowing grass. The gun was a Remington New Model Army percussion revolver (now days referred to as an 1858 Remington). This was an old black powder pistol. While Mom worried, Dad said, "That old thing? Sure he can have it. I doubt he'll figure out how to make bullets for it." Well learn I did, and in the process I developed an appreciation and affinity for the design, innovation and artistry that went into firearm design.
I think that first gun helped to put me on the
career trajectory that I enjoy today
I still own that gun. But more important, although I only became interested in the internal mechanisms of firearms after joining the Marines, I think that first gun helped to put me on the career trajectory that I enjoy today.
Once I was honorably discharged, I started taking gunsmithing courses at a local community college so I could better care for my personal firearms. And I was hooked. The more I learned about guns, the more I knew I needed to learn. With all the tinkering I was doing on guns not only for myself but for friends and relatives, I soon became known as the "Gun Guy."
Diving into a subject, reading, practicing and learning everything I can is kind of my modus operandi. It's also led to my rather varied background. I like to joke that I'm a jack-of-all-trades but a master of none. And maybe that's true, in part. But I think it's given me a rich and varied background: professionally driving 18-wheelers, horse wrangling on dude ranches, guiding horseback trips, working construction, building custom bows and arrows, cooking, blacksmithing, leatherworking, riding motorcycles. I even got into Revolutionary War and Civil War reenactments. It's why my website covers such a broad cross section of topics.
My journey with firearms took a major leap in 2008 after moving to Maine and getting support from the VA to complete the American Gunsmith Institute's Enhanced Master Gunsmith program and open my gunsmith shop in Harrington, Maine.
Handling and repairing firearms, gives me
a little peak back into history
For me, handling and repairing firearms gives me a little peak back into history. Being a former combat veteran, I know what it's like to be cold, tired, hungry and scared while thousands of miles from home. I can pick up an antique gun and almost feel what the person who first used it might have been thinking. I often wonder if the person who used this firearm was trying to feed his family or protect their homestead.
Shooting guns while on the range or out in the woods hunting is my connection to a tradition that is part of America all the way back to the founding of the country.
This is just part of my story. I invite you to join in my journey as I share the thoughts, history and personal experiences I've collected through the years. We're going to range far and wide, so buckle up. I'm delighted to have you along for the ride.