The Gun Works

[Ron Smith]

This is the shop that I work in part time. "The Gun Works Muzzle Loading Emporium".

I'm not really into to black powder that much, but it keeps me out of trouble. And I do run across the occaisional walk-in with a nice military gun now and then. We do buy and sell some "modern" cartridge guns. Joe calls them "Suppository Loaders".

They are one of 2 or 3 of the largest black powder specialty shops in the country. The majority of the business is on-line and mail order. We ship supplies and muzzle loading guns all over the world.





"Possibles Bags" hand made from Buffalo , Moose and Elk hide.



Some custom built rifles. Price range on these is from $2000 up to $5 or $6000. Sometimes higher on an exceptional piece or an original.



Top row are all original pistols dating from the late 1700s to early 1800s. Middle are used repoductions. Bottom are custom built and originals.



Possibly the world's largest Swiss Army knife. Hand made by Master machinist and gun builder Al Ostermann of Junction City, OR. More custom built rifles, and originals in the back ground.





The far wall has mostly original German Schutzen cartridge rifles, original muzzle loaders, Trapdoors, etc. Original and repro ML shotguns to the left, with a few old Winchesters and double rifles.



I thought that some may find "Joe's Museum" interesting.

Ron

[Pete Ebbink]

Looks like a great place to occupy a recent retiree...

Link to their web site :

http://www.thegunworks.com/

[Ron Smith]

Hey Pete,

It is kind of interesting. Suzi , Joe's wife pretty much runs things. She's a retired ICU nurse. 4' nothin' of wound up nerves. I have to threaten to lock her in the bathroom sometimes. Joe, on the other hand would fall asleep during a plane crash.

The best part is getting to go in Joe's walk-in vault containing his personal collection. It is unbelievable!! He has an original hand made English Sporting rifle by Charles Guest. It is the only muzzle loading rifle that I would ever want to own, but it ain't for sale...yet. The most beatifully crafted rifle I have ever seen.

He also has an original Colt Navy revolver that is inscribed "Capt. Abner Doubleday" with a date on the backstrap. It's not for sale either.

( Just an aside for any lurking potential theives. You won't get past the security system, or the shotgun.)

Ron

[Pete Ebbink]

Hi Ron,

Since you survived the "going postal" career for many years, this shop and its two anti-nodes should be a 'walk in the park' for you...

Keep an eye out for any old Swiss black powder pistols for me...the Swiss had several models until they moved into the rimfire and centerfire revolvers...

I would be serious about any fair/decent conditioned Swiss flint-lock pistol that might come through your shop...you would see some typical Swiss inspection cross stampings...makers vary with even some out of country makers.

Have a nice Memorial Day tomorrow !

[davidkachel]

Thanks Ron,
I bookmarked the website. I love black powder.

[Ron Smith]

Pete,

I will watch for them. I'll tell Joe so he can watch for them at the shows. If he thinks he has a customer, he will keep his eyes peeled.

Dave,

We have people come from all parts of the U.S. to look at guns. Above all they believe in good service and pleasing the customer. I have known them for nearly 30 yrs. They are very honest people. I wouldn't work for them otherwise. I hate dishonest dealers. Joe has been into BP since the 50s. He won the Canadian National Pistol competition one year. There's not much he doesn't know about muzzle loaders and Suzi can hold her own with anyone on the subject.

Ron

[policeluger]

I like the beaver ring on the wall....I want to get mine done that way sometime.....neat shop!!!

[Ron Smith]

Hi Howard,

It's pretty neat. Almost all of the stuff on the walls are gifts from friends and old time customers. Racks, etc.

Ron

[nhdblfan]

Ron,
what a neat place to work.Many years ago while living in NJ I worked for a place like that I bet you have heard of.Navy Arms,lots of reproductions but also an amazing number of just about everthing else.It pretty much reinforced the "gun collector bug" in me.Worked with some very interesting guys and learned a lot.
Looks like he has some doubles on that back wall in the first picture I will have to check out his site.
Best,
Dave

[Ron Smith]

Dave,

Yeah, I know Navy Arms. I used to get their catalog back in the 70s.

Joe bought out Sharon Barrels and now makes custom barrels on their equipment. He makes liners and lines old European Greener cross bolt shotguns. Converts them to double rifles each regulated with a load that is engraved on the barrel flats. 38-55,45-70 thru 45-120 and 50-60 thru 50-110 calibers and will also do others. I believe he charges around $900 to do it (don't quote me), if you provide a suitable shotgun.

Ron

[Edward Tinker]

very cool gun shop, nice to have something like this. As far as I can tell, nothing exists like it in the Pensylvania area


Ed

PS: Ron, today I was in a antique malll and one of the items for sale was a badge for security guard for Ford. if only it had been BWM, or Simson, it would have gone home...


Ed

[Steinar]

Interesting shop Ron, thanks for taking the time to share.
Would love to have a black powder revolver some day.. There will always be a little kid inside me that clairly see the fun of making lead bullets and placeing the entire shooting range into a fog of black powder smoke (I have one rusty old black powder revolver, but I don't trust it, 11.5mm caliber is just too much).

Last winter, loaded up some rounds in 9mm and 30.30 with black powder and used them in a Glock and Marlin rifle, me and a friend was going to make a poster for a shooting competition. We fired them on the outdoor range with the lights turned off. The muzzle flash and reflection from the white snow lid up the whole range. So it was a neat picture, sadly it's gone after my latest computer crash.

[Ron Smith]

Ed,

I would think that a Simson security badge would be worth a bunch. George Anderson has or had a BMW Werkschutz helmet for sale on eBay.

I don't know if it's a "legend" or not, but I remember reading that Ford had a truck factory in Germany producing trucks for the German Army all through WWII. He supposedly told the U.S. Gov't that if one bomb struck his factory, he would cancel all contracts with the U.S. Military.

Steinar,

We sell new Cap and Ball revolvers for around $175 and up. We ship all over the world. It would be subject to restrictions in Norway, but in the U.S. blackpowder firearms are considered non-guns and have no export requirements or restrictions. The only thing we can't ship out of the U.S. is Blackpowder and caps, for obvious reasons.

We have a regular customers in the Netherlands, and several in Canada and Germany.

http://www.thegunworks.com/

Ron