Charles Danner down..Need help.

lugerholsterrepair · 02-01-2019, 06:54 PM

Charles Danner, some of you may know..as a top notch rust blue pistol restore artist. Without getting too deep into his problems, he is in a bad way and has stopped doing his usual excellent work. Knowing Charles work ethic, if he has stopped, it's serious.

So this being the case..Charles recommended to me a fellow by the name of Bill Schwartz out of Georgia. Oddly enough but it seems Bill Schwartz is also slowing down and has an apprentice, Travis.

All this being the case, I know nothing about Bill Schwartz or Travis except that he is someone Charles Danner knows etc.

I will also add this tidbit. It seems upon further research Bill Schwartz of Ga. Is indeed a fantastic man of many talents..with high end shotguns. NOT Luger's. It also appears that after a discussion with his apprentice Travis, these folks are a non starter when it comes to Military pistols.
Does anyone here know Bill Schwartz or have any experience with this man? It is going to behoove some of us to begin nailing down someone dependable to do what Ted Green & Charles Danner used to do.

So any comments/recomendations on this or the bluing/restoration dilemma would be appreciated.

sheepherder · 02-01-2019, 07:44 PM

I have had Charles do several refinisning projects for me in the last five years and although I can't say for sure, I got the impression that he had some of his relatives [sons?] working with him lately. Whether it was Charles or the associates, they have registered here as a member - ' dannergunsmithing'. There is also a web site now -

http://www.dannergunsmithing.com/

On a side note, Charles is in his eighties...

I will say a silent prayer for his well being...

lugerholsterrepair · 02-01-2019, 07:53 PM

Richard, Thank you. Charles does have a very talented apprentice. He was doing about half the work coming out of Charles shop in the last few years. Unfortunately he is in the Service and is now deployed. If and when he could return to the gun bluing business is up in the air with no timeline that I can determine.

Neil Young · 02-01-2019, 11:22 PM

Sad.

DonVoigt · 02-02-2019, 09:48 AM

Charles is a great guy.
This is the last project he did for me, not a luger , but an outstanding job! I do hope he finds time and energy to visit this board.

All the best to Charles for a speedy recovery, and a big thanks from me for his work.

John Sabato · 02-06-2019, 12:55 PM

I will put him on my prayer list as well...

Jim Solomon · 05-21-2019, 02:22 PM

I spoke with Charles Danner by telephone this morning. He is home and his health is improving. He is now retired from his top notch rust bluing business. He is an outstanding craftsman, and an even better person.
Jim

Thor · 05-30-2019, 04:29 PM

I am still doing restoration, just limited about of projects.

Scottrt · 05-30-2019, 10:50 PM

Hey Ted, Are you or Charles apprenticing anybody?
Would I'd be safe assuming you're turning away work... i.e. You get more request for work then you're Willing to accept?

Thor · 05-31-2019, 11:31 AM

I cant speak for Charles but I have voiced my opinion on this in other posts. "Thanks for the compliments. As a Business policy I dont discuss my secrets, tricks, magical methods, materials etc IDTMPC. Thanks!"

I do have more work than I can do, I DO open the door from time to time. IDTMPC means I Dont Train My Potential Competition.

HerrKaiser · 05-31-2019, 06:24 PM

Completely understandable. But a shame that my generation of collectors and beyond seem to be running short of competent Luger/ C&R gunsmiths and professional restorers down the line. They’ll be way too into plastic fantastics and AR’s to care about older firearms.

lugerholsterrepair · 05-31-2019, 08:01 PM

I have shown any and all willing to or wanting to do leather repair..Many people have come by the shop and spent a few days doing it. Once they do..it loses some of it's romance. It's hard, dirty, boring and you actually have to pay close attention to detail. It turns out to be real WORK and it's a rare person who wants to take it up as a career. I can't say I blame them. Personally I find a great deal of satisfaction turning a broken old holster into one that's ready again for duty.

I would share every secret I have but there are only so many ways to do that and I am mostly too busy to enter into authorship or you Tube.

Scottrt · 05-31-2019, 08:15 PM

Ted, By apprenticing I meant training someone to work beside you and take over your business when you retire

Thor · 05-31-2019, 10:16 PM

Yes I understood the question. No plans to train anyone, C'est la Vie.

02-01-2019, 06:54 PM	#1
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,940 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	Charles Danner down..Need help. Charles Danner, some of you may know..as a top notch rust blue pistol restore artist. Without getting too deep into his problems, he is in a bad way and has stopped doing his usual excellent work. Knowing Charles work ethic, if he has stopped, it's serious. So this being the case..Charles recommended to me a fellow by the name of Bill Schwartz out of Georgia. Oddly enough but it seems Bill Schwartz is also slowing down and has an apprentice, Travis. All this being the case, I know nothing about Bill Schwartz or Travis except that he is someone Charles Danner knows etc. I will also add this tidbit. It seems upon further research Bill Schwartz of Ga. Is indeed a fantastic man of many talents..with high end shotguns. NOT Luger's. It also appears that after a discussion with his apprentice Travis, these folks are a non starter when it comes to Military pistols. Does anyone here know Bill Schwartz or have any experience with this man? It is going to behoove some of us to begin nailing down someone dependable to do what Ted Green & Charles Danner used to do. So any comments/recomendations on this or the bluing/restoration dilemma would be appreciated. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 l[email protected] 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know." Last edited by lugerholsterrepair; 02-01-2019 at 07:39 PM.

02-01-2019, 07:44 PM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,183 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,442 Times in 2,330 Posts	I have had Charles do several refinisning projects for me in the last five years and although I can't say for sure, I got the impression that he had some of his relatives [sons?] working with him lately. Whether it was Charles or the associates, they have registered here as a member - ' dannergunsmithing'. There is also a web site now - http://www.dannergunsmithing.com/ On a side note, Charles is in his eighties... I will say a silent prayer for his well being... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

02-01-2019, 07:53 PM	#3
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,940 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	Richard, Thank you. Charles does have a very talented apprentice. He was doing about half the work coming out of Charles shop in the last few years. Unfortunately he is in the Service and is now deployed. If and when he could return to the gun bluing business is up in the air with no timeline that I can determine. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 l[email protected] 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

02-01-2019, 11:22 PM	#4
Neil Young Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scottsboro, Alabama Posts: 546 Thanks: 559 Thanked 442 Times in 168 Posts	Sad. __________________ Neil The hurrier I go the behinder I get. Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

02-02-2019, 09:48 AM	#5
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	Charles is a great guy. This is the last project he did for me, not a luger , but an outstanding job! I do hope he finds time and energy to visit this board. All the best to Charles for a speedy recovery, and a big thanks from me for his work. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

02-06-2019, 12:55 PM	#6
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	I will put him on my prayer list as well... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

05-21-2019, 02:22 PM	#7
Jim Solomon Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 199 Thanks: 700 Thanked 176 Times in 69 Posts	down..need help I spoke with Charles Danner by telephone this morning. He is home and his health is improving. He is now retired from his top notch rust bluing business. He is an outstanding craftsman, and an even better person. Jim __________________ Jim Solomon [email protected]

05-30-2019, 04:29 PM	#8
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	I am still doing restoration, just limited about of projects. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

05-30-2019, 10:50 PM	#9
Scottrt User Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: So. Minnesota Posts: 33 Thanks: 20 Thanked 20 Times in 9 Posts	Hey Ted, Are you or Charles apprenticing anybody? Would I'd be safe assuming you're turning away work... i.e. You get more request for work then you're Willing to accept?

05-31-2019, 11:31 AM	#10
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	I cant speak for Charles but I have voiced my opinion on this in other posts. "Thanks for the compliments. As a Business policy I dont discuss my secrets, tricks, magical methods, materials etc IDTMPC. Thanks!" I do have more work than I can do, I DO open the door from time to time. IDTMPC means I Dont Train My Potential Competition. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

05-31-2019, 06:24 PM	#11
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 848 Thanks: 784 Thanked 861 Times in 411 Posts	Completely understandable. But a shame that my generation of collectors and beyond seem to be running short of competent Luger/ C&R gunsmiths and professional restorers down the line. They’ll be way too into plastic fantastics and AR’s to care about older firearms. __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

05-31-2019, 08:01 PM	#12
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,940 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	I have shown any and all willing to or wanting to do leather repair..Many people have come by the shop and spent a few days doing it. Once they do..it loses some of it's romance. It's hard, dirty, boring and you actually have to pay close attention to detail. It turns out to be real WORK and it's a rare person who wants to take it up as a career. I can't say I blame them. Personally I find a great deal of satisfaction turning a broken old holster into one that's ready again for duty. I would share every secret I have but there are only so many ways to do that and I am mostly too busy to enter into authorship or you Tube. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 l[email protected] 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

05-31-2019, 08:15 PM	#13
Scottrt User Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: So. Minnesota Posts: 33 Thanks: 20 Thanked 20 Times in 9 Posts	Ted, By apprenticing I meant training someone to work beside you and take over your business when you retire

05-31-2019, 10:16 PM	#14
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Yes I understood the question. No plans to train anyone, C'est la Vie. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."