Category Archives: Thoughts

A quick discussion on some of the things I do on Marlin lever actions at the shop. I don’t do them often anymore but wanted to pass on what I’ve learned to make the action much smoother. Hope you find it useful and enjoyable. Thanks for watching.

From the RIA Blog Born on the dusty streets of African revolution as the Armsel Striker, the shotgun called the Street Sweeper found its way to the U.S. market through some fairly sketchy people involved in espionage, drug dealing, and tax evasion. The Armsel Striker was a 12-gauge, 12-round revolving cylinder shotgun developed by HiltonContinue reading “Armsel Striker/ Street Sweeper”

Known to Winchester collectors as the “International Match” rifle. It is one of 27 that are recorded in the Winchester factory ledgers, and one of only 11 that are known to still be in circulation in collections and museums. The distinguishing features of this hi-wall single-shot include the large cork-bottomed palm rest that is integralContinue reading “Winchester 1885 “International Match””

1911_purview Springfield Armory in .45 ACP by machinist turned gunsmith George Gouger out of Eugene Oregon. George’s father (also a gunsmith) died when he was 16 years old and his brother died in Vietnam, so in high school GG moved to Detroit Michigan where he met and trained with a gunsmith of some renown namedContinue reading “George Gouger Custom Springfield”

1911_purview “Full house” build in .45 ACP by Bob Marvel. Bob’s avant-garde aesthetic is polarizing —you either love pinstripes on a 1911 or you hate them. There is no in between. Bob contracts with Nighthawk to build a model licensed under his name, but I have no desire to own a Nighthawk Marvel, no moreContinue reading “Bob Marvel Custom 1911”

A very special one from Karl at KGB customs today. An Austin Behlert later also worked on by King’s Gun Works. Like Swenson 1911s, you can spot a Behlert from across the room.

1911_purview Custom 1911 by Texas pistolsmith Mylie Hudson. About 18 months ago, a friend of mine came across a Mylie Hudson-built 1911 on GunBroker. I had never owned or seen one, so I bought it and started doing what I always do—researching the man behind the gun. To my surprise, I found him. I calledContinue reading “Mylie Hudson Cusrtom 1911”

I am not a professional gunsmith, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once. I built this .38 Super pistol in late 2000 for use in IDPA’s Enhanced Service Pistol division. The frame and slide were from Caspian; each made from 416 stainless barstock. This was during the brief period that they offered barstockContinue reading “Watters Custom .38 Super”