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Night Hawk Stories... Entry 6 Wilson's History of Gunmaking EDITOR'S NOTE: Jerome Wilson, a master machinist and one of the last real craftsmen left in our society, has built black-powder rifles since 1943. Wilson handcrafts all of his weapons, even making his own screws and springs. More important than the time Wilson spends in building a rifle or any other piece of machinery, is the attention to quality he puts into whatever project he starts. He invests time and money into building a gun or a cannon by finding the right barrel, going through stacks of lumber to find just the right curly maple for the stock and completing the tedious task of making each individual screw and spring. Wilson doesn't stop with building a highly accurate black-powder weapon. He also wants his guns to have style and beauty. He demonstrates this in the engraving and silver decorations that he carefully cuts and embeds in his stocks. Although Wilson doesn't sell his rifles, they stay in high demand because of the loving care and intricate woodwork and metalwork put into each one. Question: How long have you made black-powder rifles
and cannons? Question: And how many rifles have you built? Question: How many man-hours do you put into each one? Question: If you wanted to sell one of your guns, what
would it cost? Question: Why don't you sell your guns? Question: Tell me about one of your most-prized possessions.
Second only to my love for my wife, Mildred, is my love for black-powder guns and cannons and the sport of black-powder shooting. I'm convinced that the old way of building guns is still the best way to obtain accuracy. Talk to Wilson about old rifles and how he handcrafts them by contacting him at 812 Water Street, Allendale, South Carolina 29810, or calling 803-584-3163. To learn more about CVA's quality black-powder weapons and hunting accessories, call (770) 449-4687; e-mail cva@info.com; or, see the CVA catalogue online. Tomorrow: Wilson's Cannon |
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Entry 06 -Wilson's History
of Gunmaking |