Is anyone familiar with his work? Seems he was a fairly prolific gunsmith in the 50's and 60's.

Yep, he was around for a long time in the south sound. His 'apprentice', and the fellow that took over the business, Bill Lajarrett, is retired from gunsmithing but still runs the gate at Tacoma Rifle & Revolver.

Chet Paulsons was an incredible gun shop when I first moved to the Northwest. I really hated to see it go out of business. La Jarrett was a hell of a gunsmith in his own right. Glad to hear that he's still kicking around.

I found a couple of old photos of the interior of the shop before his move and it was nice. I can only imagine his new one. I say new one but I think he expanded back in the 60's IIR the photos correctly.

So far so good. What started this was a guy that I do some trading with offered me an 1886 Winchester lever action rifle. The wood is very good. The action is clean but hasn't a lot of bluing left. The barrel and magazine tube are quite bright. He thinks it started life as something other than a .45-70. He said that Chet Paulson rebarreled it back some decades ago. I'd just never heard of him so.....

Anyway, the price was right considering what I see these things selling for and as soon as I get my paws on it I'll run the serial number and see what I can find.

Wow, talk about memory lane! When my dad decided I was old enough and responsible enough to move up from shadowing him with the old Iver Johnson .410 in the pheasant field of Eastern Washington -- at age 12, circa 1965, we drove from our little suburb of Fircrest downtown and to Chet Paulson's, where I was allowed to pick out a nice old Model 12 in 16 gauge with Nickel Steel barrel. That shop was heaven to a young, fully obsessed gun nut.

OH, Fircrest. The only time I've ever had a car impounded was Fircrest. They've no mercy there.