One of my customers brought a pair of "duellers" by. This area of gunsmithing is outside my comfort zone. He wants them restored so that he can donate them to a museum. Do any of you know who might specialize in this type of work? I have already contacted Turnbull, and his shop does not work on percussion guns. They could not recommend anyone either.

Bill Jacobs
Bolt&Barrel Gunsmithing, LLC
Greenwood, SC

I would contact the museum and see if they have a contract or resident conservator for firearms. Most museums like to do their own restoration. I wouldn't touch them.

Monte Mandarino is perhaps the best in the US. I don't have contact info but I'm sure someone here does. His work is absolutely impeccable and also completely unnoticable, at least in the examples that I've seen.
Regards, Joe

Here's a newspaper article on Monte Mandarino.

http://missoulian.com/article_...09-5999c9144173.html

Pete Mazer, another ACGG member who specializes in restoration, also does this type of work. I have seen several examples of his work on this type of firearm and it was what one should expect from a Guild gunsmith.

Thanks for the names. I will try to make contact this week.

Bill Jacobs