Anybody know where I can get a copy of this book? I am thinking of asking my wife to get it for me for my birthday next month but have never found a copy and don't even know what the cost would be.

Any help is appreciated.

Red
PS- I realize this is not directly related to gunsmithing, but as the book is to be used as a stockmaking reference, and would most likely be known to smiths I figure you bunch were the best bet.

Red, they are very very hard to find. The author had the books published and had them stored in his garage. He had a fire and what books made it through the fire were somewhat water damaged. He would not sell the damaged books and from what I heard he burned them.

I have only seen one ad for them and it is in the classifieds of the last ACGG Gunmaker. Bob West has a copy and will have it at the guild show if it is not sold already. He is asking $200 for it.

quote:

Originally posted by Dago Red:
Anybody know where I can get a copy of this book? I am thinking of asking my wife to get it for me for my birthday next month but have never found a copy and don't even know what the cost would be.

Any help is appreciated.

Red
PS- I realize this is not directly related to gunsmithing, but as the book is to be used as a stockmaking reference, and would most likely be known to smiths I figure you bunch were the best bet.

Red,

Try Amazon and/or Abe Books.

Red,

Go to http://www.abebooks.com right now! A guy has a copy for sale for $150.00.

Thanks guys! I am going to talk to the wifey and see if she'll get it for me. I knew I'd find the answer, and wow was that fast!!!

Red

Red, that is a deal. I think the book was around $80 when it was new. I have one of Maurice Ottmars and about half of the makers signed it. It was the copy that Toews gave to Maurice.

http://www.BookFinder.com turned up a "very good" copy for a mere $616 Amazon.com has one listed for $256

That book is getting kind of old. Maybe its time for a new "Contemporary Stockmakers"

I wonder what a list of the top 15 or 20 contemporary stockmakers would look like???

You know, the problem with stockmakers is that they develope the craft so late in their life time. There are a few that seem to survive into their 80's and have a large body of work, and perhaps Maurice Ottmar was lucky because he learned rather early in life. When we were back at Trinidad in 1970 he was great then, but on one in the industry knew him at the time. I think the was around 35 years old. Then there's Darwin Hensley who might be #1 on my list who has retired because of Parkensons.

Those of us who do a lot of metalsmithing, well we are just good machinist and have been able to make a living doing it, I'm not talking about guns but airplanes or other things. We started young at the craft and in our later years we are doing what we like.

SHAMELESS PLUG
Custom Rifles in Black & White, soft cover, 185 pages.
Over 200 photos of 40 of the finest American custom rifles from the decade of 1990-2000. 20 bolt (Fisher, Simillion, Tucker, Heilmann, Hensley, Burgess/Echols): 16 Single-shot (SDH, Webber, Snapp,etc.) and four lever rifles. Many detailed views with interesting stories.
$36 ppd
S.D.Hughes
P.O. Box 545
Livingston, MT 59047
No Credit cards, just send a check or cash.
Be sure to spell your name clearly and I'll sign and inscribe to AR folks.

I'll be in Reno next week with a few copies, this might delay shipping for a few days.
SDH

It was recommended to me by D'Arcy Echols, who is a very great stockmaker in his own right. Problem is I went in a few minutes ago and talked to my wife, she was just going to bed, I got snuggled up and was real sweet and mentioned it in a whisper.

NO GO. She said it is over her budget. That's sad as she is the one in the house with the money sense, I of course don't have any extra

I guess that is good since I think somebody grabbed the book. I just checked again and can't find it on there now. I hope they enjoy it very much.

SDH I'll put yours on the list and let my wife know all the details.

Mark, what is it with all the retired airline pilots becoming stockmakers? I think I heard at least two guys say that they retired from the airlines.

Red

Dago,

I think airline pilots have become stockmakers because of their schedules. They fly for 2 weeks then have the rest of the month off. Don Allen was a pilot for Northwest, he was the owner of Dakota and Al Lind was another pilot/stockmaker in the guild. They can also travel a lot to places to see fine examples of the craft. They also have the money to set up a nice shop without having to talk to the wife. Some were also school teachers with the summers off. Most of the members of the guild have retired from something which is why it an old group of people. I'm 54 and just a kid. Dago we need some younger people in the guild, when will you be ready?

Well, I unintentionally took a break this last year after we moved into our new house. The last two months I have been working on my shop while my uncle has been visiting. Now it is shaping up a lot, although no gunsmithing equipment per se. But starting this weekend I am back into trying to pick up what I can without the big machines.

Hopefully by 35 I can be GOOD at some aspect of the trade.

Z1R who posts here is really coming along fast, I had the pleasure of meeting him a few weeks back and saw some work he's done, rust bluing, bolt handle installation and stocking rifles. I was impressed.

Red

Red, are you going to make it to Reno this year?

Since I posed the question, I will start the list.

I think Curt Crum is a Contemporary maker.
Surely Chic Worthing is a contemporary maker
Darcy Echols still does fantastic wood stocks
Don Klein does fabulous work.
Gary Goudy does fabulous work
Gene Similion is contemporary.
Jim Tucker does absolutely gorgeous work.
Yea, Steven Dodd Hughes does beautiful work.
Steve Heilmann does fantastic work.

Who else???

quote:

Originally posted by Customstox:
Red, are you going to make it to Reno this year?

Chic,

What are the dates of the show...and where in Reno is it being held?

The gun guild & engraving show is really something to behold. Anyone with a keen interest in fine gunmaking, engraving, contemplating spending alot of hard-earned dough on a custom project, searching for a top gunmaker/engraver or simply wanting to learn and see the state-of-the-art should attend this show, if only for once in your life.
Make a vacation of it and also attend the SCI show. The show is held at the Silver Legacy.

Rick, the guild show is in the Silver Legacy and starts on Friday, the 20th and goes thru Sunday the 22nd. SCI starts on Wed, the 18th I believe and goes thru Saturday.

I was going to go to SCI but decided not to. It is worth going if you have never seen it but the price for one day is $165 including membership in SCI. I have seen it enough that I find I would rather spend that time at the ACGG show. And it is only around $20 or so for non members.

quote:

Customstox: I find I would rather spend that time at the ACGG show

Ditto.

Chic,

What are the hours on Sunday? I'm actually laying over a day after SCI this year.

Rich ELliott

quote:

Customstox: I find I would rather spend that time at the ACGG show

Same here.....

I will be there. I would like to meet as many folks from AR as possible. Please look me up.

Unfortunately Chic I am not going to make it this year, just isn't in the cards. I "thought" I had the money saved a few months back, but sure enough it went into the house.

I do recommend that anybody that can go do so. It is very worth seeing and you won't meet finer people anywhere.

Red