Firearms at Williamsburg and Jamestown

[Rum River]

Just got back from a school trip to Wash. D.C. area. Saw the Kittyhawk attempt, and managed to fit in tours to Williamsburg and Jamestown.

Saw the gunshop in Williamsburg where the 1969 movie was filmed. The price list I picked up quoted the $15,000 to $20,000 range for a period rifle made from scratch with period tools. If commercially available locks were used, the price dropped several thousand, but was still $7,000 plus.

The town's magazine contains roughly 100 flint muskets, about a third of them authentic. (and well out of reach of visitors) The rest of the tour group was elsewhere, so had maybe 30 minutes of one-on-one conversation with the armourer who cares for and shoots these items. Fantastic! :lol:

At Jamestown I had maybe only ten minutes conversation with the armourer. Got to see the difference between a flint and a snaphaunce pistol. Matchlocks and wheellocks were there too. Very neat! :lol:

My wife and I are going to plan a trip with just the two of us, so we can spend more time on some of the stuff.

[rollingb]

Rum River,.... I've handled some of Judson Brennan's (Delta Junction, Alaska) all "hand made" rifles, priced at  $8,000.00 for the authenthic "plain Jane's",.... and,.... I "ONLY looked" at his "contempary rifles" priced near $30,000.00!!!!!!  :eek:  :eek:  :gulp:  :gulp:  :gulp:  :gulp:

Jud,.... is a "true artist"!!!!!!!!!

[crow_feather]

Whatever happened to "Gussler"  the gunsmith of Williamsburg?

[Rum River]

Wallace Gussler's name is listed at the top of the price list as a 'master'. I asked the fellow manning the counter if he was around, all he said is that Gussler isn't currently working there.

I really don't know if that means he doesn't work there at all any longer, or if he just wasn't there at that moment.