Welcome to "Hoot AL's" Rifleshop!!
Alan Neubauer - Journeyman
Traditionalist Gunbuilder
Greetings from orchards of Southwest Michigan, otherwise known locally as St. Joseph, Michigan. I build antique blackpowder rifles and pistols in an effort to keep the Spirit of the Traditionalist Gunmaker alive.
The goal for this website is to serve as a guide for future gunbuilders who want to learn the craft. I only hope I can accomplish this goal.
The vintage of the guns are from 1730 to 1830, and are representative of several different schools of earlier gunsmiths. My favorite rifles to make are the Lancaster Pennsylvania schooled and an occasional Mountain rifle.
From time to time I like to take on a challenge of something different in an effort to better understand other rifles and schools of makers. An example of this are the Edward Marshall Hunting Rifles I recently built. You'll find information of these rifles in the Project Photo Albums to see them and all the steps taken to build it. The Hunting Rifle has the most detailed steps taken. The Transitional Lancaster (fancy rifle) and the Tennessee rifle projects were other rifles showing from beginning to end, too.
Take a look around the Rifleshop to give you an idea what tools I have available. Most of the work is done by hand with no electricity.
All guns crafted in the shop are in a traditionalist vein. project as they transitioned from a block of wood to the finished state. I've included a Project Photo Albums of several of the guns. You'll see a variety of guns including a Southern Tennessee rifle and a free-styled target pistol I designed. One of the albums has a couple of movies. Again, note some these albums are like "How To Guides" to help other gunbuilders. At least, that was my intent to help others who are trying to learn the craft.
I'll try to add some items to the Tips & Aids section to share some simple tools, thoughts and etc.
I been graced with the opportunity to visit Weston, MO on three occasions and attend the Bevel Brothers' "Over The Log Shoot" in the last couple years. I dedicated a page of photos on those unique shoots. We had our own Iowa Original Chunk Gun Shoot last Summer, but dun missed it. Had family duties beckon me away. Next one is scheduled for August 26th. Looking for to it.
My mentor & Master Gunsmith is Steve "Bookie" Bookout. He has a website, too and you'd find it very interesting as well. Steve earned the CLA "Pioneer Award" for 2007. His shop is called "Toad Hall Rifleshop". We've been friends since 1978, and he's responsible for getting me into this craft. Recently we wrote a book together on how to build "A Wooden Iowa Rifler" similar to those built over a hundred years ago. The purpose of the rifler bench is for putting rifling grooves into gun barrels. This is the same method used by the Appalachian rifle builders. See the Rifling Book link for more information.
Last year I took on an Apprentice who wanted to learn the craft. His name is Bill Dunham and I gave him his own dedicated page. As time goes along, photos of his project will be shown.
Currently I'm A Member of: NMLRA, Contemporary Longrifle Association, The Buck Crik Muzzle Loaders, Boy Scouts of America, Berrien Springs Sportsman's Club and the GPAA.
Favorite Things To Do: Playing with my grandchildren, building guns in the shop, shooting black powder, prospecting , and fishing. (Notice I said prospecting. I've prospected for gold in Alaska, Australia, California, Indiana, Tennessee and Michigan.)
Again, Welcome To The Shop!
(Site Created 03/30/04)
(Note, you don't have to leave me an email address. However, if you leave an email address, I send you a mailing to alert you when the site is updated.)
Updates: 07/30/08: (Been 4 months since my last update. I apologize. Doing some home renovations, resulting in the temporary closure of my gunshop due to the renovations to the homestead. My shop ended up being being the temporary storage facilities for much of the construction equipment. Please drop me a line to let me know if there are any links not working on this website. )
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"Current Projects" Moved the James Armstrong rifle to the Photo Album section. Now note, James Armstrong was the Master gunbuilder who mentored John Armstrong. Seems there are a lot of John Armstrong rifles out there and I wanted people to note this original Master of the craft. He mentored many gunsmiths who later became Master gunsmiths under their own names. Now I will start back on my original project, my Chunk Gun project.
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New News!! Not only is Our 2nd Edition of the The Wooden Iowa Rifling Bench book just been completed and in print, with more advanced techniques, it is now featured in the new "Barrel Reaming & Rifling" American Pioneer Video DVD. See DVD By APV link. Now you can rifle a barrel in an hour.
- Rearranged the Project Photo Albums page by placing all the photo albums with detailed breakdowns of the projects at the top of the page instead of forcing people to search and find them. Hopefully that will make it easier to locate "how-to" information for your projects.
- Added a page to the Tips & Aids section called "Making A Replacement Mainspring". Made one a few years ago for friend and thought I would share the process with you.
- Added a couple more sections to the "Tips & Aids " section: Making & Installation of Nose Cap: &
If you like the site or have any questions, drop me a line by clicking on "Hoot" below.
(c) Copyright 2005. All Rights Reserved.