A. W. Peterson's

[Rimfire McNutjob]

I was in A. W. Peterson's shop today in Tavares Florida (formerly of Denver Colorado) to pickup some primers. They had WLP in the older blue box for $50/k so I grabbed a couple. I took a few pictures of the rifle and tool collection in the back room that some might enjoy. These are pretty high resolution so they might take some time to download but you should be able to zoon in for a closer look.

[Oldncrusty]

Looks like an awesome place. Thanks for sharing.

[GunnyMack]

I could see myself spending a few hours there!

[Bill in Oregon]

BE STILL MY HEART! If this isn't the full equivalent of Mecca to rifle shooters, I don't know what is. Thanks for sharing the photos!

[Rube Burrows]

Man at the history in that place. So cool. Thanks for sharing.

[marlinman93]

AW Peterson was a very talented gunsmith who also developed some tools during his time partnered with George C. Schoyen that were simply the finest of their type anywhere! Peterson also made early rifle scopes that are today highly collectible and hard to find! His scopes made back in the early 1900's are better than a lot of modern scopes built today!
Peterson and Schoyen both worked for Carlos Gove in the 1800's until Gove retired in the late 1880's, and much of Gove's success can be attributed to having two of the finest and most talented gunsmiths in the US then! After Gove retired George Schoyen bought Gove's gun shop, and soon after Peterson joined Schoyen as a partner. After Schoyen died Peterson bought the business from Schoyen's widow and continued on until his death.
I have a Schoyen & Peterson duplex powder measure that are one of the rarest loading tools to find. Have a couple paper folded flyers advertising Schoyen & Peterson's business and services or tools offered also. One Schoyen Ballard in an old hard case with the Schoyen & Peterson label inside the top lid. Also a Peterson stamped barrel in .22LR that's a Ballard scheutzen rifle and extremely accurate. Peterson was considered one of the finest barrel makers around, and his specialty was .22RF barrels, which I see more of than any other cartridges marked with the AW PETERSON stamp.
As a huge fan of Peterson I'd love to see this shop if I ever get to Florida!
AW Peterson Ballard:


Schoyen-Peterson duplex measure:

[348win]

Thanks for sharing

[ywaltzucanrknrl]

Very neat, great history. I have a friend who has a Ballard with a Schoyen barrel. He says although the barrel looks horrible, the rifle shoots great.

Kind of wonder about the lower rifle under the glass in the show case. Looks like a Winchester 52? Anyone know anything about it?

[GunnyMack]

Zoom in on the bottom metal, looks like a full size magazine box. A sporterized 03 maybe?

[ywaltzucanrknrl]

Yes, probably not a 52, but what made me wonder was the magazine box looks like it has been cut to allow what would be a 22lr sized magazine and also a release installed to the back of the cut.

[marlinman93]

Yes, probably not a 52, but what made me wonder was the magazine box looks like it has been cut to allow what would be a 22lr sized magazine and also a release installed to the back of the cut.

May have started life as an 03-A3 .22 Trainer that's been restocked, and of course fitted with a Peterson barrel.

[marlinman93]

Very neat, great history. I have a friend who has a Ballard with a Schoyen barrel. He says although the barrel looks horrible, the rifle shoots great.

Kind of wonder about the lower rifle under the glass in the show case. Looks like a Winchester 52? Anyone know anything about it?

I always wonder how any fine firearm with a very expensive barrel like a Schoyen gets neglected? The original owner who had Schoyen fit a barrel probably paid as much or more than the gun cost new before he paid Schoyen to fit a new barrel! Most I see are perfect bores.
I have a spare Schoyen full round barrel in .40-50SS that's got a perfect bore, but someone has put multiple scopes on it, so it has extra holes, and dovetails. It's threaded for a Ballard action, and I hope I find a clunker Ballard or action to have the barrel installed on so I can add another Schoyen to my safe.

[ywaltzucanrknrl]

I know he is very happy to have it. I'll have to ask him more about the rifle. He's a bit OCD and I'm sure he didn't do anything that would have contributed to the condition of the barrel----I'm sure it was that way when he acquired the rifle.

But knowing the little I know about the history of Schoyen barrels I would wonder the same thing especially where a lot of those types of rifles were fine target rifles that had beautiful wood and very nice workmanship. Most target shooters are very particular about the condition of their rifles.

[marlinman93]

I know he is very happy to have it. I'll have to ask him more about the rifle. He's a bit OCD and I'm sure he didn't do anything that would have contributed to the condition of the barrel----I'm sure it was that way when he acquired the rifle.

But knowing the little I know about the history of Schoyen barrels I would wonder the same thing especially where a lot of those types of rifles were fine target rifles that had beautiful wood and very nice workmanship. Most target shooters are very particular about the condition of their rifles.

Yes, they really are, and so are collectors! I bought one of my Schoyen Ballard rifles from a friend who also collects Ballard rifles, and was selling it cheap because he said the bore wasn't very good. A bad bore on a Schoyen really hurts their value since that's the main reason you'd want a Schoyen. I looked at the bore before considering if I'd buy it, and it looked very good to my eyes. Certainly not like new, but very nice. We did the deal, and I took it to the range a week later. It shots under 1" off the bench at 100 yds. with my .32-40 loads I used in other Schoyens I own in .32-40, and I mentioned this to him. He then told me he doesn't shoot his collection rifles, and had never fired it. Go figure?

[Ysabel Kid]

Thanks for sharing those pictures!

[RIHMFIRE]

Gosh...I have not been there in years!
Thanks !!!!

[marlinman93]

I'm working a deal on an AW Peterson made telescope right now. Sounds like it will need cleaning, and possible crosshairs also. His scope design actually moved the crosshairs, so could just mean it's adjusted off center. Wont know until we agree on a price and it gets delivered to me.