I assume Mr. Jack is still with us. I have admired his work for many years after a former member of the old SSMBBS, Andrew St Pierre, put me onto him way back in the '90's.
He and his son Cole are Master Gunsmiths that can do anything when it comes to fine gun repair and building. When Steve put this gun up the other day, I just felt like sharing it. Great caliber, classic design, superb work:
https://stevebarnettfineguns.com/custom-...t-7x57?rq=19364OH, fwiw, I'm not shilling for Steve, jOe. He don't need me...
JR
Just found where Mr. Jack passed in February of this year. God done called another Master Gunsmith back home.
JR
Damn. That’s too bad. He was a good one.
My first doublegun was a Winchester Model 24. Yep, ugly af...but back then, to me, it might as well had been a Purdey. The 24 was given to me, a very generous gift from a mentor of mine, but it had a few issues. I remember reading an article about Jack Haugh in some magazine and went searching for his number. I ended calling him at home (I think I found his number in the yellow pages or directory assistance?)...I figured he was just too famous and too busy to talk to a kid and fix his crappy double gun...I couldn’t have been more wrong. He was one of the nicest fellas I’ve ever had the pleasure of chatting with. He made me feel like that 24 really was something special & belonged in the realm of “fine” guns. He gave me very specific directions on how to ship the gun (something I’d never done before), and in less than 3 weeks, I had it back....and he only wanted me to pay for the return shipping. The gun was totally fixed, all it’s issues remedied. I couldn’t believe it. He even sent along a nice note reminding me what to do and what not to do in regards to the 24.
I have since gifted the 24 to a nephew who still uses it to this day to harvest Turkeys and other small game. It hasn’t had a single mechanical issue since Jack sent it back to me in 1995.
He was a great guy.
Wonderful story, Dustin. Thanks.
SRH
Great memories, Dustin.
Cole has done some work for me. I think he is still in the game, but, it was a few years past. He took the bits out of the Uggy I sent him, annealed them, stoned and deburred them, and re-hardened them. “Just saves trouble, part of every Spanish gun job” was what he told me. I hadn’t asked for that work. The gun was better than when it left, even if I had a few niggling complaints.
Good people.
Best,
Ted
I use Cole for all my Spanish gun work, since he knows them inside and out. Fast and reasonable. I had a gun shop find of a Zabala Hermanos boxlock that wouldn't naturally open wide enough without extra force to load it. He essentially rebuilt it.
Great person to do business with.
Bruce
I've had Cole do some work on a couple of my doubles. He did a fine job on the guns and was good to do business with.
Last I talked with Cole, about a year ago, he indicated that his dad wasn't doing well. From what I know, Jack was one of the masters that could do everything well from metalwork to fine engraving.
Years and years ago I bought a Parker 10 gauge EH from him. It is the earliest known hammerless (PGCA records) and may be the very first hammerless they made though we will never know if it was.
Beautiful gun...may he rest in piece.