doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Tom Shelhamer Letter

I’m in Kalispell, Montana for the Gunshow. Jerry Fisher’s widow found this letter in his papers recently and brought copies for Jerry’s friends to enjoy. Monte Manderino let me take a picture of his and he shared that when he contacted Jerry early on about apprenticing with him, Jerry shared those words with him…. I guess they both turned out to “passable” gun makers…. 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

that is really interesting. All wonderful names in your post.

Love it. Thanks for posting.

John

Edited to add that I have got to get to the Kalispell gun show sometime.

The Kalispell gun show has become one of my favorites. There are always tables full of "new stuff" coming in from old timers closets... and there are are some amazing gun makers from that area that are always in attendance... it's fun watching them gather and look at a custom rifle, not to criticize, but to discuss how certain aspects of the work may have been done... they always show great respect for one another and revere those gun artists that have passed on. It is well worth the time & expense to attend. The spring show is easier on the wallet as hotels during the September show still have their tourist season rates in place. The NW Montana Arms club puts on a great show... the staff is amazing and it keeps growing because of their efforts.

Thanks for sharing the letter ... as I read it and think of all the gunmakers who have passed and the few that are coming on board I wonder if Tom's wise word's could not be expanded now to say "gunmaker - probably the poorest paid skilled labor known to man"

"not responsible for fire or theft", wonder if he ever had to employ that clause... don't think it would go over today...

You might be surprised how that clause is still in effect at businesses & repair shops shops today.... read the tiny print when you sign off for them to do work....

"not responsible for fire or theft"
It struck me that I might have been using that fine print for the past several decades~ Thankfully never needed.
I was up to see Celeste Fisher a few months back. She showed me this letter.
It is a pretty great piece of historic memorabilia, if one understands the context.
I have a whole file of letters from Jerry, and Winston Churchill and others from the days that we all hand wrote letters. They both were a good correspondents.