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The ACGG bench:
Jerry Fisher
One of the nice things about living in Montana’s Flathead valley is the fine American Custom Gunmakers Guild talent we have in the area. Monte Mandarino up in Whitefish, Lee Helgeland in Many Lakes, and here in Ferndale, outside of Bigfork is Jerry Fisher.
I stopped by his shop this afternoon to say hello and he showed me a really nice piece of work on his bench.
Jerry described the rifle to me as follows:
“It’s a Mannlicher stocked Mauser in 7x57, with some improvements”.
It has an Island sight, Schnabel forend tip and heel and toe plates”
I asked him about the nicely figured stick of wood.
“That’s a piece of thin shell Walnut, grown in Oregon. I have had it about twenty years, an extremely good piece of wood”.
I asked him what was to be done next.
“Indexing and finishing off the screws”.
He then told me-
“I will have about four hundred hours in it by the time I am done, and I don’t know when that will be. I usually have two or three going at the same time, and today for instance, I was working on scrapers”.
Myself, being an ACGG Engraver, was curious if the rifle would have any ornamentation before finishing.
“Well, I think its going to Eric Gold, but that’s a ways off yet”.
What a nice project this will be, I told him I hope I can see it when it is completed.
As I drove back to my studio, I reflected on the fine craftsmen in this valley, and the other ACGG members spread all across the USA.
It’s a great time to be a member of ACGG.

Barry-

Thanks for taking us along for the ride!



--Tinker

I have seen Bro. Fisher's work before, always first class! Always enjoy your photo sessions, Barry Lee, thanks.

Jerry does beautiful work.

I think the heal and toe clips are alittle much on a classic rifle like that....I don't care for the midway Schnabel....or that the barrel extends past the end of the stock.
To me both are an eye sore on a Mannlicher stocked rifle.

Post deleted by Run With The Fox

hehe, Its good to see a diversity of opinion. Thanks for the input , custom guns would not be any fun at all if we did not have our preferences. Lets hear some more comments if you have em gentleman.

It's my understanding, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, that the Mannlicher style of stock was designed so there would be more meat to grab at the muzzle end if the rifle had to be used as a staff for climbing or traversing rough terrain.

If this is indeed the case, heel and toe clips would be a necessity to keep the buttstock from being damaged, a full metal buttplate would be even better. I would say if that's the case they would certainly be in line with the original guns.

Perhap the middle schnabel is to facilitate two handed use for climbing.

Barry:

Entering the exhibition room at the Guild show for the first time was a humbling experience. The collective talent of those craftsmen boggles the mind. The quality of the work and the grace of form are evident everywhere. Sure, not everything is to my taste, but that is why they are called custom gunmakers.

It has been said that this is the Golden Age of custom firearms. After a stroll through the exhibition one would be hard pressed not to agree.

Glenn

Thanks Barry!

There have been fullstock rifles since the beginning, this simply a continuum in the tradition of fine gunmaking.
IMHO Schnables are stylistic, not palm knobs.
Best,
Steve

Thanks as always for the pictures Barry.

Jerry is a class guy and a great talent.

My own personal story about Jerry is when I applied for regular membership to the ACGG. I was sitting outside the room where all the prospective new members had their work on display for judging by the current membership (two-thirds of the regular members have to approve of your work to become a regular member). Jerry came by, introduced himself, and struck up a conversation. He knew that I was nervous, pertified is probably a better choice of words and he reassured me that if the guys that signed my application thought I was good enough it would work out just fine for me. Jerry, I found out later, considers himself to be a kind've unofficial ambassador for the Guild and does this for all the new guys.

JOe, I'm sure that Jerry would make you a rifle just like the one pictured - with your improvements of course. I'm only guessing as to the price but $40,000 plus should be close.