Produces shotgun for Prince Charles
Skill and patience trigger growth
for Melbourne gun craftsman

By Barry Hoch
It took just two years in business for word of Frank E. Malin’s craftsmanship to span the ocean and reach the discriminating ear of a lad named Prince Charles.

The proprietor of Frank E. Malin and Sons (Gunmakers) Ltd. of Melbourne, 25 miles west of London, Ontario, is busy today handcrafting a 16-gauge shotgun for the bonny prince, a testament of the success that has seen the young firm increase its annual sales eight times over its first-year receipts.

Working in a trade that requires patience and skill, Malin’s firm is the only producer of hand-made, side-by-side shotguns.

In 1979, the company’s first year in business, it recorded sales of $50,000. Now starting its third year, Malin and Sons is projecting sales of close to $400,000.

The sales projections reflect the growth in demand for Malin’s work. When he started he planned to produce about 20 guns a year, but Malin, 38, now finds himself with orders for more than 50 guns, including some for three years down the road.

The shotguns are meticulously hand-engraved and finished and range in price from a little more than $7,000 up to $25,000. An appointed member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen based in England, the firm also completed an order for the Eaton brothers of Toronto earlier this year.

The shotguns produced in the 1,500-square-foot shop at 19 Union St. in Melbourne combine practical function with an investment potential similar to antique cars. The first gun Malin made sold for $2,800 and was recently resold for $7,800, he sold.

The business is developing better than Malin had originally thought and his guns are now sold across North America with sales in England increasing steadily. "Kind of like shipping coal to Newcastle," he said.

In fact, the business is growing at such a rate that Malin is contemplating putting on an addition to the recent company-purchased facility on Union Street to increase the production space to 3,500 square feet.

Malin said he has three more skilled gunmakers coming from England in the next year and other production increases should result in a doubling of the present staff of five people in that time.

Malin, who has 22 years experience in gunmaking, including seven years apprenticeship training in Birmingham, England, with Webley and Scott, came to Canada in 1976 from his native England specifically to set up his own gunmaking operation.

Malin said it took a long time to set up his business since it required a search across Canada and the U.S. for equipment and parts.

A lack of opportunities in his homeland spurred Malin’s decision to come to Canada. When he was finishing his training under the old apprenticeship program, of which he was one of the last graduates, the gunmaking market was saturated with shops. But since coming to Canada the number of gunmakers in England has dropped sharply to only a handful, Malin said.

A small community, such as Melbourne, is well suited to the gunmaking craft. If it were located in a larger centre, even nearby London, the flow of people off the street could cause costly distractions.

One of Malin’s hand-made guns requires between 500 and 1,000 hours of painstaking and attentive work, the sidelocks take about six weeks to produce.

The engraving on the metal parts such as the sidelocks and the rich French walnut stock are typical of the fine detail of the guns which lends them their value and uniqueness.

Blanks for the gun’s stock can cost more than $1,000. The French walnut has been air-dried for at least 30 years and some of the wood has been drying since it was cut at the turn of the century.

Most engraving is tailor-made for the individual purchaser. It features finely detailed patterns such as scrolls, roses, animals, including pheasants and hunting dogs, and even 24-carat gold inlays.

Most of the engraving is supervised or handled by Malin’s partner, Ron Collings. The pair met while apprenticing together in Birmingham.

Malin wanted to produce the finest guns possible so in the beginning he sent pieces for engraving back to Collings in England, since he considered him a better engraver. Eventually, Malin convinced Collings to come to Canada in 1980 and join him as partner.

And as the name of the company suggests, Malin is looking to the future, although his son is still too young to start learning the craft. There are also plans to start an apprenticeship program when the staff has doubled to 10 people.

Both Malin and Collings are pleased by the general renewed interest in craftmaking in this country in the last decade. They feel they can attract enough people to the trade with the patience and devotion needed in working by hand.

The gunmakers may have to set up their program on their own though. Both lament the lack of apprenticeship programs and the lack of emphasis on a skilled trade as a worthwhile career in the country.

This was reflected in initial discussions with a federal government department to ascertain if there were funds available to start an apprenticeship program. The best the government could offer was a six-month assistance program.

Malin said an apprentice would not even be close to earning his own keep, let alone working on his own after six months. It takes considerable time for the apprentice to become confident enough in his own abilities.

The government department said they would look around for other possible programs, "but we may have to proceed (to an apprenticeship program) on our own," Malin said.

Following my advice of buy the gun not the name, I have just acquired a new toy.

Frank Malin was ahead of the curve,today its OK; for Purdey to import actions and barrels from Italy, finish same and Market them as a Purdey!My how perspective changes over time.
I first met Frank Malin 1978-9 at that time he was manager of a gun shop in Woodstock, Ontario,named, "Ontario Gun Sports." The store was owned by Frank,s brother; who was unfortunately killed in a U.K. car accident.
Following the death of his brother, Frank established a gun making busines in Melbourne, Ontario.He was joined in the business by Ron Collings a very talented english engraver.
Frank imported actions and barrels, In the white, from the U.K. and Europe. the guns were completely finished at the Melborne location.U.K. proof testing was an optional extra. By this time Frank had hired from the U.K.
Tony Tomlinson, actioner, ex; Churchill *
David Catchpole,stocker,ex; Holland & Holland and Gallyons*
Peter Cook,engraver and actioner.
[*both sadly deceased]
The guns produced were in the best English style and sold for 50% of the cost of English guns of the period.
Frank ever the business promoter, decided to make agun as a wedding present for H.R.H Prince Charles.[A 16 G.sidelock ejector built to the Prince,s specifications.}
By this time I had high hopes for the Malin business. I introduced Frank to my late friend Geoffrey Boothroyd.The result was an article in the British magazine," Shooting Times" reviewing the business and the gun built for the Prince.
It was about this time that Arthur Troth,stocker and metal working wizard and Nick Mackinson master barrel and gunmaker became associated with the business.
Shortly there after things took a Turn for the worse,likely due to over expansion. The result was the business was sold to Barnett international[A Cross Bow manufacture].Following the sale, Frank was named Production Manager and the business was relocated to London ,Ontario.[The book,"Game Gun" by Richard Grozik,contains many pictures of the Malin shop in London and the craftsmen Employed].
The next chapter is a grey area! The business was relocated to Florida and the company name was changed to Saxon Arms.It was at this time I believe that some guns were made that carried the name, Charles Boswell.
Whilst in this transition the Ontario Provincial police charged Malin with 23 counts of fraud and one count of theft.Frank was was found guilty on only two counts of fraud. These charges were related to deposits on guns that were not delivered.
I was to be called as an expert witness, this never occured. The police found that with two minor exceptions the charges were without foundation.
Malin Guns represent excellent value. If you happen to own a boxlock with the Malin name I can attest to the fact that it was made by W.& C. Scott.
Frank Malin passed away on March 8 2006 at the age of 63, God rest his soul.

Thanks for the well informed write up regarding the history of Frank Malin.
A number of years back I became the second owner of a pair of 20 gauge over unders with the Charles Boswell name as well as the Malin name with a London address BUT not saying either Canada or England. The guns were very well made and nicely engraved and handled beautifully. I have always wondered who made the actions; my guess is they are Italian but I could never find a similar action in spite of asking many well informed gun people. There were no proof marks---would have been nice to have. If you can shed some light, it would be appreciated.
Bill