Parker Ackley didn't do the best-finished custom rifles on the Enfield action, but he would do one in just about any caliber a customer wanted, at a price that ordinary shooters could afford. Always appreciated that. A guy I worked with in upstate New York had a Remington 1917 sporter in .228 Ackley that he adored, and I wanted. It shot, and we had fun making ammo for it.
Ackley also answered questions from the young and cash-strapped; I always appreciated that, too. (Couldn't spell but communicated perfectly! Anybody remember the joy/agony of waiting for a reply to a letter, those paper things?). I like that this generous spirit is also alive on this forum--we need to hang onto that as well as the tradition of craftsmanship and experimention that those old guys left us.
