G.A. Nordhiem built the finest half stock California rifles, in Yreka, in the 1860's. Lee Paul built the finest Hawken replicas, in Yreka, in the 1960's. I like to think I am carrying on a tradition by building the finest flintlock rifles, in Yreka, today. I could go on about tradition and authenticity and how I don't use power tools and how I rifle my own barrels etc. etc., but I won't, this has been done too much. What I do is build the finest functioning flintlock rifles anywhere. I excel in wood to metal fit, sharp lines and pleasing architecture. I use only the finest barrels and locks. I can build any of the Pennsylvania schools but prefer to concentrate on the Lancaster and, Southern mountain rifle areas. I use Green Mountain barrels on straight barreled guns and Getz and Colraine on swamped barreled guns. I use the finest touch hole liners, black english flint and L&R or Siler locks. My rifles are as fast as a flintlock can be made. Seldom do I copy an original gun. I have been known to use Yeager triggers in a Lancaster trigger guard and poured pewter nose caps on a German Yeager rifle. Why? Because it just looks great!

Today there are quite a few rifle smiths building fancy carved and engraved long rifles that are nice but not great. I build a relatively plain flintlock rifle that functions perfectly and looks great. I built my first flintlock in 1973 and have never owned a percussion gun. To say I know a little about flintlocks is an understatement. After 27 years the only thing that rivals shooting a good flintlock rifle is driving my 1932 Ford Hotrod!!