Gunsmoke...

[Pinkerton]

Went there once, never again...

Pinkerton OUT!

[ldmaster]

Two stories, one personal and one anecdotal.

Personal. Two M1 carbines were given to Rich Wyatt in Alma Colorado in trade for two Remington 870 shotguns. The Carbines were collectable and had been given to the town by a government program to distribute surplus weapons to police agencies. The guns were not import marked, they were from USGI stocks. Arguably, at the time, the guns were worth 800 to 1000 apiece, I had seen both of them. Chief tells us that Wyatt took the guns and promised to provide two 870's to the department.

The 870's never showed up, ever. I confronted Wyatt on the issue and he told me to keep my mouth shut or he'd sue me. I said go ahead, and have called him a thief to his face ever since. We are not friends.

I has a very close friend and colleague who's a gun collector as well as a cop. He's the kind of collector that only buys very very pristine S&W and Colt pistols. He'd found an unfired example of a Colt 1911, lightweight commander I believe and sent it to Wyatt at Gunsmoke for some work. This was right after Wyatt had gone in search of some hot man love at Jefferson County Jail, his ex had seized the store and it's contents (there was nothing left) and he'd been forced to move. My friend's Colt disappeared, wasn't seized, it just disappeared.

I've heard other stories that I can't verify about very collectible guns "disappearing" while in the possession of Wyatt. I worked with a man who went to high school with Wyatt and knew the family personally, his opinion of Wyatt was that he's always been someone you shouldn't trust. But this is only opinion.

MY experience proves him to be a braggart, thief, liar and bully - and he's welcome to sue me anytime he likes - nothing I've stated here is any less than the truth, except where noted that it's opinion.

[Fondis Firearms]

I can't believe this guy is still in business with those kind of business pracitces... Why hasn't the ATF shut him down?

Where is his shop so I don't accidentally shop there?

[ldmaster]

He doesn't mess with guns SHIPPED to him, this is only conjecture, but if it doesn't show on the books - it doesn't exist. So he wont have issues with compliance. Guns brought in for repair are SUPPOSED to go into the books, but trade ins and the like - nope.

I know one guy who traded his WWII era remington 1911 hand-me-down gun into the old gunsmoke for a "custom" Springfield 1911 - it was simply a loaded package A1 w nitesites. He said his gun was still in the box, but he got talked into doing a trade plus 500 for the Springfield. I told him what his older gun was worth, he came unglued. I also showed him my receipt for 550 for the same SA 1911 (no nitesites) I'd purchased that same year (2006).

I think that as gun nuts we all have this concept that gun owners are universally cool honest people with the same passions and goals, what I've learned is that nothing is farther from the truth. Guns are a BUSINESS that some have capitalized on to make a buck, couple that with the patriotic aspect of 2nd amendment supporters and all you have to do is rant a little about the "gubmint" and people will flock to you. That being said, there are LOTS of truly honest and enthusiatic business owners of gun related businesses - but you have to take your time to decide exactly WHO is worth doing business with. The guy above had walked into Gunsmoke to look into modifying his WWII 1911 to something he could carry, got talked into the "new improved" 1911 by Wyatt (according to him).

[BPTactical]

By law ALL firearms that a dealer receives in the course of business must be logged as an "acquisition". Gunsmithing,transfer, consignment, trade in or outright purchase doesn't matter, if it is brought in by the business, it must be logged in. If there is a firearm in his inventory that is not logged/documented he is dumber than dirt.
Bet his ATF audit/inspections could be real interesting if he doesn't.

[Irving]

ldmaster is clearly a local gun shop hater. We don't need that kind of attitude here bub.

[ldmaster]

You like the guy, that's your business - why the personal attack? You and Wyatt are buddies? There is a long list of the people he has taken advantage of.

But since I'm a local gunshop hater - care to name another gun shop that I'm supposed to hate?

[Irving]

I used a winky smiley for a very specific purpose.

Wyatt and Gunsmoke can all line up to kiss my ass.

[SamuraiCO]

Wow. Was going to go there and check out their shooting instructions. Will keep looking and never step in his shop. What a poor example of someone in the shooting world.

[ldmaster]

For snapping Irving, SAW the smiley face, but I'm pretty dense and defensive sometimes - I got it, but didn't GET it!?!?!?!