center mark tulle

[JOHN F]

just got back from the rendevous ..saw a center mark tulle was told they have a grenadier version .does anyone know about their kits and poss ballpark prices???thanks guys

 

[phoenix511]

I've had a CenterMark fusil for at least 20 years and its an excellent firearm. Davis lock marked "TVLLE" 42" octagon-to-round 20ga (0.620") barrel, walnut stock, iron fittings, brass turtle front sight, "white lightning" touch hole liner

Balances nicely about at the transition area from octagon to round. I've tried shooting trap with it but the long barrel seems to make it swing slowly and I'm almost always behind the bird. Shooting a patched round ball gives satisfactory results considering no rear sight. Where I hunt whitetails, there are numerous shots from tree stands at 30 to 40 yards, which is about where my skill level is.

I've never regretted this purchase.

 

[Gemoke]

A friend of mine has one he bought a couple of years ago. 62cal 38 in.barrel. it shoots well and he has no problems as far as I know.I don`t think they have a kit. when he bought his at the trade show in Kalamazoo Mich. the prices ran from $900 to $1100.

 

[Le Grand]

According to their magazine ads, CenterMark is alive and well, making kits, in white-assembled, and finished guns. They also make the "Fusil Fin," a custom carved and engraved version. Their phone number is 716-679-0276.

 

[joeboleo1]

According to CenterMark brochure (2007)Grenadier model Kit: $ 875, In white 1015 and finshed 1175. (716) 679-0276

 

[Tommy Bruce]

Centermark makes a nice gun, and if you keep your eye out on this and some of the other bp message boards they can be had in the 7-800.00 range.

 

[Okwaho]

I don't know about the Fusil fin but I have always felt that the Centermark fusil was an underated gun that with a little tweaking could look pretty good.
Tom Patton

 

[emptyquiver]

The gun is great for either treking or in the field, it is a joy to carry and pleasing to the eye. Close attention is paid to details and fit and finish. Given the cost of parts and the amount of labor involved, it is a good investment that you will enjoy for many years. But I maybe partial.

 

[tg]

It would not take much to make the Centermark or many of the other French guns with the Pied de Vache stock shape into reasonablr reproductions if the makers had chosen to do a little research and followed through in design with the minor changes it would take to make the guns very close to the originals.

 

[emptyquiver]

There is no doubt that their are some shortcomings in design. I noticed it after owning and handleing a few fusils over the years. Out of about a dozen Ive built for myself, half have the pied de vache style stock with either a 4 1/2 to 5 inch drop, with cast furniture and in a varity of woods, the rest are the C style that have a 3 1/2" to 4" drop. Over twenty years ago when the first came out of the carver, the dummy was kept with less drop to offset the cost of the blanks. The response from the customers for an affordable reproduction was reasuring and it was decided that the stock would carry this style. As the years went by there were more builders entering the market some good some poor, the decision was made that the company had to expand into another direction, so as a result we copied from oringinal smooth rifle designs and started to create an alternative to the fusil. Every gun ever built was treated as if it was our own, if ever there was a problem the piece was either scrapped or, if repairable it was sold at a reduced price to a customer that was made known to the blem, but after building a few hundred you dont make the same mistakes twice. It becomes too costly. I would suggest a kit for those who wish to tweak things abit. They are really quite easy to assemble, but then again I could probably do it in my sleep. Good Hunting.

 

[Mike Brooks]

The gun is great for either treking or in the field, it is a joy to carry and pleasing to the eye. Close attention is paid to details and fit and finish. Given the cost of parts and the amount of labor involved, it is a good investment that you will enjoy for many years. But I maybe partial.

So, we can all assume you are the owner of Center Mark? That's one thing I dislike about the internet, you never know who you're talking too. :wink:

 

[Deadeye]

Emptyquiver, I bought mine from Centermark "in the white", when disassembling it, I found that
the front barrel pin had gone in at an angle and instead of removing it and correcting it a short piece was just stuck in the other side to make it look like it went though. Was this you who did this? It was a bitch getting it out. But I did and I finished it and it's been a great gun otherwise. I love it and it's won 40 to 50 trade gun shoots but at the time I would have liked to choke you or whoever did it. Maybe this was one you did in your sleep.
Deadeye
Deadeye

 

[Mike Brooks]

Emptyquiver, I bought mine from Centermark "in the white", when disassembling it, I found that
the front barrel pin had gone in at an angle and instead of removing it and correcting it a short piece was just stuck in the other side to make it look like it went though. Was this you who did this? It was a bitch getting it out. But I did and I finished it and it's been a great gun otherwise. I love it and it's won 40 to 50 trade gun shoots but at the time I would have liked to choke you or whoever did it. Maybe this was one you did in your sleep.
Deadeye
Deadeye

:haha: and people wonder why so few gunmakers participate on these forums. :wink:

 

[emptyquiver]

No Mike, just a close friend who helped the owner catch up on back orders when the company changed hands. Continued to build there for quite a bit. Up until three years ago when I had to walk away, needed to catch up on things in my own shop. It angers me to hear of your issues with the front barrel pin. I cannot believe that it would of went out of the shop that way and it is embarassing to hear of it. I have spent many hours on that jig, drilling the stocks and barrels for pinning and cannot imagine what would of caused the problem, the jig in my opinion was fool proof. To think that one of the guys would of done this is unbelievable in my mind, knowing their abilities. But if you say that it was that way, then I cannot argue. Its just plain embarassing to say the least. I would send it back and have it corrected, I know the owner and believe me he is a fanatic, and would never let something like this happen. As a matter of fact I will be at the shop this weekend and will bring the issue to his attention. PM me so I can pull your purchase order.

 

[JOHN F]

empty ,could you possibly get me a brochure or could youhelp me contact centermark . i have called about a zillion times with no answer...thanks

 

[Deadeye]

Emptyquiver, this happened at least 10 yrs ago
and I corrected it. The pin must have hit a hard spot and went way off line. I could see how that could happen but driving the short piece into the other side to hide it was what ticked me off. Since this was an "in the white" gun, he had to know I was going to take it apart and find it.
Deadeye

 

[emptyquiver]

Deadeye, it hasn't been much more then ten years since the company changed hands. Things are starting to take shape now. At the time we moved the tooling up here we were inundated with repairs and canceled orders. We had a hard time getting things re-established and clearing up issues. Iam glad that you cleared up the time frame for me. Believe me when I say that there is no person at the shop that would stoop to such a low level of craftmanship and deception. At that time I was doing the Fins with relief carving and engraving, and if they are still offering them, then they are being done by someone else. I became burned out and hit the wall. I needed a rest and to return to working on my own styles. I had guns in various stages in vises and sitting in corners for quite a while, and I needed to straighten things out in my own shop. At any rate Iam happy to hear that she shoots well for you and that you have done so well at the shoots. It was those E.R. Shaw barrels. Now I understand Hoyt has a hand in them. Good Hunting.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Would you be so kind as to tell us all where CenterMark is NOW located, and how they can be reached? I used to see ads for the company in Muzzle Blasts, all the time. However, about 7 years ago, my brother called the company and got very rude answers to his quest for a LH version with a different length barrel from whoever he talked to on the phone. As a result, he chose to have his gun built by a custom builder. I used to think the products that CenterMark was selling were better than average guns, but I have not seen a new gun in the past 5 years. I was not even sure they were still in business until this thread was posted here. Is the Company advertising anywhere?? Do they have a website??

Thanks. Glad to know there are men around like you who are willing to help new folks get a business up and running correctly. :hatsoff:

 

[emptyquiver]

They are located in Fredonia, New York. Seven years ago they were, and still are building Lefties. I myself am a southpaw, and have built quite a few guns with the locks on the wrong side. As far as advertising in Muzzle Blasts, I do not know at this time. From September up until November it is a tough time to reach the owner in the shop. He is a large grape grower and it is harvest time during this period. When I go to the shop this weekend I will have answers to your questions. If you are in need of any spare parts, PM me and I will see that they are sent out or perhaps I have them here.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I will wait to hear from you. I don't own a CenterMark. I was not in a position to buy one back when my Brother was looking at them. The response he got turned me off, too. He called them because they did advertise a LH gun. He just didn't want the barrel as long as they provided.

I am just glad to know they still exist, still are in business, and that whoever is making the guns is still producing a good product. I was hoping that asking for the address and phone number so that its posted here, we might encourage the owners to advertise here, to get them more business. :thumbsup: