Hi folks,
I have noticed alot of intrest in the old CVA MT. rifles and have a little history for those who care.
The CVA MT. Rifle was born a 1/4 mile from my house, the very first rifle (prototype) was built for CVA by Don Kammerer, I was a teenager at the time. Don had a booth at Friendship and so did CVA and he became friends with Dave Silk who was the Pres. (and owner I think) and as Don was a common man he wanted to see an economical rifle on the market that was a little closer to a period style halfstock that was also a shooter. Dave Silk agreed and Don began working on a rifle that could be mass produced,looked good,and shot well. Dave took Don to Spain on several occasions and took a piece of a Douglas barrel with him and accually showed them how to make a proper barrel. I still have a cross sectioned piece of that very barrel he made in their factory.
I spent alot of time in Don's shop and watched him build that first rifle, the rifle had a Douglas barrel and the gun he used as a pattern I think was a J.P. Gemmer squirrel rifle, it was a little slimmer and lighter than a full blown Hawkin.
I have all of Don's stuff and I have pics of this rifle somewhere
CVA sent a fellow to work with Don for a summer to learn about building rifles. I was in the shop alot that summer and even went squirrel hunting with him but I am sorry to say I can't remember his name. I know he went to work for Lyman and was inspirational in the GPR.
CVA invited several gun writers on a Texas whitetail hunt to try out the "new MT Rifles" and Don was invited, the only other name I remember is John Wooters but I know there were others. There was a little booklet that came with the rifles then and there was a picture of Don on that hunt.
I don't think any of the production rifles had Douglas barrels just the prototype that Don built. The stocks on the Mt. Rifles were maple there other guns were beech or something but the MT Rifle was maple I have several and also still have one stock that is like one from a kit that I can build a rifle around.
Don Kammerer challenged Don Davis to a match(at Friendship) where Don D. could use his custom OH gun and Don K. went to the CVA booth and took one off of the shelf. They set up a match at the end of the day after the last regular relay they started shooting when Don Kammerer had finished he heard Don Davis shoot then scream something and when Don K. walked down there Don Davis said he had double charged and shot one out in the white so Don K. let Don Davis shoot another shot and Don Davis won the match by one point but there is a picture of Don Davis pointing at his target and has his finger over the bad shot. There was an article in Muzzle Blasts about this match years ago with pics this is how the off the shelf match got started.
Well I've rambled enough for now hope this was interesting to some of you,if I can remember any thing else I'll post it
Regards Longball 58
