Parts & Advice - Go to Dixon's

[steved]

I am building my first gun and reached a critical point where I had too many questions to post here - questions requiring hands on and visual inspection. So, I made another 2-hour pilgrimage to Dixon's in Kempton, PA, the place where I picked up my blank and components. Chuck Dixon, the owner, spent an hour and a half with me, answering my check-list of questions. While doing so, he went around his shop, pulling all sorts of guns off the wall (originals, ones he built, contemporary gunbuilders on consignment)to illustrate some of the fine points that I needed help with -slimness of fore stock, plane of cheek piece, transition of wrist to butt stock, etc.

For all of his expert advice and hands on teaching, dispensed for free, I "rewarded" Dixon's by purchasing a measly $70 bucks worth powder, parts, & tools - far short of what his time and effort was worth to me. I encourage all forum members within reasonable driving distance to spend the extra time and effort to visit and patronize his shop. The ability to ask questions and exchange ideas is worth far more than the convenience of picking up parts on-line.

PS: There happens to be a public BP shooting range located exactly half-way between my house and Dixons, right along Interstate 78 in Clinton, NJ. So, I just had to stop and spend a few hours exercising my T/C Hawken and patterning my 12ga Pedersoli double for upcoming Spring Gobbler. What a great double header - a trip to the range and a trip to Dixon's

 

[RiverRat]

Hey Jersey, I agree with you 100%. Dixon's shop is a real gem and they will get all my buisness when I can get down there. I found that shop around 8 years ago and I try to get there often. I visited Cabela's last week, and it was okay, but I can spend the entire day at Dixon's and not have enough time to really check out everything that interests me. :thumbsup:I grew up in Jersey, Winfield Park, exit 136 on the GSP eace:

 

[steved]

Hey RiverRat,

I too can spend the whole day there, and intend to do so during their annual Gunmakers fair.

I'm the opposite of you: Grew up in PA (Buckingham, Bucks County)and now live in North Joisey - Exit 160 where you can find 5 shopping malls within 5 minutes- ughh!

 

[bob1961]

I'm the opposite of you: Grew up in PA (Buckingham, Bucks County)and now live in North Joisey - Exit 160 where you can find 5 shopping malls within 5 minutes- ughh!

thats funny....i lived in N.J. and moved to PA 1984....new brunswick and the area then to south brunswick county down by princeton....glad i got out of there :crackup: ..................bob

 

[Johnny Tremain]

When I read the intro to his book, I hid all my power tools. Its the best book Ive read in years.

Just mad I didnt know about his shop when I was chris-crossing the USA a few years ago :-(

 

[F.G. Ford]

Could anyone tell me when " Dixions " gathering will be this year.
I went a few years ago and really enjoyed it, and would look forward to visiting again.
Best Regards.
" The Old Ford "

 

[steved]

Old Ford,

The Gunmakers Fair at Dixon's will be on July 29-31. You can check out the details and seminar schedule at www.dixonmuzzleloading.com.

 

[thehorn]

The fair will run from Friday 7/29 thru Sunday 7/31.

:RO:The Dixon's - Chuck, son Greg & Mrs. Dixon too - are real good people as many here have stated. It's a rare thing these days where a merchant will do as much for the customer as the Dixon's do. If anyone deserves a place in heaven for promoting muzzleloading, it's the Dixons.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Thank you very much!!
Best Regards

" The Old Ford "

 

[mikee51848]

I guess I'm pretty lucky in that Dixon's is about 45 - 50 minutes from me. I went in there with a stuck breech plug, from a rifle I didn't buy there, which he removed for no charge. :what:
I also felt bad and so bought some raffle tickets and about $30 worth of supplies (this time). But I'll be back... :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[AeroE]

Does Dixon's publish a catalog, or do folks from far away just call them up find out what they have for sale?

 

[IronCrickett]

Dixon's does not publish a catalog. If you call looking for something, chances are very good that they will have it, except for Getz and Rice barrels...

Later
I.C.

 

[john s mosby]

I've bought everything short of a whole gun at Dixon's and they treat you the same no matter if you spend $2.95 or $100. A year or so ago I wanted a nice shaped raw horn to make a F&I War style horn, Greg Dixon spend half an hour digging through every horn thay had in the box and ended up going in the back room and bringing out another big box. Then he spend another 10 minutes talking about the kind of wood to use for the plug, etc.
He's ordered sights for me, shirts in my size, and other small stuff I needed and called when it came in. What more could you want.

 

[mikee51848]

Dixon's does not publish a catalog. If you call looking for something, chances are very good that they will have it, except for Getz and Rice barrels...

Later
I.C.

I dunno about that, I was just there and saw Getz barrels in their barrel rack. :hmm:

 

[scott k]

I tought saw Rice barrels there.
Lehigh...

 

[IronCrickett]

Sorry about that...Guess he's stocking some swamped barrels now. Previously, they'd only stocked Green Mountain and other straight barrels...My mistake...
Later
I.C.

 

[Jon in MI]

It's great to hear that I have the right book for learning how to build. I picked up tulle kit on Tuesday and one of the things that was included is a copy of "The Art of Building the Pennsylvania Longrifle". I'm reading the intro as I sit here now. I'm very excited about my first gun build and I'm sure I'll be asking questions very soon.

 

[NC-Wes]

Kinda in the same boat here.. Doing research on my first project (Just a little overwhelmed by the amount of info I have to digest). Looking forward to the Dixons Gunmakers' Fair. Hope to find a "well of inspriration" there.

So see you guys there!