Early October ‘23 I made a long-term business arrangement with Old Guard Manufacturing in Poland. We exchanged dozens of emails finalizing a joint manufacture of a Museum quality 1600’s wheelock carbine based on a Dutch/German museum model to be distributed exclusively in the USA.
The wheel-lock itself and saddle ring Stocked w/ramrod would be Polish and the barrel would be a USA Rice match grade smoothbore octagon to tapered round 30” .62 (20ga). Final fitting, sights, underlugs, pinning completed in the USA. The agreement was set at 3 units per month for 36 units over 12 months with continuous options, which was a maximum production rate for Old Guard including accessories such as period iron mould and screwdriver, etc. All serial numbered to the gun. We agreed and I provided full prototype payment week one December, 2023. USA retail set as a more affordable $2289 shipped CONUS in wooden cartons beginning March 2024. This wheelock carbine would be top museum quality, worthy of collectors and shooters.
We agreed that I would purchase the Rice barrels and ship 2 to Poland for fitting no later than 12/15/2023, one to be shipped as a completed prototype to USA before the end of January ‘24 for USA test and evaluation, the 2nd barrel for a production pattern in Poland...and final production and delivery for the first 3 units to begin by end of March '24.
Most important that the agreement was to include continuous drawings and photos of our mutually approved prototype to begin mid December once Old Guard completed its normal production of its prepaid inventory and confirmed by Old Guard as completed.
I received one partial rough drawing early January. I incorporated and invested in a 1st class website to provide the drawings and photos to potential purchasers as prototype/production began to commence. After asking for production prototype drawings/photos several times in January in order to confirm our mutual agreement of production criteria, I received a the comment “do you want quality or quantity?”. It was obvious that the prototype would not arrive in January in order for 3 units a month to begin in March. By the end of January, I had booked 8 word-of-mouth deposits from museums and collectors for deliveries beginning end of March @ 3 serial numbered units per month.
No further prototype drawings or photos or communication received in January. Follow-up communications again for prototype drawings and photos in January extended to week one in February without response. Week 2 February no response, week 3 February no response, week 4 February no response, week 1 March no response!
Obvious promised deliveries beginning end of March or even stretched to April without a prototype by even late February was a reality. Continuous follow-ups regarding prototype in February and week one March received no response.
I refunded the 8 deposits mid March and notified Old Guard. I requested the return of the December prototype payment from Old Guard.
I will offer for sale the top quality USA Rice match grade barrels for $249 each ppd CONUS in late April. These magnificent in the white barrels have a 1” octagon for 10” with tapered round section 19.687 long. Overall length 30”. Muzzle dim of .900 and taper up to the 1” octagon dim. This leaves plenty of material for the precut dovetail front sight…with wall thickness .140 down to .085 . The front pre-cut dovetail sight is 3/8” wide .055 deep. The rear sight and 3 underlugs pre-dovetailed 1/2” wide and .055 deep. The breech plug w/2” square tang length is hand fitted to ensure the seal. On the bottom flat where the breech plug meets barrel it is witness marked so if breech plug is removed all that will be required to ensure the plug is timed and sealed again is to align the witness mark. Rice company Custom logo and caliber is engraved on bottom flat as well as serial number. No other stamps on barrels. The touch holes are not drilled. The barrels will need a modicum amount of draw-filing of machined finish if at all. Photos of bbl will be available. These barrels are magnificent!
Obviously I am in deep regret.
Respectfully,
Larry
The wheel-lock itself and saddle ring Stocked w/ramrod would be Polish and the barrel would be a USA Rice match grade smoothbore octagon to tapered round 30” .62 (20ga). Final fitting, sights, underlugs, pinning completed in the USA. The agreement was set at 3 units per month for 36 units over 12 months with continuous options, which was a maximum production rate for Old Guard including accessories such as period iron mould and screwdriver, etc. All serial numbered to the gun. We agreed and I provided full prototype payment week one December, 2023. USA retail set as a more affordable $2289 shipped CONUS in wooden cartons beginning March 2024. This wheelock carbine would be top museum quality, worthy of collectors and shooters.
We agreed that I would purchase the Rice barrels and ship 2 to Poland for fitting no later than 12/15/2023, one to be shipped as a completed prototype to USA before the end of January ‘24 for USA test and evaluation, the 2nd barrel for a production pattern in Poland...and final production and delivery for the first 3 units to begin by end of March '24.
Most important that the agreement was to include continuous drawings and photos of our mutually approved prototype to begin mid December once Old Guard completed its normal production of its prepaid inventory and confirmed by Old Guard as completed.
I received one partial rough drawing early January. I incorporated and invested in a 1st class website to provide the drawings and photos to potential purchasers as prototype/production began to commence. After asking for production prototype drawings/photos several times in January in order to confirm our mutual agreement of production criteria, I received a the comment “do you want quality or quantity?”. It was obvious that the prototype would not arrive in January in order for 3 units a month to begin in March. By the end of January, I had booked 8 word-of-mouth deposits from museums and collectors for deliveries beginning end of March @ 3 serial numbered units per month.
No further prototype drawings or photos or communication received in January. Follow-up communications again for prototype drawings and photos in January extended to week one in February without response. Week 2 February no response, week 3 February no response, week 4 February no response, week 1 March no response!
Obvious promised deliveries beginning end of March or even stretched to April without a prototype by even late February was a reality. Continuous follow-ups regarding prototype in February and week one March received no response.
I refunded the 8 deposits mid March and notified Old Guard. I requested the return of the December prototype payment from Old Guard.
I will offer for sale the top quality USA Rice match grade barrels for $249 each ppd CONUS in late April. These magnificent in the white barrels have a 1” octagon for 10” with tapered round section 19.687 long. Overall length 30”. Muzzle dim of .900 and taper up to the 1” octagon dim. This leaves plenty of material for the precut dovetail front sight…with wall thickness .140 down to .085 . The front pre-cut dovetail sight is 3/8” wide .055 deep. The rear sight and 3 underlugs pre-dovetailed 1/2” wide and .055 deep. The breech plug w/2” square tang length is hand fitted to ensure the seal. On the bottom flat where the breech plug meets barrel it is witness marked so if breech plug is removed all that will be required to ensure the plug is timed and sealed again is to align the witness mark. Rice company Custom logo and caliber is engraved on bottom flat as well as serial number. No other stamps on barrels. The touch holes are not drilled. The barrels will need a modicum amount of draw-filing of machined finish if at all. Photos of bbl will be available. These barrels are magnificent!
Obviously I am in deep regret.
Respectfully,
Larry
