TVManufacturing…..

[Pete G]

By the time you polish the metal and shape the wood it will look new.

Exactly...and then the parts are browned

 

[Notchy Bob]

Regarding tang bolts, as discussed in posts #10-13: I ordered a fowler from Jackie Brown maybe 10 years ago. It's one of my favorite guns now. Jackie did a good job with it overall, but the first time I took it to the range, the trigger bound up after a few shots, and I couldn't fire it. This was a single trigger mounted on a plate, not pinned through the stock. The tang screw was a wood screw. I took off the guard and removed the trigger assembly and the lock, and everything seemed fine so I reassembled it. It worked great for a few shots, then bound up again. I took it apart again, looked a little harder, and found the mortise for the trigger assembly was longer than necessary, and with recoil, the trigger assembly would move back, a little at a time, until it would bind up on the rear end of the trigger bow. In studying the situation, I found (fortunately!) that Jackie had bored a small diameter pilot hole for the tang screw, and it lined up exactly with the lug on the trigger plate. I was able to use the pilot hole as a guide, and drill into the lug of the trigger plate and tap it for a machine screw, I believe 8 x32. I replaced the wood screw with a machine bolt. This secured the trigger assembly so it no longer moved.

I have taken a number of old rifles apart, and wood screws for tang bolts were the norm, at least for the guns I handled. However, I think a through-bolt is better all around, and if the gun has a "trigger group" or assembly rather than the single trigger pinned through the stock, the through bolt threaded into the trigger plate is infinitely preferable to a wood screw.

Sorry about vectoring off the topic of Mr. Garner, but it seemed relevant.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[Sidney Smith]

Well if you guys want to stand behind somebody who sells you rusty old looking parts that have been sitting in some old barn for the past 30 years, then be my guest. Id rather give my money to a place like TOTW, or Muzzle loader builders supply, where I know that I'm getting a new item. I'll gladly pay a few pennies more to get it too.

 

[MAC1967]

I guess thats where I differ with people. When I buy something, I expect the parts to be new, not something that's been sitting in a parts bin in some barn to rust before its used.

Well, I bought a trigger guard, butt plate, triggers, and patch box . . the patch box was in a package like new . . the others where not bad, but since I had to file the casting marks and tabs off the guard and butt plate, it really didn't matter at all. . . and the price was good.

It is also quite possible that the little surface rust was due to the storm damage they had. I paid a lot less than TOW, which I have bought things from often.

 

[springfield art]

To add to my previous story, as I recall now, Jack Garner had somebody working the business as it was shutting down. I remember dealing with some guy named Randy over the phone. I had to inquire a few times as to when Id get the kit as it was several months in the offing. One day I got a call from Mr. Garner himself. He told me how this Randy fellow was not doing a good job and how he was ruining Jack's good name. He told me they (the old TVM) were technically shut down, but since their website was still live and didn't mention anything about their business woes, he (Jack) was going to honor my request for the poor boy kit. This I thought was honorable from Mr Garners perspective, so I went ahead with the kit anyway.

I dont fault Mr. Garner however it seems he let some clown take his business down near the end. Looking back, Id have rather he just sent my check back than send me what they did. Now mind, the kit wasnt horrible, but it was a lot less than what I had expected. I had previously bought my Lancaster kit from them, several years before, and it was fine. I know apples to oranges when talking Lancaster vs poor boy, but the time it took and the obvious low quality items I received was not a very settling feeling. It seems this Randy character just slapped any old parts they had left into a box and called it a kit.

Like I said, I made the gun work, and it turned out looking half decent, but that was due to my skill, not due to anything they did to rectify things. That was enough for me to decide from then on not to buy from TVM again. Now maybe they've improved I don't know.

I bought a Tennessee rifle from Jack Garner in the 1975-period. A .45 cal. poor boy. He called my house back then to confirm the length of pull. Has a Dixie-marked lock; still have it!