The Gun Re-Blu Company Update

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contender

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Due to my steady inquiries about this company that was in Asheville NC,, back in the 1950's & early 1960's,, I have gotten a little bit more info.
I'm gonna try & figure out how to transfer some info from my email to a method I can copy & paste here. One story is about the matched pair of Colts,, on page 300 of Keith's "Sixguns" book. It's kinda cool.
Next,, and a bit more technical,, I have learned that the gentleman pictured in "Sixguns" from Gun Re-Blu, Don Gowan was more of an office/front man. He did very little actual gunsmithing work. I've also learned that most likely,, almost all the engraving work was done by an engraver in Johnson City Tn.
I'll be posting this by tomorrow hopefully. I just had to share the lastest update as it got me a little bit excited.
One thing I have learned is that the building was a small one,, and it's current location is under the asphalt of a 4 lane road with part of the property being owned & occupied by a bank now.

This comes from a retired federal officer.

On to Gun re-blue company and Don Gowan. I got a copy of Sixguns in the
late 60's and was curious about Gun re-blue. I asked one of my dad's
best friends, a character named Elroy Hensley. Elroy was like my
adoptive grand dad, a NRA Life member, he had been a prohibition
officer years before. He and my father worked as police officers in the
little town of Weaverville NC before my dad was hired by NC highway
patrol in 1947. Elroy continued as a Weaverville Policeman for several
years and ran a pretty good gun shop out of the back of his patrol car
(oh the good old days). Elroy developed emphysema and ended up company
police at Sale's Biltmore Bleachery ( where Wal mart is now). Elroy
told me this story. He was know as a gun dealer at Sale's and one day
a lady brought in a pair of SA colts (a matched pair, right and left
handed as Elroy described them, in a fine gun belt). The amount she
wanted for them was far less than they were worth but more than he could
handle at the moment. So he told her to come back latter and went to Gun
re blue and saw Don Gowan who he had done business with for years. They
arrived at a price that was several times what the lady wanted, part of
the deal was that his gunsmithing bill would be forgiven. Don was
converting a Remington derringer from 41 rim-fire to 41 Colt center
fire,and cutting a set of S&W pearl grips to fit it. I remember the gun
well, it had a hole through the frame and grips and a large leather
watch fob on it. He always had it tucked down his pant top with the
watch fob hanging over his belts. When the lady came back Elroy paid
her what she had asked for the pistols and she was very happy with the
deal. He then pulled out the rest of the money and it split it with her
, she was overjoyed. Later Gowan showed him the Colts that he had
completely engraved and redone. Gowan said he was taking them to the big
Vegas gun show. Still later Elroy asked Don how he did on the guns and
Don allowed he had done very well indeed. Elroy told him the details of
his side of the deal and they had a good laugh. Elroy told me that the
pistols on page 300 of sixguns are those guns and I believe him.

I was able to come up with some info on Gun re-blue I
talked to a life long friend who was very aware of Don Gowan etc. He
told me he first learned of Gun re-blue when he move to Asheville in
1953. He said Gowan was just a "front" man and did little if any
gunsmithing himself. The business was located on Hendersonville rd. in a
small house. Gowan ran the front and two gunsmiths worked in back. One
of the gunsmiths, I thinks, he said was named Schupman . However most
if not all of the engraving was done by Lester Smith in Johnson City TN.
Lester died only 5 or 6 years ago and he was known for the heavily
carved raised relief style of engraving. Gun re-blue closed in early
60's. He could not recall what happen. My source is a well known gun
collector and was a principle player in the Asheville Gun show for many,
many years. I just did think to ask his permission to quote him. I have
a couple of other friends who may have info if I run into them.

The 732 Hendersonville rd address no longer exists it is in the parking
lot of the First Citizens Bank which is at 768, near MR Honda. In fact
it appears on Buncombe county prop. records as being in the road.
Probably taken out when road was widened. You can also get it off Google
earth.
 

weaselmeatgravy

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Good info contender! Now I need to dig up the pics that I posted in that old thread and refresh my memory. I know I have a copy of Sixguns that belonged to one of the Gun Re-Blu guys and Gowan rings a bell, might have been him. I bought it on eBay from the widow of whoever it was. It has old photos taped into the inside of a few choice guns and some old guys sitting around a table full of revolvers as I recall. Looked like a good time!
 

flatgate

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Contender, awesome work. Wow, you're onto something big.......

Elmer Keith had Gun Re-Blu make him a "round gate" for his s/n 15 Single-Six..

241827893.jpg


The work on the trigger leaves "something to be desired".....IMHO!

flatgate
 

contender

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I know we've discussed the Gun Re-Blu company a while back. All my earlier efforts went totally nowhere. However,, I've not given up,, and this retired officer knew me from my FoNRA events,, and he contacted me when he heard I was asking questions.
He has promised to keep asking questions & looking into it for me! (YEAAAAAAA!)
I will pass along whatever I can,,!
 

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Bearcat
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Having flipped through my copy of "Sixguns" more than a few times, it is great to read details on Gun Reblue. THANKS!!!!
 

contender

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So far, nothing.
I ask questions whenever I get around anybody locally that might even remotely know anything.
From what I can uncover, it appears that all the records are gone. That is, unless somehow, somewhare, in a dusty attic is a bunch of stuff.
 

HAWKEYE#28

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Yes, that seems to be the case, and i thank you for what you have uncovered and noted here. As we discussed a few weeks ago, it seems odd that nothning appears to exist. I remain suspect that if there were any records other than the company itself, they were with John Amber's effects and all of those files, save a few, were destroyed by relatives(!!!) after he died. All the Best, Mike
 
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hey Splitz, some of these guys are older than dirt, they were GONE and out of business before some of the "old timers" of today had their shops and they TOO are gone, many are dead, I knew a couple of the guys who knew Dons 'gunsmiths' .....worked with them years ago..............so cannot ask them , they been dead for years nows...... I apprenticed with (for) a couple of them back in the mid 60's........our first shop was called Cleveland Bluing Co, and its been gone since the late 70's.........there were many Mom & Pop shops back then, most never made the "big time", but did damn GOOD work.......... :wink:

Contender, I recall there was some old Colt collector had something to do with them also, may have to go that route, and check with any of the OLDER COLT or even S&W collectors..... :roll:
 

contender

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Actually Dan, I have tried talking to almost anybody older than me, who has been into guns longer than me as much as I can about this. THere is a serious S&W collector locally who had heard of them, and while he too would have loved to get info, he drew a blank also. I ask everybody I can,,!
 

contender

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It has been suggested to me that MAYBE,,, there is a "Elmer Keith library" of his work. Or, at least a lot of his paperwork stored or kept together. Maybe the museum in Boise Id has it, or knows about it? And, if it there is one, maybe there is more info on the Gun Re-Blu company in that paperwork.
Would anybody know of such a library, or if there is a storage of Keiths papers? If so, is it accessable?
 

Redstick

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contender said:
It has been suggested to me that MAYBE,,, there is a "Elmer Keith library" of his work. Or, at least a lot of his paperwork stored or kept together. Maybe the museum in Boise Id has it, or knows about it? And, if it there is one, maybe there is more info on the Gun Re-Blu company in that paperwork.
Would anybody know of such a library, or if there is a storage of Keiths papers? If so, is it accessable?

Several Boisie Ruger Forum Members hereabouts... Why not contact them by PM and have 'em run over to the Boisie Cabelas and ask around some.
 
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