Wallace Gusler rifle

[Shreckmeister]

[Jim Kibler]

Thanks for the photos.  It's always a pleasure to see Wallace's work.  To my eye, guns of his like this show an interesting and somewhat unique style, but one that would not be out of place in an 18th century context.  Any particulars on the rifle?  Do you know when it was built?

Thanks,
Jim

[Shreckmeister]

engraved on the rear sight 1969" It is a Shop rifle

[Eric Kettenburg]

Excellent!  Wallace has always been (imho) spectacular at capturing mood and style of 18th century without copying any specific piece or maker.  I can only imagine how inspiring it must have been to have been working at W'burg in 1969, or any time for that matter.

In the late 1980s, I was looking for guidance and advice and a 'path' to follow insofar as rifle making, and I wrote a LOT of letters to different "famous" people (Letters!  sheesh...).  Wallace was the only guy who wrote back, by hand, as busy as he must have been.  I'll always respect him greatly for that alone, notwithstanding his phenomenal talent.

[Tony Clark]

Excellent!  Wallace has always been (imho) spectacular at capturing mood and style of 18th century without copying any specific piece or maker.  I can only imagine how inspiring it must have been to have been working at W'burg in 1969, or any time for that matter.

In the late 1980s, I was looking for guidance and advice and a 'path' to follow insofar as rifle making, and I wrote a LOT of letters to different "famous" people (Letters!  sheesh...).  Wallace was the only guy who wrote back, by hand, as busy as he must have been.  I'll always respect him greatly for that alone, notwithstanding his phenomenal talent.

ha ha, that is a magnificent gun as far as I am concerned , ... typical of Wallaces G. work. I can remember him telling me about how he would correspond with John Bivins by letter and how he had saved all of Johns letters. He told me specifically what they said it was hilarious and not to be repeated in a public forum... I have been very very fortunate to have met a large number of very knowledgeable people over the years but would honestly say Wallace is the only person I would classify as being a genius. From growing up poor and living in an area where having just an outhouse was a luxury (yes! he told me that) , but he know so much more than simply being an expert on early american guns, ( he told me he didn't like being called an expert but he is) I have learned more valuable info from him than any other single person.

[B Shipman]

I second all the above. Absolutely captures the era on his terms.

[G-Man]

I really enjoy getting to go back now and see examples of some of the really fine work that was going on back in the late 60s and 70s when I was a kid.  My dad  used to take me to the local muzzleloading shop and the owner would show me his original and contemporary pieces - I remember hearing names like Wallace Gusler, John Bivins, Jack Haugh, Hershel House, etc.  He had a few examples of some of their work and it really hooked me.  I am just amazed at how these great builders were able to take the limited information resources available back then and turn out such beautiful interpretations. They had to seek out chances to handle and study  originals, absorbed the influences and reinterpreted them.  Although we now have the internet, and so many more books available as well as chances to see originals at shows, I think that perhaps feeling a bit less "bound" by the constraints that many of us worry about today produced some great art.  Wallace's gun has a variety of influences in it but just still screams 1780 Virginia to me, so it conveys a strong sense of what it is supposed to be.

Guy 

[skillman]

Eric's comments about Wallace drove me to post on this. We were fortunate enough to have Mr Gussler out here last summer for our Fair. Ian Pratt encouraged me to spend as much time with him as I could. I was fortunate enough to get a lot of time talking to and listening to Wallace. He is not only a wealth of knowledge on many subjects but is very willing to talk to anyone willing to discuss these with him. I came away with a wonderful sense of comradery and a desire to continue the search for information. He is truly a wonderful resource.

Steve

[Paddlefoot]

Check out flintriflesmith.com....he has posted some pics of guns built at Colonial Williamsburg by Mr. Gusler and this may be one that is pictured. Looks familiar.