Frank did the stocking and carving. His local friend, Jack Spain did the engraving on the brass. Frank's shop was located in the Cardinal Shopping Center off the Peters Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem.
Lew Sanchez, my late business partner, and I drove up to get some crafting ideas from Frank, and ended up, each of us ordering a flintlock; Lew a .50 and a .45 for me. Had a hard time squeezing $300 out of my available funds away from the eyes of my ex-wife, for a Lancaster-style flintlock longrifle, complete with Douglas barrel and Hamm lock. Dru Hedgecock of Thomasville(?) NC, made the brass furniture and triggers. It was fine wormanship for 1972. Back then, that was the "cat's meow" in NC for handmade longrifles. Lew's rifle was #102 and mine was #103.
Through Frank we met the late John Bivins, whose first left-handed flintlock Lacaster-style longrifle built in 1977, still resides in my safe. John had heard that Bud Siler was coming out with left-hand locks, and he secured a couple kits to give to a young man working with John, under his direction that had graduated from gunsmithing school in CO. My lock is stamped on the inside "M. M." (Monte Manderino).
Frank put us on to John Braxton of Alamance County, one of NC's living "muzzleloading treasures", and to the "Salem Riflesmith", the late Robert Hunt of Winston-Salem. He introduced us to Hayden Allen of Asheboro and his exquisite hand-worked, hand-carved furniture. Frank was helpful to the late John Bivins in helping him getting on the road to gunmaking. I have alway said, "One door opens another door".
Frank worked in the "Village of Yesteryear" as the resident gunmaker at the NC State Fair for decades until moving to SC. Bob Hill took his place, I believe.
Sadly, Frank, Bob Hunt, Lew Sanchez, John Bivins, all have past, saving a spot "upstairs" at the workbench for the rest of us.
