Interesting Florida Gun Shop

[butlersrangers]

The A.W. Peterson Gun Shop was established in Colorado, in 1886, and later moved to Florida. They claim to be the oldest gun shop in the USA.

Located on Old 441, between Mount Dora and Tavares, my wife and I were driving by it the other day, while returning from an excursion to Mount Dora.
My wife surprised me and asked: "Do you want to Stop"?

The store has the usual assortment of 'black rifles', look-alike polymer handguns, and gun safes & tactical gear.
However, they also sell some older guns and the owner's personal military collection, (not for sale), is also on display.

Best of all, there is a room that is a museum, devoted to the history of Axel W. Peterson. It contains some of his machinery, tools, and rifles.

Clamped to the wall was a Krag in very nice condition, that I would have liked to handle and examine.
It appeared to be an 1898 rifle made for the 2,200 fps cartridge.
It had the three-notch Dickerson sight and a "headless" cocking-piece. Unfortunately, the serial number was hidden, against the wall.

I will wander back to this shop sometime and further study the A.W. Peterson display, at my leisure.

[Ned Butts]

Looks like fun

[scottz63]

Nice!

[waterman]

There is a lot of specialized collector interest in rifles made on that machinery. I've always wanted an Axel Peterson single shot barrel on a Winchester or Ballard action, esp. a .22 Long Rifle. If not that, a .32/40.

[Dick Hosmer]

Thanks a lot for sharing, Chuck. I'm sure we can all remember when shops like that were all over, and the darker and mustier the better! Times have surely changed. There was always an air of mystery about what might be in the corner, or in the back room . . .