Tour of Simspson LTD
 

this is very cool, never been there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbdk0K35h0w

Wow......get me a couch and a refrigerator, and I could live in that place ! :evilgrin:

Ed, Thanks! Cool tour. Enjoyed watching it.

I have been there and it is a mind blowing experience. Over and above that is that they are really nice folks, willing to help and provide information. They deserve their excellent reputation. Realize that with that reputation and expenses in acquiring their inventory and running the business, they ain't cheap...but they stand behind what they sell.

I can not possibly imagine the security system that these folks must have there. It is so nice to be able to (now) put an image of the people at Simpsons with their website. Thank you.

I bought my first C & R gun from them, an Alphabet DWM.

Mike:burnout:

In the "old days", prices of lugers were set by the late Ralph Shattuck. Nowadays, it appears that the folks at Simpsons set the prices, especially to the upside. It would be nice, but probably impractical to see what their lugers actually sell for.

Great video! You can certainly hear the horns emanating from the very nearby Union Pacific and BNSF locomotives. Galesberg came into being as a major railroad junction and is one of the busiest railroad towns in the United States. Their new laser printer and marker was very interesting. Where on lugers do they mark their name? Does this legally required import mark affect the value of the firearm?

i read that the mark is right at the mag well.... not sure, the rifle they showed on the side? And I would assume it should affect it as much as any other import marking. I was just surprised that the size was legal, but assume they researched it?

Would love to know who bought the 1926 reblued Simson that was Sturgess'

Ed

Thanks Edward, very interesting video, I enjoyed watching it.

Sergio


P.S. I agree, I could live there too!

Oh man, that was great. Thank you for sharing, Ed. I've only dealt with them twice so far and, though pricey, they had what I wanted and were professional (and stand behind their policies and what they sell). Sadly, neither time was for a Luger but for a Webley Mk I** revolver and a Webley & Scott .455 Self Loading Pistol Mk I.

That Luger room is, well, my dream gun room. ;)

Wow, wouldn't it be great to work at a place like that and see/research all those guns. I wonder if the "Describer" guy is the one who sets the prices?

i have heard you need to be sort of invited to see the luger room. heard it is not in the main retail floor but more in the back somewhere. i guess if you call ahead and make a luger appointment? one day this fall i will make a 3 hour drive to the shop

Hi Ed, Thanks for posting that Simpson link. What impressed me most was their reference library, there's a lesson to be learned there...
Best regards, Norm

A library is great only to the extent it is utilized. I believe Simpson uses their library extensively. However, I know of many collectors with impressive libraries who apparently rarely refer to them and continue to propagate outdated information.

also - dont miss this one !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oPOo4mh9kw

enjoy
Bill

That shows how you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.....sharp young gun enthusiast that looks like a hippie ! :rockon:

Thank you Bill :)

He has also done a review of Simson Lugers and Don's HWIS
:cheers:

Went there last week:
http://i62.tinypic.com/2ue7gpu.jpg

There are a lot of trains in and out of there:
http://i61.tinypic.com/2s0gz1c.jpg

If you go there, be sure to eat at The Packing House, right across the street:
http://i59.tinypic.com/xeg02w.jpg

On a side note, there are a bunch of Mauser, Gustloff and Walther trainer rifles in the basement part. He's reportedly doing a book, so they aren't for sale.....yet. I was able to go down there. Some are marked with NSKK, NSFK etc. Looks like a lot of work will go into the book, so can't wait to get one if and when it comes out.

I don't think you specifically need an invitation to go to the Luger Room. I just asked and was escorted in there along with the basement tour.

And.....if you go to Simpson's you also need to take a small trip further north to Rock Island Arsenal:

http://i61.tinypic.com/2gtw8hv.jpg

http://i61.tinypic.com/15i5abo.jpg

There is a huge display of all kinds of weapons......including Springfield Rifle 1903....SERIAL NUMBER 1 !!!!!!! (The one on the right)

http://i59.tinypic.com/2n19zkl.jpg

http://i60.tinypic.com/29uvms6.jpg

and LOTS of German machine guns:
http://i60.tinypic.com/5jticw.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/2hgzh3t.jpg

Must be GREAT! Run a Luger store and have a wonderful restaurant across the street!

That shows how you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.....sharp young gun enthusiast that looks like a hippie ! Hey..most of us look kinda weird...one way or the other!

Nice, I need to make it out there and see the museum :)

I have seen the manuscript and the many, many examples of rifles that Bob has. He has a world class collection I have been told. Was also told that it was being finessed and added to some months ago. I would buy one :)

Ed

Yea, there's one that he put my name on IF and when he ever decides to sell them.

Thank you for the kind words :)

Thanks Ed, the video is simply great.

Yes, I never knew there was a video about it. Also, from that video link, I started watching more videos that the narrator made. I like the STG 44 replacement, Gerat 03 (or 06????)' can't recall the designation right now.....anyway it was an experimental rifle by Mauser.

Mr. Simpson, if you are reading,....in that case that the Johnson rifle is in you have a small cut-a-way of a G.43. I forgot to ask while I was there what the significance of of it was. I collect G/K.43's and was curious. Thanks.

The G43 cutaway is a perfect scale model of an original, down to working optics. It was made by Leon Crotet in Switzerland.

He made 4 examples that were not cutaways that feed, fire, & function with scale ammunition.

And yes, Ian makes great videos on his ForgottenWeapons.com web-site. That's why we were happy to let him make a video of our shop, and we are proud sponsors of his site.

Wow'sers!!!!!! I'm really into the K.43's so that would be SO neat to see the firing one. I like miniature too so that combination made my antennae go up when I saw your cut away.

Any word on the progress of the K98 trainer book that is in the making? Just wondering on a time frame. I'll bet the guys at the k98kforum would love to hear about it too.

Ian shot a video about the Trainer book project.

That should be on-line soon.....