Charles Danner down..Need help.
 

Charles Danner, some of you may know..as a top notch rust blue pistol restore artist. Without getting too deep into his problems, he is in a bad way and has stopped doing his usual excellent work. Knowing Charles work ethic, if he has stopped, it's serious.

So this being the case..Charles recommended to me a fellow by the name of Bill Schwartz out of Georgia. Oddly enough but it seems Bill Schwartz is also slowing down and has an apprentice, Travis.

All this being the case, I know nothing about Bill Schwartz or Travis except that he is someone Charles Danner knows etc.


I will also add this tidbit. It seems upon further research Bill Schwartz of Ga. Is indeed a fantastic man of many talents..with high end shotguns. NOT Luger's. It also appears that after a discussion with his apprentice Travis, these folks are a non starter when it comes to Military pistols.
Does anyone here know Bill Schwartz or have any experience with this man? It is going to behoove some of us to begin nailing down someone dependable to do what Ted Green & Charles Danner used to do.

So any comments/recomendations on this or the bluing/restoration dilemma would be appreciated.

I have had Charles do several refinisning projects for me in the last five years and although I can't say for sure, I got the impression that he had some of his relatives [sons?] working with him lately. Whether it was Charles or the associates, they have registered here as a member - ' dannergunsmithing'. There is also a web site now -

http://www.dannergunsmithing.com/

On a side note, Charles is in his eighties...

I will say a silent prayer for his well being...

Richard, Thank you. Charles does have a very talented apprentice. He was doing about half the work coming out of Charles shop in the last few years. Unfortunately he is in the Service and is now deployed. If and when he could return to the gun bluing business is up in the air with no timeline that I can determine.

Sad.

Charles is a great guy.
This is the last project he did for me, not a luger , but an outstanding job! I do hope he finds time and energy to visit this board.

All the best to Charles for a speedy recovery, and a big thanks from me for his work.:thumbup:

I will put him on my prayer list as well...

down..need help
 

I spoke with Charles Danner by telephone this morning. He is home and his health is improving. He is now retired from his top notch rust bluing business. He is an outstanding craftsman, and an even better person.
Jim

I am still doing restoration, just limited about of projects.

Hey Ted, Are you or Charles apprenticing anybody?
Would I'd be safe assuming you're turning away work... i.e. You get more request for work then you're Willing to accept?

I cant speak for Charles but I have voiced my opinion on this in other posts. "Thanks for the compliments. As a Business policy I dont discuss my secrets, tricks, magical methods, materials etc IDTMPC. Thanks!"


I do have more work than I can do, I DO open the door from time to time. IDTMPC means I Dont Train My Potential Competition.

Completely understandable. But a shame that my generation of collectors and beyond seem to be running short of competent Luger/ C&R gunsmiths and professional restorers down the line. They’ll be way too into plastic fantastics and AR’s to care about older firearms.

I have shown any and all willing to or wanting to do leather repair..Many people have come by the shop and spent a few days doing it. Once they do..it loses some of it's romance. It's hard, dirty, boring and you actually have to pay close attention to detail. It turns out to be real WORK and it's a rare person who wants to take it up as a career. I can't say I blame them. Personally I find a great deal of satisfaction turning a broken old holster into one that's ready again for duty.

I would share every secret I have but there are only so many ways to do that and I am mostly too busy to enter into authorship or you Tube.

Ted, By apprenticing I meant training someone to work beside you and take over your business when you retire

Yes I understood the question. No plans to train anyone, C'est la Vie.