About ARS

Tour the ARS Shop

I have found people more comfortable shipping their prize firearms to me when they have a name and a face attached to the company name.

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Building the Shop

ARS moved to new facilities in 2001. It is refreshing to have a floorplan made specifically to fit the business. I included a few pictures of the construction and the finished shop for your entertainment.

I opted for frame construction for speed and economy, but went with oversize walls for the greater insulation factor. After all, this IS the desert and 120+ F is not uncommon
I opted for frame construction for speed and economy, but went with oversize walls for the greater insulation factor. After all, this IS the desert and 120+ F is not uncommon
A stucco finish seemed most appropriate for the region. I also considered the additional insulation value.
A stucco finish seemed most appropriate for the region. I also considered the additional insulation value.
The Office as our illustrious contractor left it. Salvador Dali had a better sense of perspective than than our contractor. It took days to straighten the walls and fix the cracks in the floor. Yes, I know the tile covered the cracks in the foundation, but it still frustrates me that anyone can be so casual about quality.
The Office as our illustrious contractor left it. Salvador Dali had a better sense of perspective than than our contractor. It took days to straighten the walls and fix the cracks in the floor. Yes, I know the tile covered the cracks in the foundation, but it still frustrates me that anyone can be so casual about quality.
Fixing the office was a long and arduous task. I can't install level counters very well if the walls are not straight and the floor not level. It turned out okay.
Fixing the office was a long and arduous task. I can't install level counters very well if the walls are not straight and the floor not level. It turned out okay.
The work bay. About three times the size of our old facilities.
The work bay. About three times the size of our old facilities.
The work bay after lighting and painting and before installing the concrete and steel vault. I wish at this point I knew the footprint of our equipment, because we ended up having to move the lights a few more times to cover the work areas better.
The work bay after lighting and painting and before installing the concrete and steel vault. I wish at this point I knew the footprint of our equipment, because we ended up having to move the lights a few more times to cover the work areas better.
Steel-reinforced concrete vault installed. Gun safes were getting tedious as it is too easy to scratch finished guns when removing them from the safe, so with a walk-in vault, I can keep more stuff under enhanced security, while at the same time eliminating the risk of "storage dings."
Steel-reinforced concrete vault installed. Gun safes were getting tedious as it is too easy to scratch finished guns when removing them from the safe, so with a walk-in vault, I can keep more stuff under enhanced security, while at the same time eliminating the risk of "storage dings."
This was the day we moved all the tools from the old shop and the last day of production at the old shop. What a relief. It was such a bother to have to buy new tools that I already had at our other location.
This was the day we moved all the tools from the old shop and the last day of production at the old shop. What a relief. It was such a bother to have to buy new tools that I already had at our other location.
The vault - almost completed. One nice thing that happened was I discovered a number of parts and accessories that I didn't know I had. Selling these parts was one of the things that kept the bills paid during our extended down-time.
The vault - almost completed. One nice thing that happened was I discovered a number of parts and accessories that I didn't know I had. Selling these parts was one of the things that kept the bills paid during our extended down-time.
While I was proud of the sandblaster I made back in 1991, we had patched the back of it several times from where we had blasted through it. It was time to buy some better equipment. This should make the most tedious part of processing firearms a bit easier.
While I was proud of the sandblaster I made back in 1991, we had patched the back of it several times from where we had blasted through it. It was time to buy some better equipment. This should make the most tedious part of processing firearms a bit easier.
Ahh - the office is progressing. This was an important day as getting the computer back up got us back in touch with the rest of the world and allowed us to resume mail-order sales. Again - these parts sales paid for most of the building materials. Lesson learned - inventory that isn't moving is an albatross about the neck.
Ahh - the office is progressing. This was an important day as getting the computer back up got us back in touch with the rest of the world and allowed us to resume mail-order sales. Again - these parts sales paid for most of the building materials. Lesson learned - inventory that isn't moving is an albatross about the neck.
The dreaded moment. Helpers logging their hours. Can you believe they expected to be PAID? My sincere thanks for their flexibility and patience - waiting for those precious parts orders - $25 and $50 at a time so they could be paid. "Hey guys - I sold another stock set - we can splurge at McDonalds today!"
The dreaded moment. Helpers logging their hours. Can you believe they expected to be PAID? My sincere thanks for their flexibility and patience - waiting for those precious parts orders - $25 and $50 at a time so they could be paid. "Hey guys - I sold another stock set - we can splurge at McDonalds today!"
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