Bailey Bradshaw is a proud Texan, a former US Navy man and, as he puts it, “the owner and only soul” at Bradshaw Gun and Rifle.
Since 1998 Bradshaw has been building a reputation for himself as one of the world’s leading gunsmiths, specialising in hand-building single-shot, rising-block rifles and rising-block double rifles from .22 calibre to .500 nitro express.
Aside from rifling and boring the barrels, Bailey does it all himself.
As he says: “from design, forging, machining, stocking, regulating, engraving, hardening, metal coloring and final finishing, my two hands do all the work. When my name goes on the rifle, I hold myself accountable for every detail and strive for the highest level of workmanship.”
And Bailey has confidence in the quality of his work, so much so that when we ask him what gun he would take if he were stranded on a deserted island he has no hesitation in picking one of his own. “One of my rotary magazine rifles in 9.3×62. Enough power, but not too much. It would do everything required.”
Bailey trained initially as a knife maker, achieving the accolade of Master Bladesmith in 2001, which he regards as the highest honour of his bladesmithing career. But making knives proved to be just a stepping stone as, after years of exhibiting his blades at the Dallas Safari Club, he got more and more interested in the gun craftsmanship he saw there.
“The seeds of inspiration were planted, and through intensive study of design, manufacturing techniques and the history of double rifles, I set out to design and manufacture my own rifles,” he says.
Bradshaw’s guns not only look beautiful, they shoot well too: “My design philosophy is to keep everything as simple as possible,” he explains, “as easy to manufacture as possible with overall visual balance and flow of line. I find that sound artistic design lends itself to be a nice handling and elegant rifle.”
So what’s the best gun Bradshaw has ever built?
“A rising block single-shot where the customer turned me loose to build my very best,” Bradshaw recalls. “It featured 12 feet of gold wire inlays, full coverage sculpted scroll engraving, carved quarter rib, front sight base and sling swivel stud, engraved grip cap and heel and toe plates and carving on the stocks head, wrist, butt and forend.”
“It’s not often a customer allows you to bring your own vision to life and use your full ability.” he tells us.
Bradshaw operates out of what he describes as a modest shop in Northeast Texas near the small town of Diana. When he’s not working hard on his guns, he likes to sit down with an episode of Peaky Blinders, but when we ask him what he’s up to right now, the answer suggests he won’t have much time for that in the near future: “My new rotary magazine rifle,” is the classically taciturn answer.
Visit Bailey Bradshaw Gun and Rifle in person at The World Gunmakers Evening.
