I have been trying to find out for a while now if the gunsmith Jim Hudson of Chelmsford is still with us. He had worked on my firearms as well as some friends and was just a great fellow to deal with. I know that he was having health problems back a number of years ago but I haven’t heard any news of the gent for quite a while.
It was just before hunting season one year when I asked Jim if he could find out why my newly purchased (used) Colt Gold Cup wouldn’t group as tightly as I thought if should. He stated that he has been turning his business to working on long guns exclusively and he had many customers’ firearms waiting for repair before hunting season, (showing me a wall full of long guns) but if I didn’t mind waiting a couple weeks or more he would try to check it out for me. I said that was fine, I'm the late comer, so please take your time and give me a call if and when you find something.
About a week later he called and stated that all seemed fine with the gun so he tried one of his barrels in the gun and it fired with a better group with his barrel. He told me to buy a barrel if you want and he would fit it for me. I did just that and he did the work on the Gold Cup and it really groups excellent now. He did the work in less time than expected and didn’t charge anything close to what I thought, and was told by others, that it would cost.
He had his shop in his home cellar and it was just as I had pictured that a gunsmith’s workshop would look like. When I picked up my Colt I asked if he would mind very much if I snapped a couple photos of him and his shop because I try to get shots of most of my shooting experience and he and his shop are tops in my mind. He said he didn’t mind me shooting his shop at all but didn’t want to be included in the photos.
One of the many nice experiences I’ve had with the shooting sports, meeting and knowing this gentleman. If anyone has information on Jim Hudson I would be most appreciative in hearing about him.
Many thanks.
It was just before hunting season one year when I asked Jim if he could find out why my newly purchased (used) Colt Gold Cup wouldn’t group as tightly as I thought if should. He stated that he has been turning his business to working on long guns exclusively and he had many customers’ firearms waiting for repair before hunting season, (showing me a wall full of long guns) but if I didn’t mind waiting a couple weeks or more he would try to check it out for me. I said that was fine, I'm the late comer, so please take your time and give me a call if and when you find something.
About a week later he called and stated that all seemed fine with the gun so he tried one of his barrels in the gun and it fired with a better group with his barrel. He told me to buy a barrel if you want and he would fit it for me. I did just that and he did the work on the Gold Cup and it really groups excellent now. He did the work in less time than expected and didn’t charge anything close to what I thought, and was told by others, that it would cost.
He had his shop in his home cellar and it was just as I had pictured that a gunsmith’s workshop would look like. When I picked up my Colt I asked if he would mind very much if I snapped a couple photos of him and his shop because I try to get shots of most of my shooting experience and he and his shop are tops in my mind. He said he didn’t mind me shooting his shop at all but didn’t want to be included in the photos.
One of the many nice experiences I’ve had with the shooting sports, meeting and knowing this gentleman. If anyone has information on Jim Hudson I would be most appreciative in hearing about him.
Many thanks.