Tyler Gun Works

The Ruger Vaquero (about the same size as a classic Colt SAA) comes with a pair of
cylinders, one in .357, with the other in 9mm. A handy combo. The genuine stag grips
help make the limited run Ruger a stand-out.

Bobby Tyler of Tyler Gun Works is a paradox of sorts. He’s old school cool in he believes in the founding principles of hard work, sweat and putting out a good product his customers will be proud to own — at a fair price. But he’s also innovative in his metal finishing skills. He uses the centuries-old process of color casehardening, but has experimented and figured out a way to use this age-old technique on stainless steel.

He’s the first, and as far as I know, the only gunsmith who can take a piece of sterile looking stainless steel and give it a finish to match the wonderful colors of traditional color casehardening. You know the colors I’m talking about, they’re alive, putting life into the piece of steel.
When asked how he does it, Bobby simply responds, “Real carefully.”

A Special Project

Bobby has 200 mid-size Ruger New Vaquero’s with dual cylinder .357/9mm set-ups, having 45/8″ barrels, waiting for his special treatment of color casehardening. It’s the first time this particular model has been done in this caliber combination and is a Lipsey’s exclusive.

Stag stocks and engraving will be options, along with a Barranti Leather, lined No. 5 holster complete with Ruger logo. This particular frame size is approximately the same size as a Colt Peacemaker.

Bobby’s first run of “special project” guns was 200 Ruger 3.5″ blued Shopkeeper models. For the project, he color casehardened the frames. Stag stocks and hand engraving were options, along with a holster made by El Paso Saddlery.

If you missed the boat on this limited run, don’t fret. You can always send Bobby a favorite gun of yours for his magnificent ministrations. You won’t be sorry, I guarantee.

Number 55 in the Tyler Gun Works limited run of Ruger Vaquero .357/9mm revolvers. Shown
with optional stag stocks and Barranti Leather #5 holster and a Tyler Gun Works Damascus

A Perfectionist

Bobby disassembles each gun, and being a perfectionist at heart, tweaks them to make them right when he reassembles them. Such details include filing all visible seams from cast parts, bluing the stock screw, or touching up any other imperfections. It’s all at no charge to the customer, but more for his peace of mind, that’s the kind of guy he is. If it ain’t right, he ain’t happy — and Bobby’s always smiling.

Bobby resides in the Texas panhandle in the small town of Friona, the cheeseburger capitol of Texas. His shop is an old barn, housing the oven he built from scratch and uses for heat-treating. A man not afraid of drowning in his own sweat, he has the drive, ambition and work ethic to be successful and it shows.

His 10-year-old daughter making leather tomahawk covers and his younger sons straightening the shop up shows his motto of “everyone pitches in,” while his wife keeps the books in order. She may have the toughest job of all, logging the many guns passing through the shop, along with regular bookkeeping. It’s a family affair for sure.

Like most successful people, Bobby shares in his success and has locals making his Damascus knife blanks, stag stocks, hand engraving, even cylinder bags, as long as they keep the Tyler standard of “doing your best” to his high standards.

Bobby told me he knows people work hard for their money but he wants to afford them the opportunity to own nice stuff.

The Early Years

Growing up in a household of dedicated bird hunters, there were always plenty of guns around the house. Wanting to know what makes them tick, he would disassemble the guns. He learned quickly taking them apart was far easier than putting them back together. He shortly enrolled in the Colorado School of trades.

It was here Bobby found his niche and discovered he had a penchant for the metal finishing part of gunsmithing. He was so good, his instructors allowed him to forgo a term paper on the subject if he agreed to help teach the class.

Bobby can replicate the color casehardening of any manufacturer, past or present. If you need to spruce-up your great granddaddy’s Winchester 1876, or Uncle Earl’s old L.C. Smith shotgun, Bobby’s shop is worth a look. Bobby also makes beautiful Damascus color casehardened knives with mastodon ivory scales, and tomahawks, if such things attract your attention.

Check out Bobby’s work and think about possibly planning a project on a gun you own, or leave hints around so Santa can leave one of Tyler Gun Works’ limited editions under your tree this year.

For more info: https://www.tylergunworks.com, Ph: (806) 729-7292, email: [email protected]

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