About once a week I receive either an email or a phone call with an inquiry in regard to an older used gun. People buy old bolt action rifles that have the name “Buehler” stamped on either the safety or on the scope rings. If there is no further lettering on the gun visible, they often automatically assume that I built the rifle. After a brief online search, they find my company. “I have one of your rifles, but I don’t know the caliber”, or “I have one of your old rifles and would like to know when it was built” are the most common questions. Almost immediately I know that I had nothing to do with the gun. You see, there used to be a company in Orinda CA, named “Maynard Buehler”. That was long before my time, and I believe they have been out of business since around the mid 80’s. They produced aftermarket Mauser 98 safeties and scope rings. Probably some other parts too. The parts have “Buehler” stamped on them. I have never been affiliated with that company, nor have I ever used any of their parts on one of my guns.
Often, when I explain this to people, they seem to have a hard time comprehending this. I love it when they start getting into lengthy arguments and don’t bother listening to me. Even after I tell them that all of my guns are clearly marked on top of the barrel per ATF 07 license rules. If I re-stock an older gun for a customer I mark the stock inside with my name, date and my trade stamp. People usually make the argument that the gun looks “exactly like one of mine”. It’s hard to point out the differences, if people can’t see it on their own.
This Gunbroker.com listing was brought to my attention this morning. Somebody is claiming to sell a rifle that I’ve built. Right away, just based on the caliber, I knew I had nothing to do with this gun. I’ve never worked on a .350 Rigby rifle. What’s worse, the listing featured my logo and info. I wish the seller would have had the decency to ask for permission first. I assume this rifle has a safety or scope ring that is stamped with “Buehler”. Naturally, I’m in the business of building high grade guns and I don’t like it when people misrepresent their old clunkers as one of mine.
All of my rifles are clearly marked on top of the barrel with “Buehler CSA, Stillwater, OK” or Buehler CSA, Central Point, OR”. There are some guns that I’ve built around customer supplied parts and receivers, or massive alterations of existing guns. They might be marked with “R. Buehler” on the barrel. In these instances, per regulations the customer was considerate the manufacturer.
(At least they could have pronounced my first name right. That’s pretty funny. But I don’t appreciate the seller using my logo.)
People, be careful. On those auctions, a lot of guns are misrepresented. I often wonder: When the big auction houses sell all these antique factory engraved Winchester and Colt’s, how many are actually for real? There is no doubt in my mind, a good percentage of fakes are moved through the auction houses. In these cases, everybody has a vested interest that the gun is for real, and nobody wants to know the truth, once the gun moved through the auction.