Hey there. Welcome to the community. I'm Hootey—gunsmith, family man, and founder of Blue Coat Arms Company (BCAC). Before you dive in, take 5 minutes to read this. It'll tell you everything you need to know about who we are, what we're building here, and how to be part of it. What This Community Is (And Isn't) This is a space to: - Learn firearm maintenance, restoration, and gunsmithing from real shop experience - Ask questions without judgment (seriously, no dumb questions here) - Connect with other gun owners, hunters, collectors, and makers - Get behind-the-scenes access to BCAC projects and shop life - Build skills and knowledge together as a community This is NOT: - A place to argue politics or culture wars - A shortcut to becoming a gunsmith (it takes years and dedication) - A forum for illegal activity or anything that breaks federal/state/local firearms laws - A place where we pretend to have all the answers (we're learning too) Who We Are Blue Coat Arms Company has been doing this for over a decade. We specialize in: - Full-service gunsmithing (restoration, custom builds, repairs, maintenance) - Civil War reproduction firearms and antique restoration - Custom fabrication and metalworking - Education and community building We're family-owned and operated. My wife Lydia is my partner in this, and our kids are growing up in the shop. This isn't just a business—it's our life. Our Philosophy: We believe in the "ever-learning student" mindset. Gunsmithing isn't something you master—it's something you keep learning about. That's what makes it beautiful. We're here to share what we know, learn from each other, and build something real together. We value: - Authenticity – Real photos, real stories, real problems - Craftsmanship – Quality over shortcuts - Honesty – We tell you what we know and what we don't - Self-reliance – Teaching you to take care of your own gear

Welcome! This is where we get to know each other. Drop a comment below and introduce yourself. Tell us: - What's your name? (First name is fine) - What do you shoot? (Rifles, pistols, shotguns, vintage, modern, all of the above? Completely new to the gun game?) - What brought you here? (Curious about gunsmithing? Want to level up your maintenance game? Collector? Hunter? Just exploring?) - Anything else you want us to know? (Your story, what you're working on, what you're curious about, etc.) Why We Do This We're a community, not just a platform. Getting to know each other makes this place better. Real connections = better learning. Jump In Don't overthink it. Just introduce yourself and have fun! We're glad you're here. — Lydia & the BCAC Team