Introduction / Andy Larsson

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:39 am

Hello from Montana. My name is Andy Larsson, owner of Skinner Sights.

Several months ago AmBraCol approached me about working with this community as site owner, moderator, janitor, (whatever is needed).

Some of you are already friends or know of (or use) Skinner Sights. As you may be aware, we are all about lever guns. We work closely with many of the major Lever Gun manufactures, make products for almost ALL lever guns (and other platforms as well. Like all of you, it's not just a casual interest for us, it's a passion. AmBraCol believed some of my background and associations would be a good match for this group and it is an honor to be here.

First, Paco Kelly's Lever Guns has long been a leader in the online Lever action community. The knowledge base contained in these pages (and among the members here) is incredible. When a new shooter is looking for answers or inspiration, this is often where they find it. I'm stating the obvious here but want to communicate that I see and appreciate the depth and resource everyone here is to the shooting world. Being asked to help is both very humbling and exciting.

Moderators and Team: I look forward to getting to know each of you better or for the first time. Each of you have special insights, wisdom, knowledge and talents that you bring to make this a great community. Thank you for your service and hard work. Any questions or observations, please never hesitate to be straight out with them. Transparency, honesty, fairness, and treating others the way we would want to be treated is always the goal.

For those who do not know me:

Born and raised in Western Montana where my wife Sheila and I live yet today. Like so many of you, I grew up in the outdoors, it's our life. We grew up shooting, hunting, reloading, spending time in the back country, fishing, horseback, on foot, jeeps, motorcycles, boats, etc. During Jr. High and High School, I worked in print shops and for a custom knife maker. I attended a Christian Ministerial College in Western Nebraska graduating with a degree in Ministry and Communication with emphasis in Counseling. To work my way through school I worked in a Gun Shop/Motorcycle dealership as a Gunsmith, Mechanic, and in sales. After college I came back to Montana and served as a Christian Church (Non-Denominational) Minister for 28 years. While ministering, I also owned a small archery shop and did part time gunsmithing, specialized in custom 1911's and Bullseye Target Pistols as well as general gunsmithing. In 1998 I won the NRA Open indoor Sectionals and in 1999 had a chance to try out for the 2000 Olympics and participate in the US World Cup Shooting Team selection matches. About that time, the SASS shooting bug bit me and though lever guns and single actions had always been a way of life, they now became a passion. We shot and hosted cowboy action matches up until 2010 when I purchased the one-man sight business from Dr. Tim Skinner. As a one-man shop, I was suddenly too busy "saving the world one gunsight at a time" to compete.

That was a little over 12 years ago and today Skinner sights has over 8000 feet of manufacturing space along with 16 employees. We have been very blessed. Sheila and I have a mission statement in our marriage and in business. "Do all the good we can for everyone we can in every way we can" That goes for our presence here as well.

Bear with me if I talk a lot about sights.... It's a passion and we like to share.

If you are also on Facebook or Instagram or YouTube, please check us out there as well. My personal Facebook page is simply "Andy Larsson" and our business page is @gunsights ( Skinner Sights ) Instagram and YouTube is " Skinner Sights". We have a LOT of fun there as some of you who are friends already know.

Enough of all that.... Looking forward to having fun with, and learning from, you all !

If we can be any help, please let me know.

Andy

Andy - Sheila Larsson 12-22.jpg

IMG_4224.JPG

94AECased1.jpg

9_3X62-1895.jpg

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 5:31 am

Welcome to the fire from one of the over the pond members here....

I will be happy to carry on zapping the many spammers we get here just as I did for AmBroCol...

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 5:35 am

Welcome aboard Andy!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 7:30 am

Welcome aboard.

rossim92 · Post by **rossim92** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 7:46 am

get r' done! hi!

yooper2 · Post by **yooper2** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 7:49 am

Welcome!

Eric

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:05 am

Wow, what a curriculum vitae, Andy! I think it is the Leverguns community that is being blessed to have you on board. Paul, thank you for your hand in this.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:28 am

Good morning and welcome! Thanks for coming aboard and helping out.

Ya done good Paul!

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 10:20 am

Welcome !!

. Merry Christmas.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 10:32 am

Welcome.

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 11:06 am

gamekeeper wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 5:31 am Welcome to the fire from one of the over the pond members here....

I will be happy to carry on zapping the many spammers we get here just as I did for AmBroCol...

EXCELLENT!! Keep Zapping.... The Spammers are a Blot (bot) on society. Should be a season.......

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 11:07 am

JimT wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:28 am Good morning and welcome! Thanks for coming aboard and helping out.

Ya done good Paul!

Thanks Jim! Look forward to getting to know you better.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 12:29 pm

Nice to have you on board, Andy!

JBowen · Post by **JBowen** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 1:48 pm

Welcome and glad to have you!

JBowen

Oldncrusty · Post by **Oldncrusty** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 1:57 pm

Wow. Been admiring your products for some time and right here you are. Welcome and future success to ya.

Woodtroll · Post by **Woodtroll** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:04 pm

Glad to have you here, welcome. I have several of your sights that I'm pleased with, and just received one of your barrel-mounted peeps for a Winchester/Miroku low wall that I haven't had time to mount yet. Hopefully soon, though!

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:18 pm

Welcome to the fire from Maine.
If AmBraCol searched you out, that says quite a lot in itself.
I'm a big iron sight fan (even if my eyes are starting to protest) and still use them more than anything else.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 5:53 pm

Oldncrusty wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 1:57 pm Wow. Been admiring your products for some time and right here you are. Welcome and future success to ya.

I have had and used several Skinner sights on various lever guns for years and they work great!
You won't be disappointed.

Glad to have your sponsorship, Andy.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 6:12 pm

Welcome Andy!

Thank you for taking this on.

I think this is one of the most respectful places on the internet, due to the people here on the forum. Then again, it is the only one I visit, and do no other social media (well, I have a profile on LinkedIn for my professional work), so I have no real context for comparison. Just never saw a need to wander from here!

I can tell you personally that many here would literally give you the shirt off their backs. And I have frequently benefitted from the power of their prayers as I have had need to ask often. The group here is just an amazing set of men and women.

From a moderator standpoint I tend to spend most of my time "zapping spam" that comes in after GameKeeper has to call it a night, since we are six hours offset from a time zone standpoint (but GK is up very late hours!

). The sight seems to attract a lot of Russian/Eastern European and porn spam.

And occasionally I have to play referee when some topics do get heated and people let their tempers get the best of them. Fortunately that does not happen often. Also I'll move topics from the "general section" to "politics" or "classifieds", and try to make sure the "classifieds" posts follow our naming protocols.

I too often my continued services if you'll have them.

Jay
YK

Twodot · Post by **Twodot** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 6:15 pm

Hi Andy, from the dry side of Montana!
..

Woodsloafer2 · Post by **Woodsloafer2** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 6:45 pm

Glad to see you joining Andy....listened to you in a podcast with the Maine big woods bucks folks. You have great expertise and will be a benefit here....welcome from another Mainer...

Alan Wood · Post by **Alan Wood** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 7:35 pm

Good to meet you Andy. And thank you for stepping up for this!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Dec 18, 2022 8:16 pm

Canna add aught to what's been said so far, except: Welcome and nice to meet ya (albeit virtually)!

Walt · Post by **Walt** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 11:10 am

Welcome, Andy!
I have been a satisfied customer of yours on several occasions.

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:03 pm

Oldncrusty wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 1:57 pm Wow. Been admiring your products for some time and right here you are. Welcome and future success to ya.

Thank you ! If we can be of help never hesitate to give us a call.

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:03 pm

Walt wrote: ↑Mon Dec 19, 2022 11:10 am Welcome, Andy!
I have been a satisfied customer of yours on several occasions.

Glad to hear Walt! Thanks for the welcome.

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:04 pm

Griff wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 8:16 pm Canna add aught to what's been said so far, except: Welcome and nice to meet ya (albeit virtually)!

Hello Griff! Nice to meet you (virtually) also!

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:05 pm

Alan Wood wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 7:35 pm Good to meet you Andy. And thank you for stepping up for this!

Thanks Alan! Nice to meet you also

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:06 pm

Woodsloafer2 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 6:45 pm Glad to see you joining Andy....listened to you in a podcast with the Maine big woods bucks folks. You have great expertise and will be a benefit here....welcome from another Mainer...

Hey there Woodsloafer2, Thank you. The Big Woods Bucks crew are a lot of fun. You Maine folks are our kind of peeps. Greetings from Montana

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:07 pm

Twodot wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 6:15 pm Hi Andy, from the dry side of Montana!
..

Twodot is a tiny berg! The "Dry Side" is about to become the "cold side"..... Stay warm!

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:13 pm

Ysabel Kid wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 6:12 pm Welcome Andy!

Thank you for taking this on.

I think this is one of the most respectful places on the internet, due to the people here on the forum. Then again, it is the only one I visit, and do no other social media (well, I have a profile on LinkedIn for my professional work), so I have no real context for comparison. Just never saw a need to wander from here!

I can tell you personally that many here would literally give you the shirt off their backs. And I have frequently benefitted from the power of their prayers as I have had need to ask often. The group here is just an amazing set of men and women.

From a moderator standpoint I tend to spend most of my time "zapping spam" that comes in after GameKeeper has to call it a night, since we are six hours offset from a time zone standpoint (but GK is up very late hours! ). The sight seems to attract a lot of Russian/Eastern European and porn spam. And occasionally I have to play referee when some topics do get heated and people let their tempers get the best of them. Fortunately that does not happen often. Also I'll move topics from the "general section" to "politics" or "classifieds", and try to make sure the "classifieds" posts follow our naming protocols.

I too often my continued services if you'll have them.

Jay
YK

Hello Jay!

Thank you for all you do here. Please keep up the good work. Who would have known that Russian Collusion would have infiltrated Leverguns.com???

Keeping house is important so thanks for sweeping up once in a while. When it comes to dealing with tempers (long cold winters, too much alcohol?) I appreciate the patience it takes to settle those dust ups and hopefully heal things up. I'm all about that and always want to be transparent and fair. Everyone makes a mistake once in a while, if it becomes a habit we will address it with a bit more consequences. We should have a "Plays nice with others" badge...

Levergun (and wheel gun) shooters are often the most helpful and generous folks we meet. We will continue to pray for each other, encourage, and listen.

Appreciate the team!

Andy

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:14 pm

vancelw wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 5:53 pm
Oldncrusty wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 1:57 pm Wow. Been admiring your products for some time and right here you are. Welcome and future success to ya.
I have had and used several Skinner sights on various lever guns for years and they work great!
You won't be disappointed.

Glad to have your sponsorship, Andy.

Thanks Vance, glad to be here !

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:17 pm

OldWin wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:18 pm Welcome to the fire from Maine.
If AmBraCol searched you out, that says quite a lot in itself.
I'm a big iron sight fan (even if my eyes are starting to protest) and still use them more than anything else.

Paul ( AmBraCol ) is a good guy. I've known his family since WAYYYYYY Back. Knew his Grandparents and am acquainted with his wifes family. Good folks all around. Enjoyed being with his family at Shootist Holiday this past couple years.

The peep is the magic sight for our "old eyes"... I'm 62, firmly in the bifocal category, and they are still rocking it for me.

Glad to be here. Thank you.

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:24 pm

Good Snowy / Cold Montana Morning to you all. THANK YOU for the warm welcome. Might be cool outside but there is warmth among this family.

Obligitory COLD snow picture for those of you who live in warmer climates....

Marlin 308 EXPRESS while we were testing the Skinner Optics 1-6X24 a couple years ago.

IMG_3900.JPG

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 2:35 pm

Glad to see somebody with an interest in keeping up appearances take over.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 7:44 pm

ANDYLARSSON wrote: ↑Mon Dec 19, 2022 12:24 pm Good Snowy / Cold Montana Morning to you all. THANK YOU for the warm welcome. Might be cool outside but there is warmth among this family.

Obligitory COLD snow picture for those of you who live in warmer climates....

Marlin 308 EXPRESS while we were testing the Skinner Optics 1-6X24 a couple years ago.

IMG_3900.JPG

From the look at the forecast this week, I think everyone might be getting cold this week! It may even snow here in upstate SC!!!

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 7:54 pm

Welcome from California, Andy, and thank you.
Jazman

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Thu Dec 22, 2022 2:24 pm

Welcome aboard!

I have A LOT of admiration for site moderators.

And I like Skinner Sights, too.

On two of my guns.

-Stretch

samsi · Post by **samsi** » Fri Dec 23, 2022 1:11 pm

Welcome Andy, glad the site will continue on with like-minded individuals. I think we have spoken on the phone, albeit briefly, when I ordered a sight some years ago.

Scott Tschirhart · Post by **Scott Tschirhart** » Fri Dec 23, 2022 4:12 pm

Hello Andy. Good to see you here.

Merry Christmas.

Bullard4075 · Post by **Bullard4075** » Fri Dec 23, 2022 11:29 pm

Welcome Andy! I may be interested in some custom work if you do such. I'll check out your website and maybe send you a picture of what I have in mind.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Sun Dec 25, 2022 10:17 am

WELCOME ANDY!
Looks like you've been in my neck of the woods, pig hunt'n!

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Mon Dec 26, 2022 8:01 pm

Welcome Andy from another Andy (maybe just call me Tutt to keep it simple on the forum LOL). Anyhow, I've been bugging Paul about who was taking over the site, but I couldn't break him

Glad to know its you, I think I have a subscription to your YouTube channel or FB or something. It seems your everywhere! I might have some ideas the next time a funding drive is needed that would cost almost nothing. We could still use a new Paco t-shirt too and we have a preliminary photo of Paco that MIGHT work with some editing.

I'll PM you my info. -Tutt

P.S Great bio by the way!!!!

Post by **ANDYLARSSON** » Sat Dec 31, 2022 4:24 am

CowboyTutt wrote: ↑Mon Dec 26, 2022 8:01 pm Welcome Andy from another Andy (maybe just call me Tutt to keep it simple on the forum LOL). Anyhow, I've been bugging Paul about who was taking over the site, but I couldn't break him Glad to know its you, I think I have a subscription to your YouTube channel or FB or something. It seems your everywhere! I might have some ideas the next time a funding drive is needed that would cost almost nothing. We could still use a new Paco t-shirt too and we have a preliminary photo of Paco that MIGHT work with some editing.

I'll PM you my info. -Tutt

P.S Great bio by the way!!!!

Hello Tutt ,

Good to meet you. Look forward to a conversation! Appreciate the help.

Happy New Year !

Andy

jstanfield103 · Post by **jstanfield103** » Sat Dec 31, 2022 10:15 am

Glad to see you took over the forum. Hoping that you make a few changes here. I am a Lever gun fanatic. I've bought a few of your sights over the years, very nice.

Don't know about others, because I don't spend a whole lot of time on this site. To me just a little to much confusion on seeing everything. Whish the site was broken up into categories a little more. Rimfire, 1892, 1894, Conversion unrelated to levers and so on. But probably just me.

Post by **AmBraCol** » Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:22 am

jstanfield103 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 31, 2022 10:15 am Glad to see you took over the forum. Hoping that you make a few changes here. I am a Lever gun fanatic. I've bought a few of your sights over the years, very nice.

Don't know about others, because I don't spend a whole lot of time on this site. To me just a little to much confusion on seeing everything. Whish the site was broken up into categories a little more. Rimfire, 1892, 1894, Conversion unrelated to levers and so on. But probably just me.

The answer is in the URL. Leverguns COMMUNITY. There are plenty of other forums dedicated to splitting hairs and categories. I get the same "overwhelmed" feeling when visiting many of them. You've got to dig through fourteen categories and fortyeleven subcategories each in order to find anything. But this place was set up as a hangout, a virtual livingroom if you will. We get together and chat about 'most anything and everything - politely. A quick search via the search bar turns up all kinds of useful information, as does a visit to "the one sticky" (see stickies at the top of the forum). But it's all about community. Many of us know each other "in person" and we keep up with all kinds of things going on in each others lives. And just like any real community we also have our tiffs and "that annoying neighbor" and disagreements - but in the end we enjoy sharing with each other about our mutual love for leverguns and firearms in general.

For specific info on different subjects you can also check out the related site, leverguns.com There are links there to all kinds of useful information. We're looking at updating it, hopefully in the not too distant future. But as it is, there's a lot of good info there, too.

Sarge · Post by **Sarge** » Sat Dec 31, 2022 5:47 pm

Welcome to the fire Andy. I recently used one of your front sights, with some modification, on an old Uberti 44 Mag I shortened from 7 1/2"to 5". Worked like a charm.

https://www.levergunscommunity.org/view ... hp?t=84203

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sat Dec 31, 2022 7:26 pm

Sarge wrote: ↑Sat Dec 31, 2022 5:47 pm Welcome to the fire Andy. I recently used one of your front sights, with some modification, on an old Uberti 44 Mag I shortened from 7 1/2"to 5". Worked like a charm.

https://www.levergunscommunity.org/view ... hp?t=84203

That is sharp looking!!!

Sarge · Post by **Sarge** » Sat Dec 31, 2022 8:13 pm

Thank you Ysabel. That post turned out longer than I like, but these guys hung with me until I got it done.

rossim92 · Post by **rossim92** » Sun Jan 01, 2023 8:10 am

ANDYLARSSON wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:39 am Hello from Montana. My name is Andy Larsson, owner of Skinner Sights.

Several months ago AmBraCol approached me about working with this community as site owner, moderator, janitor, (whatever is needed).

Some of you are already friends or know of (or use) Skinner Sights. As you may be aware, we are all about lever guns. We work closely with many of the major Lever Gun manufactures, make products for almost ALL lever guns (and other platforms as well. Like all of you, it's not just a casual interest for us, it's a passion. AmBraCol believed some of my background and associations would be a good match for this group and it is an honor to be here.

First, Paco Kelly's Lever Guns has long been a leader in the online Lever action community. The knowledge base contained in these pages (and among the members here) is incredible. When a new shooter is looking for answers or inspiration, this is often where they find it. I'm stating the obvious here but want to communicate that I see and appreciate the depth and resource everyone here is to the shooting world. Being asked to help is both very humbling and exciting.

Moderators and Team: I look forward to getting to know each of you better or for the first time. Each of you have special insights, wisdom, knowledge and talents that you bring to make this a great community. Thank you for your service and hard work. Any questions or observations, please never hesitate to be straight out with them. Transparency, honesty, fairness, and treating others the way we would want to be treated is always the goal.

For those who do not know me:

Born and raised in Western Montana where my wife Sheila and I live yet today. Like so many of you, I grew up in the outdoors, it's our life. We grew up shooting, hunting, reloading, spending time in the back country, fishing, horseback, on foot, jeeps, motorcycles, boats, etc. During Jr. High and High School, I worked in print shops and for a custom knife maker. I attended a Christian Ministerial College in Western Nebraska graduating with a degree in Ministry and Communication with emphasis in Counseling. To work my way through school I worked in a Gun Shop/Motorcycle dealership as a Gunsmith, Mechanic, and in sales. After college I came back to Montana and served as a Christian Church (Non-Denominational) Minister for 28 years. While ministering, I also owned a small archery shop and did part time gunsmithing, specialized in custom 1911's and Bullseye Target Pistols as well as general gunsmithing. In 1998 I won the NRA Open indoor Sectionals and in 1999 had a chance to try out for the 2000 Olympics and participate in the US World Cup Shooting Team selection matches. About that time, the SASS shooting bug bit me and though lever guns and single actions had always been a way of life, they now became a passion. We shot and hosted cowboy action matches up until 2010 when I purchased the one-man sight business from Dr. Tim Skinner. As a one-man shop, I was suddenly too busy "saving the world one gunsight at a time" to compete.

That was a little over 12 years ago and today Skinner sights has over 8000 feet of manufacturing space along with 16 employees. We have been very blessed. Sheila and I have a mission statement in our marriage and in business. "Do all the good we can for everyone we can in every way we can" That goes for our presence here as well.

Bear with me if I talk a lot about sights.... It's a passion and we like to share.

If you are also on Facebook or Instagram or YouTube, please check us out there as well. My personal Facebook page is simply "Andy Larsson" and our business page is @gunsights ( Skinner Sights ) Instagram and YouTube is " Skinner Sights". We have a LOT of fun there as some of you who are friends already know.

Enough of all that.... Looking forward to having fun with, and learning from, you all !

If we can be any help, please let me know.

Andy

Andy - Sheila Larsson 12-22.jpg

IMG_4224.JPG

94AECased1.jpg

9_3X62-1895.jpg

Hi, I noticed you worked in a print shop. I was in printing for forty years, and worked in the bindery as an all around operator. What dept did you work in. just curious. Happy new year.