Cooper Arms 1989-2009

[spudgun]

Shooters, I see a lot of questions regarding Cooper history of design etc including historical information. I am here to answer your questions if you are interested. I can help as much as I can from a historical and design standpoint. My knowledge is yours to tap. sincerely, Founder, Daniel Cooper

Mr Cooper, as I understand you were the founder of Cooper arms in Montana. If so then am I glad to talk to you.

I work at Cabela's guns and had a customer come in and ask if we bought and appraised guns. I said yes, what you got. He did not have the gun or the serial number with him but claimed that it was 1 of (I think) 3 that were made by your company. The best way he could explain it looked like a Remington XP100 chambered in a .17 caliber (17 Hornet maybe).

I tried to do a internet search and came up nothing. I called Cooper and spoke to the new owners and they could not help me and polietly said that there was no way to get info as this gun was made before they bought your company.

I told the customer that I (nore he) could get any info and a value.

Now that I have your attention do you remember this gun and did you make them?

Would like to shed some light back to the customer.

Thank you for your time and welcome to the forum.

Larry

 

[joehank]

Thank you for asking Sir. The rifles, action wise and bbl wise would probably not look a lot different from the Coopers of the 1998*2009 era, all except I would stick with single shots. The action would readily accept light triggers with a secure pre-firing lock. Stock wise, take a look at the Cord 810 coffin hose that is where I would start in both synthetic and wood. I always wanted to blend light weight allow materials into a stock design forearm that cooled but yet looked supercharged, slim but handle great on the bags and off hand. Your question prompted me to sketches btw. Probably stay away from big calibers in that there are so many doing such a great job at making those. I've always wanted to do a Ruger #1 Peregrine clone too but then again I don't think there's a firearm I wouldn't like to make including (as I mentioned earlier) a P210 clone. We dabbled in R&D with an AR Colt design with a rapid fire diverted gas power, self recharged gas power, and electronic trigger with rotary feed rapid fire depleted Plutonium ammo...mainly anti-tank weaponry But this was only in computer design and simulation. Nothing was ever put to metal. We did some wild things sir. My team were dreamers along with me and never quit dreaming. But nice wood and slim sexy design is what I love. Hope this answers some of your questions sir. Again, I apologize for being wordy.

Dan thank you for all your history. I have couple of questions. Maybe you can help me. I have a model 36 feather weight with your signature on my test target. can you give me any idea of how many were made and also model 40 22k hornet. Thank you again for make the hightest quality fire arms.

 

[hscva]

Shooters, I see a lot of questions regarding Cooper history of design etc including historical information. I am here to answer your questions if you are interested. I can help as much as I can from a historical and design standpoint. My knowledge is yours to tap. sincerely, Founder, Daniel Cooper

Dan, I bought a 57-M .17 HMR from Alex Clarke serial # HMR 313. Could you tell me when it was manufactured? Thanks for any information you might provide.
Jimmy Lee

 

[Brians356]

Has he gone to ground, or answering questions via PM?
-

 

[Tommie]

When the questions went from the history of Cooper to "tell me about my gun" he seemed to back away.
Just sayin'

 

[Brians356]

When the questions went from the history of Cooper to "tell me about my gun" he seemed to back away.
Just sayin'

We would have happily complied if he'd nudged us to stay on topic.
-

 

[David Milisock]

Shooters, I see a lot of questions regarding Cooper history of design etc including historical information. I am here to answer your questions if you are interested. I can help as much as I can from a historical and design standpoint. My knowledge is yours to tap. sincerely, Founder, Daniel Cooper

I almost bought one of your rifles years ago and blew my chance at a great deal. I was at the range shooting next to a guy who had issues with his Cooper. I suggested it was his technique as I hand never heard of a Cooper that didn't shoot.

He had me shoot 10 rounds, 5 at 100 and 5 at 200 from my bench. A 5 shot ragged hole at 100 and a bigger 5 shot ragged hole at 200. I should have pulled the shots, a damn fine rifle I would bough there and then I love a great machine.

 

[qwk]

I wish Dan was still around. I wonder what he thinks of Cooper Arms sale, and move to Berryville, AR?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I wish Dan was still around. I wonder what he thinks of Cooper Arms sale, and move to Berryville, AR?

Did wilson combat buy them?

 

[qwk]

Nighthawk Custom

 

[flatlander]

I believe the Wilson that bought Cooper is the same company that makes barrels, nothing to do with Wilson Combat.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I believe the Wilson that bought Cooper is the same company that makes barrels, nothing to do with Wilson Combat.

Thats correct. 2009 is when that happened

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Nighthawk Custom

They will do a fabulous job. Their attention to detail is spot on

 

[RegionRat]

@bluesako
Welcome to the forum, I see you are from UK and brand new.
If you hover your cursor over a poster's avatar, you can see when the last time that poster would have been active. The threads are dated and when years have passed it may be best to either start a new thread or to double check if the folks you are trying to correspond with are still here.
For example, bamaslammer hasn't tagged into the forum since 2022.

 

[Fclassfool]

Nope... Does he still live in my great state????

 

[bluesako]

ooops i didnt see the date matey, thanks for letting me know , i dont think i,ll ever find out about my cooper, anyway cheers for the welcome, we have a good shooting forum in the uk called the stalking directory, which is rather good, you may want to take a look at we have some great americans on it as well, cheers region rat bluesako .

 

[Creedmoor]

Hi, does anyone remember who was doing engraving for Dan Cooper in 2008? around the time Dan left.
I have a Mod 38 in 19 Calhoon, that I ordered then and we have never shot it, I ordered it from Dan C at the yearly show at Atlantic Guns in Silver Spring and Dan checked off for it to have Warne bases.
If that person is still engraving I would like to get them to engrave a set of Talley rings for me.
Thank you.
@Bamaslammer

 

[Kittitas George]

Hi, does anyone remember who was doing engraving for Dan Cooper in 2008? around the time Dan left.
I have a Mod 38 in 19 Calhoon, that I ordered then and we have never shot it, I ordered it from Dan C at the yearly show at Atlantic Guns in Silver Spring and Dan checked off for it to have Warne bases.
If that person is still engraving I would like to get them to engrave a set of Talley rings for me.
Thank you.
@Bamaslammer

I believe it was a member of the Al Besson (sp?) family in Spokane, WA. that did the engraving. He was the gunsmith that built Jack O'Connor's famous 270 Win. and others.

 

[Creedmoor]

I believe it was a member of the Al Besson (sp?) family in Spokane, WA. that did the engraving. He was the gunsmith that built Jack O'Connor's famous 270 Win. and others.

Thank you very much, the scroll work on that little receiver is just unbelievable.
I found their web page and the sad part is the daughter is no longer taking any new work. I life her a message to please call me back just to bend her ear over this little rifle I ordered years ago.

 

[Kittitas George]

Thank you very much, the scroll work on that little receiver is just unbelievable.
I found their web page and the sad part is the daughter is no longer taking any new work. I life her a message to please call me back just to bend her ear over this little rifle I ordered years ago.

I'm glad I could help. I've had a few Coopers, fine rifles that shot very well. Lots of pride in ownership and bragging rights. I was lucky to meet Dan Cooper, when they were in the "old" building in Stevensville. They like Dakota should have been a very successful company, except shooters are notoriously parsimonious.