Al Davidson
When I started BR back in 1977 there were a few names that I learned quickly. One of those was Al Davidson. All I knew was my XP100 was going to be sleeved. I asked my smith Harvey Miller why did I need a sleeve. If I remember right back then it was $65. I knew Harvey and Al were friends and figured one was helping the other. When I received the sleeve I spent more time looking at the sleeve than the action. What a work of art. The sleeve was a precision made item. The cartridge port was flawless. The whole sleeve was flawless. When the gun was assembled I was proud to have a Davidson sleeved XP100. I had 2 barrels so I had to have a Davidson barrel changing vise and an action wrench. The vise and wrench are still in my equipment box. I have changed barrels a couple hundred times with it. No tp roll needed, no baseball card, no rosin, no nothing needed to change a barrel with a Davidson vise. I can change barrels in about 7 minutes with the Davidson vise. Al also made the slickest scope ring bases. They compliment the Kelbly rings that are on most BR rifles. Besides being a BR manufacturer he was an excellent gunsmith.
I met Al the first time at a Phoenix Shoot 5-6 years ago. He had a good memory. He remembered all the Harvey Miller stories I told him. Especially the one back in 1978 when Harvey was traveling to the Knoxville Nationals from San Leandro, Calif. Harvey stopped at a coffee shop on the freeway. Called Al and asked him down for a cup of coffee. Al thought Harvey was calling from Calif. Harvey said he was by the tracks. Al laughed and went up to have a cup of coffee with Harvey. The two had a cup of coffee after which Harvey jumped in his old Mercury and drove off to Knoxville.
Al will be missed. He lived in New Mexico in the Mid Continent region of the NBRSA. Al shot in the Gulf Coast and SW Regions regularly. Not sure but I seem to remember seeing his name as an associate director before.
Well BR as we know it is about 60 years old. Only a few are left from that first group. I can only think of 1 Mike Walker.
Every year now we are going to lose a couple good ones. My suggestion as I have done go back to 1949 and study the formation of the NBRSA and 1969 for the formation of the IBS. Once you know your BR roots you will appreciate what a man like Al Davidson has done for all of us.
Stephen Perry
When I started BR back in 1977 there were a few names that I learned quickly. One of those was Al Davidson. All I knew was my XP100 was going to be sleeved. I asked my smith Harvey Miller why did I need a sleeve. If I remember right back then it was $65. I knew Harvey and Al were friends and figured one was helping the other. When I received the sleeve I spent more time looking at the sleeve than the action. What a work of art. The sleeve was a precision made item. The cartridge port was flawless. The whole sleeve was flawless. When the gun was assembled I was proud to have a Davidson sleeved XP100. I had 2 barrels so I had to have a Davidson barrel changing vise and an action wrench. The vise and wrench are still in my equipment box. I have changed barrels a couple hundred times with it. No tp roll needed, no baseball card, no rosin, no nothing needed to change a barrel with a Davidson vise. I can change barrels in about 7 minutes with the Davidson vise. Al also made the slickest scope ring bases. They compliment the Kelbly rings that are on most BR rifles. Besides being a BR manufacturer he was an excellent gunsmith.
I met Al the first time at a Phoenix Shoot 5-6 years ago. He had a good memory. He remembered all the Harvey Miller stories I told him. Especially the one back in 1978 when Harvey was traveling to the Knoxville Nationals from San Leandro, Calif. Harvey stopped at a coffee shop on the freeway. Called Al and asked him down for a cup of coffee. Al thought Harvey was calling from Calif. Harvey said he was by the tracks. Al laughed and went up to have a cup of coffee with Harvey. The two had a cup of coffee after which Harvey jumped in his old Mercury and drove off to Knoxville.
Al will be missed. He lived in New Mexico in the Mid Continent region of the NBRSA. Al shot in the Gulf Coast and SW Regions regularly. Not sure but I seem to remember seeing his name as an associate director before.
Well BR as we know it is about 60 years old. Only a few are left from that first group. I can only think of 1 Mike Walker.
Every year now we are going to lose a couple good ones. My suggestion as I have done go back to 1949 and study the formation of the NBRSA and 1969 for the formation of the IBS. Once you know your BR roots you will appreciate what a man like Al Davidson has done for all of us.
Stephen Perry
