Gunfit is a key aspect of Woodling’s job. Here, he measures length of pull for a customer who needs a stock that better fits his measurements.
FYI -- Keeping Tradition Alive
An experienced gunsmith works to pass his knowledge on to the next generation.
Gunfit is a key aspect of Woodling’s job. Here, he measures length of pull for a customer who needs a stock that better fits his measurements.
In the fast-moving world of firearm innovation, it’s easy to forget the older generations of guns that were once considered cutting-edge. Those firearms are still around and, in many cases continue to perform well. Gunsmiths see them when it’s time for repair or restoration. Understanding how to properly service the more obscure models can be a challenge for even the most talented tradesmen. That’s why knowledge passed down directly from master gunsmiths is invaluable. John Mark Woodling, the head gunsmith at Hyatt Guns in Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of those masters who continues to keep the tradition alive.
Decades of Gunsmithing Wisdom
Woodling, who goes by the nickname “Woody,” has been working as a professional gunsmith since the late 1970s. His experience, however, goes back to his childhood. As a boy, Woodling spent time with a neighborhood gunsmith who taught him the art of bluing guns. The gunsmith helped Woodling refinish his first gun — a Winchester Model 62 pump-action .22 rifle that his grandfather had given him. After serving in Vietnam as a U.S. Navy corpsman, Woodling worked as a gunsmith while earning degrees in science and chemical engineering technology. He moved to Charlotte in 1987 and spent the next 18 years building a career in corporate-level production management. Through it all, he continued gunsmithing on the side, eventually landing a part-time position at Hyatt Guns.
In 2004, Woodling decided he’d had enough of the corporate world and walked away. He started working full-time at Hyatt Guns the next day and never looked back. Woodling went on to help Larry Hyatt, the owner of Hyatt Guns, build one of the largest gunsmithing operations in the country.
John Mark Woodling, better known as Woody, is the head gunsmith at Hyatt Guns in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Firearm History Lessons
Over the years, Woodling has repaired countless firearms, ranging from ancient Japanese matchlocks to modern machine guns. He has worked on movie prop guns that were carried by John Wayne, Lash LaRue and other famous actors. He’s restored firearms that were used in the Revolutionary War and Civil War, some of which are worth more than $200,000 today.
“It’s a piece of history. It’s absolutely a piece of history,” Woodling says. “I know what kind of gun different people in history used. When I get one of those guns in, I can say, ‘This is the same type of gun that Jesse James carried during the Civil War.’”
Although Woodling enjoys the variety he encounters at Hyatt Guns, he prefers working on older models, particularly side-by-side shotguns and 1911-style pistols. Currently, he is restoring two LC Smith shotguns that were manufactured in the 1890s. When he finishes, both shotguns will look like new.
“I have people send me guns from all over the United States to work on,” Woodling says. “You get all this history, and I study that history. I’m a history buff, so I pass that on to my younger guys. We need to pass these things on to the next generation, so that they can do what we’ve learned to do. The future of gunsmithing is in these younger people. They need to understand what they’re working on and where it came from in order to be a truly good gunsmith. Every day is a teaching day and that keeps me going.”
Woodling says he has no intentions of retiring. Instead, he plans to eventually go back to gunsmithing part-time, where he’ll continue sharing his passion for guns and history while teaching the younger generations how to properly care for guns. (hyattgunstore.com)
Although Woodling enjoys the variety he encounters at Hyatt Guns, he prefers working on older models, particularly side-by-sides.
Woodling leads a team of eight gunsmiths. He often hires graduates from a gunsmithing program at a nearby community college.