Tragic Loss: Gunsmith Ed Anderson Passes Away While Hunting in Adirondack Mountains
The unexpected and devastating passing of Gunsmith Ed Anderson while hunting in the Adirondack Mountains has left his friends, family, and the community in deep shock and mourning. Let’s take a moment to remember the unique and skilled gunsmith who left a mark in the heart of Manhattan.
Ed Anderson, a robust and bearded individual hailing from Syosset, Long Island, was a figure of both strength and craftsmanship. With his distinct accent and straightforward demeanor, he could easily be mistaken for a former police officer. However, his domain was far from the precinct; it was the illustrious and technically intricate Beretta Gallery on Madison Avenue. In the heart of Manhattan, Anderson stood as the sole hands-on gunsmith, and the 400-plus shotguns and rifles that graced the gallery’s third floor were his cherished creations.
A gunsmith for two decades out of his 45 years, Anderson’s journey began as a knife maker. In 2000, he joined the ranks of Beretta, a company with a storied history dating back to 1526. Anderson’s career led him to work with high-end European shotguns, a privilege few in the country enjoyed.
“These guns had firing mechanisms and parts like no others. Replacement parts had to be made by hand,” Anderson reminisces, alluding to the affluent shooting community nestled around the Hamptons. His transition from knife-making to gunsmithing was a self-taught endeavor, mastering the art of crafting original parts from solid blocks of steel and meticulously fitting them to repair shotguns from renowned makers like Holland & Holland, Purdey, and Beretta.
“Today, you’ll find these expensive guns in places like Colorado or Sun Valley, Idaho,” he observes. “People collect guns like others collect potato chips. You start with your field-grade gun, then move up to a splendid sporting-clays piece, and eventually, you require a lightweight firearm for quail hunting.”
Anderson’s workshop occupies a cluttered, sunlit space on the third floor of the Gallery. Dozens of shotguns await his skilled hands for repairs or adjustments, with stocks removed and side plates exposed. Countless small parts and mechanisms are carefully organized on leather mats across his extensive workbench. An alcove houses stacks of unfinished shotgun stocks, awaiting transformation. His tasks primarily involve the precise fitting of guns to their owners, wood restoration, meticulous reconstruction of firing mechanisms, and, at times, the complex job of refitting barrels.
“Almost everything I do is a labor of love,” Anderson explains while gently buffing a gunstock with steel wool to achieve the perfect finish. “I use only linseed oil for staining stocks and fore ends; no synthetic oils whatsoever.”
With pride, he displays a tiny steel replacement part, no larger than a paperclip, meticulously crafted to mirror the original firing mechanism of a high-grade shotgun. This intricate assembly, featuring a powerful spring at its core, propels the firing pin into the primer of a shotgun shell upon pulling the trigger, with astonishing force.
His craftsmanship, while exquisite, comes at a price, with the average repair costing around $600. Anderson serves as the exclusive mechanic for firearms in the class of Ferrari and Aston Martin, representing a niche clientele who possess firearms worth well over $50,000.
“Security for these guns is paramount,” he emphasizes. “The store holds federal firearms, state, and New York City dealers licenses, and I hold my own New York City gunsmith license. Every transaction is documented meticulously.”
The Gallery predominantly showcases shotguns, accounting for approximately 90% of its inventory, owing to their relevance for shooting events and hunting within the New York City vicinity. However, the store also features rifles from Sako and Tikka, Finnish companies owned by Beretta. The rifles are displayed in two elegantly appointed rooms that could have been plucked from the pages of a Sherlock Holmes novel, adorned with exotic trophies such as hippo tusks and a wild boar head. Framed photographs capture notable personalities, including George H.W. Bush and Norman Schwarzkopf, reveling in Beretta’s legendary parties.
While some of the Gallery’s offerings are accessible to the average consumer, such as a field-grade semi-auto shotgun with a synthetic stock for $1,300 or an entry-level Tikka rifle at $700, others are reserved for the most discerning clientele. For those whose pockets run deep, a super-deluxe big-game rifle priced at $85,000 or a premium .12-gauge shotgun costing approximately $120,000 offers the epitome of luxury, ideal for taking on the ubiquitous mini-motorcycles that have proliferated the city.
The hallmark of these firearms lies in the quality of the wood, primarily walnut, in an array of mesmerizing patterns, and the exquisite engraving. Beretta’s master engravers, based in Italy, craft designs of unparalleled precision, where tactile and visual sensations converge seamlessly, creating stunning hunting scenes that seemingly come to life.
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Serious as his business may be, Anderson exudes an air of ease. Whether greeting businessmen in impeccable suits, helping a casual enthusiast choose a field gun, or welcoming a visitor with an unconventional appearance, Anderson treats all with the same joviality.
“Beautiful guns are objets d’art for some people. They appreciate them for the same reasons they admire exquisite knives: the harmonious blend of form and function,” Anderson muses.
“But even an unadorned gun, devoid of engraving, can be beautiful because it performs flawlessly.”
Ed Anderson’s unexpected departure leaves a void in the world of craftsmanship and firearms. His legacy as a master gunsmith will be remembered, and his absence felt deeply by the community he served with dedication and passion.
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