Posted on 01/03/2008 9:22:10 AM PST by marktwain
LeCLAIRE, Iowa — An Illinois custom gun manufacturer opened the new year at the same old place in Illinois as construction continues on a new facility across the river in LeClaire.
Les Baer Custom of Hillsdale, Ill., announced in May it wanted to move out of Illinois and received approval of a development and site plan agreement in LeClaire. Heavy rains in August slowed construction.
On Monday, owner Les Baer described the plant as being about 80 percent complete. Exterior work is completed, but some interior work must be finished on the building at the secluded 2.82-acre site between Iowa Drive and Eagle Ridge Road.
“It is going,” Baer said. “We aren’t going to move yet.”
He estimates the company will move into its new address in March. In May, the LeClaire City Council voted to sell the site for $10,000 and provide up to $150,000 in tax-increment financing to the company.
The facility will be used for commercial assembly and manufacturing of custom 1911 revolvers and AR .223 rifles.
Baer decided to move his company when a bill arose in the Illinois General Assembly banning large-capacity gun magazine clips. The bill failed to reach a vote, so other companies that considered a similar move are now waiting to see what happens with future legislation.
Another cause for delay is the company’s focus on a major gun show in February. The company will be an exhibitor at the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show and Conference in Las Vegas from Feb. 2-5.
The trade show for the shooting sports and hunting industries drew 42,000 attendees in 2007, up from 40,000 in 2006.
Weather is another reason the company isn’t going anywhere for a few months.
“We wouldn’t try to move in the winter,” Baer said.
Springfield Armory next?
Uh yeah, right.
LOL nice catch.
“The facility will be used for commercial assembly and manufacturing of custom 1911 revolvers and AR .223 rifles.”
Uh...1911 revolvers? I gotta get one of those...
Finest 1911A1 I’ve ever had in my hands was from Les. Fine workmanship, excellent reliability, and damned accurate out of the box.
I gotta get me one of them 1911 revolvers!
Damn! You beat me to that little gem.
Probably used for Russian roulette.
Two places that we and the industry should avoid and boycott are CA and IL.
Ronnie Barrett and (who just recently announced they would not sell in CA?) have it right.
We must place a tariff on Iowan firearms to keep those workers in Illinois!
Gun makers in Illinois and Massachusetts make as much sense as a conservative straight man in both of those states. Both need to move away and let the communists suffer because there is no money from taxpayers.
One of the more popular weapons in Iraq, for those that can afford it, is the Glock 18 9mm pistol. This one looks just like the widely used Glock 17 pistol, but with one major difference, the Glock 18 can fire full auto (1200 rounds a minute). Since the Glock 18 magazine only holds 17 rounds, this means you can empty it in less than second
Video of the Glock 18C -- Full Auto: http://www.strategypage.com/military_videos/military_photos_20054221.aspx
Memo to liberals: stay unarmed.
“...1911 revolvers...” DUH!
“...large-capacity gun magazine clips...” and umm bullet thingys.
Jeepers! The MSM has been attacking the firearms industry for decades, and they still can’t get it right.
Give ‘em Hell, Les! Strike the tent and cross over the river. Good luck in Iowa.
I keep mine right next to my 22MM pistol...
Kurt Allemeier knows his 1911 revolvers. *sigh*
ROFLOL!!
Given the writers obvious knowledge of firearms I can only assume that the reference is to those........
Very dangerous, automatic, custom 1911 Assault revolvers
(You guys know the ones I mean.....uses 45mm bullets)
Well I guess they'd pretty much have to be custom, huh?
How bad is the recoil on that puppy? :=)
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