Flint & Frizzen Gun Shop

I used to live about 20 miles from this place when I was a kid in the 1970's and heard about it from my boyhood muzzleloading shooting pal. But my dad was not too attuned to my interests and we moved to Upper Michigan before I got my driver's license, so I never got to visit. I finally was back in the area and stopped in for just a couple minutes and loved it. No big advertising outside, just a tiny 'gunsmith' sign. The place is a serious mess inside and rather dark and this old gentleman was just sitting there by a woodstove, surrounded by cannons and some really old guns. The front customer area is so packed with stuff that many treasures must be buried out of sight, but I think I saw a Dreyse needle-fire rifle standing up behind the counter, and a Spencer carbine up on the wall. I could see the back room was packed with more junk. I asked for a pound of black powder and he dug one out for me. I suppose to a lot of people he might appear to be some nutty hoarder, but I could not help envying the man... he looks like he spent his life living my childhood dream. Well despite working a respectable job instead, I do have a flintlock I built and this is the first place I've found in years that sells the necessary 'real' black powder. In my opinion muzzleloader deer season and the newfangled Pyrodex type powders have turned out to be a curse on muzzleloading rather than a blessing, the former by popularizing those inline monstrosities over traditional guns, and the latter by driving real black powder (and therefore flintlocks) almost to extinction. Anyway I'm glad I finally got to visit this unique gun shop at least once in my life.

Very knowledgeable. Always willing to answer questions and one of the last places in the state that still carries Black Powder.

Excellent work, if your looking for a real gunsmith this guy is it.

Why did I bother coming here I wasted my time and could have gone many other places to be waited on.

This place ought to be in a movie, the owner included! The place is as authentic as it gets; crowded with what many would call junk, but which many call priceless treasures. It' not really a gunshop it's more of a museum operated by an owner/curator who knows his stuff. He is gentle and pleasant if you want to listen and learn, but a bit gruff if you want to argue. He makes it plain and clear that it's his place and the customer is NOT always right! He is fair to deal with and good to his word but clearly not a maven of the politically correct, unless by coincidence. That is, he is not going to change his mind just to please any current social--opinion holder's ideas.So, if you want an adventure back into time, go here and enjoy and celebrate the differences.If you see something of interest, pick it up, dust it off and makes an offer. Go ahead, I dare ya.' Maybe you should joint point to it and ask about it. Naw really, stop by and at least look at the vintage WWII landing craft out in front. Really cool!! Just like the ones you see in the movies!I think this is where I came in-- get it?