Gun manufacturers emphasize defense

Staff Report

Mike Carlson and Russ Peterson are the owners of a new Carson City business called Tactical Customs. Their goal is to give customers what they want, not what's on the shelf. And for them that means modifying firearms and tactical weapons. They will manufacture their own line of rifle upper and lower receivers soon.

Carlson is the master gunsmith, and Peterson handles the sales side of the business.

What do you do here at your business?

Peterson: What Tactical Customs does is take a stripped weapon and build it to a complete rifle to the customer's specifications. We're a specialty niche. We don't sell handguns, we don't sell ammunition, we don't sell targets. We only build defensive tactical weapons.

What is your experience with gunsmithing?

Carlson: I worked at a shop in California for 14 years prior to this. I was brought out here to work on these type of weapons. This is my 19th year in the firearm industry.

Why did you decide to open this type of business in Carson City? Is there a need here?

Peterson: There isn't so much of a need because these weapons are luxury items. There are many collectors in this area. And then there are times that we go to gun shows, and a U.S. Marine comes in and he has a need for the equipment we have.

Why would a U.S. Marine need his weapon modified?

Peterson: They often need modifications to make their weapon better for combat. They want to take their weapon and use it to defend our country. It makes you feel good to know that we can do something here to protect our troops from being injured or killed.

How would you respond to the critic who says these type of weapons are just for killing other people, that they're too dangerous?

Carlson: These are defense weapons, not assault-type weapons. We always get stereotyped as evil, but these are defense weapons.

Peterson: We have a lot of guys who have large collections. These are very collectible. These are not for drug dealers or for criminals. These weapons are for hunters, law enforcement officers and are for home protection. These weapons cost from $3,000 to $5,000. There is a totally different class of people who buy these.

How long does it take to modify one of these weapons, such as an M-4?

Carlson: Every part is meticulously cleaned, filed, and lubricated. All the parts are hand-fitted.

It probably takes from half an hour to an hour to do the assembling. Then you go out and test fire.

So all together I spend two hours with each one.

What makes you proud?

Peterson: My wife, Tamara, and my 13-year-old son, Wesley, and my 21-year-old daughter, Tiffany.

Carlson: For me it's putting a weapon into a customer's hands and seeing the look on their face.

Normally they love it so much they want to kiss or hug me.

Peterson: The single most important thing to both Mike and I regarding this business is gun safety.

We have an NRA-certified instructor, Kevin Hutzler, for gun safety. We offer free classes on teaching kids how to safely handle guns. You read in the paper about kids getting shot, and we'd like to get kids in here and teach them the safe operation and handling of a weapon. It's not about the money for us, it's about that.

Contact Tactical Customs by calling 884-3767 or go to www.tacticalcustoms.com.