Oglesby & Oglesby Gunmakers

Oglesby & Oglesby Gunmakers operates from the northside of Springfield, Illinois as a team of four gunsmiths led by Bill Oglesby—a renowned exhibition shooter and one of the country's top pistolsmiths. The shop is built on three generations of gunsmithing expertise.

• •1911 Custom Work is their bread and butter. Customers report receiving builds that rival cover-gun quality with invisible seams on two-piece guide rods and finishes that look better than factory work.

• •Single Action Rugers are their pride and joy. The shop takes on custom builds and modifications that push what's possible with the platform.

• •Long Gun Builds include 1892 lever actions and shotgun work—customers report builds of Browning double barrels and other rifle platforms.

Bill Oglesby isn't just a gunsmith—he's a competition shooter who holds records, including 5 plates at 15 yards in 0.82 seconds and 5 shots from a single action Ruger in 0.52 seconds.

He also runs shooting schools and training programs, bringing that shooting knowledge directly into the custom work. The shop's reputation is backed by customers with years of repeat business and apprentices willing to train under his methods.

The shop maintains a consistent backlog due to high demand. Make an appointment before visiting—Bill has had shoulder issues in the past. Pricing is described as fair for the quality delivered. Bill has noted he keeps a strict policy against photos being shared online to manage the waiting list.

Custom gunsmithing produces work described as art-level quality. Lead times vary depending on the project scope, but customers report reasonable turnaround for the caliber of work being done. Most work involves detailed hand-fitting and finishing that simply can't be rushed.