Hoot AL's Rifle Shop

Hoot AL's Rifle Shop is a traditionalist gunsmith operation run by Alan Neubauer, a Journeyman gunsmith who earned his credentials in 1999 under master gunsmith Steve "Bookie" Bookout of Toad Hall Riflesbop. Located in Newton, Iowa, the shop specializes in building authentic antique blackpowder rifles and pistols representative of gunsmiths from 1730 to 1830—Pennsylvania rifles, Christian Springs hunting rifles, Southern Tennessee Mountain rifles, and custom pistols.

There's a critical distinction Hoot AL makes: a gun-stocker assembles pre-made components from kits. A gunsmith makes the lock, stock, barrel, and all the details in between. Everything leaving this shop is handcrafted and custom built, designed as family heirlooms with their own character.

"All guns are built as if I'm building my own rifle." - Alan Neubauer

Most work is done by hand. When components are needed, Hoot AL sources from Jim Chambers Flintlocks Ltd and Track of the Wolf, considered the finest assembly of parts available.

Rifle styles: - Pennsylvania rifles and Lancaster rifles (including Jacob Dickert school) - Susquehanna rifles - Southern Mountain rifles (.40 caliber with 7/8" barrels) - J.P. Beck rifles (Early Lancaster style) - Virginia rifles (John Grandstaff school) - Edward Marshall/Christian Springs hunting rifles - Maryland school rifles (James Armstrong style) - Isaac Haines rifles (including left-handed builds)

Pistols: - Free-styled target pistols - Various antique designs and periods

Safety is non-negotiable. Every barrel is proof-tested using "Bookie's" genuine Iowa Barrel Tester (featured in January 1996 issue of Muzzle Blasts magazine) with double the recommended powder charge and two patched balls of proper caliber.

Hoot AL co-authored a 2nd Edition manual with Steve Bookout on building a Wooden Iowa Rifling Bench—the traditional method for rifling gun barrels used by Appalachian builders over a hundred years ago. The three-book manual includes: - Book 1: Building the special lathe - Book 2: Patterning, cutting, and constructing the rifler - Book 3: Actual rifling technique with photos of a 4-foot barrel being rifled

58 pages of concise, practical instruction with 150+ photos. The rifler can be built with common shop tools for $50-60 and handles any barrel—blackpowder or modern—with customizable grooves and twist rates. Note: Books are no longer available.

Hoot AL takes on apprentices who want to learn traditional gunsmithing. Project Photo Albums on the website document the entire build process from wood blank to finished rifle—detailed "how-to" guides for future gunbuilders.

Hoot AL attends the Annual Bevel Brothers "Over The Log Shoot" in Weston, Missouri—long-range chunk gun matches drawing shooters from across the U.S. He also participates in the Iowa Original Chunk Gun Shoot and has built rifles specifically for these competitions, including "Re-Becka" and "Becky."

References available. Hoot AL is happy to help troubleshoot gun-building projects or discuss custom builds. If you can't finish a rifle project, he's looking for new challenges.