A letter from RON MAHOVSKY, for all customers and future customers

Since I was a kid, I have always had a love of guns, hunting and the outdoors.  I attended Max Hayes (Cleveland, Ohio) High School where I studied Tool & Die.  I loved it and had a natural knack for it.    After graduating high school, I joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17.  I gained so much knowledge and experience in the Army and was encouraged to utilize my love and knowledge of guns and tool & die. 

After honorably discharging from the U.S. Army, I returned to my hometown, Old Brooklyn, Ohio.  I worked in the machine shop at Van Dorn Tool & Die while starting up my gun smith and bluing business in my attic.  As my customer base grew, I knew I would need a bigger place. 

I moved to Pennsylvania.  I purchased the very same land that I had been visiting with my parents and hunting on since I was 4 years old.  I wanted my wife and children to experience the love of the outdoors, nature and to have a safe, clean environment.

I built my own home and I built my business.  I began seeing a change in the market and consumers wanted more plating options, other than the bluing I was offering.   Through alot of testing and evaluating, I began offering Metalife SS Chromium M hard chrome plating and nickel plating on firearms in 1972. 

I was featured in numerous gun magazines.  The Metalife SS Chromium M hard chrome plating became very popular for its durability, lustre, and numerous claims and tests published said the hard chrome plating actually improved the base metal composition. I had tremendous support from gun enthusiasts from everywhere.  A well known author, Jerry Ahern, became one of my best customers and a good friend.    Jerry wrote about Metalife in alot of gun magazines and even wrote about the Metalife plating on his Colt Python in his series of novels called The Survivalist.  He dedicated a book to me as well.

I began customizing firearms and building my own.  Smith & Wesson did not offer a "K" frame revolver with a rounded butt, so I redesigned and customized my own "K" frame  from a S&W "N" frame, with a Mag-na-port option.  All of my designs had the Metalife SS Chromium M hard chrome finish.   This new design of firearm was a success.   Smith & Wesson then re-integrated their K frame design and began manufacturing a better "K" frames design on Models 29, 629, 57, and 25. 

I continued to offer my customized work on Smith & Wesson Models 10, 13, and 65.  I cut the barrels down to 3",  rounded the butts, fitted custom grips, gave it a good action job and custom engraved SS METALIFE on the barrel.  I engraved my eagle insignia and SS CHROMIUM M, surrounded by a badge outline on the frame of the pistol. I have the first one that I made, as my personal, carry all sidearm to this day.  The Metalife SS Chromium M Hard Chrome finish looks the same as the day it was plated. 

I became good friends with Roy Rogers, as I met him at a trade show where I was displaying my customized firearms and the Metalife SS Chromium M hard chrome finish.  I couldn't believe that ROY ROGERS was admiring my work.  I grew up watching ROY ROGERS on TV and was definitely a huge fan.  From that day on, ROY ROGERS and I became very close friends.  I also became his personal gunsmith.   Roy was adamant about having his own custom & personalized pistol.  Roy really liked RUGER'S.  I worked with Roy and came up with a piece that he loved so much, he wanted to produce a limited number of replicas and offer them to the public.   From there, LIMITED EDITION SALES was born.   Roy Rogers and I were business partners.  We worked together to make 6 different Limited Edition Series of ROY ROGERS, KING OF THE COWBOYS, Ruger Custom Pistols and one Golden Stallion Lever Action Rifle Limited Edition Series, designed for Roy "Dusty" Rogers Jr.  

Roy introduced me to his good friend, BILL RUGER and we presented him with #3 of the first Roy Rogers Series.   Roy was also good friends with President Ronald Reagan and Roy personally presented President Reagan with one of the Limited Edition Series Pistols.  Roy, Bill, Dusty and I had some incredibly fun and good times.  I feel so honored to have called these gentlemen my true friends.    Since Roy's passing, LIMITED EDITION SALES has dissolved, which is what Roy and I agreed upon, if something should ever happen to either of us. 

I appreciate every customer that I have.  When you send me your firearm; whether it is for repair, plating or customization, I handle your firearm from the time it arrives to the time it is shipped back to you.  I expedite all areas and phases.  I am the only one who works on your firearm.  I feel so strongly about this, as this is the only way I have found to maintain the quality control of the superior workmanship,  which is my standard.  Thank you to all of my past, present, re-occuring, and future customers.  I appreciate each and everyone of you. 

Warm Regards, RON MAHOVSKY