Big Old Richard Aldis was the house gunsmith for J&G Sales back in the 70 and 80s. He always seemed top struggle to stand upright big and robust looking as he was then. Later I learned that he had MS.
I had a non paying gun shop job at age 14. One of the many things I helped do was polish steel[ A 6" Smython, a 3" M19, a Win Model 12 etc. these were jobs that had been farmed out to our shop by Richard.
Richard indulged me my many questions. He also sold me my first pistol; A Charter Arms Target Bulldog in .44 special. He sold me my next Gun a Chopped tuned 2" Police Positive Special.
When was 17, I told Richard that I was going into the Army MP Corps; he spent a couple hours at the counter with me and his 1911 showing me how to break it down and re assemble it. Richard printed copies of articles on John M Browning, and the 1911 and the M16. He pulled a real M16, not an AR, out of the back and showed me how to break those down... He announced to the whole staff that I was going to sign up. They all stopped what they were doing, and stood up and applauded...1981 at J&G Sales, in Prescott AZ. THAT was the real USA then...
While I was stationed at Fort Huachuca, I made the long 55MPH drive up to Prescott several times. He customized my first NEW gun; a S&W 1955 Target, he chopped it to four inches ramped front sight tuned it and round butt K'd it. He even found me more of the then hard to find FULL moon clips. He next slicked up a 29-2 for me.
That was the last work I had done by Richard. I moved away from AZ looked him up when ever I was back in town.
In 2008, When we finally moved back to Prescott, I looked him up and spoke with Richard on the phone. I offered to build him a full rig belt magazine pouches holsters for what ever he wanted. He politely declined, offering that he was in a wheel chair, carried his gun in a bag, and further explained that he was not expected to live much longer... He was gone within the year...
Yesterday, while perusing my favorite gun shop, Bucky O'Neill Guns, I found this Colt Commander slide that Richard had stamped his name on...I feel a project coming on!

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

That is a great story Rob. Thank you for sharing that with us. I think the slide will be a great project gun that you will cherish.

Good memories !!

Met Richard on several occasions, nice guy, lost track but often wondered what happened to him. Thanks for the info. Sad. ATB, Lee J.

Thank you for a wonderful piece. I was married to Richard for 23 years and I still miss him every single day. I met him when I worked for Rifle and Handloader magazines. Dave LeGate took me to meet him for my first gun purchase. Liked him from the moment I saw him. He had Pompes disease, a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy.
The last month of his life was extremely hard-even harder than the 12 years he was so ill. He is ok now. He still seems to watch over me when something bad could happen to me. Miss him. First and only love of my life. Selling his home in Prescott was very difficult for me but it was time to combine households with my mom and sister.
God Bless you for remembering him. He would have loved that. I have to think that he knows.

Wow! so Sorry to see that Richard has passed away. I purchased a new Colt Commander Series 80 in 1985 in Fayetteville, NC after I graduated "Ranger School" as a gift to completing the course. A soldier in my platoon recommended that I send the Colt to Richard to "make it a better Pistol". Off it went and Richard worked his magic. I still have that Colt Commander. Best shooting Pistol in my inventory. In Fact its the pistol that stays by my bed. Its the only one that I trust that will do its job when or if it is ever called for duty.

God Bless Him and those he knew him. You'll see him again!