March/April 1983 - American Handgunner

DEALERS INQUIREHARRY SEFRIEDContinuedfrom page 53repairs. From Eichele, Sefried learned thevalue of craftsmanship; from Stenzel, theworkings ofa machine shop. Such traininghelped him get a job at the St. Louis OrdnancePlant, where he helped produce .50caliber cartridge cases, just before WorldWar II.When the war broke out, Sefried intendedto become a pilot, until the Air Corpsdiscovered he was color blind and madehim a firearms instructor instead. A rangeaccident with an M-l Thompson gave himcause to study the gun, and he devised ameans to convert it to fire from a closedbolt. His invention was studied, andpraised by various agencies, but was notadopted because the Thompson was due tobe phased out in favor of the M-3greasegun.A back injury received in training forcedhim out of service, and he returned to theSt. Louis Ordnance Plant. There, he metJohn Olin and Ed 'Pugsley who, on thestrength of his Thompson design, offeredhim a job at Winchester. He arrived inNew Haven the next day in a raging snowstormand recalls how he almost got backon the train. Sefried has since grown accustomedto snow, and has lived in Connecticutever since.His first duties at Winchester put him inclose contact with the legendary DavidMarsh (Carbine) Williams, who was notedfor not liking or trusting anyone. He wasconvinced that Sefried had been sent tospy on him by the Winchester management,a fact that Sefried admits was notentirely untrue.Williams was an exceptionally strongman, and one ofhis favorite ways ofshowingdispleasure was to stare someone in theeye, and bend a 10 penny nail into a "U"shape with his bare hands-as if to say,"This oughta be your neck!"A LASTING FRIENDSHIPOne day, Sefried hid two small pieces ofa gun barrel in some cotton waste. WhenWilliams went into his nail-bending routine,Harry simply straightened the nailagain with the gun barrel pieces, threw iton Williams's bench and left the room. Hewatched through a crack in the door asWilliams studied the nail and found thesecret to Sefried's feat. He burst out laughing.When Sefried returned, he said, "Howabout coming over tonight and help medrink some good liquor?" Thus began afriendship that lasted until Williams died.As the friendship and trust grew, Williamscommissioned a specially engravedWinchester Model 21 and presented it toSefried..41 AVENGERTMInstantly convert your 1911 to the hardhitting flat shooting .41 Avenger byinstallation of SSK's conversion kit. Kitconsists of a Match Grade .41 AvengerBarrel, National Match type fitted bushing,link, complete die set, and spring set.SSK's Ki): is available as a "drop in" unit oroversize for gunsmith fitting. Ballisticallythe .41 Avenger combines the flat trajectoryof the 9MM with 30% more energy than a.45 while retaining enough bullet diameterto create effective wounds. The 185 graincast bullet at 1200 F.P.S. delivers outstandingaccuracy, produces 590 F.P.E. andastounding penetration. Jacketed .410diameter bullets may be used. .45 ACPcases are readily formed in the full lengthsizing die for target loads. Bullet moldsavailable. Commander and GovernmentModel Kits, $230.00. 6" for 5" Slide,$240.00. Match Grade 45 Barrels also,$130.00 with bushing and link. Stamp forinformation.SSK INDUSTRIESRoute 1, Della DriveBloomingdale, Ohio 43910MasterCard, VISA -614-264-0176C.O.D.'s WelcomeLike all our $8495imported tools. .THE QUALITY 0 .111SHOWS' ~ +2.50Pslge.This unusual Imported viae lets you ad­Just your workpiece to the beat workingposition. Rigid design and rugged hardened-Ironconstruction provides support01 heavy pieces at any angle. Unlike whitemetal vises, this superb unit will notchip, crack or splinter under the heaviestblows. Indlspenslble In assemblylng, aold&rlng,welding, drilling, tepplng, grind­Ing, machining, carving or engraving.WRITE FOR NEW CATALOG Only $2.00FRANK MITTERMEIER, INC.GUNSMITH SUPPLY HEADQUARTERS SINCE 1936Dept.AH-3, 3577 East Tremont AveBronx, New York 1046570 AMERICAN HANDGUNNER· MARCH/APRIL 1983