Aaron Schaefer's lifelong interest in firearms began when he was only 16 years old. Today, he runs a local small business that has been open since 2014, focusing on his passion for firearms.
When asked about the beginning of his interest in firearms, Schaefer said, “Probably when I was 16, and my parents told me I couldn’t have a pellet gun.” Aaron wanted to shoot targets with this pellet gun, and that is where his interest in firearms began. He was interested in the deep history behind the historic firearms that he was he worked on, such as cleaning guns and selling them. He was also interested in the genius designs of some of the firearms he worked on.
In the year 2000, Aaron bought his first gun; this domino effect would eventually result in the creation of Schaefer Firearms. Aaron first started by selling and cleaning guns, but his work would soon evolve to become something much larger. Aaron’s business in firearms started very slowly, and his business wasn’t nearly as capable of as much as it is today.
It was only in 2014 that Aaron decided to take his interest much more seriously. He applied for a Federal Firearms License (FFL) so he could legally sell firearms. When asked about how he started, Aaron stated, “I started with a hammer and screwdrivers.” This is very different from what he works with today. Some of the machines he works with today include his lathe for carving metal barrels, a 20-ton bottle press which Aaron uses to replace gun barrels, and a tabletop bench mill used to repair gun parts. His business started very slowly, but eventually, through word of mouth, Aaron’s small business began to grow.
His business isn’t exactly ordinary, and his business does not experience the normal issues of an average small business. One of these issues is supply; some parts are particularly difficult to come by with fair prices. Prices are another issue that Aaron faces; with parts occasionally having high prices, some of his customers are not willing to pay such high prices for parts.
What Aaron does for his work is quite unique; it isn’t a business that you come by often. When asked about one of the most notable things he’s done in his business, he said, “I made a barrel for a rifle called the Holloway Hac 7 Left Hand. Only 50 of them were ever made.”
Aaron also plays a big role in today’s local community. Since hunting is a large part of Potosi’s local culture, Aaron works on many of our community’s hunting firearms. Around three-quarters of his work involves hunting, and most of that includes cleaning and repairing guns for people who aren’t able to do it themselves.
Today, Aaron remains busy with his work, spending his time helping others and supporting Potosi’s local pastime of hunting. In 2023 he has come very far. From a simple hammer or a screwdriver in 2014, he has developed his business, and today he has many more tools and machines to help him in his business.