R.L.Wilson

[JJ Roberts]

Author of fine engraved firearms R.L.Wilson pass away on December 11,RIP Larry. J.J.

[Bruce Day]

An interesting and talented person. A Minnesotan graduate of Carleton College. I met him several times.

RIP

[Kensal Rise]

Sad news. Wilson fairly well invented the "high end collector book."

And the rest of us followed.

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Isn't he the fellow that ended up with a lot of Colts from our State Museum in Connecticut?

[Kensal Rise]

Sadly, this is part of his past as well:

"Wilson, 67, sits in a federal penitentiary in Lompoc, Calif. He is serving a 12-month-and-one-day sentence after pleading guilty last year to cheating a California seller out of a $500,000 1840 Colt Paterson revolver that once belonged to the son of French King Louis-Philippe."

Story From Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2006/1225/112.html

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Yeah I thought so.
He is pretty universally hated in Connecticut.

[edgarspencer]

George is correct. Wilson was purportedly 'cataloging' the Colt Collection, housed in the State Library. It was determined he switched out several pieces from the collection with lessor quality pieces, and was supplying them to at least two collectors. His books make nice coffee table clutter, but they aren't even close to authors like Mattis and Kopec.

[Kevin McCormack]

A sad and deservedly ignominious end to what once was a fertile and focused mind. He had a table for years right across the aisle from us at the MD Arms Collectors Show at Timonium MD. He came back briefly after his incarceration but of course had "agents" who handled any firearms transaction from the table, which always included stacks of his books.