What's going on with R.L. Wilson?

BluegrassBoy · Nov 20, 2009

After a long absence due to other pressing matters I'm happy to be back on the forum.

Was talking to some folks at a show recently and the subject of Larry ("R.L.") Wilson came up. I'd heard that he'd done some prison time for an ethical infraction, then (after his release) was up on other charges but found not guilty. (Or perhaps I'm wrong on that.)

In any case, anyone here know where he is, what he is doing currently?

Jim Shugart · Nov 20, 2009

BluegrassBoy said:
After a long absence due to other pressing matters I'm happy to be back on the forum.

Was talking to some folks at a show recently and the subject of Larry ("R.L.") Wilson came up. I'd heard that he'd done some prison time for an ethical infraction, then (after his release) was up on other charges but found not guilty. (Or perhaps I'm wrong on that.)

In any case, anyone here know where he is, what he is doing currently?

The last I heard he was still in the butt box.

mac2 · Nov 20, 2009

is this the bloke who wrote the Colt books? Prison? Wow!

Jim Shugart · Nov 20, 2009

mac2 said:
is this the bloke who wrote the Colt books? Prison? Wow!

Yup, that's him. I've got a number of his beautiful books, several of them signed.

I'm not going to google it, but apparently he worked out a deal with a Kentucky museum and an estate for some high priced guns -- to his benefit ($$$). He apparently has some other charges awaiting him when he's released.

J. Galt · Nov 20, 2009

Wilson served a one year sentence and was released in '06. He had a trial in Kentucky in '08 and was acquitted of all charges.

n4zov · Nov 20, 2009

Here is an update on Mr. Wilson:

R.L. "Larry" Wilson Acquitted In Louisville Arms Deal - XDTalk Forums - Your XD/XD(m) Information Source!

Dennis The B · Nov 20, 2009

That R.L. Wilson would be acquited, was not surprising. There wasn't a great deal of sympathy for Owsley Brown Frazier. He's a trust fund baby (Brown Forman Distillers), who has dabbled in a lot of things, but was really serious about making the Frazier Museum a success. While jurors were not quoted as such, the general feeling was that Frazier paid too much, but he should have been more hands on.

Wilson, and a few others, get a bit full of themselves when they get a couple of books published, and become the "god" of Colt values. He's probably not the only one.

This is what happens when appraisers get a bit too close to each other. There's little independence among them. It's the same for art, automobiles, and most any other collector. These are niche markets, and the travelers in those markets are little aware of how the other 99% live and breathe.

How about the guy in Oregon who has been unsuccessful in auctioning three Pre-Model 29's with consecutive serial numbers? At his end of the spectrum, the folks live in the rarified air of elitism. They have little understanding of the free market.

BluegrassBoy · Nov 22, 2009

so.....nobody's heard from him since his '08 acquittal???

Checkman · Nov 26, 2013

Can't find anything about him more recent than 2008. So has he retired from the business and is just laying low? Does anybody know?

fat tom · Nov 26, 2013

f.t.

LVSteve · Nov 26, 2013

fat tom said:
[URL="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y97/fattom/micellaneous/cid_A46985119AEE4EAEB59E98418B84C06Fdennisthomas.jpg"] [/URL]

f.t.

Mind if I borrow that?

max · Nov 26, 2013

I ran into him at the NRA meeting in Louisville. He was just there, no official capacity.

perrazi · Nov 26, 2013

saw him at 2013 winter vegas show. was his usual full of himself attitude.

doublesharp · Nov 26, 2013

From what I gather RLW's business ethics were suspect but he is still the king of the Colt books. The Louisville fatcat he fleeced was ripe for the picking and fc was a pulling a tax scam on his end if I remember correctly.

rburg · Nov 26, 2013

I wouldn't trust him with a $5 bill to go pick up coffee. The consensus is/was that he's a crook. The fact that he took a fat cat to the cleaners doesn't hold much water with me. He still took the guy to the cleaners. Yes, I do regret I've purchased a few of his books. That was a mistake on my part and will never happen again. From my perspective, he's still a crook and just waiting for another opportunity.

I guess me buying his books means he took me to the cleaners, too. I'm sorry I was so gullible.

fat tom · Nov 26, 2013

LVSteve said:
Mind if I borrow that?

Be my guest.
f.t.

mkk41 · Nov 26, 2013

Was shocked to hear of the incidents he was accused and convicted of. Something about being or using a 'ringer' in the auction of Captain Samuel Walkers pistols or something to jack up the price. Saw him on an episode of Pawn Stars.

I have several of his excellent 'coffee table' books.

Onomea · Nov 26, 2013

I think he is without question a Colt expert. And also a crook. But I enjoy having his books as reference material and eye candy.

(And I love that he calls handgun grips "grips" and not "stocks." When corrected, I get a kick out of pointing this out.)

perrazi · Nov 26, 2013

he liked to run with the moneyed types and never could afford it on his own. think the saying is champagne taste and beer budget.

Checkman · Nov 26, 2013

perrazi said:
he liked to run with the moneyed types and never could afford it on his own. think the saying is champagne taste and beer budget.

Yeah that's my problem as well. Only I haven't gone to prison. So he is still around. I couldn't find anything very recent. Just curious. Thanks for those who gave me an actual answer.

What's going on with R.L. Wilson?

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