I was at Quantico for OCS and TBS from 5/74 to 2/75. During TBS, I got to visit Mrs. Van Orden at her home. Her husband had been an Ordinance Officer in the Corps (then deceased) and her son was either a Major or Lt. Col at the time and shooting on the Marine Corps rifle team IIRC. She knew everybody in the business (called Elmer Keith "Beetle Brow" and had great stories). She loved to entertain young 2nd Lt.'s that had a love of guns/shooting--I think that we reminded her of her husband and son. She showed us the original evaluation that her husband had done for the Gov't on the S&W Model 39 when they were considering it for issue to aviators--she claimed that that's how they came up with the name "Evaluators" for their company. She was a grand lady. I haven't thought of her for years---thanks for bringing up fond memories!!
Model 19 and Evaluaters Ltd Quantico VA
- Thread starter Bill Bates
- Start date
I got to Quantico in June of '75. I needed a holster for a Goverment Model Colt and was sent out to Mrs. Van Orden. Still have the Bucheimer "Federal Man" holster I bought from her. Being young and dumb, I didn't spend near the time I should have around her . I heard several tales from her in the short time I was there and would have probably learned a lot had I been smart enough to return for more visits. Sweet, spare little lady with a lot of experience always more than willing to share. Instructors at the range had been known to send lieutenants who had trouble mastering the .45 Auto to Mrs. Van Orden for remedial training. Anyone remember the Mayco Gunshop run by Archie Mayer and Ed Bright just off the post East of the Main Gate on Fuller Heights Road?
Last edited:
...Having left there in February, I was in the old Corps!!
(Where in Ks. are you located??? I'm in Overland Park)
45forme. Since we are walking down memory lane, I will have to start this one with the standard reply, which is "If your 782 gear wasn't a sword and shield, don't talk to me about the Old Corps". I was a Sgt. a year into my second hitch when I got to Quantico. Currently I am South of Arcadia which is about halfway between Fort Scott and Pittsburg and within rifle shot of the Missouri line.I was born and raised in Paola. I have been running away from Kansas City and other urban areas my whole life. My maternal grandfathers North 80 is now the Hillsdale Lake Headquarters.
Last edited:
Wow, our paths have crossed---my son's Eagle scout project was at the Hillsdale Hdq. and my daughter played basketball for Pitt State.
Where were you assigned after Quantico??? I was with 2nd Btn, 5th Marines at Pendleton.
Where were you assigned after Quantico??? I was with 2nd Btn, 5th Marines at Pendleton.
alaskavett
US Veteran
You gentlemen are doing fine! I grew up in NOVA and did a bit of shooting at Quantico from about 72 to 76 in the small bore teams. Ever get out to Fairfax Rod & Gun Club? I remember the name Mayco and what about the brothers that had the gun shop out by Warrington? From one Veteran too you both and all our Veterans, Thank you for your service! Kyle
alaskavett. I never made it anywhere near the Fairfax Rod and Gun Club. Didn't even take much advantage of the hunting and fishing on post. Both because I was living in the barracks with the resulting restrictions on firearms storage and, as mentioned earlier, I was young and dumb. You are thinking Clark Brothers Guns at Warrenton. I still have the 2 guns I bought there. A .455 New Service converted to .45 Colt and a Krag. The New Service had cylinder problems and got a new Christy Gun Works( San Francisco) cylinder installed by Archie Mayer at Mayco. Archie and his partner Ed Bright, both retired Marines,are gone now. I didn't get to do any competitive shooting until, after having gotten out with 8 years service and attending the Colorado School of Trades, I enlisted in the Army National Guard . The Guard let me shoot, at least until I got commissioned, whereupon there was always something to interfere with team practices and matches. Electronics Support at Quantico wouldn't even let me go try out for the team. I believe the exact wording of the refusal was "(insert appropriate profanity) you McCann.We need you here.You're not going out to the range to (profanity) off.".I appreciate the thank you and extend it also to you. I never heard that until one of the VA doctors said it well after my retirement.
I was assigned to MCDEC from 78 to 81 as the Army instructor at the Communication Officers School in Edson Hall.
I sure remember Archie and Ed. I lived in Triangle, a few blocks from their shop. Used to go with Archie to the Silhouette matches at Orange, VA. Bought a number of Smiths (all of which I still own) from Archie.
I'd stopped in at their little shop just after Ed had his accident. That really shook me up. You could still smell the powder smoke.
Memories...
I talked to Archie very shortly after Ed got hurt. Kinda shook me too as I was in gunsmithing school at the time. As I remember the story, they got a Remington 11-48 in for repair. Being a recoil operated firearm, Ed pushed down on the end of the barrel to operate the action instead of grasping the outside. Apparently the firing pin was jammed forward and as the gun went into battery it fired. Ed's hand and forearm were in the way. I don't want to knock Ed as even the most experienced of us make mistakes, but Ed made 2 that day. He used a live cartridge to check and pushed on the muzzle with the heel of his hand to operate the action. From what Archie said much later, I think it almost directly related to the end of their partnership. It's too complicated to go into here, and Ed never gave me much of his side of it so I won't speculate any further.
I lived in Prince William County near Quantico and did alot of business with Flora at her shop( Evaluarors Ltd). Great lady, I would stop in very often just to talk...My brother went thru the FBI academy and got a early S&W .357 from her while he was there, his son has it now...Mayco and Clark Bros gun shops....Knew them well.
gharrod
Member
I have a Model 36 S&W Chiefs Special with 2 inch barrel and square butt that I bought from Evaluators Limited in 1970. I still have the original box with the bill of sale signed by Flora Mae Van Orden. She gave me a LE discount since I was a District of Columbia Corrections Officer, and the price before sales tax was $75.60.
I went back there a number of times over the years, to buy target grips for it and also to buy reloading supplies when I started reloading. It was a real hoot listening to her stories about competitive shooting in the 1920's and 30's, and going to Central America with her husband during the Banana War years. She was a truly great lady!
When Evaluators LTD went out of business, Archie Mayer of Mayco Guns and later Triangle Reloading Bench bought up all her S&W parts, which came in handy when my Model 19 needed a couple of parts in the late '80's.
I went back there a number of times over the years, to buy target grips for it and also to buy reloading supplies when I started reloading. It was a real hoot listening to her stories about competitive shooting in the 1920's and 30's, and going to Central America with her husband during the Banana War years. She was a truly great lady!
When Evaluators LTD went out of business, Archie Mayer of Mayco Guns and later Triangle Reloading Bench bought up all her S&W parts, which came in handy when my Model 19 needed a couple of parts in the late '80's.
I called Archie from time to time to check in and BS and continued to talk to Marie once in a long while after Archie passed on. Sent a Christmas card a couple years ago and it came back. Phone was out of service. Finally got through to Jim Land at NRA Headquarters in the last few months as he was a friend of Archies. Jim did some checking and found Marie had been in a nursing home for a while. Unfortunately, Marie had passed a day or so before Jim found her, just a couple of months ago. I asked Jim to pass on my contact information to Marie's daughter Irene and have heard nothing from her. Just a shot in the dark, but if anyone on the forum should happen to know Irene, I really would like to talk to her for a few minutes.
Post Script:
I found an online obituary for Marie and I was wrong on time. Marie passed on 2 February 2011.
Post Script:
I found an online obituary for Marie and I was wrong on time. Marie passed on 2 February 2011.
Last edited:
Well that explains why Archie always had the parts for my revolvers. He installed 3 Ts on my model 14 and 17.
I knew Van Orden well. He operated from his home on Rt 1 just North of Quantico on the Northbound side. His "shop" was in his Southside Sun Room. In the early 60's and late 50's he was utilized by the Marine shooters for equipment one could not get from the Corps, especially competitive shooting gear. I used him as did the greats of that time before a sniping MOS existed. Top John Boitnot, then Capt. Bill McMillan, Baker, V.D. Mitchell etc. and others, as indicated, knew of him also and a hand full of Pros from WW2 and Korea held the shooters together unofficially. A great man among great men. I was recruited one Sunday at the end of a 2700 aggregate match at LeJune by 'Top Boitnot' (1961 or 2) along with Cpl Carlos Hathcock and two others at Camp LeJune during a regional match. We all went to the Naval academy the summer of 1962 as weapons instructors to the Plebes. Our equipment was not good and was a little bit of everything including Model 70 Winchesters! Anyone remember Sgt Creech? He was the Marine expert in instinctive shooting with a .45.
Gordon Ferrie, former USMC and Presidential Protective Details for Eisenhower and Kennedy.
Gordon Ferrie, former USMC and Presidential Protective Details for Eisenhower and Kennedy.
Last edited:
da gimp
Member
Gordon, Do you remember Major Dick Culver? good friend of Jim Lands, he's not doing well now, health problems....
I was assigned to our HQ in Washington DC in 1974-77, lived in Dale City, VA and spent as much time at Mayco gun shop as I could. They did some work on a 1911 for me, pure genious. Like an idiot I traded it years later......... I never had the honor of meeting the Van Ordens, that was my loss.
To the OP: Very, very nice M-19. Keep shootin' and check 6
To the OP: Very, very nice M-19. Keep shootin' and check 6
Last edited:
