My Life Journey with Smith & Wesson Free Ebook

[son-of-a-gun-designer]

Greetings! My name is Dean W. Charron and I am the son of noted Smith & Wesson gun designer, Dwayne W. Charron. In 2012, my father and I co-wrote a book about his long history with Smith & Wesson, most notably his time as director of R&D in the 1960s and 1970s. Two of my father's most celebrated projects were the Model 52 and Model 76 SMG.

My father passed away peacefully this past January at the age of 93. Since then, I have transcribed his book into ebook format and I am making it available to the gun community at no charge in order to share his remarkable 45-year journey with Smith & Wesson.

This offering has been approved by handejector and the ebook can be viewed at this link: My Life Journey with Smith & Wesson | AnyFlip

Again, the ebook is complimentary and I encourage you to share it with others. If you would like to honor my father's accomplishments and memory, I encourage you to make a small donation to the S&W Historical Foundation in my father's name. I hope you enjoy this ebook about my Dad's amazing lifelong journey with S&W. Best, Dean W. Charron

I posted this in the thread but it is way down the line, so I am posting it here as well: I thought those here on the thread would be interested in knowing some things about my father that are not in his book.

In the late 1970s, my father was approached by Paul Romano from New York. Romano ran a company that produced replica kits of old cap and ball pistols. His company was flooded with orders but could only produce a few guns a day. My father was tapped to take over the company as President and as what we would call the "Chief Operating Officer" of the company. My father said he would accept on one condition: That the company be moved to Massachusetts. Romano agreed and Classic Arms was moved to the Mapletree Industrial Park in Palmer soon after.

Under my father's management, the company was soon producing about 400 to 600 guns a day--up from about 12 a day. They also opened a sister company in the same factory making belt buckles with a gun-oriented theme--my father was in charge of that too. If you want to read more about this little-known piece of history, go here: COLLECTORS ARE GETTING A BANG OUT OF INEXPENSIVE ANTIQUE FIREARM KITS | Vault

My Dad also consulted for Dan Wesson Firearms and was integral in correcting the issues they were having with their .357 interchangeable barrel pistol. For obvious reasons, these ventures are not mentioned in his book.

Just a side note: My Dad was an avid golfer and he was good, I mean really good! He was also an avid and accomplished bowler. Being a die-hard engineer, just about everything in our house had been modified to work better in some way. In his later years, he took up the organ and oil painting--both of which he excelled at.

Best,

Dean W. Charron

 

[ericrlarson]

Sorry for the loss of your father. Thank you for your family’s contribution to the gun community.


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[son-of-a-gun-designer]

Thank you for your kind words. My Dad was very active and self-sufficient up until his passing. I spoke with him the morning of his passing; he was in the hospital at the time and his passing was from nothing but age--his body simply wore out. I live in Maine and was not there, however, my older sister was by his side until the end late that evening. I am told he was made very "comfortable" and he passed quietly and peacefully. He lived a very full life with no regrets. Best, Dean

 

[H Richard]

Interesting reading, I bought the hard copy when first available. He was involved in the design during the golden age of Smith & Wesson. Quite a contribution.

 

[delcrossv]

Thanks Dean! Just downloaded it and it looks to be a very interesting read. Engineers do, after all, really make the world go 'round.

 

[lrrifleman]

Dean,

Thank you for making the download available to us. Personally, I like to read, and learn, about the internal events during the developments that help to change the world. I know that my small collection of '70s and '80s Smiths have changed how I look at, and shoot, handguns.

Ed

 

[JohnHL]

Hi, Dean!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for this this extremely gracious and generous offer.

And Thanks again for sending me a copy of yours and your Dad's book.

This past January, your sister sent me a lovely note apprising me of your Father's passing.

I posted a couple of notices here in the Forum:

Dwayne Charron has passed.

ICYMI: Dwayne Charron has passed.

Unlike your Father, I do harbor one regret in life, and that is that I did not have the time to spend with your Dad when he was Docent of the Smith & Wesson Museum.

What a fascinating and enlightening time that would have been.

MANY THANKS, AGAIN!!

John Lichtenberg

 

[son-of-a-gun-designer]

John, I believe you and I corresponded back in 2012 when I was working with my Dad on his book. I appreciate the wonderful posts you put here about my father's passing; I was not aware of them until now. After my mother passed, my father and I spoke 4 or 5 times a week either by email or on the phone. His passing has left a large void in my life that will never be filled--I miss him a lot and I think of him every day. Best, Dean

 

[acco40]

My condolences to you and your family on the passing of your father. It’s very thoughtful of you to share his legacy with others. I look forward to reading it.

Thank you.


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[Golphin]

Sorry for the loss of your father. Thanks for offering this book to us here on the forum.

 

[Beauetienne]

Thanks, Dean. Sorry about your Dad.

 

[ladder13]

Your father was a giant in the gun world. Thank you for making the book available to us.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Dwayne Charron S&W Retired Badge

I have Dwayne's Smith & Wesson Retired Badge along with his Employee badge added to my collection of Smith & Wesson Employee passes. I met Dwayne when he worked at the Museum. He was a great man. He was happy to explain his work. I also miss him.

 

[son-of-a-gun-designer]

Hello Don, I believe you and I have crossed paths before. If I recall correctly, you collect badges. I'm sure they are in good hands and I am glad someone has them who will appreciate them! I still have one of his last badges. Please drop me a private message. Best, Dean

 

[BC38]

Sorry to hear of your father's passing. I lost my dad 15 year ago and understand the void you speak of.

Thank you for making the book available to us, that is a very generous thing to do and a great tribute to your dad and his work.

 

[son-of-a-gun-designer]

Other Little-known Facts About Dwayne Charron

I thought those here on the thread would be interested in knowing some things about my father that are not in his book.

In the late 1970s, my father was approached by Paul Romano from New York. Romano ran a company that produced replica kits of old cap and ball pistols. His company was flooded with orders but could only produce a few guns a day. My father was tapped to take over the company as President and as what we would call the "Chief Operating Officer" of the company. My father said he would based on one condition: That the company be moved to Massachusetts. Romano agreed and Classic Arms was moved to the Mapletree Industrial Park in Palmer soon after.

Under my father's management, the company was soon producing about 400 to 600 guns a day--up from about 12 a day. They also opened a sister company in the same factory making belt buckles with a gun-oriented theme--my father was in charge of that too. If you want to read more about this little-known piece of history, go here: COLLECTORS ARE GETTING A BANG OUT OF INEXPENSIVE ANTIQUE FIREARM KITS | Vault

My Dad also consulted for Dan Wesson Firearms and was integral in correcting the issues they were having with their .357 interchangeable barrel pistol. For obvious reasons, these ventures are not mentioned in his book.

Just a side note: My Dad was an avid golfer and he was good, I mean really good! He was also an avid and accomplished bowler. Being a die-hard engineer, just about everything in our house had been modified to work better in some way. In his later years, he took up the organ and oil painting--both of which he excelled at.

Best,

Dean W. Charron

 

[kraynky]

I'm sure your father is looking down on this generous gesture with a smile on his face. Folks that love their work as much as he did are always willing and anxious to share it with others. I am sorry for your loss, and I thank you and your father for the opportunity to read this book. After the first few pages, I can already see it will be a hard one to put down, and it will be way too short in the end.

God Bless.

 

[JohnHL]

Great anecdotes, Dean.

If I could name one fault of your Father's book it wold be that it is tantalizingly brief.

It is a modest book from a humble man. (Most great men are.)

Had it been 45 volumes of 1000 pages each, I'm certain that it would have only scratched the surface of a remarkable career in the remarkable life of a remarkable man.

It seems that time has silenced many of the voices that knew your Father well and who might have "fleshed out" many of the all too concise chapters.

ANY stories or remembrances you would be willing to share with the membership here will be delightfully welcomed and voraciously consumed.

John

 

[son-of-a-gun-designer]

John, thanks so much for your post. As for stories, I could go on forever. I will mention a couple interesting facts, both of which I know my father would approve of me sharing. My father was a child of the Great Depression--he told me a lot of stories about his father losing his job and being down to their last dollar. As is chronicled in his book, he left school to go to work to help support him and his parents. All of his accomplishments were the result of only an 11th-grade education--he did not even have a High School diploma. He learned everything on-the-job or through self-study. He also raced Stock cars at Riverside Park in his 20s--I still have a photo of him in front of his racing jalopy. Here's a piece of irony: My Dad was laid to rest at the Hillcrest Cemetary in Springfield--he will spend eternity there about 100 feet from his lifelong friend, Daniel B. Wesson--I'm sure they will make great company for each other! Maybe I can offer some other things up later... Best, Dean

 

[JohnHL]

Stock cars, too!!??!!

VERY COOL!!!

John