From a former Gun Cellar seller
I worked with Tom during the '80s,and to this day,it's still the most memorable of happiest times for me.Some people mistook Tom for being aloof,but they couldn't be further from the truth;he was just a well-educated man who also knew about guns.He could discuss any topic in common-sense terms and still inject some humor in it.
Though I'm partial for obvious reasons,I will give Simmons the next best place.Clay wasn't the broad-smilin' back-slappin' type,but the man knew guns and accessories with no peer.We did business with Clay quite a bit(I spent some time running back and forth between Bessemer and Hoover before and after I-459
) and between him and Tom,I got my gun education refined tons!
It's been almost 20 years since I last rang up a purchase,but Tom's still in his original location across from the Galleria,where he started up shop 28 years ago.He began with just one space,but business increased to the point that he had to buy another(formerly the Hallmark shop).
Like every gun store,we got our share of characters back then. One of them was Nikki,a cajun hairstylists 2 doors down,who came in one day,wantin' to know who took her parking space with that brown Hyundai Excel(My mom's car)? I told her that I didn't see no nameplate on that space pertinent to her and she could either buy a gun or shut up and go cut some hair.After that,we were good pals;she wound up being my stylist until I left AL,and often would bring me some supper at the store,consisting of jambalaya,dirty rice and red beans made by her from scratch.How I miss that and her.....
John Nielson was another regular character.He was short and stumpy,kinda reminded me of a hedgehog. He was a former accountant ruined by alcohol and subsequent mental disorders.I was one of the few who could deal with him and not be scared or suspect....until Mom told me that he had spent time in the state hospital(his ex-wife confirmed that,too).I relayed that to Tom,in hopes that he would stop any more gun purchases by John before something bad happened,like us possibly getting in trouble for selling to him.I think his visits diminished not long after that.
Nancy,AKA"Thunderthighs",wound up liking me rather quickly after I sold her a S&W 44Mag revolver.One night,she came in and asked how I was doing.I replied that I was a little cold,but otherwise okay.She left and about 25 minutes later,brought me back a 900.00 leather jacket!! I about fell out when she did that."Well,you said you were cold and I thought this might warm you up!" Yeah,she was well off somehow(going to law school in her forties back then,and paying cash,to boot!)and I still have that leather jacket today in my closet behind me here in the computer room(and it's still a tad big on me).
Van Rudolph was our resident gunsmith for awhile.He was another well-versed man like Tom,but more mechanically inclined.He taught me some basics,like how to put a bead sight on a shotgun barrel(yes,we did get those requests once in awhile),and gently massage rust off without hurting the bluing,using oil and extermely fine steel wool.We were members of the Alabama Rangers chapter of the Single Action Shooters Society.He was Venemous Van,and I was Demented Dave(and still am
).I still have my badge(#37)and ID card,but don't know if the Rangers still around....
Larry Keeble was another regular who became a fellow worker and later opened his own shop(Gunsmoke Gallery)on Birmingham's Southside just off I-65 near UAB.Latigo Larry was his Ranger moniker(and it was he who signed me up).One of Larry's more novel creations was his "Gun Pajama"(no,not the plural),fashioned from his old pajamas(and the tacky ones that his girlfriend would buy sometimes)and used for storing longarms without the bulkiness of a hardcase,or the balkiness of a zippercase.My Remington Apache 66 wears the lone pajama that I got from Larry.I wonder if he still has any left....I could use a few more.
Roger Adams was another co-worker(and Ranger;"Doc Adams")from that era.He was also a bona fide sworn law officer.I think he was maybe an excise cop,or something like that.Anyhow,he was the resident legal expert on gun matters.He was a wiley sort of a guy,the last one you'd expect to actually be a cop,but he was.....and a fun guy to work with,too.
Tom's son David worked with me in the store for many years before he grew up and became a Major in the USMC. Oorah,you go Dave,and may you come home safe and soon!
Tom's wife Marty(sp?)came in once or twice a day to check on things,but didn't hang around for too long a time.She was a nice,pretty lady,as was her daughter Amy,though I thought Amy looked more like Tom,where David favored his mom in the face.
All in all,the Pinions were a great family to work with and I'm a better man for having had them in a part of my life.I'm proud to see that the 'cellar's still open and hope the same's such for Simmons;two of the finest gun shops I ever dealt with,hands down!
