An Air Force Gunsmith Painting

Orion · Post by **Orion** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 10:44 am

Tuning the BoMar Rib By Dennis Dittrich.

Orion · Post by **Orion** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 3:03 pm

Here is some information from the artist:

Title: Tuning the Bo Mar rib: USAF armorer, National Pistol Championships, 2012
Artist: Dennis Dittrich
Medium: Watercolor on Strathmore Bristol

While working in an armorers’ truck at the National Matches at Camp Perry, Sargent First Class Dave Norwood received a Colt 1911 target pistol with a request to straighten the extended sight rib. When I asked if he had a specific gauge or fixture for that, he responded in the affirmative and whacked the front sight with a plastic mallet. He then checked the alignment and pronounced it fixed.

Norwood is the last formally trained Air Force pistol smith. His craft, which has been perfected over a a working lifetime, is no longer supported as a Military Occupational Specialty.

Slo cat · Post by **Slo cat** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 8:23 pm

Dan Norwood is still the armourer for the All Guard Pistol Team. I spent the last week with this group, and Dan, at the Phoenix Desert Midwinter matches.

MajD · Post by **MajD** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 12:31 pm

A minor point, Sargent First Class is an Army rank. The stripes on the shirt in the background would indicate an Air Force rank of Master Sargent.

Orion · Post by **Orion** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:25 pm

Correcto.

I emailed the artist about it.

Thanks!

Isabel1130 · Post by **Isabel1130** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 6:34 am

I know Dan, saw him a few weeks ago at Desert Midwinter, and he is a lot better looking than that guy in the painting.:-)

Post by **pilkguns** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:01 pm

Orion wrote: Norwood is the last formally trained Air Force pistol smith. His craft, which has been perfected over a a working lifetime, is no longer supported as a Military Occupational Specialty.

That's pretty interesting. I was one of the guys who helped train Dan. Including some advice on how to use hammers.LOL Glad to see him make immortality from an artist's palette, but yeah, I agree, it sure does'nt look him.