Hoping for contact info for a person that sells antique sights. My foggy memory says maybe last name bean? I need a front sight for a whitney kenedy.


Thanks Chris

Maybe try Gary Fellers in Fort Worth Texas?

For a Whitney-Kennedy, you might ask on www.levergun.com/forums in the "Classified" area, or just on the "Discussions" part, or both. If I remember correctly there are guys on there that own W-Ks, and may have parts or know of a source. That's tough one if you're looking for a factory sight, I think. But somebody may know what aftermarket sight would be "period correct."

This may be a stupid question but is Fellers still around? I remember doing business with him 25-years ago.

He was around a year or 2 ago. He was asking what I had for sale, so he still seemed like he was going along well.
Yes, old and I did pray with him a time or 2 on the phone at his request. A nice old guy for sure!

Kenny Bean 717-755-9070

HE's the BEST.

I wouldn't do business with Gary Fellers if he were the last guy in the world who had any sights. The guy will tell you what a wonderful example of the sight you're seeking he has. He'll take your money and go shopping for the sight, if it takes too long and you call him about it he'll have a million excuses. BTDT many years ago, never did business with him after that.

The sight man.....

I used to live close to Ken Bean, and remember when he started out selling sights to pay for his hobby. We locals depended on him a lot back then. Last time I saw him, maybe a year ago, he was making noises about getting out of the game. He's gotta be in his 80's now, and getting tired of the hassle. I wouldn't wait too long to call about a sight.

Back in the 1990's I bought a few sights and scopes from Mr. Fellers at the big summer gun show in Kansas City. All of the transaction were done face to face.

So you dealt with him FTF so what, the guy's still a dikhead crook. You don't want to send any money to him for the reason I cited in my post.

Dealt with Mr Bean a few times in person. He has to be up there by now.

He could get you almost anything. Great Friendly guy.

Dealt with Ken "The Sight Man" quite a few times. He came through with sights for my Savage 1919 .22 rifle. Last time I saw him was at 2019 fall York Pa. show. Believe he lives in York. He would also be at all of the Forks of the Delaware shows in Allentown, Pa.. He is getting up there in age. Always has a nice display and variety of sights at the shows. Very nice guy, hope he is well.

I can second what gunswizard said I dealt with Fellers years ago sent him a good sum of money for a sight he said he had . It was eight weeks and several phone calls and no sight I actually called gun list because that's how I found out about him through an ad . Told them either I get my money back or the sight told them I wasn't dealing with him anymore eight weeks and no sight and he cashed my check ridiculous .

Gary Fellers has an unscrupulous reputation as a guy who promises but may or may not come through. Many times he'll take your money and then go shopping for the item he's promised you. Sometimes the wait can amount to several weeks, when you call he always has an excuse. His business acumen leaves a lot to be desired.

Yes I had several phone calls with him until I finally told him either he sends me my money back or the sight and he hung up on me so that did it with me

Not a way to do business in my opinion

I bought a 1st variation long slide Lyman 48 for a 1903 Springfield from Fellers once. Called him, he said he can fix me up, sent him a check and a week or so later the sight was in my hands in better condition than I was expecting. Maybe because I laughed and joked with him a bit instead of poking him, but he probably had the sight in hand anyway.

I've gotten most of the Lyman 30 1/2's I use from Ken. Last time I saw him I needed a couple specific height Unertl scope blocks that required me rooting through his assortment with a dial caliper for 20 minutes. His reply when it came time to pay: "you spent enough with me over the last 40 years, just put them in your pocket."

When we were building/restoring British sports cars, our "test track" ran past his house. He remembered seeing (hearing) me blast past a few times, but the last time I asked him about that he didn't remember.

OK, you had a bad mail-order transaction experience with him, 'sorry to hear it, but nothing that I wrote suggested that your experience was anything other than what you claim, so I don't see why your reply seems so agitated.

I have heard/read negative reviews of Mr. Fellers' business practices and probably won't buy from him via mail-order, but my F2F transactions with him that happened over a decade ago were fine.

FTF the guy can be charming, either he has what you want or not will pretty well be evident. In other than FTF deals he'll lie to you, take your money any give you excuses till pressed hard enough then he'll return your money. Life is too short for hassles, there are other sight specialists out there who are more honest and ethical.

Who are some of the other sight specialists. Mr. Bean did not have what I needed .

John

What are you looking for? Someone here may have it

I need the screw and knurled nut that attaches the two parts of a Lyman #54 sight together

Ah. I have a lot of old sights but not really many parts. It's hard to believe someone here wouldn't have those parts though.

The male stud of that screw is on a small slide that slips up and down in a shallow mortise inside the sight base. The knurled knob that threads onto it pinches the slide in place. I made a simplified version of it once. Not hard to do with a lathe and a file. The sort of odd arrangement allows for a bit more elevation adjustment and also permits the knob to be kept positioned in the center no matter where the slide elevation ends up. A decent machinist should be able to suss it out and make you one.

That is going to be a hard nut to crack.

Probably easier to find a complete sight (which are scare) than those parts....

Thanks for the help, I haven’t looked for the parts in about 5 years

Garry Fellers is not in the best of health as of this date. He still lives on 3249 Marie Lane in Ft. Worth. TEL 817-346-9633 (But slow to answer)
I have had good luck with him because most of dealings are FtF OR I am a repeat customer. Call in afternoons. He is in his 80s...

A good idea to ask here FIRST...

Glad I'm not an old man with a ton of valuable stuff so you could post my address for the whole world to see.

Just sayin...

Ken Bean passed a year or two back, sorry to say. A great person to deal with and very knowledgeable.

I was reading this entire old thread thinking "Ken Bean passed two years ago why hasn't anybody said so?" I haven't heard, and nobody I've asked seems to know what's happened to his stuff.

I had a conversation at show with him shortly before he passed and he was telling me and I think Joe Martin if I remember correctly, that he was trying to sell his business lock stock and barrel, sights and all.

Randy, believe that someone did buy Kenny’s inventory after he passed. I was told that the individual was set up at the Allentown show this past December.

Around 20 years ago, I purchased a "climn lyman" from Gary Fellers for a '95 Win chambered in 35 Win. A perfect transaction. Had the impression of a decent guy during two phone calls with him. Just my experience.--cb

Well regardless of where those sights are now may Ken rest in peace. He was genuinely a good guy. Alway pleasant and willing to share his knowledge.

Not doubting anyone's experience but, I only once did business via phone with Gary Fellers and it was a very satisfactory transaction.