Welcome to Tucker Swanger's Senior Project

Todd Homan

Gunsmith

Todd Homan is a central PA gunsmith who specializes in shotguns and has been working full-time since 2019, with a large backlog and customers nationwide. During our call and several visits to his shop since, he gave me advice on getting started in gunsmithing, parts sourcing, and industry jobs, and he even helped explain how to work on my Browning. I really valued our conversations and hope to keep learning from him as I pursue a career in the shotgun industry.

Ken Pfua

Vice President at Krieghoff International

Ken Pfua, Vice President at Krieghoff International, shared insight into the global firearms industry, manufacturing, and trade. He explained that most consumers focus on quality and fit rather than origin, while tariffs, regulations, and supply chains affect business more than buyers. He believes enforcement matters more than new laws and that international trafficking issues are largely political rather than tied to manufacturers. I really enjoyed our conversations and learned a lot about how a luxury shotgun company operates globally, which strengthened my interest in working for Krieghoff in the future.

Tom Engle

Business Owner

Tom, owner of Hunters Warehouse, has decades of experience selling guns, military surplus, and online inventory, and he focuses on building relationships with customers rather than just profits. I was impressed by his knowledge, his flexible trade policies, and the time he spent explaining warranties, background checks, and the business side of the industry. Overall, it was a great visit, and I plan to return.

American Arms & Ammo

Company

I interviewed a representative from American Guns and Outdoors in Quakertown, who chose to remain anonymous, but still answered many of my questions about their business and the industry. They emphasized transparency with customers, especially about firearm origin, and discussed how global conflicts, regulations, and supply issues affect gun availability and sales. Overall, even though the interview was brief, it helped me better understand the firearms market and contributed useful insight to my senior project.

John Higenbothom

Entrepreneur

John Higenbotom owned sporting goods stores in Lewistown and Mount Union in the 1980s–90s, where he outfitted hunters and fishermen and helped many locals with their first big outdoors experiences. He said increasing regulations made the business harder, which pushed him toward e-commerce before he eventually moved into other ventures. Even today he remains passionate about hunting and fishing, and I enjoyed talking with him about the outdoors and his experiences in the industry.

Russ Feathers

ATF Investigator

I interviewed Russ Feathers, an ATF investigator who inspects our FFL and has nearly 40 years of government and military experience. He shared his background in the military, federal policing, and ATF work, explaining how his role focuses on inspections and preventing illegal gun activity rather than arrests. We discussed gun policy, training, and crime prevention, and although we disagreed on some ideas, I appreciated hearing his perspective and learning more about his career.