Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Dominic Jandrain came to town with a rifle, a highly engraved Winchester Model 1894 carbine, to be exact.
Jandrain, employed by Investment Arms, Fort Collins, Colo., has the company's proof copy of the Kosciusko County version of a limited edition series.
The lever-action Winchester rifle is the "gun that won the West," he said.
Investment Arms hopes the 24-karat gold engraved piece will win the hearts of 10 local collectors. Just 10 will be available at a cost of a little under $3,000 each.
"We have a team of researchers," Jandrain said of the 11-year-old company. "They choose 10 counties in each state and people or places of significance to highlight."
On one side of the plate is a depiction of Warsaw Cut Glass with Potawatomi Indians on the other side. An outline of the county with most of the major towns listed is included. In a border, Lake Wawasee, the Pound Store Museum and Thaddeus Kosciuszko are listed.
On the other side the border has "Orthopedic Capital of the World," The Dixie and Winona Interurban. Agriculture is depicted, showing shocks of corn being cut the old-fashioned way.
Winona Lake is commemorated through a laser engraving on one side of the walnut stock.
The front grip has the words "Kosciusko County" engraved on both sides. Native wildlife - a Canada goose on one side and a white-tailed deer - also are depicted.
Investment Arms, established in 1991, began business selling county and rodeo editions, which remains the bulk of its work, Jandrain said.
The guns are functional in every way but he doesn't recommend taking it out for shooting practice.
"Generally people pass the rifles on to their kids or grandkids to keep in the family," the salesman said.
For more information call Investment Arms, 888-708-4867.
