COLE FINE GUNS & GUNSMITHING
A Note From Our Founder, Rich Cole
RICH COLE
Founder of Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing
Rich is a true artisan with a lifetime devotion to the craft of gunsmithing. Growing up in Washington D.C. in the late 60s and early 70s, with no video games to waste the days away, his spent free time building models and other hands-on projects of his generation. Rich was introduced to basic mechanics and machine tool theory and operation as a youth by his dad, who was a scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics lab and a gunsmithing hobbyist.
In 1979, being in the right place at the right time, Rich was hired by Beretta USA who recognized his aptitude and eagerness to learn.
To this day, Rich is passionate about working with customers to select the right gun for their needs, achieve proper fit, and provide ongoing service to ensure proper function for years to come. With his extensive knowledge of a wide variety of the world’s best shotguns, at the end of the day, Rich believes that the basic Perazzi MX, the Zoli, Rizzini and Beretta 680 and DT series are among the best lines of guns on the market.
”Do What You Love, Love What You Do”
I went to work for Beretta in 1979 because I decided as a little boy that I wanted to be a gunsmith. Although my eccentric nature and independent streak meant I wasn’t quite cut out for the corporate scene, I am grateful for the knowledge and training afforded to me by Beretta at that time.
Over the past 40 years I have been blessed with the opportunity to hone my craft; I am humbled with the knowledge that I have been able to successfully carve out a unique niche that has allowed me to pursue my passion as a vocation. I have been rewarded by relationships with wonderful clients, peers, industry colleagues, and lifelong friends from all over the world. Many thanks and much credit to my Team, a growing staff of dedicated folks who are taking the Cole Brand to another level.
I’ll be spending a little time in each of our locations each year, training gunsmiths, doing fittings and custom work. Thank you for your business and support over the years. We look forward to providing the Cole Experience for years to come.
Established in 1985, Cole Fine Guns & Gunsmithing is a family-owned and operated business serving shotgun enthusiasts across the United States and beyond. With a specialty and expertise in European shotguns, there is no better place to make your next purchase or access service. By focusing within this niche, we have developed the most extensive knowledge and greatest breadth of inventory and service offerings in the industry.
OUR HISTORY
In 1979, Rich Cole was hired by Beretta USA.
Founder, Rich Cole’s interest in guns began in his childhood and has resulted in a lifelong devotion to the craft of gunsmithing. In 1979, he was hired by Beretta USA and spent a number of years working between Beretta’s Accokeek, Maryland location and apprenticing in Gardone Val Trompia, Italy, where he received extensive training.
In 1985, Rich Cole continued and expanded his career in Maine.
Rich Cole moved to a small fishing town in Maine where he continued to do contract work for Beretta as well as metal restoration and shotgun repair while moonlighting as a lobster fisherman and in a machine shop.
In the years following, Rich quickly became known to shotgun enthusiasts for his skill and developing expertise.
Rich’s passion for the craft of gunsmithing has allowed him to build a career spanning more than 40 years, passing this knowledge on to a team of technicians who have worked for him for many years.
With his knowledge of a variety of the world’s best shotguns, he’s had the opportunity to work on fine guns made by elite gun makers.
Years spent building strong relationships with the top Italian shotgun vendors, has given us access to and understanding of the very best quality products and the ability to provide the highest quality custom shotguns.
One of the things Rich enjoys most is working with shooters on gun fit, stock modification and custom stocking.
He has become one of the industry’s most well-known and trusted technical authorities dealing with shotgun function and fit. Discriminating gun owners worldwide trust their fine firearms to Rich Cole’s expertise.
Having built an extraordinary team of conscientious, hardworking individuals in 4 shops located in Maine, Florida and Texas, we are committed to providing the best experience for our clients.
We offer personalized service and expert guidance simply not found elsewhere, enabling our patrons to make sound decisions regarding gun selection, gun fit, gun function and customization.
Voted the #1 Beretta Premium Dealer in the country for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Cole Gunsmithing specializes in the Sale and Service of European Shotguns. Beretta warranty service center offering best-quality gunsmithing in three locations Maine, Florida and Texas. Put 35+ years of experience and technical expertise to work for you when making your next shotgun purchase.
VISIT US
Our Gun Shop Locations
Meet Our Team
Cole Gunsmithing is a family business with a passion for great customer service. Our team of gunsmiths and support staff believes that servicing your gun should be an enjoyable experience. That’s why, when you call Cole Gunsmithing, you will always speak to someone on our team that has personal, hands-on experience with the products we sell and maintain.
JONA COLE
Owner
JONA COLE
Owner
After a 20-year career in social services, Jona married Rich Cole and moved to Florida in 2010. Jona oversees most marketing, social media and business management functions. The Team Cole project is among her favorite 'work' duties as it affords her the opportunity to build relationships with youth shooters and their families from all over. She enjoys shooting and bird hunting when time allows and continues to marvel at the fact that she can actually break a target here and there or have some success in the field! Jona loves visits with her grandchildren and time with family and friends. Together, she and Rich enjoy traveling, spending time outdoors, hiking and staying healthy through exercise.
TAMMY MARTIN
General Manager/Accounts Manager
TAMMY MARTIN
General Manager/Accounts Manager
Welcomed as the General Manager for the Naples, FL team, Tammy has vast experience in Bookkeeping, Training, and Management. She is looking forward to meeting all of Cole’s customers! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and going to all the beautiful beaches Naples has to offer!
DAN MARTIN
Operations Manager
DAN MARTIN
Operations Manager
With national growth on the horizon, Cole Gunsmithing has taken the steps to bring on a business developer. Dan's task will consist of expanding the Cole brand nationwide, while still maintaining the Cole custom experience. Dan has transplanted to sunny Naples Florida, from the freezing winters of Chicago. Dan is excited for the opportunity Cole has provided.
BRANDON COLE
Gunsmith
BRANDON COLE
Gunsmith
Growing up with Rich in the Maine shop has cultivated Brandon’s passion for fine Italian Shotguns. He works in the Naples shop and specializes in Beretta repairs, stock customization, stock fitting and sales. Brandon has also taken a special interest in the business of TSK adjustable stocks and has had training in San Antonio to become a Blaser certified gunsmith. Other than his love for gunsmithing he is passionate about exploring the outdoors and spending time with his wife, Alexis, his newborn son Phoenix and dogs, Hank & Gunner.
PEDRO MOLINARI
Coordinator - TSK Sales
PEDRO MOLINARI
Sales & Service Coordinator — TSK Sales
Pedro is Cole Gunsmithing’s TSK guru and is extremely knowledgeable in both the mechanical and sporting aspects of competitive shooting. Pedro can take charge and guide newcomers and seasoned shooters into making the right choice based on their individual needs, making sure that each and every customer feels secure and confident in their purchase. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his two dogs, exploring trails on his dirt bike, shooting, and exercising.
TRASK SLOAN
Photography & Web Coordinator
TRASK SLOAN
Product Photography & Web Coordinator
Trask came to Cole Gunsmithing after working 8 years in both Hospitality and Healthcare security. He is responsible for product photography, product listings and promotional materials for the shop. He has a passion for music, art, and photography. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and spending time with his son.
MARK MEACHAM
Service Coordinator
MARK MEACHAM
Service Coordinator
After growing up on the Bayou, Mark spent 34 years in the United States Armed Forces. Afterwards he retired and moved down to sunny Naples, Florida and subsequently "got his dream job" at Cole Gunsmithing. Mark oversees the Service Department and works side by side with the Gunsmiths to ensure accurate and timely completion of work orders that come to the shop. Whether your sending a gun in for a leather covered pad or a complete rebuild, Mark will be there to help you through the process.
SAMANTHA DIEHL
Web/Marketing Assistant
SAMANTHA DIEHL
Web Coordinator & Marketing Assistant
The newest addition to the Naples gunsmithing team, Samantha was born and raised in Tampa, FL - and started marketing with her family's restaurant. She is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, and just moved to the Naples area. Samantha works alongside Trask in doing product photography, product listings, blog postings, and promotional materials for the shop. In Samantha's free time, she loves fishing with her boyfriend or painting.
DION PAYTON
Director of Sales
DION PAYTON
Director of Sales
With world class customer service and national growth as his focus, Dion comes to us with over 13 years of industry experience ranging from sales, inventory management, and events marketing. Dion will manage and oversee the sales operations at Cole Gunsmithing in his new role as Director of Sales. In his spare time, Dion enjoys shooting sporting clays, cooking, and spending time with his family.
KENNETH SANCHEZ
Shipping Coordinator
KENNY SANCHEZ
Shipping Coordinator
Kenneth comes to Cole Gunsmithing to facilitate the role of Shipping Coordinator for the Naples location. Kenneth's "keep looking forward and never look back" demeanor ensures he is always taking good care in the packing and shipping of our customer’s firearms. In his free time, Kenneth enjoys spending time with his family and girlfriend and their dog Tiara.
CASEY DETH
Gunsmith
CASEY DETH
Gunsmith
Casey hails from Vermont where he was formerly the Sales Manager at The Gun Shop. Casey works side by side with Naples gunsmiths Brandon and Kyle and also assists on the front end in sales with Consignments and Pre-Owned shotguns.
PETER WOHLFORD
Salesman
PETER WOHLFORD
Salesman
With more than a decade in the Firearms Industry, Peter joined the sales team in 2022. Peter grew up in Southern Indiana hunting quail, pheasant and shooting competitive rifles. With a passion for competitive shooting sports and upland bird hunting, Peter enjoys teaching and guiding shooters to a firearm that fits their needs. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 dogs, shooting, and spending time on the water.
KELLY FIELD
Sales, Photography & Web
KELLY FIELD
Sales, Photography and Web
Kelly grew up in Harpswell, Maine and was recruited to the team in 2008. Kelly oversees the intake, photography and website listings of all new inventory, wood sets and other accessories as well as operating in the sales department. Kelly has a reputation as our wood guru and has built many lasting relationships with customers over the years. She enjoys spending her free time with her daughter, exploring the coast and is very close to her family and friends.
JODY LEBLANC
Shipping & Receiving
JODY LEBLANC
Shipping & Receiving
Jody grew up in Harpswell, Maine and joined our Cole North team in 2019. She enjoys providing excellent customer service and is always eager to go the extra mile. She handles our packing/shipping department and takes great care to make sure your repair or new gun makes it to its destination safely and in one piece. She also handles all incoming repairs and contacts customers to let them know their repair has arrived, and when they might be able to expect it back. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside with her family and her dogs and enjoys a good mystery novel.
JIM BELLEGARDE
Gunsmith
JIM BELLEGARDE
Gunsmith
Jim joined our Cole Gunsmithing team in October of 2001. Interest and passion for fine firearms and hunting led him to pursue this career. He performs almost the full spectrum of services offered here at Cole, including gun fittings, wood and metal refinishing, general repairs, as well as installation of Cole manufactured hardware. In his spare time, Jim enjoys hunting, hiking, reading, and collecting books.
JACOB WILLIAMS
Gunsmith
JACOB WILLIAMS
Gunsmith
Jacob is our most recent addition to our Cole North team. He was welcomed into the family in March of 2021. He has always had the passion for guns, and so much so, when he entered the Marine Corp. His first preference was to be a gunsmith. He ended up instead, working on weapons systems for attack and utility helicopters. Outside of a drive to learn everything he can about fine shotguns, he also enjoys a wide variety of hobbies ranging from things such as 3D printing and virtual reality to shooting sporting clays and drone racing. If you stop in on a Friday, you are likely to find Jacob sporting R.E.D Friday, where he wears his red Cole shirt to Remember Everyone Deployed.
JAMIE BAUCOM
Parts & Shipping
JAMIE BAUCOM
Parts & Shipping
As the newest member of our Cole North team Jamie is responsible for the receiving and processing of customers' incoming repairs. She also packs and ships all firearms and parts orders. Most of her day is spent handling the phones, helping with gun sales, parts orders and everyday questions from our customers.
Jamie grew up in Harpswell and moved to the next town over after having her first child. She is a proud mom of two teenage boys and spends her time with family and friends enjoying going fishing, swimming, camping, attending her children's activities or just hanging out and spending quality time together. Jamie moved back to Harpswell in January of 2021 and joined the Cole team in June.
ANDRE GORJUP
Operations Manager
ANDRE GORJUP
Operations Manager
Andre is the newest addition to Team Cole and comes to us with over 15 years of industry experience ranging from tool and die manufacturing to gun building, gunsmithing, and product development. He is our resident Blaser specialist and leads the San Antonio location as it's Operations Manager. In his free time he enjoys shooting sporting clays, leading a cub scout den and spending time with his family and friends.
KURTIS GROVER
Service Coordinator, Apprentice Gunsmith and Salesman
KURTIS GROVER
Service Coordinator, Apprentice Gunsmith and Salesman
Kurtis is responsible for sales, receiving and assisting in the day-to-day operations of the shop. He is a competitive International Trap and general shooting sports enthusiast. He is also a Level 1 NRA certified shotgun coach and has volunteer coached for the Youth Trap Team out of Norway Paris Fish & Game Club in Maine for several seasons. A recent graduate of the Colorado School of Trades gunsmithing program, Kurtis utilizes everything he has learned thus far to assist customers in their purchases and educates them on shooting sports in general.
AUSTIN HICKS
Salesman
AUSTIN HICKS
Salesman
Austin is one of our newest employees to Team Cole. He has been shooting industry for over 7 years and has been shooting and hunting for most of his life. He spent his younger years in Texas and Alabama where he was an avid dove and duck hunter. He enjoys all shooting sports including sporting clays, skeet and long-range rifle shooting.
JOE MANDRACCHIA
Sales
JOE MANDRACCHIA
Sales
Joe has been a salesman in the firearms industry for 8 years. In addition to working with customers out of the Sarasota Trap and Skeet range in Nokomis, FL; Joe is also an NSCA certified instructor, NRA Range Officer and has been the head coach for the FishHawk Dynasty SCTP youth shooting team.
GIANNA SANTO
Shooting Instructor
GIANNA SANTO
Shooting Instructor
Born in Bridgeport, CT - Gianna began shooting at the age of 10. She has since become a Master Class Sporting Clays Shooter, NSCA Level 1 Instructor, NRA Level 1 Shotgun Instructor and SCTP Certified Instructor. She has recently relocated to Southwest Florida and continues to train and instruct others. In her spare time she enjoys traveling the US and shooting with her dad.
GULF COAST CLAYS
Sporting Clays, Skeet & Trap Range
GULF COAST CLAYS
Sporting Clays, Skeet and Trap Range
Surrounded by the Everglades National Park and the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, this shooting range is in a beautiful location offering unrivaled scenery and a warm welcome. Clay shooting truly is a sport for all and you can learn with us in a safe environment. There are certified instructors on staff available for trap, skeet, and sporting clays lessons.
The Cole Experience
A DIFFERENT KIND OF GUN SHOP
A One Stop Shop, Offering Superior Service
We are a different kind of gun shop and the experience you’ll have is one you won’t easily find elsewhere. With our knowledge and relationships, we are in a unique position to offer a vast array of products and custom services. We’ve built a solid reputation through our work with new shooters, youth shooters, ladies, world champions and everywhere in between.
With our decades of experience and solid reputation, why go anywhere else?
We’re Here to Help You!
Let us give you the most important information, answer your technical questions and present your options. We are NOT just trying to sell you a gun today, we want to build your trust and a relationship for the future. We’ll tell you the truth about what you need— even when it doesn’t result in a sale for us. Refreshing, right?
Our staff is knowledgeable about the products we offer, we aren’t guessing and we only sell products we believe in; we take the time to ensure you get the information you need to feel comfortable with your decision.
Gun Fit Consultation? We’ve Got That!
One of the first things to consider when purchasing a shotgun is gun fit. Cole Gunsmithing knows about gun fit and knows that a stock that fits correctly is essential to optimum performance and accuracy. Each shotgun sale conducted in-store comes with a complimentary basic gun fitting consultation to determine whether a stock modification is necessary. We strive help you understand the dynamics of a well-fitting shotgun. Our staff can assess what needs to be adjusted and we can do it in- house. If you already have a gun and feel that it may not be quite right, let us help you achieve proper fit by assessing whether certain modifications could improve your performance and increase your comfort and enjoyment. We are available for gun fitting by appointment.
Service After Sale? We’ve Got That!
We earn your trust and your business by providing an experience that keeps you coming back for years.