Machine shop aims for success
Theresa and Frank White use computerized equipment, such as this CNC lathe, to build extremely accurate and dependable AR-15 match and service rifles
For Frank and Theresa White of Compass Lake Engineering, or CLE, mixing business with pleasure hits the mark. From their shared love of competitive rifle shooting and Frank's skills as a machinist has evolved an AR-15 match and service rifle production operation with a steadily-growing nationwide reputation. In fact, all the U. S. military branches, as well as the Federal Marshalls Service, are CLE customers.
However, CLE's biggest customer is the Civilian Marksmanship Program, or CMP, a congressionally-established organization promoting firearms safety and rifle practice for all qualified U. S. citizens, especially among youth. The Whites ship about 150 complete rifles per year to the CMP.
Through a network of affiliated clubs and associations in every state of the U. S., the CMP offers firearms and range safety training, marksmanship courses and competition opportunities, including the National Trophy Rifle and Pistol Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, each year. During the First Shot ceremony opening the National Rifle Matches this summer, CLE received a powerful endorsement. Given her pick of any rifle for firing the first shot, 2000 Olympic air rifle gold medalist Nancy Johnson chose CLE's Kreiger barrel service rifle, which was presented to her at the ceremony’s conclusion.
CLE's largest orders, for rifles as well as other machine work, often arise from contacts made at shooting matches. "One guy we shoot with is an engineer at Georgia Tech, our fifth largest customer," said Frank. "They conduct government and military research. They give us a drawing and we make the part. We never know what it's for."
The Whites also established a contact with their second-largest customer, the U. S. Marine Corps, at a match. "We make pretty much all their barrels and specialized parts for their competition M-16s," said Frank. "An AR-15 is the civilian version of the military's M-16."
CLE's business has grown primarily through word of mouth, although the Whites have maintained a Web site for the past three or four years. "We can thank the Internet some, but mostly it's because people talk," said Theresa. "Competitive shooters are a nice, friendly community."
About 98 percent of CLE's rifle sales are mail orders, although the number of walk-in customers, especially from Tallahassee and Panama City, is increasing, said the Whites. "NRA [National Rifle Association] matches are shot at 200, 300 and 600 yards, but our closest 600-yard range is at Ft. Benning," Frank explained. "Ft. Walton does have a 100-yard course where competitors shoot at reduced targets."
The Whites have shipped rifles to all 50 states, plus several foreign countries. In particular, CLE receives orders for .22 rimfire versions of the AR-15 match and service rifle uppers from northern states, where indoor ranges are prevalent. "It's too cold there to shoot outdoors right now, so indoor ranges allow people to stay in practice all year long," explained Theresa. "They have shooting leagues, like bowling. They're very competitive."
Frank credits one of his former Chipola Junior College machine shop students, Richard Crawford, of Altha, with introducing him to competitive shooting. "He'd shot on the U. S.'s 1976 Olympic pistol-shooting team. He knew I was into rifle shooting and told me about a match at Ft. Walton," said Frank. "I've been to a lot of them since then, in lots of different places."
With a college background in mechanical engineering and extensive automotive machining experience, Frank has operated a machine shop since around 1985. However, he and Theresa didn't begin building AR-15s until after he began shooting competitively in 1989.
During his ten years as an instructor, Frank honed his skills in computer-assisted design and operation of Computer Numeric Control, or CNC, milling and turning machines for quick, precise manufacturing of parts. Then, as the workload at his shop grew, he turned his attention to its full-time operation in 1996.
CLE now has four full-time employees, including the Whites' son, Conrad, and three part-time employees. Hugh Manis, who formerly ran the shooting matches at Hurlbert Field and was among the area's first to shoot an AR-15 in competition, works at gunsmithing for CLE a couple of days a week.
This national magazine’s cover features a specially-configured AR-15 sharpshooter’s rifle built by Compass Lake Engineering.
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