John Spilborghs

tom mayo · 11-02-2002, 08:21 PM

I have a classic long slide heavy ribbed Spielberg gun. I was told by Hans Vang he only made 12 of these, and I was also told by the orignal owner that it was on the cover of Guns back in the mid '70s. How could I verify any of this info? Thanks

Brian Hawley · 11-03-2002, 05:07 PM

If you're talking John Spillborgh, try to get a picture up on the 'net.
We'll tell you if it's the real deal. (If it was on the cover of ANYTHING, someone here will know....)

tom mayo · 11-04-2002, 09:19 PM

nope, john speilberg. like the director............he lives in Santa Barbara and drops by Hans Vangs shop www.vangcomp.com fairly regularly. Built a lot of cool 1911s in the 70s and 80s in the style of the Pachmeyer guns that Libenberg (sp?) was so fond of making.

David Cosby · 11-05-2002, 09:21 AM

Tom,

I lived in Santa Barbara during the 1970's and was president of the old and almost certainly now defunct, Santa Barbara Combat Pistol League.

One of our members was a John Spilbourges (spelling may be a little shaky, but that's how it was pronounced.) John was Belgian, extremely active in IPSC, and was starting to do a fair amount of 'smithing. Never had him do any work on my guns, as I had a good relationship with Jim Hoag.

Just curious if you are absolutely certain that your gun's maker was "Spielberg". I didn't know anyone by that name in Santa Barbara during the time period you mentioned in your post, and my involvement was such that if he was a local shooter I'm confident I would have been familiar with him.

Anthony Lombardo · 11-05-2002, 01:23 PM

Mayo,

Its SPILBORGHS.

I memorized all the American Handgunner Mags when I was a kid.

APL

tom mayo · 11-05-2002, 02:35 PM

ok if you guys say so.......but Im calling hans vang to get an affirm on that!!! :-? I cant hear so good anyhow!!!!! :roll:

OK, Hans said you guys are right and I am wrong. His mark is two diamonds with JS in the diamonds on the right hand side. I will take a pic and post it........awesome pistol.

David Cosby · 11-05-2002, 03:22 PM

Glad to hear that John is still around!

Tom, if you should happen to get in contact with him, please convey my regards.

Brian Hawley · 11-05-2002, 06:32 PM

Yeah, glad to hear it.

I grew up in Santa Barbara, but didn't get into IPSC until I moved to Oregon. Once I read that John was an old toolmaker (which is what I do now) I always had this fantasy of going back and looking for him....I thought his work was beautiful. I would have thought he would have passed by now (should be in his 70's by now....)

tom mayo · 11-05-2002, 10:33 PM

yea, I guess he is pretty old, I dont know him, but he swings by Hans' shop with regularity, if you really want to get ahold of him click on the VANGCOMP.COM link above and give hans a call. Hes a really friendly guy. Plus he makes GREAT shotguns!!!

mongorodz · 10-29-2012, 08:07 PM

Yes the Santa Barbara Combat Pistol League is still up and running every 4 th sat .

11-02-2002, 08:21 PM	#1
tom mayo Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Waialua, Hi Posts: 15	John Spilborghs I have a classic long slide heavy ribbed Spielberg gun. I was told by Hans Vang he only made 12 of these, and I was also told by the orignal owner that it was on the cover of Guns back in the mid '70s. How could I verify any of this info? Thanks

10-29-2012, 08:07 PM	#10
mongorodz Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: orcutt Posts: 1	santa barbara combat pistol league Yes the Santa Barbara Combat Pistol League is still up and running every 4 th sat .

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11-03-2002, 05:07 PM	#2
Brian Hawley Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 88	If you're talking John Spillborgh, try to get a picture up on the 'net. We'll tell you if it's the real deal. (If it was on the cover of ANYTHING, someone here will know....)

11-04-2002, 09:19 PM	#3
tom mayo Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Waialua, Hi Posts: 15	nope, john speilberg. like the director............he lives in Santa Barbara and drops by Hans Vangs shop www.vangcomp.com fairly regularly. Built a lot of cool 1911s in the 70s and 80s in the style of the Pachmeyer guns that Libenberg (sp?) was so fond of making.

11-05-2002, 09:21 AM	#4
David Cosby Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Carolina Posts: 126	Tom, I lived in Santa Barbara during the 1970's and was president of the old and almost certainly now defunct, Santa Barbara Combat Pistol League. One of our members was a John Spilbourges (spelling may be a little shaky, but that's how it was pronounced.) John was Belgian, extremely active in IPSC, and was starting to do a fair amount of 'smithing. Never had him do any work on my guns, as I had a good relationship with Jim Hoag. Just curious if you are absolutely certain that your gun's maker was "Spielberg". I didn't know anyone by that name in Santa Barbara during the time period you mentioned in your post, and my involvement was such that if he was a local shooter I'm confident I would have been familiar with him.

11-05-2002, 01:23 PM	#5
Anthony Lombardo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 295	Mayo, Its SPILBORGHS. I memorized all the American Handgunner Mags when I was a kid. APL

11-05-2002, 02:35 PM	#6
tom mayo Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Waialua, Hi Posts: 15	ok if you guys say so.......but Im calling hans vang to get an affirm on that!!! :-? I cant hear so good anyhow!!!!! :roll: OK, Hans said you guys are right and I am wrong. His mark is two diamonds with JS in the diamonds on the right hand side. I will take a pic and post it........awesome pistol.

11-05-2002, 03:22 PM	#7
David Cosby Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: South Carolina Posts: 126	Glad to hear that John is still around! Tom, if you should happen to get in contact with him, please convey my regards.

11-05-2002, 06:32 PM	#8
Brian Hawley Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 88	Yeah, glad to hear it. I grew up in Santa Barbara, but didn't get into IPSC until I moved to Oregon. Once I read that John was an old toolmaker (which is what I do now) I always had this fantasy of going back and looking for him....I thought his work was beautiful. I would have thought he would have passed by now (should be in his 70's by now....)

11-05-2002, 10:33 PM	#9
tom mayo Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Waialua, Hi Posts: 15	yea, I guess he is pretty old, I dont know him, but he swings by Hans' shop with regularity, if you really want to get ahold of him click on the VANGCOMP.COM link above and give hans a call. Hes a really friendly guy. Plus he makes GREAT shotguns!!!