About Us
True-Flite is owned and operated by Anthony Walsh
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Grant Lovelock
I am a New Zealander, qualified as a Fitter/Turner/Machinist with twenty-three years of engineering skills and experience. I have spent sixteen years in precision machining with much of that as foreman in charge of the workshop. My skills have been further honed by working as an engineer in the UK. To date I have completed many alterations and repairs to firearms and my enjoyment of this led to my decision to become part of True-Flite NZ Ltd.I truly relish the challenge of producing high-end quality products such as True-Flite rifle barrels and see this as a great way of using the skills I have accumulated over the years. The key to success for our customers and ourselves is to supply a service second-to-none and to keep our customers equipped with the very best custom-made rifle components. As a keen shooter, I would want no less for myself.
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Anthony Walsh
Growing up, I was always drawn to tinkering and figuring out how things worked, often with a slug gun in hand. Those early days were filled with afternoons spent shooting targets and exploring my curiosity about mechanics and precision. As I got older, this passion evolved into duck shooting and hunting, where I developed a deep appreciation for firearms and their role in the outdoors. Later, I ventured into pistol shooting, refining my understanding of accuracy, performance, and the finer details of firearms.
This lifelong interest naturally led me to pursue a career that combines my love of engineering and firearms. With a Mechanical Engineering Trade Certificate, over 15 years of experience as a machinist, and NZQA certifications in gunsmithing, I’ve built a reputation for precision craftsmanship and innovation. My expertise lies in creating custom firearm components, restoring heirlooms, and developing solutions tailored to the unique needs of each project.
Customer service is at the heart of everything I do. I believe that understanding my clients’ needs and delivering exceptional results are critical to building trust and satisfaction. Whether I’m working with seasoned professionals or new enthusiasts, I prioritize clear communication, attention to detail, and a commitment to exceeding expectations.
Driven by a passion for excellence and a constant pursuit of innovation, I take pride in every project I undertake, ensuring that each piece reflects the highest standards of quality, precision, and care.
Our History
Our rifle barrel production started back in September 1995 when we were experiencing problems with delayed supply from manufacturers in the USA. Also, we were not happy with the quality of some barrel shipments from lesser-known barrelmakers. Our reputation was on the line and a decision had to be made.
Consequently, we "bit the bullet" and built our own barrelmaking plant based on the pulled-button method of manufacture. At every stage of design and manufacture of the plant, accuracy and product consistency were given priority. Looking back, the machines were probably "over-engineered" and setup to an unnecessarily high standard of accuracy; hours, days, sometimes weeks were spent chasing extreme levels of alignment and concentricity. More than ten years later, not a single component has had to be re-aligned.
Our original barrelmaking workshop in Auckland occupied a miniscule 450 square feet! In May 2000 we moved to a new 2000 square feet facility in beautiful Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. The extra room allowed additions of much-needed machines and tools to increase production as by this time our reputation had achieved international status and demand for True-Flite barrels had taken off.
True-Flite NZ Ltd now operates from a new facility in Gisborne, New Zealand. The manufacturing of Barrels, and Gunsmithing is managed by Anthony Walsh.