When he was as young as five years old, Tyson Colleton of Caroline was fascinated with knives, swords, axes and guns, and as he grew older, that fascination evolved into a hobby making knives and rebuilding guns.
Colleton was one of about 200 exhibitors who displayed their wares during the Olds Gun & Antique show, held Aug. 10-11 at Big Rack Cow Palace Event Centre.
"My dad built me some out of mild steel and then I wanted something more when I got a little older. He said, 'I don't want to build it for you, but I'll show you how to build it,' and then I started building from there," he said.
Colleton's display included several antique-looking swords.
One of the most exotic was a Chinese sword that was about 30 years old.
"They look like they're 200 years old or 100 years old," Colleton was told.
"I do have one like that," he said, but added, "I don't sell that one."
There's a story behind it though.
"Believe it or not, a friend of mine had it in an umbrella stand and was ignoring it. I happened to fall in love with it and we worked out a deal. I found out how old it was afterwards," Colleton said, adding some of those swords are valued at more than $2,000.
Colleton has been collecting and selling guns and knives for about 30 years.
"I would rebuild knives and I sold them. That was my money when I was in high school," he said.
Colleton spent 10 years in the reserves. He never went overseas.
He also likes to participate in re-enactments from the medieval period and other eras. He's even been in a couple of films, but nothing high profile, he stressed.
"One was a historical, kind of following this girl through multiple lives and at one point, she joined in with the Vikings, so it was quite interesting," he said.
In addition to knives and swords, Colleton's display included several guns. He likes to refurbish them and make them easier to use.
"When it gets cold and damp, they will freeze up and the bolt action won't open. I've had guns that, you know at 40 below, packing a rifle, you try to open the bolt and it's frozen solid," he said.
Colleton was asked if he was making a living refurbishing guns, knives and swords and selling them.
"Not right now, no," he said. "I've got to invest a lot more into it to start bringing it out."
But he doesn't lose money either.
"I buy things I like and when I get bored with them I sell them, for usually more than I paid for them originally."
Meanwhile, to put bread on the table, Colleton works with people who have physical and mental disabilities.
