PROFILE: True-Flite Rifle Barrels,  NEW ZEALAND.

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 set up 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 owner-operators are Grant Lovelock and Steve Mann, both being skilled precision engineers of great experience and dedicated shooters.  

Profile: 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.

Profile: Steve Mann:                                                                                                          I have over twenty-two years of general engineering experience including precision engineering. I qualified as a Fitter-Welder in 1990 and eventually joined D L Wood Engineering which was renamed Eastland Engineering when I became a partner after four years. As a respected structural engineer with an eye for detail, I helped this business grow into a major engineering company in Gisborne.                                  I have twenty-nine years of top-level archery experience with many NZ records and titles to my name and my lifelong interest in guns covers air guns, smallbore, varmint shooting and extreme long-range hunting. More recently I have been involved in F Class target shooting and equipped with True-Flite barrels I have quickly risen through the ranks to finish last season ranked number one. I have done a large amount of handloading, load development, accurising and general riflesmithing.          My skill and experience in these fields will enable True-Flite to continue with its reputation for high quality products and friendly, knowledgeable service.