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
From a young age, I was drawn to tinkering—constantly exploring how things worked, often with a slug gun never far from reach. My early years were filled with long afternoons spent target shooting and immersing myself in the mechanics of precision and function. As I grew older, this natural curiosity evolved into duck shooting and hunting, where I developed a deep appreciation for firearms and their role in the outdoors.
That passion eventually led me into pistol shooting, where I focused on refining accuracy, performance, and understanding the finer details of firearm mechanics. This lifelong interest naturally evolved into a career that blends my love of engineering with my enthusiasm for firearms.
With a Mechanical Engineering Trade Certificate, over 15 years of hands-on experience as a machinist, and NZQA certifications in gunsmithing, I’ve built a strong reputation for precision craftsmanship and innovative problem-solving. My expertise spans custom firearm components, the restoration of treasured heirlooms, and designing tailored solutions to meet the unique demands of every project.
At the heart of my work is a commitment to exceptional customer service. I believe that truly understanding each client’s needs and delivering outstanding results is key to building trust and satisfaction. Whether I’m working with experienced professionals or newcomers to the shooting world, I prioritise clear communication, attention to detail, and a genuine commitment to excellence.
Driven by a passion for quality and a constant pursuit of innovation, I take immense pride in every project I undertake—ensuring each one reflects the highest standards of craftsmanship, 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.