By Shay Hough shayhough00@gmail.com
There’s no better business than a business with employees that treat you like family. At Gold Spur Outfitters, the friendly owners and staff love nothing more than to see you leave with a firearm that can be passed on for generations. Their team is dedicated to making you feel welcome, heard, and taken care of.
Gold Spur Outfitters (GSO) can and will assist you in gunsmithing, no matter how big or small the job is. The possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing your firearms. Brian Dimoff, the lead gunsmith and part owner at GSO, remarked, “What we offer is something that is so unique, that there is no blueprint to give somebody.” Dimoff and others at GSO work closely with their customers when it comes to repairs or customizing firearms so that the client receives a finished product that is exactly what they desired. Lloyd Baker, GSO’s sales director and CEO stated, “We just make sure that everybody’s happy with what they get. We’re more of a bespoke business. This kind of atmosphere is made to order specifically for the customer’s needs and tastes, not based on a blueprint or a predetermined design.”
All of the staff members have their own set of skills they contribute to the team. “All of us here kind of have our own little area of expertise, but generally, we’re good at delivering what is basically the gun world version of a hot rod. We’re a hot rod shop for firearms,” says Dimoff. Again, GSO’s members are a team and they’ll work together to make sure their customers are completely satisfied with their firearm. Not only do they customize it to look exactly how their client wants it to look, but they make sure it performs for what the client will be using it for. “It’s not just about being a builder, because anybody can put together an AR 15 in the garage, but to actually get it to perform…That takes something special,” stated Baker.
Selling and crafting firearms comes with knowledge and great responsibility, two qualities Dimoff and Baker possess in abundance. Dimoff , a retired US Army Paratrooper, and Combat Veteran brings a ton of experience to GSO. Similarly, Baker is a US Army Infantry Combat Veteran, making the business truly veteran-owned. “Most people who serve in the military do not spend most of their careers actually using firearms. Most people in the military qualify one to two times a year, and that’s the most they’ll ever use a weapon system, whereas everyone in this building extensively uses or used firearms as part of their career field in the military,” stated Dimoff. Not only are Dimoff and Baker more than experienced with firearms, but their agreed upon philosophy is, “if we wouldn’t trust it to use professionally, we wouldn’t trust it to sell to a customer.” Their dedication to quality and safety extends to every aspect of their business. Every firearm that leaves their shop is sure to meet the highest standards of reliability and performance. Baker added, “We have a very good understanding of not just how they’re made, but how they’re used.” The staff’s meticulous attention to detail has earned Gold Spur Outfitters a reputation for excellence among both military personnel and firearm enthusiasts in the Laramie community.
It’s obvious that safety is such an important aspect of owning, selling, or using a firearm. With that being said, Gold Spur Outfitters offers storage so that people in the Laramie community can store their firearms responsibly, safely, and insured. The University of Wyoming Police Department offers storage for students who live on campus, but other places, like WyoTech, do not have the same privilege. “A car is not a gun safe in any way, shape, or form,” said Dimoff. Dimoff who teaches a class to the newcomers of WyoTech to inform them that they are more than welcome and encouraged to safely store their firearms at GSO. In fact, all members of the community have that option. “We have the potential to be a neutral third party solution,” Baker added.
Not only does Gold Spur Outfitters run a great business, but they enjoy being involved and giving back to their community. Dimoff and Baker’s relationship goes back further than just owning a business together. Their friendship first formed over a decade ago when they were civilians working security for the US overseas. Dimoff stated, “We just formed a very close friendship and found a very common set of morals. We like to invest in the places that we are.” They collaborate with law enforcement charities, fire departments, EMT services, and organizations supporting Veterans’ causes. Additionally, they’ve contributed to initiatives benefiting 4-H and Platte River Veterans Fly Fishing. “As small business owners, I think that we have a responsibility to invest in our community because if all we do is take what is the point of being in business,” exclaimed Dimoff.
Gold Spur Outfitter’s team aren’t just building a successful business, but they’re crafting a legacy of compassion and community. Each firearm sold represents not just a transaction, but a commitment to protecting and nurturing the bonds that make the Laramie community strong.