In a historic cypress-wood cabin on Old U.S. Highway 441, there’s a building and business who have stood the test of time. A building where walls lined with rifles, antique firearms, vintage photos and all kinds of ammunition tell stories of the American West. This building is the A.W. Peterson Gun Shop. This year they are marking a rare milestone of 140 years in business. A.W. Peterson is believed to be the oldest continuously operating gun shop in the United States of America today. 

Founded in 1886 in Denver by Axel W. Peterson, a Swedish immigrant who arrived with little money and built a reputation as a master gunsmith renowned for crafting high-quality target barrels, the shop carries deep family and historical roots. Many top gunsmiths sought out Peterson barrels to replace factory ones for superior accuracy, and Peterson himself was an expert marksman who won shooting matches out West.

Leighton Baker, a former chicken farmer seeking a new path, bought the shop from the aging Peterson and moved it to Mount Dora in 1953, bringing original photos, early machinery used for custom barrel-making and rifles, and a collection that turned part of the store into a minimuseum of frontier history.

For the Baker family, it’s far more than a business. “For us it’s more than just a business it represents our family,” says Carey Baker, Leighton’s son, who started sweeping floors and cleaning counters at age 12 in the 1970s, working alongside his father. “Some of my favorite memories were spent with my father in my early years learning the ins and outs of the business, sweeping floors, restocking the old soda machine every day. It taught the value of hard work that’s for sure.” 

Carey Baker, who has spent more than 50 years involved with the shop (including military service and time in the Florida Legislature and as Lake County Property Appraiser), recalls cherished memories of youth spent learning the trade. The family has long emphasized responsible gun ownership, conducting and promoting thousands of training classes focused on safety, self-defense, target shooting, hunting and the Second Amendment. 

“Guns ownership are lifetime purchases,” Carey Baker noted, highlighting how firearms are often passed down through generations within families. The shop has championed the right to keep and bear arms with the 2nd Amendment while stressing responsibility that comes with ownership. 

Today, the shop located at 4255 W. Old US Hwy 441 continues under the leadership of Carey’s great-nephew, Desmond Brewer, who at 19 is the latest generation learning the ropes. Carey and his brother Roy remain involved, providing guidance and a “basket of skills” as the young owner masters the trade. 

The future remains bright, though retail challenges persist. “We are at the end of the day a retail business” facing competition from online sales, Carey Baker says. “The shop has adapted by changing its product mix while maintaining its core identity and loyal customer base.” 

Few small businesses can claim 140 years of continuous operation. Through generations, the Peterson-Baker legacy has served hunters, shooters, collectors and families in Central Florida. It’s a living link to frontier craftsmanship, personal responsibility and the traditions of American gun culture.

As the shop celebrates, visitors can still find that same blend of history, expertise and community that has defined it since 1886.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ If anything else the museum inside the shop is fascinating and certainly worth the visit alone. 

“Here’s to 140 years of A.W. Peterson in business and we hope to be around for another 140 years as well,” says Carey Baker.