James Turpin was born on June 6, 1951 and grew up in Overland Park, Kansas where currently resides. James began building rifles in 1975, beginning with kits and completed his first hand-made rifle in 1977. He also began building cannons in 1975 and opened a small shop in Kansas City in 1977 which he called
"Uncle Turps Cannon Wrks" Jim Now owns Primitive Arts Video. He has produced "How To" videos on gun building.