Jacob Mikesell

owner

Jacob Mikesell didn’t exactly choose the firearms life—it walked right up, handed him a wrench, and said, “Here, figure it out.” Raised by a dad and a stepdad who both loved guns and conspiracy theories , Jacob had no chance of turning out normal. Toss in a childhood full of John Wayne movies, cowboy boots, spurs, Chaps, a vest (with or without a shirt) and riding a spring-loaded horse like it was a raging bull, and it’s safe to say the path was set early. Firearms weren’t just a hobby—they became his love language (right after “taking his brother’s clothes” and “learning to drive at an early age”).

After years of tinkering, fixing, customizing, and uttering the phrase “I could build a better one” more times than once, Jacob finally decided to make it official. Enter: Black Iron Armory—a no-nonsense, all-American gun shop in Downtown Wapakoneta, Ohio, built by a man who once rebuilt a riding mower just for fun.

When he’s not customizing ARs, dialing in a trigger, or giving unsolicited advice on barrel twist rates, Jacob can usually be found:

• Meticulously cleaning tools or his garage that is already clean,

• Slipping out of social events like a ninja ghost,

• Or reminding himself that he doesn’t need another gun (while also browsing for another gun in his own gun store).

He believes firearms should be functional art—built to perform, made to last, and make you look cooler than Rooster Cogburn on a bender. He’s a perfectionist, a craftsman, and the kind of guy who you want to be around.

Come into Black Iron Armory and you’ll probably find Jacob mid-project, covered in CLP, deep in thought, and pretending he doesn’t talk to his tools more than people. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a serious collector, or someone who just wants to have  a guy listen to you rant about optics for 45 minutes—he’s your guy.

Warning: may show you a gun you didn’t know you needed but suddenly really, really want.