Meet the Staff
Who We Are
Kevin "Hootey" Cline
Lead Gunsmith/ Founder
Hootey graduated from Sonoran Desert Institute's (SDI) Associate of Science in Firearms Technology program in 2017. While with SDI he was trained in the following areas: ballistics, inspection and troubleshooting, finishes and engraving, firearms customization, woodworking, hand checkering, accurization, sights and optics, as well as machining and manufacturing. Hootey has also taken part in various advanced armorer courses offered by SDI, including: AR-10, AR-15, and 1911.
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Phone: 217-416-5962
Email: Bluecoatarms@gmail.com
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Some of Hootey's notable instructors and mentors at SDI included: Kip Carpenter (American Gunsmithing), Ray Vaughn (Moss Pawn and Gun), and Chris Barrett (Barrett Firearms Manufacturing)
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Lydia Cline
Chief Operations Officer & Videographer
Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, our “First Lady,” Lydia is the heartbeat of Blue Coat Arms Company’s operations. bringing her organizational skills, fresh perspective, and a whole lot of heart to our small but mighty team. Lydia manages everything from admin and customer communications to content publishing and marketing, making sure our shop runs smoothly and our story reaches the right audience.
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Lydia’s passion for firearms started early, but truly took off when she landed the role of Annie Oakley in a local production of “Annie Get Your Gun.” Trained by Hootey in stage marksmanship and trick shots, she’s been hooked ever since.
Zephyr
Chief Security Officer
What is a shop without its Security team. Zephyr loves to greet customers at the door and make sure that everyone has a great and safe time.