GunTech Magazine about W.Polah: “Where Passion Meets Innovation” Part I

Crafting Miniature Masterpieces Amidst Adversity

In a detailed interview with Guntech Magazine, Olha Polakh, the Ukrainian founder and visionary behind WPolah, reveals the intricate world of miniature firearms. WPolah is not just a company; it’s an emblem of resilience and innovation, producing collectible, tiny, functional guns that are veritable works of art.

Contrary to what one might assume, Olha did not grow up with a passion for firearms. Raised in a military household, she was more drawn to the arts, developing a keen interest in creation and design from a young age. It was this blend of artistic flair and precision that later became the cornerstone of WPolah’s ethos.

Did you have an interest in firearms when you were growing up?
This may come as a shock to you and your readers, but I was not a fan of firearms. I grew up in the family of a military officer, weapons were a matter of course. I approached the shooting miniatures production from the other side. What really interested me since childhood was art. I was constantly making things with my hands and drawing. When my parents brought me to an art school at the age of five, hoping to get involved in music and dance, I agreed with the head teacher to enroll me in the fine arts department. The music and choreography did not escape me either. But most of the time I studied the history of art and learned to make art with my own hands with lessons in composition, drawing, painting, etc. In
regular school, I also studied well, my favorite subject was mathematics (algebra and geometry). This is probably already about another component, I mean engineering, in the future business.

Olha’s journey into gunsmithing began with her fascination with antique weaponry during her stint as an antique dealer. She was inspired to add something unique to the industry, although she underestimated the effort it would demand initially. With no specific mentor in gunsmithing, Olha acquired skills from diverse craftspeople, including turners and jewelers, and learned by deconstructing and reconstructing various models of miniature weapons.

Could you tell us about your interest in gunsmithing?
I thought about gunsmithing much later, when I already held antique weapons, antique and vintage miniatures in my hands, while working as an antique dealer. I began to study the miniature weapons manufacturers that were on the market at that time. And I, selfconfident, thought
I could enrich the industry by adding something no one had done before. Only then I did realize how much effort it would require (Laughs).

Did you apprentice with another gunsmith or how did you learn about guns and gunsmithing?
I did not have a single mentor as such, especially in gunsmithing. Certain skills were acquired from professional turners and jewelers, whom I was
also able to involve in the business. Some “wheels” had to be reinvented. It also helped that many samples of miniature weapons passed through my hands and I had the opportunity to disassemble and assemble them, to understand how others do it.

One significant influence on her work is Michiel Lefaivre, whose masterpieces in the world of miniature firearms inspire her. The experience gained from trading antiques online provided Olha with valuable insights into collector psychology and business organization, forming a solid foundation for WPolah.

Do you have any gunsmithing mentors or anyone in the firearms industry that has inspired you?
That’s the one I can’t help but say, this is Michiel Lefaivre. His works are true art that inspires, and I am truly proud that we know each other, have the opportunity to correspond, and in general, that I live at the same time as this genius.

You were involved with antiques. Did you have an antique shop and did that experience help you in running your current business?
I was engaged in online trading of antiques when this field was just starting to emerge in my country, Ukrainian specialized sites began to appear, and collectors had not yet learned how to buy on eBay. That was a long time ago… I was able to convert this experience into a
foundation for a new business, and not start from scratch. To begin with, I already had a certain perspective, held many beautiful things in my hands, gained an understanding that is valued by collectors, and I already had experience in organizing my own business.

Could you tell me about your background and education in engineering and business?
Immediately after successfully graduating from school, I entered the Kharkiv National University of Economics and studied business economics. In addition to economic disciplines, we studied the discipline of “technology” and did practical work at large factories, where I also worked out my vision of a production organization.

WPolah’s inception saw Olha create a simple 1mm caliber Derringer out of real gold, channeling her grandmother’s influence and her experience in jewelry retail. The intricate process of manufacturing tiny cartridges for such models is testament to the painstaking attention to detail that defines the company’s products.

The decision on which firearms to replicate in miniature form is a careful blend of customer requests and internal creative aspirations. WPolah’s offerings range from popular modern models to historical pieces no longer in production, catering to varied budgets and ensuring the hobby remains accessible.

How do you decide which models of guns you will make 2mm pinfire replicas of?
We have already made miniatures of the most popular models, some even in different scales. We have both modern models and models with a long history that are no longer in production. At the same time, we purposefully developed a line of products for any budget so more people can join this fun and at the same time intellectual hobby. Now, in order for us to take the model into development, several factors need to coincide. First, we need a request from our customers, and secondly, we ourselves should be interested in taking on this work. For example, we currently have models in development that, in addition to shooting, have extra functions, for example, light up with multicolored diodes, have a laser sight, etc. But this is classified information (Laughs). We still haven’t told our regular customers about the upcoming new products. Your readers will be the first to know.

What types of tools do you use the most when crafting one of your incredible miniature firearms?
There are small CNC machines, lathes, and milling machines your audience may be familiar with, from the British company Cowells. Many different hand tools cutters, saws, nippers, pliers, etc. We also use grinding machines and various abrasive materials for the final surface treatment of
miniature weapons.

To Be Continued…

About the Author

My name is Olha Polah, and I have been working in miniature weapons production since 2015. I started the mini firearms brand and have been running the brand’s Instagram page since 2016. The brand’s miniatures are popular worldwide, with fans in 25+ countries. I became the sole owner of the brand in 2018 and created a comprehensive line of miniatures. More than 60 models of miniature weapons from various historical periods have been created. In November 2023, I was interviewed by Robert Dunn for the GunTech magazine, where I talked about the hardships I had to endure in my business. I also run a newsletter for the brand’s customers, which has evolved into a full-fledged magazine with in-depth articles published on the wpolah.com.

My mission is to make people’s lives more joyful by sharing interesting facts about miniature weapons and inspiring everyone to express themselves.