Jeff,
Metal lathe- to make what you need/want. Throw out the tool catalogues and replace them with gun picture books and old tool makers books. Being independent is kind of part of the trade you cannot have lee valley and TOW hanging off your teat or be indentured to true value hardware for every bobble and widget. Every dime you do not spend on what you can make is a dollar you can send to Rayl, Burton, Chambers, to get what you simply cannot make. Think of yourself as a tool maker who likes building guns instead of a gun builder who needs a toolmaker.
Or skip the lathe but you must have a bench grinder. IIRC Taylor did a tutorial on Bob Roller's grinder set up. Or skip the grinder buy the lathe and make a grinder
