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Author Topic: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder  (Read 10916 times)

greybeard

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A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« on: October 14, 2011, 07:59:12 AM »
Thats the question put to me this week.
My responce  "You can get a good one, or a cheap one, but you can't get both in the same package"
Cheers   Bob
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Offline fm tim

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2011, 04:52:43 PM »
Like the joke in data systems design

Good
Fast
Cheap

Pick 2
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Offline alyce-james

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2011, 05:12:42 PM »
Two great responses for the one :-\ question. Turkeyfooter.
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Offline Stophel

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2011, 05:50:24 PM »
Oh, how often do you see the question posted on the muzzleloading message boards: "I want a flintlock rifle that is reasonably historically accurate for the F&I/Revolutionary period, but I only want to spent about $500...."

 ::)
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Offline JDK

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2011, 07:48:09 PM »
$500 to build a historically accurate mid 18th century piece wouldn't be cheap....it would be free....or worse!  Like buying all the parts (if your lucky or know a guy or two) and not paying the builder for his time and wear and tear on his tools.  I know those reenactors spend more than that just on the outfit they wear.  - J.D.K.
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J.D. Kerstetter

FRJ

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2011, 02:24:08 AM »
Good and cheap in the same sentence is an oxymoron!!!Quality and resonable on the other hand is desireable from both sides of the table. FRJ
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Offline Brian

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #6 on: October 15, 2011, 02:47:27 AM »
Based on what I've seen, you are looking at between $800 and $1000 for the parts to a decent "upper end" rifle.  These would be good parts.  Not necessarily "presentation grade", but good stuff.

How much you spend after that on having somebody assemble it depends on who you hire and how thick your wallet is.
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Offline WadePatton

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #7 on: October 15, 2011, 05:37:01 PM »
"cheap" and good/fast/light/durable (i'm of the cycling world)

just don't often cross paths.

I guess it doesn't hurt to ask, just like it doesn't hurt me to laugh when they do.

Methinks "cheap/inexpensive" and "tolerable until I can do better" are more likely companions. 

All the hand-made goods are UNDER priced when you look at how many hours a person puts into them and what sort of living is possible from the net wages--bikes and guns.  So many have to have other jobs to keep the shingle swaying in the breeze...
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Hold to the Wind

Dogshirt

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2011, 06:30:20 AM »
Cheap and inexpensive are not necessarily the same. I've seen a lot of "cheap"
with some hefty price tags!
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Vomitus

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2011, 08:39:53 AM »
Great looking dog.Badger hound,not cheep dog.Cheepdogs are collies.

(oxymoronic -good cheap builder)
« Last Edit: December 01, 2011, 07:53:15 PM by Leatherbelly »
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FRJ

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2011, 03:23:23 AM »
For over 40 years in the auto repair business I heard this on at least a weekly basis. My stock answer was that the cheap store was down the road a ways please go there and dont bother me.These people are about 5% of the public and I wont waste my time on them and lose that time that I could be spending on my good customers. If they cant figure out that good anything dont work cheap I dont even have time to explain it to them. Frank
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2011, 03:45:26 AM »
I'm cheap.

I build guns.

I'm good sometimes.
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Bentflint

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2011, 06:13:59 PM »
100 to 150 hours @ $9 or $10 bucks an hour, $750 or more for parts and shipping.

The builder is cheap but, the gun is not.

On the other hand I've seen guns that were built for maybe $3 an hour in labor. Now the same parts worth maybe $300, if the barrel and lock can still be reused.

Now that's a cheap gun.

Bruce
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Offline Kermit

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2011, 06:49:33 PM »
I make furniture. Expensive furniture. The difficult clients are often the wealthiest. Disdain for craftspeople seems to reside in the monied. I've taken to telling these difficult people that years ago I read in FineWoodworking of a craftsman whose policy was to work for a client at the same hourly rate that they made. Flip burgers? Work is at minimum wage. Cardiac surgeon at several hundred? Same rate as you, please. Hour for hour swap. I've had a few get huffy and walk away. I figure I'm ahead on those deals. The ones who walk are usually lawyers or the wives of wealthy men. Inflated idea of self worth. Go figure. Rich just makes you rich, not better. Grrrrrr.

Now that I'm calmed down, most of my clients are pretty well fixed. Most are polite and friendly. I don't need to work for the few snobs.
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #14 on: December 02, 2011, 10:23:30 PM »
There are always some bad apples in the basket. But there are also some real gems, generous, thoughtful people who understand and appreciate what you do.

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blunderbuss

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #15 on: December 02, 2011, 10:26:05 PM »
Quote from: Stophel on October 14, 2011, 05:50:24 PM
Oh, how often do you see the question posted on the muzzleloading message boards: "I want a flintlock rifle that is reasonably historically accurate for the F&I/Revolutionary period, but I only want to spent about $500...."

 ::)
And I want it nextweek
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #16 on: December 03, 2011, 12:29:23 AM »
Many of the problems that develop with custom work are because of the builder's business practices. Make sure you get your ducks in a row, and don't leave yourself open to being taken advantage of.
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Ramrod scrapers are all sold out.

Bentflint

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #17 on: December 03, 2011, 06:13:17 PM »
Good point Tom. See the Will Rogers quote below. That's why I like to build the guns I like. Set a price and offer them for sale.

The new owner gets to see the gun finished, hold it and even shoot it. And he doesn't have to wait to get it.

If he can't see the gun in person, I will send tons of pictures including targets. I will answer all questions and offer information he may not think to ask. I have killed a few deals but, nobody has ever sent a gun back and every gun sells.

No stress to build guns I don't like. The only time deadline is how long I'm alive and long I can still build guns. If I want to stop to brink a beer or grab my flintlock and shoot a squirrel the boss already knows why I'm not working.

I don't build guns for a living, got a job for that.  I build guns because I like to and I sell guns so I can buy more parts. There is a running joke around my shop, every gun is my next gun, I'm building for it for me. Some times other people just want them more than I do. So, I have to start myself another gun.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2011, 06:18:08 PM by Bentflint »
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Offline 490roundball

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #18 on: December 03, 2011, 06:37:57 PM »
Quote from: WadePatton on October 15, 2011, 05:37:01 PM
All the hand-made goods are UNDER priced when you look at how many hours a person puts into them and what sort of living is possible from the net wages--bikes and guns.  So many have to have other jobs to keep the shingle swaying in the breeze...

a doctor, a lawyer and a gun builder having a drink and the "what would you do if you won the lotttery" question comes up

The doctor says "I would close my practice, open a clinic. and give health care to the poor"
the lawyer says "I would resign my partnership and open an agency and advocate for the poor"

the gun builder thinks for a minute and says "I guess I would just keep building guns until it was all gone 

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Offline Kermit

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #19 on: December 03, 2011, 07:25:35 PM »
 ;D ;D ;D
I remember that story being about a farmer--the only business where you buy at retail and sell at wholesale and wonder why you can't get ahead!
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roamer

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #20 on: December 03, 2011, 07:30:49 PM »
Kermit I like the way you think
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Offline T*O*F

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #21 on: December 03, 2011, 08:54:28 PM »
No matter who builds your gun or how much it cost, it's good enough for who it's for.
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Offline Pete G.

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #22 on: December 04, 2011, 04:11:31 AM »
A sign over the bench...

"Our work is Good, Fast, and Cheap. You can pick 2"

If good and fast, will not be cheap
If good and cheap, won't be fast
If fast and cheap, won't be good
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blunderbuss

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #23 on: December 05, 2011, 03:09:42 AM »


Why buy somthing when you can make it for yourself for only twice the price
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BigDad

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Re: A Good Cheap Gunbuilder
« Reply #24 on: December 05, 2011, 07:18:45 AM »
A good cheap builder? For $500.00-$600.00 he can get a decent (but not premium) set of parts, i.e. plain grade stock, straight octogon barrel, period correct lock and furniture.  $800.00-$900.00 will get a really nice set from Jim Chambers. Then he can go look in a mirror. If that guy can do a good job he will get what he wants.   ;)
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