A few years ago at the CLA show in Lexington I was told by a well known and respected maker
that he could make 6 SMR's to one elaborately carved rifle.When I was making locks I checked
myself and 2 and 1/2 Hawken locks could be made in the same time as one English 4 pin lock.
Bob Roller
Bob. But 4 to 6 SMRs don't bring $50,000 to $100,000 and they aren't as much fun. Takes me about 1 to 1 1/2 years to make a super nice gun but I only work about 2 to 3 hours a day When I want to and nobody tell me what to do. Customers are a pita at my age. A couple of friends of mine made a fine gun well engraved about 3 years ago and it sold for over $200,000.00 at auction.
The top decorated guns sell much faster than the regular ones. My best guns never made it past the first show. The buyers never worried about the price because there is no alternative products. Millionaires and billionaires are never broke and they are not looking for a Thompson center.
You are RIGHT about the millionaires and billionaires doing as they want to.I have wondered for a long time about what it would be
like to be able to write a check and make a bank bounce instead of the check.I am on the Duesenberg section of the CCA and when the
Gary Cooper Duesenberg sold for $22 million it really was a surprise to all who speculated at about $12million.
I was surprised when 3 of my locks sold quickly for $400 each.Also I had no idea a newly made muzzle loader of any style would sell
for a 5 figure price but I am glad they can and do and that HAS to be a good feeling to the makers who do this level of work and I wish
I was one of them but because I am not I will not get my nose out of joint.
Bob Roller