Author Topic: Gunsmiths  (Read 5834 times)

Muleskinner

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Gunsmiths
« on: September 13, 2009, 06:12:31 PM »
Just wondering if there is any gun builders out there who will build a kit rifle for someone?

Offline smallpatch

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2009, 06:21:23 PM »
Muleskinner,

Just some friendly advice.  On this board are some of the greatest contemporary builders in the country.  Many of those builders will on occasion, put together a kit for someone.

BUT, I doubt you'll get a single inquiry when no one knows who you are.  (i.e new member, no email address, location, etc.)

Just my two cents.
In His grip,

Dane

Offline J. Talbert

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2009, 07:22:36 PM »
Don't know if you already have a kit, or if so, what kind, but you might want to contact Jim Chambers.

He sometimes has kits assembled in the white,  and may also be able to refer you to a maker who is willing to assemble a kit for you.

He's no doubt, at Friendship at the moment.

Jeff
There are no solutions.  There are only trade-offs.”
Thomas Sowell

Offline T*O*F

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2009, 07:44:20 PM »
Also be aware that while many may offer to build it for you, experience and pricing vary quite a bit, and high pricing does not necessarily provide high quality.  Many good gunbuilders also have a substantial backlog, so the delivery date could vary wildly.
Dave Kanger

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Offline Pete G.

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2009, 08:41:44 PM »
TVM offers kits in various states of completion.

Muleskinner

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2009, 12:43:09 AM »
Thanks everyone.....

projeeper

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2009, 01:19:59 AM »
don,t know what type of rifle your looking for but birddog has one sweet
tennesse mt rifle for sale.
 figure around 1,000 for the kit with good wood
 500 to put up in the white [ jim chambers]
 + whatever else you want done,can easily run into 2k+
 birddogs rifle is 2300 and you don,t have to wait 6 months

Offline AndyThomas

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2009, 03:51:51 AM »
You might try Mike Brooks. We have several of his guns at Martin's Station. He does excellent work.

Go to: http://www.fowlingguns.com/index.html

Andy
formerly the "barefoot gunsmith of Martin's Station" (now retired!)

www.historicmartinsstation.com

jwh1947

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2009, 07:10:48 PM »
You might be able to find one of the younger builders who could help you out;  look for somebody who is paying off a mortgage and has several young children to feed.  You also might find that some of us could do a rifle for you from a blank, on the plain side, for about the same money you'd have in a kit and assembly.  This is not an advertisement, as I don't take in kit work.  My rule of thumb is to plan on paying as much for assembly as you do for the kit. 

Why not try it yourself and if you get stumped consult one of us prior to lifting a gouge or rasp.  Dixon's book would be useful.  It was intended to help people in your situation, and it is a well presented guide for the beginner.  You might surprise yourself.  The basic structural work is already done, and building guns is fun and rewarding.  JWH 

Offline t.caster

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #9 on: September 14, 2009, 07:32:01 PM »
Muleskinner, let us know, either what you have or what you want. Where do you live? Maybe you can find someone nearby.
Tom C.

Offline Curtis

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2009, 12:28:45 AM »
Give Tip Curtis a call.  He will build guns in the white.  He usually has some in stock.
Curtis Allinson
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Sometimes, late at night when I am alone in the inner sanctum of my workshop and no one else can see, I sand things using only my fingers for backing

Offline J. Talbert

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #11 on: September 15, 2009, 12:46:42 AM »
FYI,  Jim Chambers has a completed York Rifle from one of his kits for sale at Friendship right now.
Let me know if your interested, I may be seeing him Tues.

Jeff
There are no solutions.  There are only trade-offs.”
Thomas Sowell

J.D.

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #12 on: September 15, 2009, 07:27:39 AM »
I tend to agree with jwh1947. Good parts kits aren't all that hard to build.

I suggest checking out the "Building the Jim Chambers Kit Rifle" DVD to see if building your own is something you might want to tackle. It really isn't all that hard. If I can do it, anyone with a modicum of common sense and manual dexterity can do as good or better job, than I.

The DVD set can be rented from Smartflix, if you just want to see what is involved in assembling a Chambers kit. While some information dealing with the more involved kits is not mentioned, the information contained in the DVD translates well to kits by other manufacturers.

http://smartflix.com/store/category/75/Kits-Scratchbuilt

God bless

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Gunsmiths
« Reply #13 on: September 15, 2009, 02:36:56 PM »
You might try Mike Brooks. We have several of his guns at Martin's Station. He does excellent work.

Go to: http://www.fowlingguns.com/index.html

Andy
Thanks for the plug Andy. I hope they are getting good use down there.
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Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?