Stoner Creek, you asked us to reply in dollars.
Several full time professional top contemporary gunstockers who also did high end restoration were charging $50 per hour plus materials and expenses in the 1980's - 90's. They joined the KRA and attended ASAC meetings, studied the old guns and moved with folks who could afford custom work. Many collectors wanted a shootable copy of a great old gun, which is how these guys got started. Several other fine builders tried to copy those prices, but without promotion and name recognition, they struggled to realize that rate. Once a few of us hobby builders learned a good deal from the pros, if someone wanted hourly work done, we would ask half of their rate, or $25 per hour - enough that the customer might still go to the pros we learned from, and did not give away our time. Now those same pros charge $100 per hour for restoration and new work, or might quote a price for new work based upon that rate. And they are as busy as they want to be. Us hobby guys mostly grew out of stocking work on order and now build what we like, then try to sell it.
Us hobby guys - like many others who have posted here, we started humble to help others and learn, and mostly still are. When parts cost $250, an in the white plain gun went for $350 and with finish at $400. Parts went to $400, itw $550 and $600 finished for a Hawken, Leman, plains rifles or simple longrifles. Enough to buy some parts for next rifle or for ourselves. Carving and fancy pboxes higher of course. A built from scratch JJ Henry trade rifle in 1990's with custom lock, barrel and mounts was $2,000, which was a lot of money in those days, but a few guys wanted something special. Nowadays from $2,000 something plain with correct lock and parts, to $3,500 for nice longrifle w box and carving, up to $5,000 or more for something special. The market slims out quickly above $3,500, but customers are there if they want something special and you know the old gun.
Like others have mentioned, I like trading an hour for an hour. A friend who was head attorney for a large banking system wanted me to assemble and shape a NW gun for him, and asked about cost. I asked him to draft a will for us, and we would trade hour for hour. At first he gasped, but then later said that was a great way to work, especially to keep respect between friends. Another guy wanted a flint Leman, and he ran a dozer for a living. He graded a lot and driveway for several other customers, hour for hour on his rifle. The word got around, and this has worked well, keeps all on an even level. They don't respect us until we ask.
Customers used to enjoy the relationship with the builder - that was what they were paying for. It was easier to sell a $3 - $5,000 rifle if they were involved in the process of building, than buying a completed rifle they had no role in. Some of that still applies with custom customers who want something special, but kit guns have really changed the lower half of the gunstocking business. Bob
