Custom builder recommendations

[HighUintas]

I'll be turning 40 in a couple of years. I've never had a custom gun and I've not had a mid-life crisis with a huge impulsive buy yet. Hopefully I can avoid both of those latter events. I thought it might be nice to have a custom gun built for my 40th birthday, or maybe my 45th if the shopping around and decisions are likely to take quite awhile as well as the build itself (I imagine it would).

I'm not just asking for custom builder recommendations in general, but for recommendations of builders with certain characteristics. Here's a list of builders/guns I've seen that I love, although there's quite a bit of difference between some, to help steer recommendations towards what I might be looking for.

Louie Parker - although he's no longer with us, I absolutely adore every gun I've seen of his. If he was still living, he'd be first on my list. His hawkens, the Creamer rifle, the one whose original builder I don't know but it has the very unique trigger guard that has a hinge etc. 

Dave P - His skill is beyond incredible. I want a super lock from Dave. I love English guns and that seems to be Dave's bread and butter, but with some of the more unique ones he's done like the Vermont guns, I think he'd turn out something pretty interesting.

Ian Pratt - I haven't seen too many, but the ones I've seen are very unique and attractive. .

Bob Browner - he's the king of Hawken building as far as I'm aware.

That's the only builders I can think of off the top of my head that really seems to pique my interest.

For the types of rifles I'd be looking into:

Something unique, special and to some degree high end looking, but also practical because I'd plan on putting my own scars on it for the rest of my life in the mountains.

Hawken - preferably a very early style, maybe something similar to the ETC Hawken or maybe the Atchison Hawken if I'm feeling fancy

English sporting rifle, half stock. Not sure on flint or percussion. Perhaps the styling could be in that middle period where it could be either and I'd have two barrels built, one for flint one for caps.

Something very unique, like Louie's Creamer or that one with the hinged guard.

Preferably something with very little drop at heel and a wider butt plate if not a Hawken. 

I'm not sure on budget. I think it's reasonable to think that my wife would be ok with $5000 top end, but I'm not sure and not sure what it would cost to have one built. It seems that maybe the types of guns I'm considering would be in that ballpark at a minimum.

Feel free to send recommendations through message.

[Stoner creek]

I would add a couple more names here. Both are great makers and can come up with something special in your price range. Both makers can be considered masters in most any circle.
Mike Gahagan
Judson Brennan
If you want their contact information send me a personal message.
W

[Bob Roller]

I have made locks for Jud Brennan and his work is top notch.I don't know Mike Gahagan but I know he's been recommended here before.

Bob Roller

[snapper]

I think you need to narrow your rifle styles down to one.   That will help decide who the builder could be.

If you are a mountain hunter, you know quite well that the weight of your gear and rifle makes a big difference.  In Iowa walking from my cabin to hunt on my farm is not a big deal with any rifle.

I have a few Hawken and several English sporting rifles.  The sporting rifles will be much lighter.

I have a very nice .62 flinter, English sporting rifle made by Steve Zihn.   He made if for someone else and I bought it used.

Fleener

[Jim Kibler]

If your preferences tend towards Western guns, it's hard to give a good recommendation.  Louie's work was pretty special and I admire it a lot.  With that not being an option, the suggestion of Jud
Brennan or Mike Gahagan are good ones.  There's really no one I'm aware of that currently compares to the work Louie did ( considering the style) but both Jud and Mike work at a very high level and could certainly do something really nice in the style you are looking for.  I'm not sure your budget will be enough for this top level work though.

[smart dog]

Hi,
Thank you for mentioning me.  I have a lot of work in my queue including 2 18th and early 19th century English sporting rifles. I am essentially recreating Twigg and John Manton rifles.  Perhaps consider Curtis Allison.   Unlike so many even famous makers, he understands the style.

dave

[smylee grouch]

In your situation I would suggest going to some of the Long rifle shows where you could meet several makers, view their work and discus your project.

[Top Jaw]

A side note that most of the builders mentioned here are likely booked out to 4 years - and/or beyond. 
Just something to consider.   If that sounds like a long time, some lesser known, but still good quality builders, would likely have less of a wait.  Or you could look at buying a custom used gun at an auction, ALR classifieds, etc. Some food for thought.

[oldtravler61]

  I would also consider Jim Parker or Marvin Kempler  or Dennis Preddy from Michigan.possibly. There are several builders who don't have the recognition but do exemplary work .  Oldtravler

[Roger B]

I have personal & very positive experience with Ed Parry of Black Hart Rifles. He has made 2 rifles for me, one a Hawken squirrel rifle & the other is a J & S Hawken presentation grade half stock with personalized inlays & much more. Check out Ed's web site & see my J& S & much more in his gallery. Seems he can build anything & I have found him to be a reliable & honest gentleman. I also have  a Rich Pierce Deringer trade rifle which is remarkably authentic. I think that Rich's name alone is his only necessary reference.
Roger B.

[Steeltrap]

Mike Brooks hasn’t been mentioned yet. He post many times on the forum and contributes a pile of knowledge.

[rich pierce]

I’ve known Bob Browner for several years. I’m not sure he’s taking orders, but his knowledge of Hawken rifles is based on having them in his shop for study. He’s developed and gotten a small run of custom breeches modeled after an early J&S Hawken rifle he had in the shop. That is how far he goes to reproduce early J&S Hawken rifles. That early J&S has a breech and tang very similar to the Atchison J&S Hawken. He has probably handled and studied 40 or more Hawken rifles. He recently built the official state rifle for the State of Missouri. He was good friends with Louie Parker and Don Stith. The shared knowledge there was hard to match. I’ve seen and handled at least a dozen Bob Browner Hawken rifles. Each was a keeper.

[Roger B]

True story about Mike & he is a good teacher to boot. I didn't mention him because he has advertised that he isn't taking orders . If I am wrong on that point, my apologies are offered.
Roger B.

[Eric Krewson]

If you don't want a long waiting period I would go the Kentucky rifle gun show route. I only go to the Alabama Kentucky longrifle show but the amount of very finely crafted rifles for sale there is staggering. I am a so-so builder so I can spot and admire the superstars work easily, it is not always someone I have heard of.

[HighUintas]

Thanks for all the advice and additional suggestions!

I'm certainly ok with a long wait. It's a very significant amount of money to spend on a rifle so finding the right gun and right builder is important, even if the wait is on the longer end.

On a side note regarding my budget, after looking through pictures again of some of the rifles I really admire, I was reminded about how many of them require custom/scratch built pieces, such as a breech or trigger guard. This alone would could push it out of my budget.

[Daryl]

You are probably aware of my favourite (retired) builder, but I do hold in VERY high regard, those already mentioned, including Mikey(he's a fav.).

[HighUintas]

Daryl, yes I certainly am. I didn't mention Taylor because he's retired and also why I didn't mention Mr Roller for a lock!! Otherwise, yes I'd be pestering these two