Who would you nominate as greatest gunsmith?

[jamesdmock]

Most shooters believe that their gunsmith is the greatest.....and that is a good thing. I believe that mine is at the top of list. COL (retired)Billy Stevens not only served this country for about 25 years, but he has served shooters very well since his retirement.
As a 2-time winner of the Super Shoot, he KNOWS what it takes to build winning rifles. He is basically a one-man operation, yet he has one of the shortest turn around times of any gunsmith I know. His work is superb and his prices are very reasonable. Although he is NOT a general gunsmith, he has the equipment and know how to do almost any operation on rifles. He works on custom and Remington
actions only. If you are looking for top quality work and reasonable prices, give the Colonel a call. James Mock

Above: Billy talking to another great 'smith, Wayne Campbell, at the Super Shoot.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

There goes your short wait time!

 

[ShootDots]

I have found that many 'smiths can do good "barrel work", as in chamber jobs etc... However, there are a lot fewer 'smiths that either can or even want to do stock work. I mean stock work where you end up with a GORGEOUS, properly bedded wood / wood laminate stock. It takes a lot of time to get those right, with lots of "elbow-grease" and that time cuts into doing barrel work, which is their bread and butter. Yet we don't want to actually pay what all that time and effort is REALLY worth, ergo many forego that job. Quite frankly, I don't blame them one iota. So if you find one that does excellent metal work AND stock work, you have a GREAT 'smith!

 

[JRS]

The Perfectionist…. KW Precision.

 

[dmoran]

Won't name mine, because they do not need more business or to be flooded with more calls and emails then they already have to deal with. As I bet many top smiths do not want or need to be promoted.
My 2-Cents
Donovan

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Don't have a name but I watched a video quite a while back about a colonial gunsmith making a rifle the old way. I believe it was called "The Gunsmith of Williamsburg".. The smith made everything used to make the rifle by hand. Even made the screws by hand. No power machinery was used . Was very interesting, especially the part where he cut lands in the barrel by hand.

Wallace Gusler comes to mind but I am just not sure,.

Edit: Found this link.... http://www.gunsandgunsmiths.com/the-gunsmith-of-williamsburg/

 

[Raythemanroe]

The Smith still has the drive.. I think some "Great" Smith's get burned out.. I like to see a drive, but more importantly results..

I see some calibers always seem to perform good with someone's y work.. It's kinda like cars, you need to educate yourself on what you want or need and shop accordingly..

Good gunsmiths with more on their plate seem to have longer turnaround times..

Ray

 

[dkhunt14]

I see some calibers always seem to perform good with someone's y work.. It's kinda like cars, you need to educate yourself on what you want or need and shop accordingly..


Ray

I believe it has a lot to do with the Reamer used. If the freebore isn't right it can create problems. If the .200 line isn't right there is problems with sizing and extraction. Matt

 

[JLT]

Parker Otto Ackley.

 

[joshb]

Bob Green. Very talented and the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet!

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Name One
Tick off Many

 

[savagedasher]

Parker Otto Ackley.

Bar none. Definitely the best . Larry

 

[joshb]

Name One
Tick off Many

Kinda like naming off women prettier than your wife? In front of her.

 

[DNorton]

Most smiths in my neck of the woods won't even advertise. Also they all seem to have specialized in one area of expertise or only do builds. Its getting harder to get general gunsmithing done these days.

 

[Eddie Harren]

"Parker Otto Ackley"

August 23, 1989 RIP

My vote is for Larry AKA "savagedasher"

 

[Richard Coody]

I have found that many 'smiths can do good "barrel work", as in chamber jobs etc... However, there are a lot fewer 'smiths that either can or even want to do stock work. I mean stock work where you end up with a GORGEOUS, properly bedded wood / wood laminate stock. It takes a lot of time to get those right, with lots of "elbow-grease" and that time cuts into doing barrel work, which is their bread and butter. Yet we don't want to actually pay what all that time and effort is REALLY worth, ergo many forego that job. Quite frankly, I don't blame them one iota. So if you find one that does excellent metal work AND stock work, you have a GREAT 'smith!

I tried doing a stock. I will never do it again. I have great respect for stock builders.

 

[Cigarcop]

I have found that many 'smiths can do good "barrel work", as in chamber jobs etc... However, there are a lot fewer 'smiths that either can or even want to do stock work. I mean stock work where you end up with a GORGEOUS, properly bedded wood / wood laminate stock. It takes a lot of time to get those right, with lots of "elbow-grease" and that time cuts into doing barrel work, which is their bread and butter. Yet we don't want to actually pay what all that time and effort is REALLY worth, ergo many forego that job. Quite frankly, I don't blame them one iota. So if you find one that does excellent metal work AND stock work, you have a GREAT 'smith!

Pretty simple ask anyone!!!! Lol

 

[1K6BRA]

For stock work Mr. Alex Sitman at master class stocks in Pennsylvania, absolutely nobody better or nicer!

 

[snakebit]

Hi, folks. Been reading here for over a week. Don't post a lot because in most posts, there's nothing I know enough about to add to the knowledge. But I decided to register anyway. Easy as pie. Can't post if not a member so my reason for registration; I once spent a week or so at the home and shop of a man I consider to be one of the greatest gunsmiths. Met him through a mutual friend. Didn't see any metal-smithing but watched him do some checkering and finishing on a rifle he was building for some fortunate individual. I tell you it was quite an experience watching a master at work. To a country boy, simply amazing! At that time he was out around Rapid City, S.D. and his name is Pete Grizzle (spelling unsure). When I left to come home he was in the process of moving to Bend, Oregon. I realize there are people who can do some unbelievable things in this life, and I consider myself fortunate to have met one of them. I often wonder about him. Our mutual friend has since passed on and like me, Pete was not the youngest in the crowd. Anybody know?. This was back in 2001 I think. Thanks for letting me post my memory.

 

[Comrade Terry]

Pete Grizzle

https://www.acgg.org/index.php/my-profile/userprofile/Pgrisel.html

Welcome aboard, Snakebit.