How to Choose a Gunsmith

[ELR LVR]

"Gunsmith" is too broad a term, to be honest.

Lol this i so true
There is a gun shop around that advertises "Gunsmith on premises"
I wanted something done years ago and they said
"Oh, yeah, ummm all we do is clean rifles and maybe mount scopes."
(Made me do a deer in the headlights stare at them)
Still a great gun shop though.

 

[Tesoro]

"Gunsmith" is too broad a term, to be honest.

It was not in the past in the US. Probably have to go to Europe to find only 'gunsmiths' anymore.

 

[LVLAaron]

Lol this i so true
There is a gun shop around that advertises "Gunsmith on premises"
I wanted something done years ago and they said
"Oh, yeah, ummm all we do is clean rifles and maybe mount scopes."
(Made me do a deer in the headlights stare at them)
Still a great gun shop though.

Retail "gunsmiths" crack me up. They maybe have an ultrasonic cleaner, a sight pusher, and a set of screwdrivers.

A long long time ago I was in a pretty big shop here in KY, they're an amazing store and have an in house "gunsmith" - I inquired about having a barrel installed on a rifle. Never heard of bartlein or krieger, but assured me if I brought a "deep chambered barrel" he could fit it to my action.... They had a nice looking mill and lathe.

 

[ebb]

Ive had 4 rifles built all on factory actions, back in the day before there were so many choices of custom actions. Two were built by the same guy and he also fixed one that a hack screwed up and wasted a fine Broughton barrel. The fourth is a good shooter but the owner of the company would not stand behind a bolt repair job that one of his guys left with corrosive brazing flux in and rusted up the extractor and the ejector. So now when a need something done, I call the guy that has sent me rifles that need nothing but load development when they arrive at my house. Col. Billy has never failed to deliver.

 

[matthias]

I would love to hear how you all choose doctors.

We all have to take just about everything on faith. Recommendations, testimonials, and referrals, all are the best we get. There are alot of excellent gunsmiths out in the world, and there are alot of hacks.

Gunsmiths and craftsmen just about have the same skills required.

Half - technical skill
Half- customer service
Half - business skill

Very few have all three.

 

[Mike in Oregon]

I would love to hear how you all choose doctors.

We all have to take just about everything on faith. Recommendations, testimonials, and referrals, all are the best we get. There are alot of excellent gunsmiths out in the world, and there are alot of hacks.

Gunsmiths and craftsmen just about have the same skills required.

Half - technical skill
Half- customer service
Half - business skill

Very few have all three.

A 'men!!!

 

[ELR LVR]

I would love to hear how you all choose doctors.

We all have to take just about everything on faith. Recommendations, testimonials, and referrals, all are the best we get. There are alot of excellent gunsmiths out in the world, and there are alot of hacks.

Gunsmiths and craftsmen just about have the same skills required.

Half - technical skill
Half- customer service
Half - business skill

Very few have all three.

Choose doctors?
What?
You get a choice???

 

[Bc'z]

You are a cruel, cruel man.

Actually the fella that didn't follow the simplest of instructions due to anal cranial inversion was the one dishing out cruelty.

 

[Aero]

"Gunsmith" is too broad a term, to be honest.

Maybe or maybe not, but it certainly means much different things to different people on both sides of the counter.

 

[Emmett Dibble]

Haven’t seen it mentioned… most “good” smiths with any sort of reputation are booked solid for months and some years….

 

[Tesoro]

Haven’t seen it mentioned… most “good” smiths with any sort of reputation are booked solid for months and some years….

Typically booked out solid for customers they dont have a relationship with. My one I do. The other day I brought him a pristine Miroku Browning 1892 357mag that needed a mount hole drilled 'n tapped for a tang sight. I asked how backed up he was and he replied "alot". I said "ok, no problem then, I'll go to Little Joe's welding and have him plug weld the sight mount hole. My smith replied " You will NOT, give me that damm rifle". It is just a game.