How to Choose a Gunsmith

[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.

 

[DanSavage]

I’ve learned if you want something done the way you want it,, well you’ll just have to do it yourself.

 

[SBfan]

For all the guys looking for a good gunsmith .. I feel your pain. I'm in the same boat. Many years ago I took a 22 into a shop for a simple repair; it needed a new firing pin spring. Had a nice conversation with the owner during which he asked what I was using the rifle for. I told him I was just using it for benchrest in trying to make small groups just for personal fun, not competition. He asked if I had considered having the trigger lightened. After discussing the cost etc. I agreed. Got the rifle back and went to the range. I couldn't believe how good the trigger was. Long story short he and I became personal friends and he improved any gun I had him work on. Unfortunately he has passed away and now I'm searching for a "real" gunsmith.
There was a shop, not too far away, that did good work but the owner recently retired and closed the shop.
So, my search goes on .......

 

[Edd]

I think the first thing you need to determine is if the type of work you need done is a type of work he likes to do. If he likes that type of work, there is a chance he will have the tools to do a good job.

After that you just have to have him do something and see if you like his work.

 

[nakneker]

It’s as easy to send your project to a reputable well known gunsmith as using a local gunsmith. I’ve been down this road multiple times.

Use a gunsmith who has a reputation. If you ever sell your project you will have a much easier time being able to say who built if they have a solid reputation. Using a local gunsmith with no name won’t do that for you.

Use a gunsmith who engages mentally in your project, the devil is in the details, use a guy who asks questions and uses a build sheet. Verbal agreements or disagreements down the road aren’t an issue if he has a complete build sheet.

Good gunsmiths have a back log for a reason, be willing to exercise some patience.

There’s several good ones on this site. Zack with Old Dominion Custom Rifles and Alex with Wheeler are two I’ve used and have been 100% happy with. Jon Beanland isn’t here but he also does an excellent job.

Good luck with your project whatever or whoever you decide to use.

 

[Tesoro]

Here is is a ‘gunsmith’

1K reactions · 29 shares | Beautiful fixed mounts on this small ring mauser. This rifle is heading into stocking shortly and will be available by the end of the year. | Sweetman & Co Gunmakers

Beautiful fixed mounts on this small ring mauser. This rifle is heading into stocking shortly and will be available by the end of the year..

www.facebook.com

 

[M-61]

Mark Novak says:

You're a gunsmith if you can make a screw. Otherwise you're an armorer.

I do not agree with Mark Novak at all.

 

[shortgrass]

I do not agree with Mark Novak at all.

Any machinist can make a screw or a bolt, or cut threads on something. But, he may not understand how and why an A5 works, and why is short cycles, or know how far the firing pin needs to protrude, or how to time a S&W after installing an over sized hand, or what 'proper' bedding of an action is. Some things overlap from machinist to gunsmith,,,,, many do not. There is more (much more) to gunsmithing than installing custom barrels and threading for a suppressor,,,, and I only mentioned a few things......... (maybe I should have said 'any machinist',,,, some only know how to push the green button)

 

[M-61]

Any machinist can make a screw or a bolt, or cut threads on something. But, he may not understand how and why an A5 works, and why is short cycles, or know how far the firing pin needs to protrude, or how to time a S&W after installing an over sized hand, or what 'proper' bedding of an action is. Some things overlap from machinist to gunsmith,,,,, many do not. There is more (much more) to gunsmithing than installing custom barrels and threading for a suppressor,,,, and I only mentioned a few things......... (maybe I should have said 'any machinist',,,, some only know how to push the green button)

Could not have said it better.

 

[LVLAaron]

I do not agree with Mark Novak at all.

There was some other context around it that made sense in the video

 

[McGrew]

Gunsmiths are a lot like doctors. Just remember the old joke: “Do you know what they call the physician that graduates at the bottom of his class?” “Doctor…”. Danny