Guest
Rich, I totally sympathize with your statements. When I was a younger man (pre-arthritus)and somewhat poorer man, I badly wanted a longrifle. No factory made one commercially that pleased me. I couldn't afford a custom one. So I made one myself. Here is what it cost back in 1978 dollars: $100 for fancy wood blank, $100 for a Green River .45 barrel, I thnk about $60 for a Willie Cochran lock, and miscellaneous charges for brass, etc., if memory serves I had a little over $300 total in parts. I had instructional help from a local gunmaker ($25 fee). I had to buy a few tools too. Now here is the part that really counts: It took me an estimated 166 hours to build this rifle. Even at $5.00/hour labor that comes to $830.00; at $10.00/hour it is $1660.00 (a typical skilled wage at the time). Soooo, this rifle "cost" me between $1130 and $1960...now this was 1978. Count inflation since then and you should at least double the costs of parts and the labor costs value? I admire Mr. Williams for trying to keep his costs as low as they are, I too don't know how anyone could make a living doing it. I have a good friend who is retired and makes guns for fun and modest profit (just enough to buy more parts). He also does not charge enough for his fine work, but he is doing it more for fun that to make a living. There are several such makers around who build "on the side" and make their living doing something else; and some of these people make fine guns at reasonable prices. I know a school teacher in Arkansas that does this. At last pricing these guys sell their guns in same price neighborhood as Mr. Williams and do fine work....
eace: :crackup:
