cost of custom guns

[Pasquinel]

just read the post below on custom guns and found it very
interesting. As a working man with limited income, I found
the prices listed for these rifles way out of my class. I'm
looking at prices from $5-7000 or more!!! What would a rifle
from H. House cost??? :: If I every spent that kind
of money on a rifle, I also have to spend the rest of my life sleeping with it and having it by my side at all times.
Do people (working class folks) really spend that kind of money on guns and than actually hunt with them? :youcrazy:
My custom rifle cost $900 and I handle it with great care but it is for hunting above all else. Just wanted to see what you all think or feel on this subject.

 

[jim gray]

I agree P/C, I would like to get a cusom longrifle or Jaeger in the next year or two, but their is no way I could go for a $5000 plus rifle. That's not even realistic for me.

I don't know about H. House, but there are a lot of custom makers out there that are producing guns in the $1200-$1500 range, and although that's a bit steep for me I could probably swing it if I saw a "must-have longrifle".

I have a few production flinters that I feel are more than adequate for anything I would need them to do.

 

[bovey]

Look at what it costs for a modern custom rifle... you will spend a minum of $1000 and up if you supply the action for a complete job.

Muzzleloading rifles are a bargin... Your parts cost runs #400 - $500... You will have a minimum of 100 - 150 manhours in the production depending on the design. More than likely 200 manhours total. When you do the math, its a bargin.

 

I have bought very good custom ML rifles for as little as $600 (the builder needed $$), but $800 and up is more typical. Alot of local builders who don't have a big national name (like the House boys, etc.)will build you a custom gun for a modest labor cost over the cost of parts. One friend does it mainly for fun (he is retired) and builds very nice guns. If they are trying to make a living at it the builders have to charge a reasonable labor charge for their work--a custom gun may take from 100 to 500 hours work depending on how fancy it is. Starting labor prices for a plain gun are typically $1000 + parts (another $400-$600+). As to actually using a $5000 rifle, I am reminded of a story: years ago I was admiring a $5000 sidebyside Parker shotgun at a gunshow and remarked, "If I owned this I would be afraid to hunt with it." The dealer replied, "If you were married to Marilyn Monroe, would you sleep with her?" Got the point. These things are functional art--meant to be used.

 

[rich pierce]

I build my own- but would still love to have an aged flintlock by Erik Kettenburg. If I ever have that kind of spare change and have bought my wife and kids everything they need, I might go there. Even at $7000 for the full treatment.

In my mind there are hand-built semi-custom guns and then there are custom guns. I don't want to inflame anyone, but a kit-built gun, even from Chambers, etc., is not a custom gun in my mind. It is a high end semi-custom gun. There are a hundred other guns with the same parts and architecture. Building one of thse is an entirely different deal for a builder than designing a gun from the ground up, making parts decisions, perhaps making some of the parts, designing a patchbox, etc. Selecting a blank of wood, laying the gun out, and cutting to profile, inlettign a barrel, making a ramrod groove, drilling the hole, etc. Not that many are doing that anymore. Because labor is expensive and folks would rather pay for the fancy work than the grunt work.

You can get excellent semi-custom guns, where a builder offers 7 or 8 basic designs and some options, for $1000-$1500 without frills. That gun will be pretty period correct, mechanically the equivalent of most anything, and a delight to own and shoot.

If the semi-custom gun has frills- carving, patchbox, engraving, etc- this can go as high as you want. But I'd rather not pay $4000 for anyone's kit gun, finely appointed, with the same architecture, parts, etc., as everyone else.

If you want something different- this buttplate, that lock, this ready-made barrel, that trigger guard, but plain- it should cost more like $1500 and up.

If you want an excellent fully appointed custom rifle with all the trimmings, and the builder understands architecture, is a student of longrifles, and can produce something that fits your idea of a dream rifle- you should be happy to pay $2500 on up. It really can't be done for less than that unless the guy is a gifted hobbiest doing some on the side. Of course, any "special work" like customizing a lock, casting a trigger guard to your specs,, and extensive carving/wire inlay/engraving, etc, will cost more.

 

[Birddog6]

The cost of a custom rifle all depends on the rifle you want, the parts involved in making such, and the builders fee.

Also some guys consideer a hand made plain rifle a custom rifle of a lifetime & to some people a custom rifle comes from Williamsburg... It all depends on what YOU want.

Some rifles require parts that are all hand made. A fabulously striped stock cost more than a plain stock. Inlays & carvings cost more. Special barrels cost more, special locks cost more, etc.

A well known or famous builder demands a higher fee for building because they can get it. A builder from Williamsburg could be 4-5 times the cost of a "not so well known" builder simply because of demand & reputation & how the rifle was actually built... Making the parts or buying the parts..... Also the quality of the workmanship is taken into consideration of the price.... You should not expect a $8000 rifle for $1500.

Cost also depends on what You want. If you want a PC totally hand made rifle with a hand made barrel, lock, etc, you best go get a loan.... as we are talking from 5 to 12K for one and I don't blame the builder a bit, they earned it. Think of it a minute, they work on a rifle every day all day for 8 months to a year ? And if he screws up in the middle of it ya trash it & start over ......

On the general custom builder, I think you will find the normal price to build a custom rifle to be in the neighborhood of $ 1000. and up building fee Plus Parts for a starter. Now you start throwing in carvings, inlays, fancy wood, etc, you are going to add up quickly. When the builder is done with the rifle & he deducts his expenses of building it, he will actually be lucky to have made $ 2. an hour..... :huh: And most of the time he doesn't make that. Most of todays rifle builders, build rifles for fun, hobby, or retired & have something to do, etc. They work on a rifle for 2-3-4 months for very little pay, I can tell ya that for from experience.... (Most of the time we are generaly referred to as Fools....)

However, my experience of them is you can get a real nice custom rifle for $ 1500 to $ 2000. and some Superb ones from $2000. to $3000. Unfortunately the cost of the parts & especially the cost of superb wood is on a sharp rise....
The cost of all the parts alone with a superb piece of wood now is $800 to $1000. (Really nice wood & parts, not the bare bottom stuff) Once in a while you will find a bargan rifle already built at $1000-1500 and that is a real deal if it is built right.

Also the price depends somewhat on the style of the rifle. It cost more in parts & 3-4 times as long in build time to build & carve a fancy G.Jaeger than it does to make a TN or a Poorboy rifle...

Look at it this way....... A feller will borrow $35000. to buy a truck that will last him 7-8 years & he will scrap it. Plus he will pay insurance of $100-300 a month to drive it for 7-8 years. (that is $1400 min a year just for the Ins. !) ......... for that 3-4 months Truck payment & Ins. payments he could have a Custom rifle that will last 500 years or more...... Ya buy the rifle one time & it is paid for...

So it all boils down to what ya want the most. A rifle of a lifetime and save for it & get it ? Or not....

On a last note.... Having a custom rifle made doen't mean it shoots better or you will shoot better. It means you own a nice rifle. Same as autos.... they all drive, they are just different means of transportation....

 

I have to agree with Mike on this one.

There are the custom gun "bargins" you chace upon, where the builder needs money for the next project etc. and there are the "dream guns" that we wait years to purchase and want "just our way". You pay for the dream$.

I have a friend that has been collecting parts for his custom build for 5 years. He has everything but the lock. He refuses to shell out $100 for the Siler flintlock due to the expense and his "family obligations".

This guy just shelled out $4000 for a holographic paint job on his $2000 truck!

Often, it is just where your priorities lay.

I quit smoking last year; that's a siler lock every month, a Getz or Colrain barrel every two months, a preinletted piece of good wood every three months or a well built "plain gun" every year.

The first gun I built was a dog. The second was better. The third I have never been happy with and the fourth was a disaster. I should have quit, but I didn't. The fifth was the gun everyone should own, plain and perfect! I did not have $1500 in all five guns together.

 

[Stumpkiller]

A $2,500 dollar gun made sense for me, instead of four $625 guns. You can only carry one at a time. I like quality guns, and I don't baby them. With a quality gun, you shouldn't have to. If you're the kind of guy who uses a knife blade as a screwdriver, or a screwdriver as a pry bar, or the forend of a gun to press down a barbed wire fence when crossing, you probably shouldn't hunt with a custom gun. A gun is basically just a tool, and a tool has to be cared for and used for what it was designed for. If you've had it out in rain and snow, it gets cleaned and cared for before you get comfy.

I have no intention in leaving behind anything "like new" for my executor to peddle. I'm using it up and wearing it out right along with the rest of me.

An original Pennsylvania Longrifle went for about $12.00 or $15.00 around the time of the Revolution. That's all the money an average man might expect to come across in a year. Darned right you'd sleep with that gun beside you and treat it with respect. Your life depended on it.

 

Absolutely- from starter guns to the finest around -sometimes - just look through the guns for sale at Track's site. There are guns there from all walks of life, from comercial, kit made, sort-of custom to full blown custom rifles in the $3,000 up.
: It depends on what you want. Some makers who've been making rifles for many years just refuse to make them for $2.00 per hour any more, as my Bro used to. Those rifles used to cost the customer $2,500 to $3,500 and no wonder he was 3-4 years behind orders on those $2-4.00 per hour jobs. It's hard to feed the family on that wage, let alone a truck at $3.85 per IMP gallon for the cheap 87 octane.(locally)
: So - shop around, and save your pesos. Buying a Custom rifle today can be buying an heirloom to be passed on for generations.

 

[jim gray]

I know what your saying about costs. I realize there's not much incentive for builders to build $1500 guns. From what I have seen (and that's not too much concerning this subject) a lot of true custom gun-makers seem to produce about a dozen rifles per year: so even if they're spending a bare minimum of $400 for parts that's not much of an income.

On the other hand if they're building as a hobby and not as a primary source of income, a profit of $13,200/year means that their hobby cost a lot less than mine. Seriously though, if I had the talent and time, (well okay if I had the skill I'd find the time.) I would love to be able to build and sell enough guns to cover the cost of a couple per year for my own personal use.

 

[loophole]

Gentlemen, I often hear folks complain that they can't afford a good, handmade rifle, but in many cases it's nothing more than a matter of priorities. Many people who say they can't afford the rifle spend thousands of dollars on a bassboat, or have more money in a bigscreen t.v. and cable service than the rifle would cost. Millions of working class Americans own expensive toys such as motorcycles, four wheelers, etc., mostly made in China or Southeast Asia. The entry level expense to buy Italian-made reproductions of colts and winchesters for cowboy action shooting would pay an American craftsman for a good rifle. Its all a matter of what you're willing to pay for.

 

You guys are right on the money, but there's one thing left to consider. You could have paid top dollar for that House gun 15 years ago, used it all this time, and sold it for much more than you paid for it. It's called sleeping with Marilyn and getting paid for it. Really good stuff holds its value and even increases in value even if its well used.Remember that lots of top builders are making guns that look well used when new. Mediocre things are almost always depretiated. eace:

 

[Rat]

Some makers will take a down-payment, and let you make payments while the rifle is being built.

You can also tape the top of a coffee can shut, and put $100 per month in it, PLUS any extra change or cash left over from last pay-day. In one year you will have enough for a good custom rifle, or a heck of a down payment if you are really going for the fancy one.

Rat

 

[jim gray]

I didn't mean to say that a custom gun isn't worth what they cost by any means, but yes I do have other priorities, most of which give me no choice. I would buy a real longrifle or jaeger before I would by a motorcycle or super fancy bassboat, and maybe someday I will be able to swing one or both of those guns, but for now I am going to have to make do with production guns. Except for a custom(in name only) T/C Renegade that I've ordered from Fox Ridge Outfitters, but that's not quite the same thing.

My idea of the ultimate BP experience would be shooting a longrifle that I built myself, but not from a kit.

 

[twsteven]

In my opinion the wait is part of what makes it worthwhile. For many years I enjoyed my shooting hobby with affordable production firearms. I dreamed of the day I would be able to afford the kind of arms I'd really like to have. It took a long time before my family obligations were met to the point I was able to indulge myself. But when it finally happened, it was just that much better. If something comes too easily we tend not to appreciate it. I now am the very proud owner of several custom muzzleloaders and it was definitely worth the wait.

 

Of course, coming up with a big investment is easier said than done.

 

When a fella compares the "price" of a fine custom riflegun, compared to,.... thet of the modern inlines ($400.00-$1600.00) plus the price of a good scope ($300.00-$500.00),....

..... the fine custom riflegun is definitly the "best deal" !! :imo: :thumbsup:

YMHS
rollingb

 

[Rebel]

Why a fella would have to be blind to pay $1500 for an inline. :: No offense there RB. Actually, i didn't know there was such a thing as a $1500 inline. I thought $89.99 was a bit steep for one.

 

Why a fella would have to be blind to pay $1500 for an inline. :: No offense there RB. Actually, i didn't know there was such a thing as a $1500 inline. I thought $89.99 was a bit steep for one.

Rebel,.... Actually I looked at some of the "inline propaganda" and seen several in the $1600.00 range. Look'n at the pitchers of them inlines made me dizzy, then everthin went "BLACK", and I've been blind ever since!!

Nowadays all I'm capable of do'n, is sit'n here in my rock'n chair with my Early Hawken fullstock across my lap,.... and "dream" of the days when I could "SEE" the beauty of her curly maple.

Take'er from someone thet found out the hard way ,.... look'n at a pitcher of them inlines, will make you go "blind" !! :cry: :cry: :curse:

P.S.,.... I think $1.29 is a more realistic price fer them "plastic eye-sores"!! ("with scope",... of course!) :crackup:

Y(B)HS
rollingb

 

[brushbuster]

You can also tape the top of a coffee can shut, and put $100 per month in it, PLUS any extra change or cash left over from last pay-day. In one year you will have enough for a good custom rifle, or a heck of a down payment if you are really going for the fancy one.

Rat

i have been wantin a ferguson rifle for a long time but a $4000 to $10,000 price tag seems to sober me up a bit and check my priorities.i will own one some day but it will probably be a "kit rifle"that i will have to build myself.
i just hope i'll still be able to shoot it by the time i get up enough money to buy it,bit then again ,i can charge $5.00 a shot to let someone else shoot it :: :thumbsup: