ebiggs said:
“And no Mr. Biggs, my guns don't need "tweaked". You'll have to sight them in, but they work exceptionally well when you receive them, and that's mainly due to the best barrels and locks on the market and 30 years of building experience.”
I have no doubt what so ever your rifles are top notch. Works of art is more closely accurate. My meaning was when you buy cheap guns you will probably need to “tweak” to get to a decent shootable level.
I can also so appreciate your guns have already received the (30 years of building experience) “tweaking” by you.
And that is one reason they are so valued by everyone.
I apologize if I have offended you.
But fact of the mater is Mike Brooks custom rifles are not for everyone.
It would one thing if the fit of the inletting and the degree of finish were the only difference. Unfortunately this is not the case.
It would be different if the designs were such that the parts would simply assemble into a safe firearm after machining and finishing as is possible with many modern designs, a 1911 Colt for example.
But 18th and 19th century guns are different they all require more hand work.
30 odd years ago a man bought a new import 100 dollar (plus or minus 20 bucks) percussion rifle at a sports shop about 60 miles east of here. This would be a 300-500 dollar gun today.
It misfired a lot when he was shooting so he brought it to one of the local ML gunsmiths (there were several here then) to be examined.
On the side of the barrel it had a snail shaped drum for a nipple seat. The gunsmith decided to remove this first.
He turned it about 1/4 turn and it FELL OUT.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to build a good sidelock gun today for 300-400 bucks. Its actually impossible to build one for 1000 unless SHORT CUTS ARE TAKEN.
These are generally where time or skill is needed.
Breeching barrels to include anything related to ignition, takes time and skill if done right. So does lock tuning. So these are immediately suspect. These are also the most likely to cause injury or death.
Proper stock shaping and inletting also require skill and knowledge.
HOWEVER. Sloppy inletting of the buttplate is not likely to cause death or injury.
Sloppy assembly of breech components to the barrel very well might.
A lock with a poorly tuned fly and/or mushy springs and/or tumbler notches that don't match the sear nose can be deadly.
It never ceases to amaze me that people who probably will not allow their kids to ride in a vehicle without a seat belt will buy the cheapest ML they can find and give it to their kids to use.
Dan
:stir:
