Looking for ML kit builder

[lonewolf172]

I've been looking at a .54 cal Underhammer kit from Pecatonia River but I have no place to build it. I'm not looking for a professional gunsmith just someone who has built MLs from kits before. I live in Indiana so someone near by would be perfect but not totally required. Please PM me and I can provide more information about the kit if you're not familiar with their kit and what I'll already have done by them.

 

[Patch]

You should probably just pool your budget together and throw up wtb ads on the different ML forums to see what's on the market as far as used underhammer rifles go.

Anyone competent enough to build guns is either doing it for money or they don't want to build guns for other people, I wouldn't trust the man who offered to build me a rifle for free.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

I'm not looking for a professional gunsmith just someone who has built MLs from kits before. I live in Indiana so someone near by would be perfect but not totally required.

Every one of them folks is currently a member on this forum.................................

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

I wouldn't trust the man who offered to build me a rifle for free.

yeppers

 

[rafterob]

You don't want somebody who has just put a kit(s) together before. You want a competent builder. They very often have a waiting list of a year or more. The advice to seek out a used gun may really be your best option.

 

[GANGGREEN]

I've been asked repeatedly if I'd build X, Y or Z for this guy or that guy and up until very recently, I've always said no. I say no for two primary reasons, although there are others. First of all, because I've not really been confident that others would be happy with the work after they got it home and had hours to stare at it. Secondly because I think many of these folks (not necessarily the OP of this thread) don't really recognize how much work goes into even a "kit" and wouldn't really want to pay even a very marginal fee, like $5/hour for the appropriate assembly. I've recently told one guy that I'd help HIM re-stock an old kit and I even gifted him a beautiful piece of curly maple for it. He did get the stock blank professionally inlet for his barrel and ramrod, but I haven't seen him since and have a sneaking suspicion that come nice weather he's going to try to drop the project on me. I told another friend that I'd walk him through a Kibler kit and gave him a very nice piece of curly maple for a fraction of what he'd otherwise pay for it. I'm happy to help him out with the kit because he'll be involved every step of the way and will likely do most of it himself with me watching over his shoulder. I also told a friend that I'd build a rifle for him because he asked nicely and because this particular guy has just done loads of favors for me over the years, but I agree with most of you, it's a thankless job, takes a lot of time and attention and most guys aren't prepared to pay for it and don't know what they're asking.

You should probably just pool your budget together and throw up wtb ads on the different ML forums to see what's on the market as far as used underhammer rifles go.

Anyone competent enough to build guns is either doing it for money or they don't want to build guns for other people, I wouldn't trust the man who offered to build me a rifle for free.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

My mentor started building in the late fifties, his approach to building guns for folks was to make them pay for two sets of parts, one for them that he built and one for him to build for himself at a later date, it works out well for both parties, as it automatically adjusts for inflation and allows for the builder to make as much as he is willing to put into the second set of parts, that said he built one style for the masses as far as decoration and these parameters were established before hand.

Most folks have no clue as to the amount of work involved in building, it's a deep rabbit hole if you're doing the complete package with case hardening locks etc.

 

[Patch]

The other option is how much does owning an underhammer mean to you? If it's something that'd be neat to have then buy a used one in nice condition, but if it is something you are really passionate about then why not send it out to a professional to have something you can be proud of? Ask Pecatonia who they would recommend sending the kit out to have built or do some digging around on the CLA beforehand, there's probably a guy somewhere there whose thing is underhammers:

CLA Artisans

If you do decide to go with the Pecatonia kit and want to send it out to a professional: Don't open the box or do anything to it, slap a shipping label on it and send it out. The "hey, I started doing this so it will cost less money" will only end up costing you more money in fixes.

While something very plain will be an investment, you likely won't have to sell a kidney over it. The wait time will likely be very long, but not longer than sending it to some internet random who may just skip town after butchering your kit for a year or two after many long days at work. And there is something very luxurious to owning a professional made rifle that pictures don't convey. Yes it will look nice, and the lines, and the details, everything that you see in a picture, but when you pick it up that's when you really know what you payed for: something sleek and fast and well balanced and points naturally and the butter smooth trigger. There is a certain warmth to picking up a professionally made rifle that isn't present in a hobbyist build.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[rdane]

What gangrene said.

 

[pooch156]

Yeah. What Gangreen said.

 

[kentuckycharliec]

PM sent.