need a gunsmith

[MattyB]

I am looking for a gunsmith to inlay a patchbox (banana style), replace my T/C sights with something traditional, and maybe one or two other minor inlays.

I have tried e-mailing several 'smiths I found online, but all of them must have enough work to keep them busy, I haven't gotten a single reply in two weeks.

Please, no "why don't you do it yourself" answers.

Is there anyone that knows of a gunsmith that can do this for me within 4 months or so, that isn't swamped with work?

Thanks

 

[Birddog6]

You need a Rifle Builder, not a gunsmith. That may be why you are not getting a response.

Also a determining factor is what rifle you want worked on. If it is a hand built rifle & the job pays well, you may strike some interest on here, as there are several on here quite capable of doing it. Probably well over 100 guys on here quite capable of doing the job.

Another determining factor is how busy the builders are. Normally a known builder will have a large backlog (1-3 years) of builds to do, and may not take on small jobs. Also some builders will not work on manufactured rifles, they want to stay working on hand built rifles.

Keep in mind that inlaying a patchbox would normally incorporate refinishing the rifle. Expect to invest $200. + or so, as you have to ship the rifle back & forth, buy or make a patchbox, get it put in, then refinish the rifle, etc.

Good Luck

Keith Lisle

 

[Dave K]

Keith is right. But now is the perfect time to work at being an expert at it. I have repaired many guns and I assisted, in building of my own gun. When I got home with the gun, there were them details that I wanted to do. Of course you can pay to have it done, or you can learn. Just don't learn on the gun stock you are building the gun from. I had some wood that I just plain carved on to learn how to do it. Oh yes, I sure made some really screwed up fire wood, but I did learn and when I transferred that learning to the gun, I think I did pretty good. Read the posts on in-letting, get the books on how to do these things and learn how. Just take your time, think about how to execute it and then do it, on a practice piece of wood.

 

[MattyB]

Birddog-
Thanks, I didn't know that. That's actually really helpful.

Dave-
I'm not doing it myself. Several reasons, not the least of wich are that I don't want to screw it up, and I'm in Afghanistan. Maybe I'll learn how to do things like that when I retire (judging by how busy these custom makers are, job security isn't an issue, maybe I should look at that as a retirement gig?). That's the reason, in the original post, I asked for no "do it yourself" responses.

It's not a custom built gun. It's a T/C Renegade bored out to .58 by Bob Hoyt, set in a full stock, and converted to flint with an L&R lock. I might just be out of luck on this one.

 

[wmaser]

My three boys are all in the service. One just got back home from Afghanistan. If you can't find someone nearby, get that gun to me and I'll do what you need done. Shoot me an e-mail.
Wild Bill, Double Eagle Forge.

 

[MattyB]

Bill,
Thank you for your offer. You have a private message.
I'm not on the internet everyday, as you can imagine, but I'll check back as often as possible to see your response.
Thanks again.