Will the bottom fall out of the custom build business?

[SOLANCO]

This is a rural area and there is no dearth of younger people at the various gun clubs. That said, they seem more interested in modern unmentionables. The AR's, semi auto pistols and such. Although they show up to bone up on their skills with bolt actions and semi auto shotguns as the fall hunting seasons approach.
Even though kids routinely take off from school for firearms deer season, they do not seem to do so for primitive, neither bow nor muzzle loader.

 

[SOLANCO]

This is a rural area and there is no dearth of younger people at the various gun clubs. That said, they seem more interested in modern unmentionables. The AR's, semi auto pistols and such. Although they show up to bone up on their skills with bolt actions and semi auto shotguns as the fall hunting seasons approach.
Even though kids routinely take off from school for firearms deer season, they do not seem to do so for primitive, neither bow nor muzzle loader.

 

[vintovka]

Sadly only draconian modern gun laws may be ML only chance.

 

[springfield art]

I can't see where the future generations are going to care at all about anything to do with historical weapons. After all, they have been taught our history is evil and racist. Like others have said, it is all about instant gratification. If something takes time and effort to master, well that's not going to happen. Too many man buns and double soy lattes.

Ironically, lots of the Founders had "man buns"; the style of the day!

 

[French Colonial]

Ironically, lots of the Founders had "man buns"; the style of the day!

Examples?

 

[springfield art]

Delaware just passed a poorly written law forbidding AR's. If you got one, you can keep, but if you leave the State with it, you can't bring it back in. A club there had an "AR club" where they'd do fun target exercises every month; the law is being challenged, I believe, by the Del. State Sportsman's Ass'n., but that's the State that enthroned Biden and his clan into life-time power...and we all know how "anti" the Dems are. Biden's son Beau sadly died young of cancer; had he lived, he no doubt would have been crowned for life in the Senate or done a "Bush thing" where you had daddy and son presidents. The over-40 thousand companies that are incorporated in Del. have huge financial clout; wonder how much behind the scenes wrangling they performed over the years in order to preserve their tax status? (That's why there's no sales tax in Del. and why the property taxes are so low- a good thing for residents.)

 

[springfield art]

Examples?

Any image where the guy is wearing the wig with the be-ribboned pony tail. Any pony tail can be put up as a bun.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

Idaho has a good law. I wish Arkansas was anti-inline. Pennsylvania has the best law, flintlock only season!

Rural Pennsylvania seems to be the Mecca of muzzleloading alright, but the problem is that I gotta drive through places like Illinois and/or Michigan just to get there. Doesn't seem to be much in the way rendezvous and such in Wisconsin.

 

[Hawk54]

Rural Pennsylvania seems to be the Mecca of muzzleloading alright, but the problem is that I gotta drive through places like Illinois and/or Michigan just to get there. Doesn't seem to be much in the way rendezvous and such in Wisconsin.

There are several here in Minnesota but no big ones. Would love to go back east for a couple of the big ones with big suttler attendance.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

There are several here in Minnesota but no big ones. Would love to go back east for a couple of the big ones with big suttler attendance.

Maybe Someday.

 

[French Colonial]

Any image where the guy is wearing the wig with the be-ribboned pony tail. Any pony tail can be put up as a bun.

A pony tail is not a bun, it may be able to be put higher on the head and turned in to one, but it is not the same.

I have never seen a man bun in a period piece

 

[chorizo]

never mind

 

[French Colonial]

I haven't seen a man with a bun, is a more correct statement.

I have never seen a man with a bun hairdo in a period portrait or sketch.

Buns are noted by their placement higher toward the crown of the head than a pony tail.

Not sure what this has to do with custom guns but there you go, another thread derailed.

 

[chorizo]

never mind

 

[mikesto44]

Rural Pennsylvania seems to be the Mecca of muzzleloading alright, but the problem is that I gotta drive through places like Illinois and/or Michigan just to get there. Doesn't seem to be much in the way rendezvous and such in Wisconsin.

Southern Michigan has a strong b.p. history. A lot of the top builders are in Michigan. Also in March the city of Kalamazoo holds the largest primitive history show in the Midwest.

 

[cannonball1]

I write this as an elderly person who have lived muzzleloading since the early 70's. I started early in making "scratch" muzzleloaders meaning rough cast metal parts, a rifled barrel and a blank. Over that time I found cast parts harder to find and the quality of blank wood has gone down with cost going thru the ceiling. All this said, if the demand is there, someone will take up the manufacturing of those part. So, is there going to be craftsmen making custom ML'ers? A few of the best, but if you are a modern gun maker you really need to be machinist. If you are a muzzleloader maker all you need is some carving tools, hack saw, sandpaper, etc. and when you get done just maybe it will be worth the parts you put into it, but the sense of ratification of completing something of beauty is there. My point is this: There are so many kit and part muzzleloader builders out there, my perspective is the money for a craftsmen will be few and far between. Those are the ones which will hold or increase in valve and not much at that.

If you want a custom muzzleloader build it from a kit or scratch. Some kits do almost everything for you. Decorate it up by engraving, carving the stock, checkering it, brass wire inlays, or what ever, and sign it. Give it to a member of the family who has posterity who may enjoy it. That is after you are done with it. Or just buy a custom gun, which will doubtful be a good investment. Write up a history of times with that gun with your thoughts. With the internet you can learn to do anything nowdays.

I made a lot of scratch guns of which went to family members. They were made with the best parts I could purchase and the best curly maple blanks. The parts for the first guns cost around $300.00. Maybe those guns would fetch double the parts costs, but now to make those same guns the parts are nearing $1000.00 to build and just maybe the gun would fetch $900.00. That is conjecture at this point. Some of these custom or kit guns are like purchasing a new car. Shoot it or drive it off the showroom floor and it's worth half what you paid for it. That is my thoughts on it anyway. I'm sure others have differing opinions.

 

[mikesto44]

If it is truly dying out..? Would Kibler and others put so much investment capitol in something they thought they were going to lose..?
CNC equipment is not cheap or all the other stuff they have purchased. But yet they keep expanding their product line. JMHO

 

[waksupi]

Ironically, lots of the Founders had "man buns"; the style of the day!

It's okay, you can wear your hair anyway you like. We will try not to judge you too much. ;o)

 

[1clayguy]

Popular builders still have 2-3 years waiting times. There’s a few young guys coming up who are really doing nice work and cranking them out. Who knows what the world will be like in 20 years?

Tastes and interests change. I can buy antique tools and furniture now for less than I could in the 1980s. Ok by me.

Who knows what our country will be like in 5 years!!

 

[64Springer]

Hand it down to who? That's the real problem!

Six pages and the above post said it best in only nine words.

I'm a craftsman and a tinkerer through and through.

I live to build things. Guns, furniture, ceramics, home repairs and I'm the only person in my family and extended family that knows how to work with their hands. I've spent 45 years applying my trade and I have a fully stocked workshop that would make any tinkerer proud.

When I'm stuffed in the ground the people who knew me best are going to bring in large dumpsters and take everything to a landfill. They won't even bother selling it to make money.

The only thing that gives me solace is that I'll be dead and I won't see it happen. Saddens me just typing this.

For those of you at the end of your life, forget about the money. Find people or organizations that will truly appreciate your tools and guns and GIVE THEM AWAY if need be.

I'm sorry if I brought folks down with this post. Have a nice day.