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Post by 2 Dogs on Mar 15, 2024 10:07:13 GMT -5
My bro Ronnie Wells will soon have his own Bisley hammers and triggers in his usual plethora of options and I predict custom sixguns will be flying out of his shop. He is developing the fixtures and tooling necessary for things like converting rimfires to centerfire and all sorts of other precision modifications.
Larry Crow has resurfaced with an enthusiasm for sixgun work. If anyone needs his contact information give me a shout.
Tom Beaudette at Trappers Guns in Colorado is quietly and steadily putting out his usual excellent work.
Ryan Ross has decided to focus on the BFR conversions.
But more than anything I see a lack of the availability of Bisley hammers and triggers as well as affordable base guns to be an issue. As always I am just a phone call away if I can help.
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aciera
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Post by aciera on Mar 15, 2024 10:50:41 GMT -5
I got one started 2 years ago. Another I’ve been waiting 3 years and have 4 to go. But the hat was known going in. A dozen planned………. I think this is a huge part of it. If you know going in, then you have information to make a decision with. The rest is just me finding time to build them. lol. And the calculations for some strange ones
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Post by wheelnut on Mar 15, 2024 14:06:06 GMT -5
I've got some customs out waiting to be built and I think it's as others have said, the field has shrunk. I plan out a project, send out the donor and do my best to forget about it. However, that doesn't work as I'm on this site nearly every day.
As a younger guy, I wanted to get into custom gunsmithing, specifically revolvers, but the support system wasn't there. No school shop classes, dead/declining manufacturing base in the area, etc. Young people have actively been discouraged from entering the trades for decades and this is one of the many losses. However, there's reason for hope.
It's looking like Ronnie and his crew will be playing an ever-larger role over time as they already have so much for custom grip frames and rear sights. Between RW grip frames, rear sights, Fermin's fronts, RW triggers, hammers... At this point, they just need their own receiver and it's a whole new golden age of custom single-actions from the ground up.
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Post by Jamey Worrell on Mar 15, 2024 14:29:30 GMT -5
Ronnie's got three of mine (one's a Linebaugh clean up...it was on/near his bench when he passed, one is an OMS6 and one is a NMS6 that's going to be a 22 hornet/5.7 5-shot) and Huntington has one...JRH has had this one for about a year (Blackhawk 45 Colt to be fitted with RW Dragoon Bisley gripframe and Buntline New Frontier barrel). Once these are back, I'm slowing down. Huntington and the Linebaugh clean up will close out the "Best of the Last" shelf in the gunsafe.
Whow knows, I might start making fitted revolver cases after that.
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pleadthe2nd
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Post by pleadthe2nd on Mar 15, 2024 14:49:11 GMT -5
How long does it really take to build these guns, how does one make money/ stay in business when the return time is so long, seems out of line to me, one guy said he's been waiting 9 years, hell one could die before the return
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steve
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Post by steve on Mar 15, 2024 15:22:32 GMT -5
I just dropped this off at Jack Huntington's place last week. It'll be a 41 mag with a cut down 357 maximum cylinder and S&W model 57 barrel. He also building a 500 Linebaugh that should be done by the end of the year, depending on Turnbull's schedule Attachments:
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Post by Encore64 on Mar 15, 2024 15:56:21 GMT -5
The custom revolver game was never for everybody. But, it's changed so much in the last few years that it's no longer for me either.
I've had a number of conversations today with friends who've called to express their frustrations.
Life's been good and I have no complaints. But, I like straight answers even if it's not the answer I want.
My last really nice revolvers were a FA83 followed by the BFR 357 Magnum. Fermin provided front and rear sights for the FA and a Front Sight for the BFR. He's super reliable with these touches and cylinder work. I always feel good sending him money for great products. Ditto on Kelye with base pins for many years.
But, until wait time decreases and products increase, I'll just hold off on any more projects...
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Post by leadhound on Mar 15, 2024 16:24:58 GMT -5
How long does it really take to build these guns, how does one make money/ stay in business when the return time is so long, seems out of line to me, one guy said he's been waiting 9 years, hell one could die before the return Really depends on several variables including parts or tools needed, believe the biggest is where it lies in the queue. Finishing I believe is usually done in batches, that's why you will see several posted in a short time period. They will also mix in some that need simple fixes or action jobs, money doesn't just come from full builds. Probably a little bit of planning involved as well.
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edk
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Post by edk on Mar 15, 2024 16:38:51 GMT -5
Subcontracting barrel reboring and the like can add a lot of time.
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pleadthe2nd
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Post by pleadthe2nd on Mar 15, 2024 16:44:14 GMT -5
Sorry, but going on a decade, absolutely no excuse there
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Post by Encore64 on Mar 15, 2024 16:53:45 GMT -5
It's certainly not a subject to bicker over.
One just has to decide what's best before sending a base gun and money. Important that we all decide for ourselves.
I'm just getting to the age that extreme (sometimes years) waits and lack of straight answers no longer appeals to me.
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gnappi
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Post by gnappi on Mar 15, 2024 17:09:14 GMT -5
I think the factors above plus an economic downturn play a part. Inflation has been a killer for anyone not getting regular pay increases. Add to that increasing cost of gunsmithing and the relative price of a custom is much higher than inflation would suggest. In the last decade factories have made more and more of what were once custom as production models, so the need for custom work has decreased. Factory mid frame 44 specials, factory 454 and 480 negate a real NEED for a custom build. BFR and FA substitute some of that need also. As much as I like a full custom, my needs are fully met with tuning and some parts upgrades. >>SNIP<< Well said.
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Post by Encore64 on Mar 15, 2024 17:23:04 GMT -5
I think the factors above plus an economic downturn play a part. Inflation has been a killer for anyone not getting regular pay increases. Add to that increasing cost of gunsmithing and the relative price of a custom is much higher than inflation would suggest. In the last decade factories have made more and more of what were once custom as production models, so the need for custom work has decreased. Factory mid frame 44 specials, factory 454 and 480 negate a real NEED for a custom build. BFR and FA substitute some of that need also. As much as I like a full custom, my needs are fully met with tuning and some parts upgrades. >>SNIP<< Well said. I'm also in agreement. Maybe it's old age, but hope it's something else??? Simple upgrades like base pins, sights and grips from friends like Fermin and Trent. Bought the spring depress tool from Ronnie which is handy as pockets on a shirt. Highly recommend if you like to pittle with guns. It's money well spent...
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Post by mcquade on Mar 15, 2024 17:36:12 GMT -5
I’m fortunate in that I no longer desire the deeply blued and vibrantly case hardened masterpiece’s that have become so scarce of late. Don’t get me wrong, my love for them is great. So great in fact that I cannot do harm to them. I’ve gotten older, I’m no longer a “collector”….just a shooter. I’m a “working gun” man now. I figured it out several years ago after I bought a sweet TLA from a member here. I didn’t have the balls to carry/shoot her, I was done. Sold off all the rare stuff. I fully understand the affliction and admire the quality of a fine piece but I’m at the point that I want to make memories with a well built gun, not pull it out of the safe a few times a year to fondle. AND, as far as prices, I’m willing to pay it for quality, which has became a vanishing standard in America. I’ve had a gun on order at FA for a few months, still over a year to go. This one will cost me north of $4k and I don’t care. I’ll carry it every day, shoot the snot out of it, again, I don’t care. I sound like I’m talking down to those waiting on the deeply blued, finely made customs. I am not. If you can afford what you desire, you better put your name in the hat now because it appears that there are fewer of the current generation that have the desire, knowledge, skills, or honor to truly appreciate a fine single action or, and most importantly , to understand the integrity of those of us that hold true to the “old ways”. Good luck boys….
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aciera
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Post by aciera on Mar 15, 2024 18:18:58 GMT -5
How long does it really take to build these guns, how does one make money/ stay in business when the return time is so long, seems out of line to me, one guy said he's been waiting 9 years, hell one could die before the return I had one of the longer waits. 7 years maybe sooner. It isn’t the time to build it. It is the length of the list he has. Mine is a one man shop. He does EVERYTHING All the checkering is done by hand. One screwup…….one overrun. On that level you may have 75 LPI…….and you have to make the files. Skip checkering takes time too. Some days you just aren’t up for it. There are a few artists…….on another level. And this guy makes a 1911 SHOOT.
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