|
|
Post by jeepnik on Dec 19, 2009 15:37:25 GMT -5
The fellow I used for years passed away earlier this year. So I'm in need of a new gunsmith in the Los Angeles area. First up is a simple shortening or a Single Six barrel from 5 1/2" to 4 5/8". Anyone have someone they can recommend.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gary @ R&G on Dec 21, 2009 15:09:14 GMT -5
Kings in Glendale.
|
|
|
|
Post by jeepnik on Dec 21, 2009 17:51:53 GMT -5
Sadly, Kings is no longer.
|
|
hoss
.327 Meteor
Posts: 716
|
Post by hoss on Dec 21, 2009 19:09:49 GMT -5
If all you want is a shorter tube, call Ruger. They'll replace the barrel with a shorter one cheaper than a smith can cut it down.
|
|
|
|
Post by brionic on Dec 21, 2009 19:15:22 GMT -5
Try Jim Hoag in Chatsworth or Alan Tanaka in Gardena.
Then grab a double-double and fries on your way home!
--
Brian
|
|
|
|
Post by jeepnik on Dec 21, 2009 20:13:51 GMT -5
Try Jim Hoag in Chatsworth or Alan Tanaka in Gardena. Then grab a double-double and fries on your way home! -- Brian Got any contact info for them? Gardena is close, I'm there at least once a week. |
|
|
|
Post by Gary @ R&G on Dec 21, 2009 20:51:50 GMT -5
Hoag is in Canoga park.
When did Kings close? Their website is still up and they are offering their 50 year catalog for 2009.
|
|
|
|
Post by brionic on Dec 21, 2009 22:45:49 GMT -5
AT Custom Gun Works
atcustom@atcustomgunwork.com
17924 South Hobart Blvd
Gardena, CA 90248
310-327-2721
Gary you are right, Jim is in Canoga Park... but all west valley neighborhoods blend into one big expanse anyway!
--
Brian
|
|
|
|
Post by jeepnik on Dec 22, 2009 19:05:54 GMT -5
King's closed earlier this year. Thye web site is up, but the phones are disconnected.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gary @ R&G on Dec 22, 2009 19:56:00 GMT -5
hate to hear that. I knew Al passed but I hoped they would carry on. 50 year legend fades away. They did some neat 1911 work.
|
|
|
|
Post by jeepnik on Dec 22, 2009 21:02:43 GMT -5
Yea, Kings was a gunshop in the true old style. Sadly, quite a few of the folks I meet working in gunshops today need a bit more experience behind the trigger. Quite a few "mall ninja" types.
In the last year, I've lost three shops I have dealt with for years. King's of course. One was simply run out of town by the local city council. The other one was closed by the owner because of health reasons, and arguing family members.
|
|
|
|
Post by brionic on Dec 23, 2009 10:35:27 GMT -5
Have you been to Martin Retting in Culver City? They are family friends. Nice shop in the old style of which you write.
Almost all the other good shops are gone. None in El Lay... run off, as you mentioned. There are a couple in Burbank, but not really worth the drive unless you MUST have the latest tacticool whatever at the highest prices.
|
|
|
|
Post by jeepnik on Dec 23, 2009 18:32:59 GMT -5
I;ve bought a couple of handguns from Retting. Boy, I gotta stay out of that place. They've got half a dozen or so leverguns on the wall behind the counter that keep calling to me. Not to mention the $7000.00 Webley Fosbery in the display case.
|
|
|
|
Post by jayhawker on Dec 25, 2009 11:01:44 GMT -5
Sad to hear about Kings. Their work and parts were the best. I have a 1911 with their fixed combat sights that I really like, a Mel Tappin sight if memory serves, he was a survival expert 30 years ago.
Jayhawker Bob
|
|
caryc
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,055
|
Post by caryc on Dec 25, 2009 11:56:29 GMT -5
If all you want is a shorter tube, call Ruger. They'll replace the barrel with a shorter one cheaper than a smith can cut it down. This is just not true. I went through this a couple years ago just as Ruger was initiating a price change. I had a brand new blue (never fired) Blackhawk that I wanted cut down to a 4 5/8" The price quoted to me over the phone sounded reasonable, but after I sent them the gun they returned a quote to me with significantly higher prices. I talked with someone higher up the chain and they agreed to do the job at the old price since that's what I was told over the phone. Since they already had my gun I went ahead with it. They did a beautiful job. But I would come out at just about the same price (even with their old prices) if I had traded in the brand new long barrel gun in on a brand new 4 5/8" model and I would not have had the 5 weeks wait on the return of the gun. If you send a blued gun to Ruger for a shorter barrel, they will install a new barrel plus a new front sight and then re blue the whole gun. With labor and parts you would be better off just buying the gun you want. Ruger will not cut a barrel, they install new ones. They do not do custom work. With Ruger's prices now there is no way they can do it for the much better price that a reputable smith can, since he will just cut the barrel and remount the front sight. Even if it was a stainless gun it would still be much cheaper to have a good smith do the job. Don't forget that with Ruger you have the shipping charge both ways and the charge for parts and labor, not to mention a couple months waiting time. |
|
