Post by kings6 on Mar 30, 2023 15:49:11 GMT -5
Over the years we have had a number of discussions about the length of time some custom projects take to complete. Many think it is crazy to wait more than a year or two and others feel that once you send a project off, forget about it and shoot what you have until the gunsmith lets you know it is finished. I am of the second camp and being a small business owner I understand how life etc. can effect a small one man shop. Not saying this is the right attitude, it is just the one I am comfortable with accepting in order to get what I want built. To each his own I say and with that being said I will share the story of this little rifle.
Over 10 years ago I was fortunate to be able to buy a lightly used Marlin Cowboy in 41 mag. As I was reading about these guns I heard about modifications such as butt stock through bolts, new sights, thinning the wood proportions etc. Two names kept coming up when I was reading about these mods and they were Mick McPherson and Ben Forkin. Since I was familiar with Ben and his work I called him and we discussed the work we thought would be nice to do on this little gun. Off the gun went along with a note about what we discussed and life went on. Some 'smiths work guns in batches where single action work gets done on a bunch of guns then rifle work gets done. Some, like Ben, are in their hometown and like John Gallagher shared with me years ago. the custom work can only be done part of the time because the rest of the time is spent on cousin Vinnies rifle he dropped duriing last hunting season and since this years season opens next week, "you've got to get it fixed and sighted back in for me Cous'!"
Another thing that impacts the time frames of some projects is outside vendors and suppliers. In the case of this rifle it was an outside guy in NY doing the case coloring and I believe another man with some of the wood work.
Regardless, after a number of seasons past, the gun came hoe today and I could not be more pleased. Gone is the extra lumber on the forearm, case colored barrel band, main frame, lever and rear Ghost ring sight, action reworked to take longer heavy weight 41 bullets, installation of owner supplied piece to set flush rather than extruded on the upper part of the rear of the receiver, hand rubbed and applied new oil finish to the wood, Through bolt up from the butt pad through the butt stock to tie into the receiver for increased strength and accuracy, polish all internal parts and polish all non colored external metal and reblue right down to the custom made rear sight filler piece.
Thanks for letting me share and please, no piling on as to the subject of time of build.
Over 10 years ago I was fortunate to be able to buy a lightly used Marlin Cowboy in 41 mag. As I was reading about these guns I heard about modifications such as butt stock through bolts, new sights, thinning the wood proportions etc. Two names kept coming up when I was reading about these mods and they were Mick McPherson and Ben Forkin. Since I was familiar with Ben and his work I called him and we discussed the work we thought would be nice to do on this little gun. Off the gun went along with a note about what we discussed and life went on. Some 'smiths work guns in batches where single action work gets done on a bunch of guns then rifle work gets done. Some, like Ben, are in their hometown and like John Gallagher shared with me years ago. the custom work can only be done part of the time because the rest of the time is spent on cousin Vinnies rifle he dropped duriing last hunting season and since this years season opens next week, "you've got to get it fixed and sighted back in for me Cous'!"
Another thing that impacts the time frames of some projects is outside vendors and suppliers. In the case of this rifle it was an outside guy in NY doing the case coloring and I believe another man with some of the wood work.
Regardless, after a number of seasons past, the gun came hoe today and I could not be more pleased. Gone is the extra lumber on the forearm, case colored barrel band, main frame, lever and rear Ghost ring sight, action reworked to take longer heavy weight 41 bullets, installation of owner supplied piece to set flush rather than extruded on the upper part of the rear of the receiver, hand rubbed and applied new oil finish to the wood, Through bolt up from the butt pad through the butt stock to tie into the receiver for increased strength and accuracy, polish all internal parts and polish all non colored external metal and reblue right down to the custom made rear sight filler piece.
Thanks for letting me share and please, no piling on as to the subject of time of build.
