I have been out of the loop.........
for a few years on the price of gunsmithing. But today I called around to try to find a place to drill and tap a receiver for a weaver base. LONG story short there is only one place within 50 miles that is certified to do the work, they want $20 a hole, with 4 holes and the weaver base that is right at a hundred dollar bill!! I remember the last time I needed it done it was $20-25 to drill, tap and put rings on, them supplying the rings.
I had a buddy I worked with for 40 years who did my last one for free, as we each owed each other more favors than we could remember. well he passed in his sleep 2 weeks after retiring. I know his wife would let me use his shop,tools but my eyes are so bad I don't trust myself to do it. I called in a few favors of some of the folks I used to run the gun shows with and finally got a guys phone number who said he would do it for $30 if I supplied the mount, just dropped it off and after gossiping with him for over an hour found out we know a lot of the same people, he does about anything including hot blue. I told him I wasn't in any hurry and if it took a few weeks to month no problem, he looked at me and said " well won't you be needing it for turkey season next week?" and said he would have it by monday so I could sight it in before season. You just can't find many of those type of folks anymore.......
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Sounds like you found a winner. The only professional gunsmithing that I've needed in the last 10 yrs was to replace a broken sear on that Winchester 101 that the police recovered after it was stolen 33 years before. The only place I could find a sear would only sell it to a gunsmith, so I was forced to find one. While it was there, I had them cut the stock and put on a Pachmayer pad. With parts, labor and test firing it came to $170. In this day and age, I thought that was a bargain. They'll get my business again if I need some work done. Bob
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Our last smith quit about two months ago and be darned if there is anyone within 60 miles that does anything with firearms. Lost art around here. Hindsight , I could have made a good living doing smithing.
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just got a call from him this morning, he said he was done if I wanted I could pick it up, other wise he was gonna be gone till midweek, I wasn't expecting it till then anyway but just got back from going to get it, nice job, quick and nice fellow to deal with, gonna put his number up for future use. now I have excuse to go to range to sight it in.......
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Most good gunsmiths are also good machinist. There is ususlly more work and better money in being a machinist,so that where many of the gunsmiths go.
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Baron's Sporting Goods in Williamsport, Pa. would drill and tap for free if you purchased the scope and mount from him. But that was in 1959- '64 when I worked for him. Bore sighting was free!
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