I know it's the DR forum.. but I figured I'd give you guys a look..

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976662206.htm

I have looked at that gun about 50 times and just can't imagine the gun cost $6400 to build. I have a hard time believing, for a used gun it is worth the $2500 he is asking for it. Maybe someone knows something I don't see. The only good thing it has going for it, that is known is that it is a 404 Jeffrey.

Especially with a kevlar stock. Now if it was completely blueprinted, trued action and boltface, elaboratley engraved, wtih a big hunk of solid AAAAA+ HIGHLY figured walnut custom fit to the buyer then maybe. Sounds like somebody is trying to make a nice little profit. Also why not mention the name of this "legendary gunsmith"? If it was built by a "legend" wouldn't the name be an important selling point too? You could go buy a CZ, iron aout all the kinks and put a good stock on it for less than $6400.

Not saying that this rifles is worth the asking price, however anyone priced having a custom made 404 Jeffery made?
Barrel and action around 5-600
stock blank for 3-600
ebony tip-
stock maker-
sights swivels, recoil pad,
Reputable Gunsmith, reamer, bluing,
TIME-tick-tock,tick-tock,tick-tock,tick-tock,tick-tock

Most certainly more than $2500.

Just a thought.

It takes a lot of manhours to do a synthetic stock correctly. I think the good quality of the current drop-ins hides the reality that the last 5% of perfection costs as much as the first 95%; just like wood. That's why McMillan gets $285 for a stock blank and $730 for the same blank fitted and finished to your rifle. Also, that action looks like an FN and has custom Sunny Hill bottom metal with a pocket floor plate plus an aftermarket trigger.

So being conservative:

Action $300
Bottom 450
Stock 300
barrel 285
trigger 65
dies 60
ammo 150
case 100
bases 25
pad 35
sights 130
studs 15
labor 1500

labor includes all barrel, feeding and other metal work, bedding and painting the stock, polish and blue or coat the metal and fit the pad and sling studs.

So $3115 might get you the same rifle screwed together by a backyard 'smith with no particular action work other than fitting the barrel and basic feeding. If the workmanship is lacking,then you can knock about a grand off of that.

Personally, I don't care for the choice of paint but if the rifle is fit and finished properly then $2500 for an as-new gun of it's type isn't unreasonable. And it is possible that htere is enough other custom labor in the action and special coating to jack the cost up towards the $6500 initial cost. I wouldn't pay $6500 for that either but it is easy to get that high when you start tacking bells and whistles onto a custom gun, regardless of the stock choice.

quote:

Originally posted by Bloodnativ:
the name of this "legendary gunsmith"? If it was built by a "legend" wouldn't the name be an important selling point too?

Blood,
Unless I am reading the ad wrong, I take it that Jim Davis is the "legendaty gunsmith". Am not reading the ad right. Maybe someone else did the metal? Anyway, Davis means nothing to me.

The only referance to a "Jim Davis Gunsmith" that I could find is a 2004 Arizona Star Newspaper article about the NRA annual convention, here: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/18330

Here's the quote,

" But politics wasn't the top topic of conversation. The folks came to talk guns. No firearms are sold at the convention.

"Jim enjoys seeing what's new. This is his special time," said Kay Davis, a retired teacher who had come with her husband, Jim, from LaGrange. Jim Davis loves tinkering as a hobbyist gunsmith.

"Nothing thrills my old heart more than to find a shoebox full of old parts (of guns)," he said.


But, "Jim Davis" is a very common name so it could be someone else.

quote:

Originally posted by AfricanHunter:

quote:

Originally posted by Bloodnativ:
the name of this "legendary gunsmith"? If it was built by a "legend" wouldn't the name be an important selling point too?

Blood,
Unless I am reading the ad wrong, I take it that Jim Davis is the "legendaty gunsmith". Am not reading the ad right. Maybe someone else did the metal? Anyway, Davis means nothing to me.

It was me that wasn't reading. I must have skipped the first couple words in the sentence. I've never heard of Jim Davis either. He's such a legend nobody's heard of him He may be a hell of a 'smith though. However I don't think he can command NEW Dakota prices. Especially with a synthetic stock, I don't care who the stockmaker is.

Al,

If you'll go ahead and buy it and bring it to the lease I'll trade you my Justin snake boots for it.

IMO, that rifle is a bargain of the year! It surprizes me someone hasn't already bought it!

It would cost a minimum of $3200 to duplicate the rifle alone, not to mention the custom ammo, dies, and brass that comes with it!

Everybody except me must be gone on safari!

quote:

Originally posted by Bloodnativ:

quote:

Originally posted by AfricanHunter:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bloodnativ:
the name of this "legendary gunsmith"? If it was built by a "legend" wouldn't the name be an important selling point too?

It was me that wasn't reading. I must have skipped the first couple words in the sentence. I've never heard of Jim Davis either. He's such a legend nobody's heard of him He may be a hell of a 'smith though. However I don't think he can command NEW Dakota prices. Especially with a synthetic stock, I don't care who the stockmaker is.

Gentlemen, for every well known smith in this country, there are 50 who are not well known, who do better work! The fact that you do not know this guy means absolutely nothing, simply look at the rifle! Does any one here know a custom gun maker named Mack McCain? NO? I didn't think so,but he does better work than most of the well known custom men I know, and I know a bunch of them. Not one of you guys is posting from Florida, where this rifle is from.Just like none of you would know MacK McCain, because he is a local from El Paso Texas!
Judge the work for it's worth, and don't worry about who did it! If you want it, buy it, take your three day trial, and phone them if it isn't up to your standards, and send it back.

Mac' that was part of my point. The only thing I was REALLY making fun of was calling him a "legendary gunsmith". At least that was my intention. As I said he may be an excellent 'smith. In my mind a "legend" would be someone that is pretty widely known. I spent over 10 years living, hunting and shooting in Florida. Never heard of him. That's not a knock on his skills just his "legend" status. Just because I haven't heard of him doesn't mean he's not good or even legendary in his area.

Well... if it's still there in 3 weeks... I'm gonna try to make a deal for it..

This rifle has been for sale for a long time, at least 6 months. He had, or maybe still has, photos of the gun up on GA where it is lying on the floor with some dirty flip flops sitting next to it, and he mispelled Jeffery in his ad. I emailed him a few times and he never responded....

I emailed also with no response.

Al:

What's the link to your avatar photo?

several people here e-mailed the seller with no response...
maybe the guy died waiting for a buyer. Like some said, it may be the buy of the year... it may also be the dumbest thing you did this year too. A 3 day inspection is like a warranty...its only as good as the man standing behind it. Ever pay for something and then try to get your money back from them only to find its already spent and you get the "story of their misfortunes".

quote:

MacD37: for every well known smith in this country, there are 50 who are not well known, who do better work! The fact that you do not know this guy means absolutely nothing

Well stated, fortunately I know several. That rifle isn't my cup of tea but it has good features, except for the trigger safety, and $2500 appears reasonable to me.

Gents, Sorry I hadnt been following this thread. The seller had emailed me right after it was posted for sale. It sold the first day it was up. I imagine he just got tired of answering people. He said he told guns america to mark it sold but they had not done so yet at that time. I have not gone back to the link but it sounds like they still have not done so.

PS I just went to GA and sure enough it was still up so I reported it as sold.

Thanks for checking mike...

577 that post is of the Malboro girls at
an F1 race, another reason, F1 kicks Nascar's
ass....

470CApstickA2,

they NEED the girls, the race itself is boring.
Those engines sound like weedwhackers at full screech.

Rich