quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
I think for the vast majority of people its difficult to swallow putting a $650 floor metal on a $250 mauser action.

quote:

Originally posted by gunmaker:

quote:

Originally posted by Timan:

What's a "reasonable" price.

Had this discussion with Williams several years ago on another forum and if I remember correctly, I was instructed that his guards were the best available at any price and the price was very competitive. Anything over that price was unreasonable. Not too long after that discussion I seem to remember his prices just about doubling. Wonder why....

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
A $650 or [650 - labor saved using a casting or forging].

quote:

Originally posted by lindy2:
I have often thought about all of the bottom metal that is already out there. Serviceable, but ugly triggerguards.

Maybe have some triggerguards cast that can be welded on to an existing mauser unit.

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
Anyone ever consider/ponder starting with either a high quality casting or a hammer forged casting that only needs 1/8"-ish of machining instead of a solid billet for both integrated mag M70 & one piece 98 bottom metal bodies. I have no clue how much (if any) time can be saved removing less metal. However, considering that this same hammer forged procedure was used on 98 Mauser bolts does beg some consideration.

quote:

Originally posted by Timan:
Is Swift Blackburn stocking any bottom metal?

quote:

Originally posted by gunmaker:
In my free time I found a bunch of great deals for welders on craigslist in your area. There's also a bunch of welding programs to learn the trade.

Do you want me to supply you with the contact info?

quote:

Originally posted by Doug W:
Can you sweeten the deal with offering free instruction over at your place?

quote:

Originally posted by Doug W:

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
Anyone ever consider/ponder starting with either a high quality casting or a hammer forged casting that only needs 1/8"-ish of machining instead of a solid billet for both integrated mag M70 & one piece 98 bottom metal bodies. I have no clue how much (if any) time can be saved removing less metal. However, considering that this same hammer forged procedure was used on 98 Mauser bolts does beg some consideration.

When you are making thousands or millions of the same part the upfront costs of forging or casting can be justified.

Only a few or a hundred, no way.

quote:

Originally posted by gunmaker:

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
A $650 or [650 - labor saved using a casting or forging].

You really think there's a pot of gold hidden in these floormetals . You going to pony up for the price of forging dies and minimum run quantities?

Why don't you spend a few weeks researching this new "mining" technique as it applies to the incredibly small # that will actually sell. I look forward to a bunch of quotes and estimates.

After you slay this dragon the next mythical creature in your sights will be custom stocks.

Why do they have to cost so much???
Can't they be:
made in china

CNC produced with massive labor $$$ saved

Genetically excreted out of a 3D-pooper

dip finished with a nano-plasmic water based low VOC polymer that's completely impervious to changes in humidity & temperature and looks exactly like a hand rubbed oil finish.

Checkered by trained termites that march to the latest greatest hits on chairman maos ipod

With all this $$ you've saved are you going to stuff it in an envelope and send it to your favorite custom gunmaker???
Or just buy another new Mercedes and later opine online about how frustrating it is that nobody builds custom rifles anymore...............

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
Stuart do you mean the trigger guard is not yet cut fully free of the stock in order to use the stock to hold? Or are you actually holding the side of the trigger guard in the pic above?

quote:

Originally posted by Fal Grunt:
The biggest problem with the custom gun industry is a LOT of talk, and very little action.

I've got bars of steel laying in the rack for bottom metal, but no one to put money where their mouth is.

I've got bars of steel laying in the rack for weld in 1909 trigger guards, but no one to put their money where their mouth is.

I've made bottom metal, "faster" than what Stuart describes, but I bought a $150k machine to do it. I plan on making bottom metal, but as D'arcy said, it is such a small market...

The Ed LaPour 1917 Enfield bolt shrouds are a great example. This summer I had 17 people commit to buying them, so I started the process to make them. I've started making parts and now magically like an elk on opening day they have vanished. Only two people sent payment.

I've looked at Forgings for several products. I can make the forging dies and a friend of mine has a small forging press. Even for small parts, it is just not practical. Mauser originally forged trigger guards on a 600 or 800 pound drop hammer. There are several forges within an hour of me, but it isn't feasible. Plus, holding onto a forging is harder than bar stock, even near net.

The custom gun market is closest compared to the auto market in the US. The customers want absolute precision, with the highest quality, the best available fit and finish, for dollar store prices. Problem is, the auto industry makes tens of thousands of vehicles a day. It is no wonder so many companies are jumping on the long range market. A friend of mine buys pre made components and assembles them. His suppliers give him 30-40% to markup the components. He net's more with less work, less knowledge (... he's smarter than me) less machinery, and less capital investment.

Stuart, my only hope is that with the recent flood of good used vintage guns coming from europe that there might be an increased interest in building quality custom rifles. Vice versa, since there has been a flood, and most of them are cheap, it just drives the prices down, but at least the availability is up.