Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply |
One of Us |
My brother in law recently moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and he contacted me yesterday asking if I knew any good gunsmiths in Texas. I don't know, so I thought I'd throw it out to the members here. Who in your opinion is the best gunsmith in that great state, and who should he shy away from. Please state why you select one smith over another, and by the same token, why should someone be avoided. | ||
|
One of Us |
I can only speak from my own personal experience. The Gunsmith that works on my rifles is TIP BURNS, BURNS GUN REPAIR, CANYON LAKE, TEXAS Tip has not only worked on my rifles and pistols, he built me two rifles chambered in 404 Jeffery. Not only is he a reliable Gunsmith, he's one heck of a nice guy. No bull shit, just solutions! Rusty We Band of Brothers! DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member "I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends." ----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836 "I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841 "for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.” | |||
|
Moderator |
Howdy, your answer is more of "it depends" than "charlie over there. the reason is that the better smiths are VERY skilled in one or two areas, and work in those areas alot. if he want's shotgun work, brileys in houston wants a great hunting rifle? Tip Burns, Canyon Lake Want a rebarrel, only? Ed Shilen, Ennis Texas Charlie Sisk makes an excellent Rifle, Wiseman as well. KDF, the same. Butch Lambert is a great benchrester smith, and he probably forgot more about that world TODAY, than I have ever known. Jack Smith (no relation) of Cherokee rifles, does an EXCELLENT full or 1/2 octagon barrel I don't know anyone that specializes in pistols, but that's because they haven't ever caught my interest, though there's a couple good makers. jeffe opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
|
one of us |
Hey guys, Anyone have a picture of a Tip Burns Talley bolt handle weld job done in a Rigby/Burgess style? | |||
|
One of Us |
I have seen some rifles from the Texas Hill Country rifle company. I would say that they are a bit better than a Dakota, but not top end. One year at SCI I saw a "Texas Safari Rifle" which was a horriffic abortion of crap gunsmithing but I cannot recall who made it. | |||
|
one of us |
We just did this thread: Dallas Gunsmith ------------------------------- Some Pictures from Namibia Some Pictures from Zimbabwe An Elephant Story | |||
|
one of us |
The "Texas Safari Rifle" was done by Bill Wiseman. I have had 2 of them, one in 300 WBY and one in 416 RM. I do not have them now. They were very accurate but not 100% reliable. I have seen and shot Rusty's 404 Jeffery, it is a nice rifle. I have had 2 rifles rebarreled by ED Shilen, and have shot several others that were done by him. All were very very accurate. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
|
One of Us |
Who's the gunsmith that scammed Mike McGuire (mike375) out of his $1500?
| |||
|
Moderator |
I should let mike Mcquire answer, but the guy on that was Mike Sheirts (?? on spelling). i just looked up that quote, and perhaps jogged mike's memory. jeffe opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
|
One of Us |
Does he do anything in particular that would be of interest or is he just a basement guy in some small town? | |||
|
One of Us |
Tip has built two rifles for me and I would echo everything Rusty said. Mike | |||
|
One of Us |
Yes, thanks for reminding me. Fortunately it was at the end of the SCI show that I noticed the "Texas Safari Rifle" because I immediately hung my head in shame fled the exhibit hall to avoid such a horror. That was bubba work at its best, as only the great state of Texas can achieve. | |||
|
Moderator |
Saw said rifle at the dallas show.. with a CLIP and in 416 rem, no less... pores in the stock not filed in. though, knowing wiseman's reputation, i bet it was 1/2 moa and feed like a hungry coon dog. jeffe opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
|
Moderator |
the later.. i think he's out of business.. he's an "artist" .. (sigh) .. i guess that's code for never gets things finished within 100% of expected time. other than the brush with trying to help mike mcguire, i have spoken to the guy two or three other times in my life. First time I spoke with him, I got a lecture on why cut rifles where so great (yes, I know they are good) and it's foolish to build a button rifled barrel (talk to shilen about that ..LOL)... withing 90 seconds of saying hello. jeffe opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
|
One of Us |
Tip Burns gets my vote... when i visited him earlier this year, i had the opportunity to see mjines' 1909 argentine... very nice work.... go big or go home ........ DSC-- Life Member NRA--Life member DRSS--9.3x74 r Chapuis | |||
|
One of Us |
I do not do work for other people. I am a barrel person and not a gunsmith. Butch | |||
|
one of us |
When you get right down to it, unless the person is within driving distance (and although I have driven to Tip Burns' shop twice most people would probably ship their rifles the 250 miles) you can pick anyone in the country not just in Texas. The question probably should be "Who is the person that can reliably and competently complete my work on time and within my budget?" Some of the people mentioned may only build complete guns rather than working on one from a factory or that somone else built. If the focus is handguns you could ask these guys -- they could at least give a recommendation. I know Tip does some work on handguns because I saw one he worked on and we talked about a couple of mine. ------------------------------- Some Pictures from Namibia Some Pictures from Zimbabwe An Elephant Story | |||
|
Powered by Social Strata |
Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia