After John's death, Chuck Grace, who was a friend in Trinidad and member of the Gunmakers Guild, sold John's machines and tools. This ended the Kindy Old Gunsmith of Trinidad (KOGOT)business.
too bad there isn't a website listing all of the gunmakers who have passed, and what happened to their businesses, and other interesting things about them.
I don't think someone can buy one of these businesses and do the same level of work. I don't think the gunmaker would like someone changing their legacy by doing work not at the same level. It might be interesting to know a little history, or perhaps buy work, or the machines and tools but not open the business using the same name.
My biggest fear is that after I bite the dust, my wife has a yard sale selling my Gerstner Oak tools boxes for a dime, chambering reamers included.
Originally posted by Mark_Stratton: I don't think someone can buy one of these businesses and do the same level of work.
You are so right. There was a good gunsmith in the Houston area that retired and sold his shop AND business name. The guy who did the smithing in the reopened shop was a complete "hack".
"There are only three kinds of people; those who can count, and those who can't."