I have a custom project that is massively late. The smith has the action, stock (McMillan drop in) and the barrel blank. He says he will have the reamer today. I would like to know what say you as to how long he should take to cut the chamber, put the barrel on the action, and have the rifle complete. He says there is nothing left to do but cut the chamber, install the barrel, and put her together--the last bit of which should take about 10 minutes.

Thanks for any thoughts.

depends on how busy the smith is and how ambitious he is. the job itself is kind of minor. Jim kobe did one for me awhile ago while i waited

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
depends on how busy the smith is and how ambitious he is. the job itself is kind of minor. Jim kobe did one for me awhile ago while i waited

That is what I call GREAT customer service!

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
depends on how busy the smith is and how ambitious he is. the job itself is kind of minor. Jim kobe did one for me awhile ago while i waited

If he's got any kind of a back log, once he digs his way to it, setting the barrel up, cutting the threads, the chamber, the crown, and installing it in the action sould take no more than a day. But, a job can go from a minor thing to a heaping plate of shit real fast and so to be fair, the only one who can actually answer this for you is the guy doing the job.

WestPac is absolutely correct, I think. I would only add this: It depends to some extent on what quality of barrel threads, fit, and chamber you paid for and expect to get. The more precision expected of the 'smith, the longer it will likely take him to do the work....especially if he keeps getting interrupted vby drop-ins, the phone, etc., and has to go back each time to figure out exactly where he left off on an ultra-precision job.

what finish are you expecting to have on the rifle? unless it is stainless, you are going to need it finished of some sort...

the job won't take long, but is it HIS priority as well

jeffe

I'll add that Mr. Kobe is a braver man than I, as I learned a long time ago to not work on anything while the customer is in the shop. I very rarely bend that rule. Even something as simple as mounting a scope can turn ugly sometimes.

For those customers who "drop" in and insist in waiting for a little thing to be done to their gun I have them sit down while I go into the shop where I will take a hammer and rap a block of steel a few times, maybe hit the air hose a little and drop a 2x4 before bringing the gun back to the customer. The look on their face IS priceless! I should probably viedo tape that. It might be worth 10 grand!

quote:

If he's got any kind of a back log, once he digs his way to it, setting the barrel up, cutting the threads, the chamber, the crown, and installing it in the action sould take no more than a day. But, a job can go from a minor thing to a heaping plate of shit real fast and so to be fair, the only one who can actually answer this for you is the guy doing the job.

Good reply here.

quote:

Originally posted by Westpac:
For those customers who "drop" in and insist in waiting for a little thing to be done to their gun I have them sit down while I go into the shop where I will take a hammer and rap a block of steel a few times, maybe hit the air hose a little and drop a 2x4 before bringing the gun back to the customer. The look on their face IS priceless! I should probably viedo tape that. It might be worth 10 grand!

One time my boss brought his brother's .50 cal TC Hawken barrel in to work to have a Weaver scope mount base put on it. This was about 1985 before it was common to scope muzzle loaders
This was in a government contract manufacturing facility. I provided the direction on how to do the job but I asked for the barrel when the tool maker finished. I got 4 nuts and 4 set screws and super glued them to the the bottom of the barrel on the side opposite the the base. This made it appear that Sam had drilled all the way through the barrel with a clearance drill and attached the base with long cap screws and nuts.
My boss went along with the trick and his brother nearly dropped when he got his barrel back.

Toomany Tools and Westpac,
I certainly agree with you.
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by Westpac:
For those customers who "drop" in and insist in waiting for a little thing to be done to their gun I have them sit down while I go into the shop where I will take a hammer and rap a block of steel a few times, maybe hit the air hose a little and drop a 2x4 before bringing the gun back to the customer. The look on their face IS priceless! I should probably viedo tape that. It might be worth 10 grand!

set up a hidden camera while you do it, you know mechanics have mechanic in a can, carpet cleaners have carpet cleaner in a can, I wonder if there is a such thing as gunsmith in a can, or maybe its called wipeout

Good (and humorous) feedback guys. The rifle is in fact all stainless. the barrel is supposed to be ready save the chambering. It is supposed to be the only project to be completed when the reamer comes in. Installing into the stock is a 5 minute process, so I am thinking a day is more than enough, if in fact that's what the fellow doing the work chooses to do.

Thanks again--Don

quote:

Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
I'll add that Mr. Kobe is a braver man than I, as I learned a long time ago to not work on anything while the customer is in the shop. I very rarely bend that rule. Even something as simple as mounting a scope can turn ugly sometimes.

And NEVER take the customer with you to the range for the rifles maiden voyage either, never...

Fish:

There are several methodologies for chambering. I would say depneding on the method, equipment and expertise the time could vary from an hour to six hours if all the parts and tooling cooperate.

I think Jim Kolb should have charged double since he had to multi-task, IE: gunsmithing and babysitting.

Personally I don't need any additional distractions when chambering and the customer will get a better job if I can take my time and work undisturbed.

Longshot

A few of my shop rules are:

No work done "while you wait".

No, you can't watch.

No work done at the counter.

Doors locked and answer machine on in the mornings. That's when I do my barrel work and other critical work.