Looking for a good gunsmith to work on my S&W 65

[Totem Polar]

Recommendations/experiences appreciated. To my chagrin, I've found that the guy I was on the wait list for shut his doors. Back to square one; Performance center? Clarks? Looking for action work, cylinder chamfer, bead blast, front sight enhancement, etc.

Who's good with old S&Ws?

[Al T.]

Tam has mentioned Sand Burr Ranch in a positive light....

http://www.sandburrgunranch.com/

[jh9]

I've not used him, but by reputation on benos Tom Killhoffer (moonclips.com) does good work and shop time is currently listed at 30 days. I've had very good results with the moonclips and tools he sells. I think I emailed a question about machine work on a Saturday once and he got back to me same day.

For the price the Performance Center isn't bad. If you're the sort that is averse to doing the work yourself, it's a decent job for the cost. The chamfer work is very light (and needs to be without moonclips). Or at least it was the one time I used them in 2003. YMMV. Maybe other people can add their experience with the PC.

Apex tactical got their pre M&P rep doing revolver work. I think they're taking on work now. Only used their parts but Randy Lee posts here and has a great reputation.

[okie john]

My old Model 29-2 was out of time, and Karl Sokol at Chestnut Mountain Sports brought it back to life for a very reasonable figure. Wait time was also pretty short.

You might give him a try.

http://www.chestnutmountainsports.com/


Okie John

[JHC]

Recommendations/experiences appreciated. To my chagrin, I've found that the guy I was on the wait list for shut his doors. Back to square one; Performance center? Clarks? Looking for action work, cylinder chamfer, bead blast, front sight enhancement, etc.

Who's good with old S&Ws?

Thanks! I need this info too.

[Mike Pipes]

Recommendations/experiences appreciated. To my chagrin, I've found that the guy I was on the wait list for shut his doors. Back to square one; Performance center? Clarks? Looking for action work, cylinder chamfer, bead blast, front sight enhancement, etc.

Who's good with old S&Ws?
Clark Custom Guns in Princeton,La is excellent! Revolver work has a pretty quick turn around , maybe 6-8 weeks.318 949 9884.
This year Clark's chopped a 4in mdl 64 to 3in,rounded the square butt,bobbed the hammer,sand blasted and installed a fiber optic front sight for me. Got it back in 5 weeks and it is a way cool piece.....CYA RETRO

[LHS]

I've owned and used Smiths worked on by Nelson Ford (http://www.thegunsmith.com/thegunsmith.html). He did an action job, cylinder chamfering and trigger rounding/polishing on my 642, and converted a friend's Model 10 to DAO along with the chamfering and trigger polishing. That M10 has one of the best S&W actions I've felt. I will say, be sure to specify duty vs. competition gun, as my 642 likes soft primers and has light-struck on some CCI-primered reloads. The M10 has no such issues.

All in all, his work was fast and reasonable.

[Dagga Boy]

Clark Custom Guns in Princeton,La is excellent! Revolver work has a pretty quick turn around , maybe 6-8 weeks.318 949 9884.
This year Clark's chopped a 4in mdl 64 to 3in,rounded the square butt,bobbed the hammer,sand blasted and installed a fiber optic front sight for me. Got it back in 5 weeks and it is a way cool piece.....CYA RETRO

This....Clark does great work.

[BN]

To my chagrin, I've found that the guy I was on the wait list for shut his doors.

Who closed their doors? Randy Lee has done very good work on a couple of revolvers for me. I don't know if Al Greco is still doing revolver work, but he did an excellent job on my 3" M-10. http://www.alscustom.com/revolvers.php

[Tamara]

As mentioned by Al, Denny Reichard at Sand Burr Gun Ranch does good work. I heard about him from Mas, and he's done a couple revos for me, including restoring an overly-light and unreliable PPC-style trigger job to a more street-appropriate one. No complaints at all.

[SteveB]

I've used a couple of these guys with great results, but it's hard to beat Hamilton Bowen for revolver work.

[Tamara]

I tend to think of Bowen for complete rebuilds and heavy alteration. Sending a gun to Bowen for a trigger job and chamber chamfering would be like sending a Corvette to Callaway to get the spark plugs changed and the tires rotated. :D

[SamAdams]

Anybody know a good revolver smith in WA state ? I have a relative there who would like work done on an old Ruger Six Series revolver & his wife has a J frame to be worked on. They prefer not to ship outta state, but it seems the number of good local gunsmiths have thinned out over the years. Thanks

[SLG]

I tend to think of Bowen for complete rebuilds and heavy alteration. Sending a gun to Bowen for a trigger job and chamber chamfering would be like sending a Corvette to Callaway to get the spark plugs changed and the tires rotated. :D

Last time I talked to him, Bowen felt the same way. Too bad.

[GJM]

I tend to think of Bowen for complete rebuilds and heavy alteration. Sending a gun to Bowen for a trigger job and chamber chamfering would be like sending a Corvette to Callaway to get the spark plugs changed and the tires rotated. :D

Maybe because I did a bunch of work with him, he did a trigger job and front sight only on a half dozen or more of my revolvers, including all my Scandium 329 revolvers. I love his DX style front sight.

[Whirlwind06]

http://www.sdmfabricating.com/

I haven't used him but seems to have a goof reputation.

[Dagga Boy]

Frank Glenn just did a little work on a Model 28 for me. It is a death ray with a combination of the trigger and muzzle crown. Unfortunately.....I got a couple guns to him in a hurry because he was going in for shoulder surgery.

[Totem Polar]

Who closed their doors? http://www.alscustom.com/revolvers.php

Grant Cunningham. Frankly, he's been phasing out gun smithing for a good while now. 3 years to get on the list, then another 5 1/2 climbing only to find out he's bagging it. Once again, the moral of the story is: two slots is one, one is none. I forgot about Greco. I have a Denny R, and I've had C&S, just looking at all options afresh. Thanks a ton for the input thus far, folks, I figured the scoop would be had here.

[SamAdams]

Grant Cunningham. Frankly, he's been phasing out gun smithing for a good while now. 3 years to get on the list, then another 5 1/2 climbing only to find out he's bagging it. Once again, the moral of the story is: two slots is one, one is none. I forgot about Greco. I have a Denny R, and I've had C&S, just looking at all options afresh. Thanks a ton for the input thus far, folks, I figured the scoop would be had here.

Thought I read an old blog of his that Grant Cunningham was experiencing some repeated use injuries, so that's why he had to give up gunsmithing as a business ? That old blog said he would try to take on future work if his condition improved. And, that he loves to do gunsmithing - but may not be able to physically do so. A buddy of mine has an old d.a. Colt that needs work. He was hoping that Mr. Cunningham could work on it some day, but it looks like that's not gonna happen. IIRC Cunningham even had the capability to fabricate some parts no longer factory made.

[45dotACP]

This thread without pics should be a criminal offense...

[Dagga Boy]

First six rounds out of my 28 at around 10 yards.

[Sherman A. House DDS]

First six rounds out of my 28 at around 10 yards.

Rogers grips...retro sweet!

[Shumba]

I have used Jim Milk at Innovative Custom Guns and been very satisfied.
Jim ran the custom shop at EGW.
Call him for backlog times.
Shumba

[Al T.]

I have used Jim Milk at Innovative Custom Guns and been very satisfied.
Jim ran the custom shop at EGW.
Call him for backlog times.
Shumba

http://www.innovativecustomguns.com/

[eb07]

Nelson Ford in Phoenix

http://www.thegunsmith.com/thegunsmith.html

[NEPAKevin]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FHjHqcNyBpM/UcSp2RgZvlI/AAAAAAAAAmI/5mMJ2xjXG_MbA0THqhJEkdqT8GNAfqd6QCL0B/w630-h389/65-5.JPG

This is the 3" Model 65 I mentioned in the Smith M10 thread (https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?20255-Smith-m10&p=438098&viewfull=1#post438098)that has the factory stocks and Tyler T-grip appropriated from the 4" Model 10 Shows some wear and tear but it's a good shooter.

[Poconnor]

Anybody use JC blauvelt? He moved near me. I have a few S&W's that need some love.

[Tennessee Jed]

7772

Based on Mas' reviews, I asked Denny Reichard at Sand Burr Ranch to overhaul an S&W 65LS, and his work was amazing. I recommend him highly.

[Sherman A. House DDS]

OH! How could I forget Teddy Jacobson (Actions by T) in Sugarland TX. He did a pair of duty guns for me years back, and he is still doing limited work.


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