Who are highly thought of revolver smiths these days?

[KevH]

I just picked up an early-1990's S&W 631 Ladysmith (32 Magnum) almost new in the box. Yes, I know it's sort of a collector's piece, but I bought it to use it.

I want to set it up and carry it. The front of the cylinder has edges sharp enough I could shave with.

I would like to have it lightly dehorned, the cylinders chamfered, and have the hammer bobbed and converted to DA only. It would be great to have a more useable front sight, but that may be slippery slope.

I know Denny Reichard was the man, but that he has passed.

Who is a good S&W revolver gunsmith (who is actually accepting work) I can trust this gun to?

[mikey357]

Dave Laubert at Defensive Creations in OH

Alan Tanaka at AT Gunworks in CA

Andy Horvath at Diagonal Road Gun shop in OH

Alex Hamilton at Ten Ring Precision in TX

Nelson Ford dba The Gunsmith in Phoenix, AZ

Joe Leininger at Mojo Custom in MI

[jtcarm]

David Fink at Gunsite:

https://finksguns.com

[Brian T]

I thought enough of Fink's to send my two 64-6s to him

[HCM]

Dave Laubert at Defensive Creations in OH

Alan Tanaka at AT Gunworks in CA

Andy Horvath at Diagonal Road Gun shop in OH

Alex Hamilton at Ten Ring Precision in TX

Nelson Ford dba The Gunsmith in Phoenix, AZ

Joe Leininger at Mojo Custom in MI


I’m local to Alex Hamilton. He’s done some great work for me in the past, but I have not been able to get a hold of him for the past two years so I’m not sure if he’s still accepting work. He’s got to be in his late 70s or early 80s.

Also, while the work Alex has personally done has been great he’s had to fix a redo some of the work done by his “assistants.” he always make good on it but just FYI.

[Jason M]

Gemini Customs in KY

https://www.geminicustoms.com/

[Scal]

Rick Devoid, of Tarnhelm Supply. http://www.tarnhelm.com/index.html

He made the action on a Model 12 I had smooth like butter, while still keeping ignition reliable (it was a carry gun).

[Inkwell 41]

Does anyone have any experience with Wright Armory in Arizona?

[Sero Sed Serio]

Does anyone have any experience with Wright Armory in Arizona?

Never had any revolver work done there, but I’ve had mixed results with them on a variety of other things. They machined an older DA/SA SIG so it could be converted to DAK and did an excellent job. They did a good job with a iDot install on a P2000SK. They have also screwed up a Larue rail install on a BCM AR and mangled a set of Dawson sights on an install on a P226. I dropped off a pair of P229s for NP3 in the last week that they were sending guns off to Robar—the .40 came out perfectly and is one of my favorite guns. The 9mm felt too tight when it came back and often wouldn’t go back into battery without a push, even when cycled at speed. It suffered from failure to extract malfunctions, and I sent it along rather than chasing the cause. Not sure if it was Robar with the finish or Wright with the reassembly, but as I understand it Robar would typically fit guns post-refinish.

Wright is still my go-to for Ameriglo Glock sight installs, as they’ve been reliable for that, they’re close, and their turnaround is quick. Beyond that, I would look elsewhere.

[03RN]

Frank Glenn
http://www.glenncustom.com/

[Malcolm C.]

Hamilton Bowen in E. Tennessee
https://www.bowenclassicarms.com/index.html

[Duces Tecum]

Here's a link that might help.

https://americanhandgunner.com/discover/exclusives/best-gunsmiths-in-the-u-s/


Duces

[Nick B]

I’m local to Alex Hamilton. He’s done some great work for me in the past, but I have not been able to get a hold of him for the past two years so I’m not sure if he’s still accepting work. He’s got to be in his late 70s or early 80s.

Also, while the work Alex has personally done has been great he’s had to fix a redo some of the work done by his “assistants.” he always make good on it but just FYI.
I would look everywhere. Terrible workmanship.

[HCM]

Here's a link that might help.

https://americanhandgunner.com/discover/exclusives/best-gunsmiths-in-the-u-s/


Duces

Unfortunately no. While everyone on that list does (or did) great work:

Some are deceased (Terry Tussey) or no longer doing some of what the used to (Magnaport - still doing porting, but no longer doing action jobs/tuning).

Some (Jason Burton) have wait lists measured in years or are no longer accepting new work.

[jh9]

Unfortunately no. While everyone on that list does (or did) great work:

Some are deceased (Terry Tussey) or no longer doing some of what the used to

For some reason I confused him with Teddy Jacobson. By all accounts he's still doing action work (and nothing else?) and is outside Houston for people that are local. His name was everywhere back in the 90s. Has anyone had him do action work lately?

I had some cylinder work done recently by Eli at TK Custom that was well executed. I don't think they're doing anything but cylinder work and parts, though. Which seems to fit a theme: the people that are still active and doing good work are either backlogged to hell or are only doing a subset of custom work (in order to not be backlogged to hell).