Reputable gunsmith's by state?

[John Boy]

Gentlemen, including you too, JohnSmiles, as I stated .... my smith only accepts work on referrals. Now to make the posted link of smiths, to make the “wheel” more round ... there is a box on the list that says “Add your listing here”

[JSnover]

Gunsmiths listed by States ... https://www.usacarry.com/directory/category/gunsmiths/

That's actually a pretty decent list! There is an option to rate the shops, though it hasn't gotten much use.

[country gent]

Another part of this equation is the better gunsmiths are also looking for good customers.

[Shawlerbrook]

Yes, the list is a good start, but thin on information about their specialties and reviews. There are also many missing.

[Harter66]

MBT in Conway Arkansas is outstanding .

He is well tooled up , I want say class 6 repair and manufacture license . Business has bloomed for him in the last 2-3 years to a point where ever thing gets put in a priority que . As a result the 3 he did for me in the past , 2 barreled actions and a 66% build from a bucket of parts more or less , has gone from 2-3 weeks drop to return and 3 months for a stock that looks like the oil is a foot deep and bluing that looks like it's just going ooze right off metal to ........well I'm waiting on a 92' rebarrel "time available" , "F&F" , and I hate to admit it but I think maybe I'll just have him turn the blanks 1 for an LR 98 and one for Savage 110 and run a 45 ACP reamer in them and work around the perceived defects of the barrel .

[444ttd]

So 444ttd, are you going to share the name of this jewel of a smith you found ?

MAG Gunsmithing & Custom Arms
Somerset, PA 15501

[Shawlerbrook]

Thank you 444 !

[Herb in Pa]

Revolation Arms
Jeanette, Pa

Revolationarms@hotmail.com

[John Taylor]

When I started doing gunsmithing for a living I found out that there are two types of gunsmiths, one will make most parts that can't be found and the other is a parts changer. I saw the same thing when I was working as a mechanic, there were some that would keep replacing parts and hope the car would start running right and then there were true mechanics that would take the time to figure out what the problem was. I have had to repair many jobs where someone calling themself a gunsmith drilled and tapped for a scope and the holes were not lined up with the barrel. Actually saw a barrel where someone tried to mount a sight on a barrel and drilled all the way into the bore. A while back I had an action sent to me where the customer tried to drill and tap him self and the holes were off so he took an ark welder and welded over the holes so he could try again. The welding shrunk the rear bridge and when he tried to force the bolt in the action cracked. I know several gunsmiths that are quite knowledgeable and can swap out trigger groups , sights and do miner repairs with only hand tools.
By the time a gunsmith gets the experience to do really good work he is ready to retire. There are some that specialize in certain repairs and are very good. Had a person called the stock doctor repair a broken stock ( thanks to Fed-Ex) and I could not see where the repair was made. Had Brian Board make a forearm for a Colt lightning pump. All I had was a small piece for him to get an idea of what it looked like. There are several out there that can add the original stile lettering to an antique barrel, Mike Hunter comes to mind. For model 70s there is Wright's gun shop.

[444ttd]

I have had to repair many jobs where someone calling themself a gunsmith drilled and tapped for a scope and the holes were not lined up with the barrel. Actually saw a barrel where someone tried to mount a sight on a barrel and drilled all the way into the bore. A while back I had an action sent to me where the customer tried to drill and tap him self and the holes were off so he took an ark welder and welded over the holes so he could try again. The welding shrunk the rear bridge and when he tried to force the bolt in the action cracked. I know several gunsmiths that are quite knowledgeable and can swap out trigger groups , sights and do miner repairs with only hand tools.

hey!!! i resemble that remark!!!!!!

i am not gunsmith, lets get that straight. i used to have a really good friend who was a gunsmith, but he had pancreatic cancer and passed away. he taught me how to d&t the right way and other small jobs(taking apart a gun to its basic pieces, clean it and put it back together, replace parts, etc...). but my new job, at the time, was in another city. so i moved away for a few years. when i came back, he was starting to get sick. most of what he taught me stayed. the thing he taught me the most is "if you can't do it RIGHT WAY, then don't do it!!!" the wrong way will cause someone(gunsmith) grief and swearing, alot of bad, bad swearing.

now, most of what i know is left to a gunsmith. i had a stroke 8 years ago and it left me with only 20% of my right arm/leg. i learned that i could or couldn't do it anymore. the couldn't leads me to my gunsmith. i couldn't do a complete strip down of my guns. i could field strip it. (bolt guns and single shots, i can do a complete strip) i bought a rem m14 in 30 rem that i field stripped. the bolt mechanism needs a complete strip and the safety needs to be put on. he also did minor repair in the wood stock. he did a (right way)d&t with scope mounts, dayton trigger set, 2 position safety(i could it, but why?) on a 93 mauser.

yes, i am a cheap basturd. i should buy the "new" cheap guns(savage, tc..) with plastic everything. oh my God.....i almost threw up. no, i'll stick with the old rifles that are wood and blued steel.

[sparky45]

MBT in Conway Arkansas is outstanding .

He is well tooled up , I want say class 6 repair and manufacture license . Business has bloomed for him in the last 2-3 years to a point where ever thing gets put in a priority que . As a result the 3 he did for me in the past , 2 barreled actions and a 66% build from a bucket of parts more or less , has gone from 2-3 weeks drop to return and 3 months for a stock that looks like the oil is a foot deep and bluing that looks like it's just going ooze right off metal to ........well I'm waiting on a 92' rebarrel "time available" , "F&F" , and I hate to admit it but I think maybe I'll just have him turn the blanks 1 for an LR 98 and one for Savage 110 and run a 45 ACP reamer in them and work around the perceived defects of the barrel .

MBT did some work for me a year or so ago and not only was he fair in pricing but his work was outstanding. MBT was a mod on this site at onetime, but for whatever reason he was booted (don't know why or care why). His work product is great and he's a good Christian man, goes a long way in my book. I'd highly recommend!