Yesterday, my Local Gun Shop and Gunsmith had me pick up all my still pending work projects in their care.
I was allowed to leave one small project for them to do shortly,
a Stevens Rifle actioin that has a problem with fitting the Trigger Spring Screw.
The projects that I picked up included two Mi Carbine Receivers along with New Custom Barrel Blanks to be Fitted and Turned To contour, one is >45 Cal and the other is .308 caliber, both intended as long Rifle length
and without Gas Porting for use as Straight Pull Bolt Action use.
Another is a Stevens Model 44 Action and Barrel that is converted to Center Fire.
It is still "in White".
there are several Stevens Favorite Receivers needing various problems resolved and a few barrels, both old and new that were to be fitted to actions.
The reasons given were the saddest part:
only the one Gunsmith was still working.
they can not hire any Apprentices due to California Minimum Wage Laws making it necessary for any new hire to bring in at least 5$45,000 amonth to pay hos Wages, Taxes and Benefits.
the financial environment is chocking off "on the Job Training".
A;so, my Gunsmith is also an Armorer for Movie Projects which are starting up again, so he will be out of the shop working movie projects more.
I will sort through all my returned parts and separate thew projects for later re submission one at a time as each previous project is completed.
Chev. William