Effective January 2024

It’s almost impossible to generate a complete and all inclusive list of the myriad individual repairs and services that a gunsmith can perform or a firearm can require. Just because what you are needing to have done doesn’t appear below, does not mean that I can’t perform that service for you! Very few services can be quoted as a fixed cost…each gun is different and how long the repair takes or the need for parts varies.

As a general rule, firearms repairs are started in the order they are logged in, and I give clients an estimate of what the current backlog is when a firearm is brought in. I typically have 4 -6 guns in the process of repair at any given time, so rarely can I drop everything and repair an incoming firearm unless the repair is extremely simple and parts are in hand. Services such as re-blueing, stock refinishing, restocking and bedding take considerably longer to complete…I make clients aware of this when the firearm is checked in. There are some things you just do not rush!

Please review Terms and Conditions page for details.

General Services

Cleaning

  • Standard Inspect, Clean and Oil 1 – -$45
  • Full Disassemble, Detailed Clean and Oil 2 – – $65
  • Barrel Detail (for firearms that have extensive fouling/ rust in barrel/receiver) 3 – -$65
  1. This is standard charge of firearms requiring inspections for repair. In many cases, cleaning remedies the malfunction. Note: on truly filthy, gummed up actions where the cause of malfunction cannot be determined, an additional $20 charge is assessed.
  2. Firearms are disassembled completely (except for manufacturer permanent assemblies), cleaned of all grime, residues and surface rust, each part is inspected for damage/wear, parts are lubricated and firearm is reassembled, tested for function and safety. Scope or holographic sight lenses are not cleaned or repaired in any way.
  3. Occasionally Barrels and chambers are heavily encrusted with fouling, rust, or occlusions that cannot be removed by standard cleaning practices. Additional time, approaches, and materials are required to return the barrel /chamber to effective function. Bore and chamber borescope images will be recorder for customer review.

Scope/Sight Mounting

  • Mount and bore sight rifle scope/optics 1 – – $45
  • Mount and bore sight pistol scope/optics 1 – – $45
  • Align crosshairs and/or bore sight an already mounted scope – – $15
  • Replace handgun sights 2 – – $40
  • Replace shotgun bead(s) 3 – – $25
  • Drill and tap shotgun or rifle receiver for Scope/Red Dot bases 1 – – $20/hole
  • Range sight in (customer supplies ammo) 4 – – $50
  1. Does not include cost of scope, mounts or rings.
  2. Some handgun sights are factory installed using a press fits with hydraulic presses! ( e.g. KImber) These require considerably more time and effort to remove, a $20 additional charge is assessed in these instances. Note: in some instances the original sights must be cut/destroyed in the process of removal.
  3. Does not include cost of beads/sights
  4. Firearm optics will be target sighted to specified range (25, 50, or 100 yds). Client must provide their desired ammunition.Please note customer must fine tune the sighting in of their firearm to achieve optimal accuracy and reproducibility based on their own shooting style, stance and abilities.

General Repair

Standard shop rate of $65/hour is charged to inspect and determine the issues with firearm and complete repair. If upon inspection it is determined that a firearm cannot be repaired to a functional and safe condition, the customer will be notified. Clients will be notified if parts are required and if parts costs exceed $100, a deposit for the cost of parts and shipping will be required prior to ordering.

Some common repair categories include:

  • Repair/correct cartridge feed, extraction and/or ejection
  • Repair/replace/manufacture damaged or missing parts
  • Smooth and tune firearm action1
  • Identify cause and correct firearm firing and/or safety issues
  • Installation of customer specified/provided aftermarket parts2
  • Trigger/firing system adjustment/tuning
  • Removal of obstruction from barrel or chamber
  • Install pre-threaded and chambered barrel3
  1. This consists of de-burring and removing factory manufacturing marks from contact regions of a firearm’s action and polishing contact surfaces to a high finish. In some cases it may be necessary/desirable to replace factory component to improve function of firearm. Shop rate does not include the cost of aftermarket or replacement parts.
  2. Shop rate does not include the cost of aftermarket or replacement parts. At this time, I do not thread rifle/pistol barrels for the installation of muzzle breaks or suppressors, however I will fit and install/time muzzle breaks or suppressors on a pre-threaded barrel that a customer provides.
  3. Does not include cost of barrel or polishing/bluing (if necessary). I do fit and install drop in or gunsmith fitted aftermarket barrels for pistols as well.

Stock Repair, Replacement, Refinishing.

Wooden stocks are the most commonly damaged components of a firearm. The variables are endless! Dents and scratches are common eyesores, but over many years of use in the field, water infiltration can cause finish delamination and damage of the exposed wood by swelling and decay. People do fall down, drop things and have other “ooops” moments that can cause a stock to crack or break in two or even shatter into fragments. In most cases, these issues can be remedied. Many dents and scratches and even chips and gouges can be repaired and visually eliminated through careful treatment and refinishing…but sometimes a stock will need to be replaced. Many manufacturers still can provide replacement stocks that are either bare wood or factory finished and embellished. Unfortunately, with the demise and dismemberment of so many of our historical arms companies these past few years….parts are drying up. My general practice is to repair and if needed refinish broken stocks, unless a factory replacement can be had at a cost lower than the repair would be. That decision would be made by the customer of course. Each case presents its individual challenges!

Many well loved firearms are brought in by their owners for refinishing. This can be because of typical wear and tear or due to some of the inferior finishing techniques applied by some manufacturers from the start. Many economy grade guns were dipped or sprayed with the equivalent of a gel stain to give an even color on lower grade or unevenly colored stock woods. The Remington Game Master, Wood Master series of hunting arms and Marlin’s Glenfield line from the 1960’s-1980’s are a good examples…they used largely beech or birch wood, not walnut for the stocks! These stocks are subject to flaking off of the finish and if someone tried to touch them up or refinish them with regular stock finish, as you can with walnut…well let’s just say most folks are disappointed with their result. I’ve developed techniques that can provide very satisfying finishes to these stocks…sometimes you can make silk purses from sow’s ears!

Some typical stock related services include:

  • Repair of broken stocks 1 – – Standard shop rate $65/hr
  • Replacement and fitting factory stock 2 – – $45
  • Inletting, bedding and finishing semi-inletted wooden/laminate stock2,6,11 – – Starting at $250
  • Strip and refinish (Hunter Grade) 1 piece rifle stock or 2 piece shotgun stock 3, 5 – – $200
  • Strip and refinish (Gunsmith Grade) 1 piece rifle stock or 2 piece shotgun stock) 4,5 – – $250- 350
  • Adjust length of pull and install new recoil pad 6 – – $60
  • Refresh cut checkering 7 – – Standard shop rate $65/ hr
  • Two point bedding of action to stock 8 – – $150
  • Full action bedding of action to stock 9 – – $200
  • Full length barrel and action bedding – – $250
  • Free float barrel and seal barrel channel – – $120
  • Install Pillar beds 10 – – $135
  • Install sling swivels11 – – $40
  1. If possible, repairs will be made such that refinishing of stock will not be required, however some case will require the additional costs of stock refinishing.
  2. Does not include the cost of stock.
  3. For a Hunter Grade finish, the stock is stripped, sanded and refinished with multiple coats of a satin oil-based finished. Dents and scratches are not removed.
  4. For a Gunsmith Grade finish, the stock is stripped, all dents and scratches are removed or minimized as much as possible. Stocks are sanded to a minimum 320 grit and pores are sealed. Wood receives a hand rubbed oil finish to a satin or high luster (client preference).
  5. Some gunstocks are manufacturer finished with various forms of polyurethane or epoxy-like sprays or dips (e.g. Japanese made Brownings, Weatherby, etc). These finishes often chip and flake, however are a bear to remove and a $65 surcharge is applied for these types of stocks.
  6. Does not include cost of recoil pad.
  7. Only hand or rotary cut factory checkering can be refreshed. Stamped checkering as seen on some economy level rifles and shotguns cannot be refreshed, but depending on style, can be cut anew. Areas of checkering that have been excessively worn and abraded may not be recoverable.
  8. Two point bedding will address the recoil lug recess and forward action screw region and extend approximately 1 inch foreard of the end of the receiver and well as the contact region of the rear action screw.
  9. Full action bedding includes the stock-action contact ares extending approximately 1 inch forward of the end of the receiver through the contact region of the rear action screw.
  10. Does not include the cost of the pillars.
  11. Does not include the cost of swivel sets.

I do not routinely offer spray polyurethane, marine epoxy, or painted finishes.

Metal Repairs, Refinishing and Bluing

A fact that has always plagued gun owners is that Steel Rusts! Any firearm that receives normal usage at the range and in the field will in time develop scratches, nicks, or the curse of sweaty hands and begin to rust. As soon as the factory finish on a metal component is breached and bare metal is exposed, oxidation begins. This is true for aluminum components, as well as iron and steel. I’ve had firearms come in that were “safe queens”, as some folks call them, that are handled with kid gloves and pampered, only to have the conditions inside the gun safe create an environment that wreaks havoc on the polished surfaces. I’ve also had guns come in that had been in the bed of a pickup for 10 years…use your imagination! Metal components of a firearm are generally more difficult to bring back to a factory finished when rust begins to consume the steel and cause pitting. Some thin parts can rust to the point of crumbling. When a client comes in wanting to have metal refinishing on their firearm done, considerable time is often spent managing expectations and discussing options if metal erosion is extensive. I’ll likely discuss this in a blog sometime.

One other consideration that needs to be addressed is that many firearms are made with a combination of steel, aluminum and plastic parts. Needless to say, only steel components can be blued! Aluminum, other alloys (aka pot metal) and plastics can be refinished using other approaches. There are several kits for aluminum gun part refinishing on the market, and after having seen the results of these (when clients bring me their guns to see if I can remedy the mess) I only go with Cerakote finishing on these components as well as other components that cannot be blued. To date, the results have been spectacular. New Cerakote colors have been developed that match hot caustic blueing results perfectly. An additional advantage to Cerakote is that on deeply pitted steel parts that defy bluing, the metal is sealed and no further rusting can occur.

Some typical metal refinishing/bluing services include:

  • Bolt-action rifle or shotgun (Hunter Grade)1 – – $200
  • Bolt action rifle or shotgun (Gunsmith Grade)2 — $250
  • Pump action or automatic Rifle or Shotgun (Hunter Grade)1,3 – – $240
  • Pump action or automatic Rifle or Shotgun (Gunsmith Grade)2,3 – – $290
  • Lever action rifle/ shotgun (Hunter Grade)1,5 – – $250
  • Lever action rifle/shotgun (Gunsmith Grade)2,5 – – $300
  • Double barrel shotgun (Slow Rust Blue)4 – – $360
  • Revolver or semiautomatic pistol (Hunter Grade)1 – – $200
  • Revolver or semiautomatic pistol (Gunsmith Grade)2 – – $260
  • Cerakote6 – – $200+ (Will depend on customer preferences)
  1. For a Hunter Grade finish, surface rust and existing bluing is removed from all originally blued components and blued using a hot caustic bluing process. Note: parts do not receive extensive polishing and scratches and pits in the metal surface are not addressed.
  2. For a Gunsmith Grade finish, existing bluing, rust, scratches and pits removed from all originally blued components. Metal surfaces are polished to a 320-400 grit luster and blued using a hot caustic bluing process. Note: It may not be possible to remove deeply eroded pits and scratches from heavily damaged surfaces.
  3. Some early shotguns such as the Browning A5, it’s offspring, the Remington Model 11 and others from the mid-20th century were highly complex with a many small parts requiring greater disassembly and handling time. these firearms will be assessed a $50 additional charge for bluing services.
  4. Slow Rust Bluing is a historical process by which the steel surfaces were blued before the advent of high temperature caustic bluing method developed for mass production. This process is time consuming and can take up to 2 weeks to complete once started to get the desired result. Double guns typically have soldered barrels that cannot be blued using hot caustic bluing. These firearms were originally slow rust blued and the result is that deep, translucent blue that was seen on these fine old guns. Many of the premier riflesmiths of the past, such as Adolf Niedner and others produced their masterpiece firearms using this centuries-old method…it’s my personal favorite as well!
  5. Some lever action firearms, especially the Winchester Model 94 and contract guns made by them after 1963 have receivers produced with metallurgy that will not blue using conventional hot caustic bling chemicals/processes. This also hold true for many of the pivot breeched single barrel rifles and shotguns of this era. Options do exist, that will be discussed upon inspection.
  6. Cerakote is a ceramics based finish that can be had in myriad colors and patterns, but certain colors such as Elite Blackout are a spot on match for the hot caustic blue finish used by manufacturers since the 1940’s. It is a great option for firearms that have aluminum components, such as shotgun receivers, trigger guards and other alloy parts. Due to its relatively low temperature processing, Cerakote can even be used to refresh the luster on plastic trigger guards and other components when factory replacements are not available. I do not perform Cerakoting in my shop, but have a relationship with Kentucky’s premier Cerakote specialist Rick Kerr at Kentucky Gun Coatings (KGC). Very often clients have guns that need to have components blued and others parts Cerakoted. I take care of the metal prep, blueing and send the parts to KGC and then reassemble and test gun for function and safety when it is completed.

Note: Both the Hunter Grade and Gunsmith Grade finish can be had in a non-reflective Matte Finish great for hunting or “tactical” arms at no additional cost. Also, there is no additional charge for applying this finishing process to individual components or sections of a firearm that is being blued, e.g. top of a 1911 slide, etc. Any firearm component that come in for refinishing that already has matte surfaces will have those surfaces finished in this same manner.

I do not do metal plating, nitride coating, or color case hardening in my shop, but can facilitate having that done for you if needed.