tecum-tha said:
Locks are about $300, trigger $60, barrels are probably around $1000 with recessed breeches and soldered.
Rest of the furniture around $80 (buttplate,triggerguard and entry pipe/thimble, escoutcheons and barrel key.
I guess to duplicate an existing stock to the almost final dimensions is about 200 with plain wood. So even the kit, would already run about $1700. Now I guess ,there are about another 50 hours of hand work in there. @$20/hour the normal price should be around $2700-$3000. I reduced the handwork to 50 hours, because a good duplicate stock would reduce a lot of handwork, especially if you can get an almost drop fit.
I have a 12 gauge double barrel flinter, and I guess I have to try to duplicate it sometimes...
Truck drivers get $20 an hour and only have to buy their own lunch, check the oil (maybe) and kick the tires.
Gunsmith shop time should be $50 and this is the lower end. Brownell's shows 40-80 per man hour, 50-95 for man and machine hour.
Locks would be 300 bucks a pair
as they arrive. None in this price range are fit to use as they arrive and at least will require a few hours filing/polishing to clean up the bead blast and casting flaws. Might need some welding and filing too. So for a pair add 200 bucks to what ever they sell for.
Oh yes... Recessed Breeches? Where you getting THESE locks for $300?
This is a recessed breech Manton.
The CASTINGS for the locks cost more than the average "finished lock" and have no screws included and the internal castings may only be good for patterns.
"Good duplicate stock?" Cool. Fantasy but cool. Maybe we can find someone with an original Manton to disassemble, glue blocks to and use in a pantograph but don't hold your breath. Then you need parts that match the originals or its a complete waste of time since no inletting can be done.
I have never seen a 20th c. precarve that was a drop in and I have done more than a few on Sharps rifles and my wife many, many more. It takes a very dedicated machine to cut one to drop in and VERY consistent parts to go IN the wood. If they "drop in" they are invariably too loose someplace.
For a specialty gun like a swivel breech there are no pattern stocks possible since most are one off shop made actions even the store bought versions are likely to have too much variation for a precarve. So even making a pattern stock is a waste (I have made these too BTW).
Swivel breech? Can be two weeks in doing the swivel plates, the tangs, the lock plate, the side plate, the front locks, the TG mods, the trigger, the locking pin(s) and release with its spring(s), the forend cap, the rod pipes, toe plate. Because there is no place to buy them. All from barstock or sheet or modifications of parts like the TG, the "plan" is in the makers head.
Then there is stock layout, cutting, inletting, shaping, carving, patchbox (from sheet) maybe a star in the cheekpiece, fine or coin silver also shop made. Harden the screws and temper and anything else that needs to be hard, lock plate, cock, lock internals, frizzens and anneal as needed (all after engraving). Engrave the PB and anything else that needs it.
Driving in traffic with a 4x4 transmission (thats two separate 4 speed transmissions and two gear shifts that need to both be used for the shift about 1/3 the time) and a 60 to 110K GVW is a piece of cake. Far less stressful. Yeah I have done this too.
Dan