Gunsmith Near You: How to Find the Right Gunsmith

Finding a gunsmith, let alone the right gunsmith for the job can be a challenge. Should you trust the gunsmith who can repair a Ruger MkII blindfolded to chamber your coveted bench rest rifle? Probably not. Every gunsmith has a specific job that they can knock out of the park and do better than most. So how do you know which gunsmith to choose?

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Locating a Gunsmith

Locating a gunsmith is the first challenge. A quick Google search can give you a host of names to choose from. Google is a great tool, but it is not the only way. In fact, some of the best gunsmiths I’ve ever met don’t have websites. Yet they are years behind on orders because of their reputation through word of mouth. A benefit to Google is that they will generally provide a website, phone number, and email of the shops listed. If you are lucky, there will even be reviews telling you what to expect.

Call your local gunshops. Your local gun shop more than likely has a list of people who they recommend to do particular work. This is a good lead as the shop will usually have experience using them and can give you an honest opinion of their work. This is not the time to tell the shop the whole story of how your rifle broke or why you are deciding to Ackley Improve your Grandpa’s ought-six. Keep it short and sweet. They may have a staff gunsmith who can do the job in the best-case scenario.

Talking to the Gunsmith

Talk to the Gunsmith. When you narrow down your options, give the gunsmith a call. Yes, call. Not email. This is another good time to be short and sweet, most gunsmiths are very busy, and it is costly to take a half-hour out of their workday. Likewise, if you get their voicemail, leave them a message outlining what kind of work you were hoping to get done and a call back number.

Call vs. Email. It is crucial to call a potential gunsmith versus emailing them. An email conversation can go on and on, with each recipient misinterpreting what needs to be done. If a gunsmith doesn’t offer the service you are looking for, they might be able to put you in contact with someone who does. This conversation can give you a good understanding of who you are working with.

Explaining the Job

Tell them what work you’d like done. Ask if this is something they feel comfortable doing or have done before. Some Gunsmiths aren’t comfortable doing the work you need. Like vehicle mechanics, most gunsmiths are not set up to do every job under the sun. Tooling gets more expensive the more specialized it gets.

For example, a custom rifle maker probably isn’t set up to adapt screw-in choke tubes in your old shotgun or measure your fixed chokes. It is not worth getting the specific tooling if only doing the job once. It is better to find the guy that does that job weekly and has the knowledge and experience to back it up. In the same sense, hiring that custom rifle maker to do a simple repair may be more expensive than someone who specializes in general repair.

Next, be clear about your expectations for the build or repair. This upfront transparency keeps you from being disappointed when picking the firearm up. Every gunsmith usually has multiple ways of doing things at different levels. For example, repairing a cracked stock can be as simple as adding a little glue to grafting in a new piece of wood.

Lead Times

Ask them their lead time. You need to have an expectation of when your work will be done. While this isn’t a guarantee, it’s a reasonable estimate. If you are on a time crunch, this may be a deciding factor. It is a good idea to use this lead time as a gauge for calling and checking up on the progress of the work. I would shy away from calling once a week to get an update unless it is well past the estimated completion time.

Drop Off

Make arrangements for drop-off. Some shops only take drop-offs and pickups on certain days; this is good to know if you have to travel any distance to the selected shop. In addition, ask them if there is anything that you need to bring. For example, some shops require you to bring your driver’s license to check the gun in. Each job may require you to bring something different. Ammunition, magazines, and reloading components are all common items.

Final Notes

Urban areas tend to have a larger selection of gunsmiths than rural areas; therefore, it is easier to select the right one. Today’s access to the internet makes utilizing a gunsmith out of your local area a lot easier. If you have a specific job or gunsmith in mind, it may be required to ship your firearm out of state. This opens your options to get the best-qualified person for the job. Shipping a firearm legally can be a hassle if done by the individual; I recommend contacting your local gunshop to aid in the shipping process. They should be familiar with the current legalities of shipping.

For the gun owner, consider all of this from the gunsmith’s perspective. Don’t overthink it if a gunsmith tells you that it is not a job he is willing to take on. They may not be comfortable doing that particular job. Maybe they can’t provide you with the results you are looking for. It is far better to have your work turned down than get something you are unhappy with. This is an excellent time to ask if they have anyone they’d recommend for that type of work.

Getting an old firearm back in working condition can be just as fun as working with a gunsmith to build the perfect hunting rifle. If everything goes as planned and you are happy with their work, you may go back to them again and again. I hope this helps you when looking for a gunsmith to take on your next job!