Bully

I understand that plastic guns are the big sellers. However, this is going to be a supplement to my retirement. A part time career change, if you will. Did you get my PM? I'd love to hear about that company and your thoughts on it, that you mentioned.

when is it?

Thanks bud. Yeah, even I can spin a bolt gun together in a day. If I was painting it, it would for sure add another. My buddy that taught me to build rifles showed me his 1911 that he built. Same thing, he's a machinist by trade. It took him a month of Sundays or thereabouts. Most 1911 guys take roughly a week to build a pistol. Roughly. I'm really just trying to puzzle it out. Hoping to maybe get some insights that I hadn't previously considered. Or even an alternate direction. I do know I don't want to work on Glocks. Cool guns but I have zero love for them.

Sure. Would love to. I can send you my cell if text is easier.

@Maksim A 1911 guy? I've not heard of anyone building 1911's in NJ. There was one but he works for a shipping company now. Or the AR guys? There is one in central and one just around the corner from me in Bergen. Or are you talking about the bolt gun guy?

@Maksim Great topic. So I think this will also depend on... "Why are you getting your FFL?" There are a couple of reasons. The first is that although I love what I do for a living, I don't want to do it until they bury me. Additionally, I have never made smart decisions with my money, for a variety of reasons that I won't get into here. Suffice it to say that the dream retirement will never happen for me. So I am looking for a viable alternative to standing behind a chair doing hair at 75. Is it to make money as a dealer/distributor? Or are we talking FFL 07 where you mostly build/manufacture? I would be looking for an 07. The two are going to require vastly different focuses. You also have to consider where you are going to be. Is it in NJ? If so, assuming most of your initial clients are friends/family/forum members, there are far more 1911 folks than F class shooters. After all, not that many places where you can really stretch your legs. Precisely why this is on my mind. In either case, both of those markets are fairly limited. You are really thinking SVI, AKAI type shops. High price, low volume. The alternative is like Zev... where you produce mods and want to sell as many as possible. Again two different models. The other thing is, while specializing is good, you also don't want to pigeonhole yourself IF you plan on growing bigger. What I can tell you is companies like ZEV are pushing and spending A LOT of money to get out of the "Zev = Glock" idea that is burned into everyone's head. Lastly... depending on your goals, it will take A LOT of money to start building recognition unless you are okay being known as a boutique type guy within a small circle that 99% of shooters will never even known about. I am doing this to hopefully supplement whatever the gov't can give me that I've been paying for for almost 40 years already... The thing of it is, if you are good at what you do, partner with others who are great at what you suck at. Being a solo guy in the gun business sucks and merely due to my nature of covering the gun business for national media, I have run into many smaller gun start ups who have amazing ideas, great products... but are unfortunately obscure. To get exposure... you need A LOT of money. So the alternative is... are you ready to get into the trenches and do some guerrilla marketing? If so... then when are you going to have time to build the guns? I currently have a name picked for whichever way I decide to go, and a budding plan that will hopefully get me some recognition. I also do NOT discount the effectiveness of using platforms like IG and such to build a name/portfolio. I understand that they are not foolproof or easy. But they can be made to work. There are a lot of interesting points in what you're bringing to light and to say that I appreciate your input is an understatement.

Does he get a free year?!? Honestly, the honor couldn't go to a cooler guy.

I've been looking at the classes that Theo Rocknazz has in Brooklyn. Seems pretty neat and relatively speaking, reasonable, given how long the classes are and how cool the final product is.

Coming from the guy with 2 1911's and no bolt guns in his sig...

Thanks Jer. Problem is, I like them both. There are pros and cons to both as well. If it were you, which would you concentrate on? IF you had to stay in the NJ area?

Thanks buddy. I'm happy to help in any way I can. I know about Bruce's class. The pistol being built in class is no where near the level of fit/finish of the pistol I'm having built. I'm not on Facebook. I've built 1911's in the past. I'm gonna build another one. I'm trying to decide what to do with my retirement years. Not what pistol to build or who to go to for it. BTW, for the forseeable future, Bruce is not holding any classes locally. I'd probably look at Jim Garthwaite's class or, if I'm looking to travel, Chuck Rodger's class. A Marvel or Vicker's class wouldn't kill me, either...

I want and will be pursuing my FFL in the next couple of years. I do NOT want to do “general” gunsmithing. Instead I want to focus on one particular type of firearm. Currently I am mildly obsessed with bolt guns. I love shooting and I compete at a local level in F-Class matches in the summer. I will be building my own match rifle in the next couple of weeks. Threading the barrel, chambering, truing the action and bolt, etc. However, my first firearm and my long time love, the 1911, is also a possibility. I enjoy working on them and have modified a couple of them to suit me. I have one out being built by a true pro right now (I won’t see it for a couple of years) and it’s re-inspired me to mess with the platform. I have a lathe. I will be adding a milling machine, hopefully this summer. From there I will be working on building my skill set. However I’m truly torn on which platform. And remember, I’m a Gen X guy. I’m truly a believer in specialization. I don’t want to do both. Thoughts, ruminations, pontification, and clarity sought regarding this.

Kershaw Blur is one of my favorites. I currently carry a Benchmade Griptillian. Love it. Good luck.

I'm a hairdresser that builds his own bolt action rifles... This is nothing new.

I have a Subaru. I'm gonna add a "Meat is Murder" sticker on the gate for when I go hunting. Keep the tree huggers away. So far I love it (I know you got the Toyota @fishnut) but it's only been 6 months. But, I do love it.

This. It's a brand new rifle. It should work. It's also the wrong rifle. It shouldn't be. Bad customer service is bad customer service. My buddy sent multiple emails and made multiple calls to Manners to find out where the 1300 dollar stock he ordered, and paid for, is. It should never, and I mean never, take that long to get an answer from a company regardless of what they have going on at a given time. SHOT show is no excuse.

@AmosM223

Nope. Wrong guy. Trust me on this.

Ummmmmmmm... You may have the wrong guy here. For sure not a victim.

I live and work in NJ. To say that I was shocked to hear that local members of some houses of worship have congregants on armed "patrol" on their grounds would be an understatement. Personally I have mixed feelings about it. I'm not particularly against it but wonder and worry that "use of force" issues are a potential issue. I mean, if some dunderhead decides to cut through a parking lot on their way to some benign engagement wearing a long, dark trenchcoat and the congregants get spooked... But on the whole, it's not the worst idea out there.

That’s your 649 brother. Not mine. I’m thrilled it’s getting used the way it was intended to be used. And yeah, the snake has 2 people in front of you. If that day comes. Hopefully tho, it’ll be my wife selling it to cover the cost of the box and the hole.

I have a blued 6" Python. I recommend it. This one REALLY isn't for sale...

My buddy has one. It was a little picky with ammo (he can’t use manufactured reloads) but it is a soft shooting tack driver of a pistol. I ran a few rounds through it. I am not a competitive shooter but if I was, I’d buy one in a heartbeat. He shoots local matches and simply loves the gun.

Precisely my thought.

Well... There is one well known 2A "advocate" that was not opposed to requiring training to obtain FID/Permit. I believe he said as much publicly as well. For me, absolutely, positively a no. No training should be required to exercise a right. Ever.