Originally Posted by
dfmaisey
YA KNOW....... people wonder why there aren't more 'real' gunsmiths around, and why the good ones that stick at it tend to get a little bit grumpy with age putting in big hours for very modest income....... Guys like HAPPY, don't come on here and slag me off while hiding behind an avatar with this sort of crap....... You can't expect to turn up here with a suppressor that you purchased from someone else, try to push in the que ahead of other guys, then expect me to match the discounted/subsidised fitting rate that the big suppressor makers quote to fit THEIR products. As an independent custom gunsmith, i will fit suppressors that guys supply themselves, but it is on the understanding that they are going to be charged the full amount of time for me to do the job for them + admin time, with the job done properly by me, in my workshop, and on my equipment. Not given over to a helper or general lathe hand to do.
I-phone generation wants everything now, but doesn't want to pay for it - or pay as little as possible. I will quote realistic lead times based on my current workload, and estimate a price. 2-weeks is a pretty reasonable lead time for small jobs, which is what i try to achieve, if possible. If that is too slow for you, then simple answer is to plan ahead, or be prepared to pay extra if you want express service, or you can take it to someone else if you wish. If you accepted that and are happy to leave it with me and happy with the work i have done for you, then don't moan about the price later. Just because others in the industry are under-charging, or engaged in a race to the last dollar doesn't mean that i can afford to follow suit. It is a hard enough industry to make a go of without having to work for peanuts or next to nothing. This is the main reason alot more decent skilled guys aren't doing gun work full time - they can make much better money/living doing something else. Remember that the guntrade in NZ is still an un-regulated industry. There are some good guys in the industry, but there are alot of cowboys as well. Cheapest is not always best.