|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
|
|
1 members (welder),
739
guests, and
4
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums10
Topics39,490
Posts562,009
Members14,584
| |
Most Online9,918
Jul 28th, 2025
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885 Likes: 5
Sidelock
|
OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885 Likes: 5 |
I was looking thru Gunbroker the AM and was struck by Jay Shachter's (Vintage Firearms) LC Smith "Factory Letter" on a Crown Grade "Long Range Wildfowls".
The gun production started on April 19, 1928 and shipped on July11, 1928. Under 3 months!!!
WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO GET THEM BUILT TODAY???
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,065 Likes: 1
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,065 Likes: 1 |
Back then they had gunmakers, now we have craftsmen.
Best,
Mike
I am glad to be here.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,854 Likes: 118
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,854 Likes: 118 |
Another reason for some of the fast turn-out, is that with L.C. Smiths, the frames all start out life as the lowest grade.
David
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
Bob, hand built vs a production line/facility. Mass production easily beats individual production in timing. However, some level of individual attention was required in times past to achieve "best work" quality. If the craftsman/gunmaker responsible for that individual attention had a vast supply of parts to choose from, he had a timing leg up. However, large number of parts inplies a large amount of production.
DDA
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,403 Likes: 17
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,403 Likes: 17 |
Bob, the old factories had supplies of barrels/frames/stocks, etc. It was more a fit and finish deal than a start from scratch deal. Plus they had many people involved in the process. e.g. a bluing department, a wood department, etc. JMO of course. As Russ used to say, "Of course I may be wrong."
Walter c. Snyder
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,292
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,292 |
Hunter Arms, like any other arms factory, then or now, had the ability to increase/decrease production yield to meet market demand...... or they wouldn't be in business too long.... 
Doug
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,544
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,544 |
I'm currently building a 20-bore and a 12-bore sidelock ejector from scratch.
I'm planning for the build time to be around 15 months all in.
The time is often because the chap you need to start work can't start work on your gun for X number of weeks.
Engraving slot also needs to be negotiated, this can hold things up too.
Last edited by Small Bore; 03/20/12 07:23 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 602 Likes: 39
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 602 Likes: 39 |
Current est. delivery time on a Piotti is 14 months so the continental makers (at least Piotti) aren't all that quick. I ordered one from Piotti in 2001 that took 27 months from initial order to delivery & the estimate was 13 months so estimated delivery time is just that, an estimate.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,593 Likes: 101
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,593 Likes: 101 |
When I ordered my custom Verney-Carron I was told 6-9 months it came in 8.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 775
Sidelock
|
|
Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 775 |
Sometimes there are other factors at play too. In the table of production dates on the LC Smith site, there is a block of numbers that are listed as produced from 1930-1938. A query to Dr. Stubbendieck produced the reply that there were a number of guns started in 1930-31, some of which weren't finished and shipped until 1938. This was of course due to the economic conditions at that time. Within those numbers, however, is a Deluxe grade 20 gauge that was started in the 1st week of June 1931 and finished in the 3rd week of July 1931. Six or seven weeks to complete a top of the line gun doesn't sound too bad does it?
|
|
|
|
|
