I would not say custom gunmaking is dead but much easier ways to keep the lights on and the dog fed sure do exist. I love what I do but it can be challenging at times. The gun trade has changed dramatically in the last 25 years with the vast majority of the public embracing stainless and composite guns. Lovers of walnut and blued steel still exist, they are in the minority though. There are fewer and fewer gunmakers that focus on traditional styles and finishes , hence the long backlogs and cost of good work. Most successful gunmakers have a niche, Weibe builds bolt guns, mostly dangerous game guns but not exclusively. I do mostly restoration, a bit of restocking and a fair amount of custom metal work. Like LRF, I'll just keep on keeping on.
