Gunsmithing What makes a "custom rifle"

[leagle2]

a custom rifle? I'm not flaming anyone but recently on this board and others I've see ads for "custom" rifles for sale.Some are on a "trued" factory action with everything else stock (no pun intended). I've seen re-barreled Rem 700s with nothing else done to them billed as "custom". As long as the firearm is accurately described he can call it a bicycle as far as I'm concerned. I know what I think a "custom" rifle is but I'd be interested in what criteria the 'smiths on here think makes a custom rifle custom.

 

[RADcustom]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

If they didn't call it a "custom" rifle they would have to call it a "sniper" rifle and you know what kind of mess that would stir up.

Anything not 100% factory = custom. (Caveat emptor)

 

[Pusher591]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

Custom, IMHO is something that is completely one off (as in collected all the parts then had a smith assemble) or a factory gun that has been modified to the point there are more aftermarket components on it then there are original.

A trued Remington 5R sitting in a McMillan/Manners stock, and aftermarket barrel is considered custom me. Obviously offerings from GAP,Surgeon, or a full custom build from a top tier smith is custom.

Only exception for factory offerings would be something like the AE/AW's or PGW and those are on par with custom offerings.

 

[mitch260]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

In my book a custom rifle is a rifle which has been modified from the factory version. By this I mean metal work. A custom stock is a whole different ball game. Anyone can by a stock and in stall it. Not everyone can make a stock.
Back to the metal work; anything done to the metal serves a custom purpose, be it a new muzzel crown or action truing.
Unless you buy a custom rifle you dont get these modifications.

 

[Pusher591]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

I stated trued action and new, aftermarket barrel. I didn't mean just a stock alone.

 

[jarhead_h]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

A custom rifle is one that starts out as components and ends up a rifle built to a one-of specification for one customer. Take anything from GAP for example, those aren't custom rifles, they are model line. High end to be sure, but pre-configured models nonetheless, just like any factory but on small scale. On the other hand, start with any action, and then add aftermarket parts and you have a "custom" rifle - none just like it, and it's yours.

 

[swampbuck]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

I believe you cross the line with a custom barrel and action truing. The machineing work is what crosses the line for me.

The Remington CDL has a nice wood stock and I wouldn't knock someone for wanting to hold onto it.

Anybody can put an aftermarket stock or cheek piece on. Any body can glassbed or paint.

I also think it takes more than an adjusted trigger to be called custom.

I agree with you. I see threads all the time (I'm doing a build what scope should I put on my new Rem SPS?)

 

[Hntelk]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

$$$$$

 

[Ultraman550]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

Custom is something that is not factory produced nor is it something that several of the same item are produced in small quantity as well. Its hard to really say because you take for example a Surgeon action (pick a caliber), a manners stock, a bartlein barrel, timney trigger and its built custom for you (barrel length, trigger pull, camo pattern etc..) . You chose the parts, the combination of parts is not something offered off the shelf by a gun builder so its called custom right? But with all the millions of gun owners out there theres probably someone else with the exact same gun as you. Is it still custom?

This is a "which came first, the chicken or the egg" question.

 

[billyburl2]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

So is my rifle that only has the original action and trigger left on it(new barrel, brake added later, and a different stock)a custom? How about if the barrel was a pre-chambered one? The rifle is a Savage so it didn't go to a smith for the re-barrel.

 

[TN-MadDog]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

I'm not a smith but in my opinion:

Custom is built from the ground up to an individuals specifications.

Customized is a standard offering that has had some specifications changed.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

A factory rifle comes out of a box from the factory with no further mods.

Technically, once you start fastening the scope base, you have a custom. Some moreso than others.

If I glassbed a rifle, it's no longer a factory rifle. My Garand is glassbedded. It's therefore a custom.

This sort of reasoning can drive a person nuts.

That can marked 'worms'? Leave it closed.

Greg

 

[Copyleader]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

Custom is one man building a complete rifle for his client, according to his/her specifications.

 

[Jhnmdahl]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A factory rifle comes out of a box from the factory with no further mods.

Technically, once you start fastening the scope base, you have a custom. Some moreso than others.

If I glassbed a rifle, it's no longer a factory rifle. My Garand is glassbedded. It's therefore a custom.

This sort of reasoning can drive a person nuts.

That can marked 'worms'? Leave it closed.

Greg </div></div>

Exactly this, or gun snobbery can take over reason.
For example, what about guns like a GAP Crusader, produced in large numbers that are all essentially the same? People will want to call this "custom" rather than a stock gun due to the money spent and craftsmanship involved even if no customization is done, while calling a Remington 700 that has been customized a factory gun in a disparaging way.

If you customize it, it's custom.

 

[Graham]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

People bolt chrome add-ons to their Harly Davison and call it a 'custom' motorcycle.... just sayin'.

 

[Chingon]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

My favorite is the "custom" AR/M4s with a hodge podge of parts from all sorts of manufacturers. And then people wonder why they don't buy them.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

I think you can break this down into three basic categories:

Customized: When you take an OEM rifle and add some things to "upgrade" it, but the basic action and barrel remain. A factory barrel that has been setback and rechambered=customized. A restock/rebed=customized. A muzzlebrake or boltknob=customized. New trigger=customized You get the picture. A Savage with a prefit barrel is customized.


Custom: Base action (either custom or donor), barrel blank, stock, bottom metal, trigger, all parts spec'd, sourced, machined and fitted by gun plumber. Basically you commission a full build from one smith or a select group of smiths.


Signature: A rifle of a set specification with limited options. It may or may not be built from one smith but could be built from a team of specialist. (GAP ThunderRanch, Crusader, etc, BlackOps Precision Perseus, etc)

This is analogous to 1911's: whether you make some "upgrades" or commission a full build, or buy a Les Baer, Wilson, Nighthawk, etc....

 

[Muskox]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

Craig Boddington is one of the best known American gun writers currently writing for the magazines and a TV personality of the firearms type.

I don't remember his exact quote but it was something along the lines of " a custom rifle is a rifle modified, built or manufactured to fit a certain individual".

It is pretty easy to go into the weeds with this one, I am an armorer by duty in the military (until I retire next year). Though being a parachute rigger I can't claim that working on guns is my primary job. Though I can chamber a barrel, true an action, reblue, adjust a trigger, and work on Sauer pistols as well as most. I wouldn't consider myselt to be a gunsmith or a gunmaker.

To me a gunsmith is someone who can repair almost any production firearm made and do trouble shooting.

To me a gunmaker is someone who can take a block of metal and turn it into an action or a barrel. I don't know very many people that make barrels and actions Shilen is one, Heym is another.

 

[Muskox]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

I think I screwed the quote up.

"To fit the needs of an individual".

 

[red hawk]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

MONEY.....more custom more money.

 

[tomcatfan]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

I remember I made the mistake of posting something to extent of "my first custom rig" to show people my build. I had a guy blast me because as he said I just took a bunch of after market parts and put them together. I see his point, but to me it was custom. I put in the work to bed the stock, barrel the action, tune the trigger, mount the optics, and the latest upcoming project, paint the stock.

Some people feel that unless you spend high $$ and give it to a person on their predefined list, it isn't custom. Personally I feel like any rifle that you modify to do what you want it to do is a custom rifle.

 

[19Scout77]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

What makes a custom rifle? Mostly, a lathe.

 

[MarinePMI]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 19Scout77</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What makes a custom rifle? Mostly, a lathe. </div></div>

LOL!

 

[STR]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

Custom means different things to a lot of people. Facts are, once you change something as simple as a trigger, stock, or anything else on a rifle, it's considered customizing it. Others feel that if you didn't start with a hunk of forged steet and some files, then it's not a custom. Two extreems. Where do you fall in??? Does it really matter??

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

My Savage .30BR match shooter is the current avatar of the original Ghost Dancer .260 project rifle.

The action is the only thing left that came in the original box, and that's about it. Even the trigger and recoil lug are aftermarket parts.

Technically, it's a parts gun that a good friend blueprinted. I consider it to be my only actual custom rifle. IMHO, it's the blueprinting and other actual machining work that makes it a custom by my book.

Greg

 

[Ultraman550]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Savage 10fp</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I remember I made the mistake of posting something to extent of "my first custom rig" to show people my build. I had a guy blast me because as he said I just took a bunch of after market parts and put them together. I see his point, but to me it was custom. I put in the work to bed the stock, barrel the action, tune the trigger, mount the optics, and the latest upcoming project, paint the stock.

Some people feel that unless you spend high $$ and give it to a person on their predefined list, it isn't custom. Personally I feel like any rifle that you modify to do what you want it to do is a custom rifle. </div></div>
I remember that guy. Im not naming names but he did that to a lot people.

 

[Muskox]

Re: What makes a "custom rifle"

About 10 years ago I had a 100 pound girlfriend who was interested in shooting, but I didn't have a single rifle she could handle. So I bought a Ruger 10/22 cut the stock off to fit her and using green duct tape built up a cheek piece so it fit her face.

That rifle was custom, using the definition provided as it was built to fit her.

I don't think Holland and Holland or John Rigby would agree, but in reality it was.