Looking for a smith in Central NY

[Willyone]

I have an ol' American Gun Co. 12 ga. hammer gun that needs some work. The bores are in good shape, no rust or pitting inside or out. Wood is also decent, and lock up is tight.

The issues.... One problem is when the left hammer is down, at rest, it pushes on the firing pin and no doubt the pin "rests" on the primer. Also, the threads on the parts that house the firing pins (sorry, don't know the correct terminology) are buggered up pretty good. I know the gun isn't worth much but I'd like to look into getting these things taken care of. Anyone know of a gunsmith in the Syracuse or central NY area that could get this old gun back in shape?

 

[Willyone]

Well shit.... none of you fuckers know any gunsmiths in the central NY area?

Alrighty then... I'll make some calls Monday and see what I can come up with. Tim's Shooting Supplies is just down from the road from me so I'll start there. Maybe they'll know someone local. If no luck there I'll dial up my FFL and see if he knows of a smith in central NY that would work on an old SXS hammer gun.

If I find a smith that'll work on my ol' 12 ga and if he does it right and for fair $$, I'm ain't telling anyone anything

 

[CNYJohn]

Calm down junior, some of us don't check this site maybe once a day.
Vernon National shooting preserve supposedly has a decent smithy service

 

[Hochulsucks1234]

CNY Gunworks in Verona, not far from Thruway exit 33

 

[Tisto]

The Custom Shop - Walworth NY

Turnbull Restorations - Bloomfield NY

 

[Willyone]

Thanks for the feed back / suggestions. I'll check into places mentioned and see what I come up with.

 

[Shadow rider]

CNY Gunworks in Verona, not far from Thruway exit 33

 

[Zerex]

Clunker..........not worth the gunsmithing bill.......is the lock up even tight?

Laibs in Wisconsin works on Browning BT99 single bbl trap guns all the time.......lockup, hammer work.....$750.

 

[Willyone]

Clunker..........not worth the gunsmithing bill.......is the lock up even tight?

Laibs in Wisconsin works on Browning BT99 single bbl trap guns all the time.......lockup, hammer work.....$750.

Yup, lockup is tight, better than centered, barrels in good condition inside - no pitting. Blue/finish is semi-ok, no rust or pitting, the wood shows some wear/use but is ok. I know, iffy (at best) whether it's worth sinking $$ into. But when I get the time I'll see about getting a price on the fixes. The ol' gal is probably not far from being a wall hanger repair/price wise. But I've shot it, and it does go bang and seems safe. Cut the barrels down and it would be a neat bedside coach.

 

[Bustedknees]

I'll lock that answer in also
With three positive votes, it's now mandatory you take it there. On the way home you can buy the 3 of us beers at the Recovery Room Bar.

 

[Willyone]

I'll lock that answer in also
With three positive votes, it's now mandatory you take it there. On the way home you can buy the 3 of us beers at the Recovery Room Bar.

Sounds good. When the time comes I'll visit CNY Gunworks and see if they can give me a "ballpark" fix'r up price. And although I no longer imbibe, it would be my pleasure, my honor, to provide beers to said voters

 

[FP1201]

There aren't many TRUE Gun Smiths out there, and working on old Doubles IS a fucking pain in the ass, which means it's going to be expensive; experience says that guys will bitch and complain about a Bill for two and three hundred Dollars to bring one of those old beasts back into service, and still there's no guarantee of how long or how well it'll hold up...I won't buy or work on them anymore and when they do come along they make the best money at Gun-Buy-Back events.
Dean from Caliber Plus would work on them, but they pretty much closed up from State regulations, and health issues.
Dennis Van Tassel will work on them, but it's NOT going to be any time soon and won't be inexpensive.
CNY might work on it, and I'd like to know the outcome if they do...High-end Double Shotguns & Rifles are one thing, the Factory produced, hand fitted, working man's Doubles made before WWII are the bane of Gunsmiths everywhere. Just MY opinion, YMMV.

 

[Willyone]

There aren't many TRUE Gun Smiths out there, and working on old Doubles IS a fucking pain in the ass, which means it's going to be expensive; experience says that guys will bitch and complain about a Bill for two and three hundred Dollars to bring one of those old beasts back into service, and still there's no guarantee of how long or how well it'll hold up...I won't buy or work on them anymore and when they do come along they make the best money at Gun-Buy-Back events.
Dean from Caliber Plus would work on them, but they pretty much closed up from State regulations, and health issues.
Dennis Van Tassel will work on them, but it's NOT going to be any time soon and won't be inexpensive.
CNY might work on it, and I'd like to know the outcome if they do...High-end Double Shotguns & Rifles are one thing, the Factory produced, hand fitted, working man's Doubles made before WWII are the bane of Gunsmiths everywhere. Just MY opinion, YMMV.

I appreciate the input, and understand. My main concern with the gun is the hammer that rests on the firing pin. If I can find someone to correct that issue without breaking the bank I'll be a happy camper. If not maybe I'll open it up myself and see if I can rectify the problem some how. I plan to will this old hammer gun to my daughter along with a very nice AH Fox Sterlingworth, a close to perfect 2nd series Colt Woodsman Match Target, a similar condition Woodsman pencil barrel, along with a selection of more modern long guns and hand guns. If the old hammer gun can't be fixed, so be it. I might just remove the pins and housings to disable it, then hang it over the mantle.

 

[FP1201]

I appreciate the input, and understand. My main concern with the gun is the hammer that rests on the firing pin. If I can find someone to correct that issue without breaking the bank I'll be a happy camper. If not maybe I'll open it up myself and see if I can rectify the problem some how. I plan to will this old hammer gun to my daughter along with a very nice AH Fox Sterlingworth, a close to perfect 2nd series Colt Woodsman Match Target, a similar condition Woodsman pencil barrel, along with a selection of more modern long guns and hand guns. If the old hammer gun can't be fixed, so be it. I might just remove the pins and housings to disable it, then hang it over the mantle.

My experience with most all the ones I've been into is the Parts were pretty much made by hand from drawings/templates and other means of mass producing a gun that's essentially the same from one to the next, the Metals they used were often soft steels of no where near the grades and harness of Alloys of the last 80 years, they had to be filed and fitted, then surfaces hardened, years of use, sitting cocked, "abuse" neglect, etc. ALL take a toll on the moving parts. Taken you time, lots of pictures, marking pens, you can likely take it apart and figure out what's wrong, but then the trick is making those original Parts work again as any replacements are likely to be from guns that were dismantled because they too had failed...Springs are a MF'r and you'll find that out as well...Again, they can be repaired, but when you've got to put a half day or more into futzing with it at $40. an hour, well it adds up!
I don't want to dissuade you, it's your Gun and Money, just offer fair warning as many Shops won't work on them unless it's clear and/or something special.

 

[Bustedknees]

Lefever Shotguns??????

I was handed a shotgun today that is a double barrel in two pieces... I don't know didly squat about old shotguns and was hoping someone here might know what this thing is. I did a google search..lol But came up with nearly nothing on it.... The stock and action looks to be in very nice...

www.predatormasters.com

I guess I'm old enough that I remember my dad using their gun smith in Rome Ny.

 

[Bustedknees]

Sounds good. When the time comes I'll visit CNY Gunworks and see if they can give me a "ballpark" fix'r up price. And although I no longer imbibe, it would be my pleasure, my honor, to provide beers to said voters

That was too easy and almost took the fun out of it.

 

[Willyone]

My experience with most all the ones I've been into is the Parts were pretty much made by hand from drawings/templates and other means of mass producing a gun that's essentially the same from one to the next, the Metals they used were often soft steels of no where near the grades and harness of Alloys of the last 80 years, they had to be filed and fitted, then surfaces hardened, years of use, sitting cocked, "abuse" neglect, etc. ALL take a toll on the moving parts. Taken you time, lots of pictures, marking pens, you can likely take it apart and figure out what's wrong, but then the trick is making those original Parts work again as any replacements are likely to be from guns that were dismantled because they too had failed...Springs are a MF'r and you'll find that out as well...Again, they can be repaired, but when you've got to put a half day or more into futzing with it at $40. an hour, well it adds up!
I don't want to dissuade you, it's your Gun and Money, just offer fair warning as many Shops won't work on them unless it's clear and/or something special.

I bought the gun many years ago and didn't pay much for it so, so far, I don't have much $$ into it. I had wanted a hammer 12 ga. for a long time just because they're cool. And too, it's not a bad one to have leaning in the corner of the bedroom. And I didn't want one of the pos chinese knock offs. Anyways, I'll check out CNY in Verona and see what they have to say, if they'll even or work on it.
Yeah, I'm sure this old American Gun Co. piece is far from being something special. It might turn into an interesting project for me, or a "Murphy's Law" frustrating project for me. Or at worst, as I mentioned before a mantle piece. We shall see...

 

[Bustedknees]

Calm down junior, some of us don't check this site maybe once a day.
Vernon National shooting preserve supposedly has a decent smithy service

This shop will be about 10-15 away from cny gun works if you want to see them while you're visiting. A very nice shotgun sporting / shooting shop.

 

[FP1201]

This shop will be about 10-15 away from cny gun works if you want to see them while you're visiting. A very nice shotgun sporting / shooting shop.

WOW, I didn't know about this place...
Looks great, but a bit too much for my cheap ass.

Memberships

become a memberMembershipsVernon National Shooting Preserve is proud to present the area’s only Exclusive Memberships with unlimited access. Membership allows you to come and go as you please on any day of the week*. It doesn’t matter if we are open or not. Enjoy our facilities at your...

vernonnational.com

Pheasant Membership (New) - $3,100

 

[Bustedknees]

WOW, I didn't know about this place...
Looks great, but a bit too much for my cheap ass.

Memberships

become a memberMembershipsVernon National Shooting Preserve is proud to present the area’s only Exclusive Memberships with unlimited access. Membership allows you to come and go as you please on any day of the week*. It doesn’t matter if we are open or not. Enjoy our facilities at your...

vernonnational.com

Pheasant Membership (New) - $3,100

I've bought guns from them but for some stupid reason I've never shot there. You don't have to join, you can pay per clay, or some kind of day rate. There's also all kinds of team shoots going on all the time. I hope to make my kids all go with me on Father's Day.