The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Another excellent gonneshoppe and a truly superb gunsmith ! I've just purchased two rifles from Richard and can highly recommend him! Plenty of time to chat and demonstrate, a nice selection of unusual rifles and service that can't be faulted !

Mauser actioned?

Any chance of some contact details please?

Richard sells a wide range of excellent rifles and shot guns, most of them unusual, rare, curious or otherwise different from the run of the mill. Service is superb ! The link http://www.guntrader.co.uk/DealerSearch ... 5170928352 - will provide contact details and a small indication of his stock list - he has far more than this in stock ! Tell him a badger sent you...

We are losing our good gunsmiths from our shops...and I'm not sure we are training any replacements...they should spend some time with the customers this side of the counter.

My local Gunsmith is probably just into his 70's, has a wealth of experience and nobody to replace him when he eventually walks away from his shed. I asked him why he had never trained anyone up and he replied nobody in his family was really interested and if you take a youngster on board they walk away after a couple of years and set up in direct competition with a fraction of the experience needed which brings a bad name on the trade.

His business card says rifle maker, and he can as well.

I tried to get an apprenticeship when i was a teenager, i really did. Despite having solid, good grades and being willing to move anywhere in the UK i got absolutely nowhere.
It was impossible to get into the business despite being an active shooter and having an aptitude for engineering (i later gained a degree in aero engineering).

Scotsgun wrote:I tried to get an apprenticeship when i was a teenager, i really did. Despite having solid, good grades and being willing to move anywhere in the UK i got absolutely nowhere.

Was that because you don't suffer fools gladly, Marc?

Seriously, couldn't get a look in, mate. Just about everyone i contacted stated that they weren't or had no plans to offer apprenticeship. A couple even seem surprised and a little concerned that a 'teenager' would own and use firearms. A few commented that i'd be better off looking for a job elsewhere as they'd likely be the last in the business! It was actually quite depressing.

A few offered to keep my CV, just incase they decided to start apprenticeships but that was it. I eventually ended up at RollsRoyce, before joining the army.

You come over as a hard working, self made man...and you showed them.

:goodjob: