OT: Need some gunsmithing help

[JoMo MoJo]

The popularity of polymer pistols and black guns has all but ruined the field of gunsmithing. Now, to be a gunsmith all you need is a set of ball-end Allen wrenches. Rant over, now for the dets.

I have a 1881 Swiss Vetterli .41 Cal Rifle. It was the first repeating rifle ever adopted by a country for military use. It has been in my family for a few generations. It is originally a striker-fired rifle shooting rim-fire cartridges. Remington was the last company to produce ammo for it, stopping in 1941. So you can’t find ammo for the gun anymore. Luckily, people have been able to reproduce center fire cartridges for it using reloading equipment. I have everything I need except for the centerfire conversion of the bolt. There are several YouTube videos on the conversion. Some are rather sketchy but the one I want to do would require a lathe and a holding fixture. It requires drilling a #48 hole in center of the bolt face and a #49 hole in the tip of the striker. I have exhausted the interwebs
trying to find a gunsmith anywhere in this state that will touch it. It is amazing how many gunsmiths today don’t own a lathe.

There is a guy in Wisconsin that will do it for me but I would really like to source local help. If anyone knows of someone with a lathe that wants some extra money for a 5-10 minute job please leave his contact info here.

The ones that turned it down:

Van’s gunsmithing guy from Utica-said he’s too busy (apparently everyone in Jackson area who calls themselves a gunsmith, and runs into work requiring more than bolting **** onto an AR, sends all their stuff to this guy)

Dude in Vicksburg-said it’s not worth his time
(I mean seriously, this is supposed to be your craft, and you want no part of returning a 140 year-old firearm to shooting ability)

I was given the name of Ricky something in Jackson, but could never find his info online.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[qball.sixpack]

The popularity of polymer pistols and black guns has all but ruined the field of gunsmithing. Now, to be a gunsmith all you need is a set of ball-end Allen wrenches. Rant over, now for the dets.

I have a 1881 Swiss Vetterli .41 Cal Rifle. It was the first repeating rifle ever adopted by a country for military use. It has been in my family for a few generations. It is originally a striker-fired rifle shooting rim-fire cartridges. Remington was the last company to produce ammo for it, stopping in 1941. So you can’t find ammo for the gun anymore. Luckily, people have been able to reproduce center fire cartridges for it using reloading equipment. I have everything I need except for the centerfire conversion of the bolt. There are several YouTube videos on the conversion. Some are rather sketchy but the one I want to do would require a lathe and a holding fixture. It requires drilling a #48 hole in center of the bolt face and a #49 hole in the tip of the striker. I have exhausted the interwebs
trying to find a gunsmith anywhere in this state that will touch it. It is amazing how many gunsmiths today don’t own a lathe.

There is a guy in Wisconsin that will do it for me but I would really like to source local help. If anyone knows of someone with a lathe that wants some extra money for a 5-10 minute job please leave his contact info here.

The ones that turned it down:

Van’s gunsmithing guy from Utica-said he’s too busy (apparently everyone in Jackson area who calls themselves a gunsmith, and runs into work requiring more than bolting **** onto an AR, sends all their stuff to this guy)

Dude in Vicksburg-said it’s not worth his time
(I mean seriously, this is supposed to be your craft, and you want no part of returning a 140 year-old firearm to shooting ability)

I was given the name of Ricky something in Jackson, but could never find his info online.

Any help would be appreciated.

Have you tried Swann’s Gun Repair in Jackson on Old Canton Road? Sounds like a complicated job but they are very reputable.

 

[JoMo MoJo]

Have you tried Swann’s Gun Repair in Jackson on Old Canton Road? Sounds like a complicated job but they are very reputable.

He said he didn’t have a lathe. Suggested the guy in Utica that everyone else uses, who doesn’t have the time to do it.

 

[Maroonandwhite]

I have a friend here in AR that is a machinist and an expert long gun, gunsmith. He turns barrels in his shop, makes parts, and does all sorts of builds and restorations. He loves these kinds of projects. I’d be happy to PM you his name and contact info. if you can’t find someone local.

 

[JoMo MoJo]

Please do. Thanks.

 

[60sdog]

Call Thompson’s in Shelby MS. They do just about anything with guns and do it well.

 

[SwampDawg]

Hijack here - I have felt your pain. Took a pistol in to the local gun store to get their inhouse "gunsmith" to do some repair work. I was told up front that their guy didn't do any work that would involve removing metal. Said it was based on legal liability issues. What kind of gunsmith won't remove metal? Hope nothing goes wrong with any of my stuff, cause there aren't any smiths down here anymore.

 

[JoMo MoJo]

I think I tried Thompson’s and no o e picked up. Will try calling them Monday. I know several numbers I called were no longer in service. I didn’t keep up with which ones.

 

[Maroonandwhite]

Jomo, check your PM’s. Information is there.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

While it’s not their niche, try Modern Outfitters in Meridian. The owners are good friends of mine and good people.

 

[JoMo MoJo]

Thx. Got it.

 

[Bodeine]

Try Hook & Bullet in Ridgeland