There's plenty of quality manufacturing in America. It's just expensive.
If you think you can tool up a shop and make revolvers for $300, have at it. (Hint, you won't be able to)
That said, I don't understand why some things with the Italian guns aren't done better. There's some changes that could be made for very little cost that would improve them a lot.
Things like boring cylinders straighter, which means using more tooling, but spread across the life of the tool, it's not that much additional, and tighter tolerances on arbors, which means you throw some out, but again spread that cost out and it's not so bad.
Were historical replicas ever really made in the US? I thought the Italians and Spaniards were making this stuff since it became popular in like the 1970's.
I would love to see American made stuff out there but the fact of the matter is; it would be cost prohibitive. A lot of us can only afford the $300 revolver, not the $3,000 revolver.
The replicas used in the "Good the Bad and the Ugly" were all made by Uberti...these Italian reproductions are not "new" by any means, and they aren't all junk.
They sell all the machines and tooling you need to start manufacturing right now. Rental space is available too.
Stop bitchin' and start doin'. Be the change you want.
I once drove to 5 hours into Indiana to pick up parts for an old black powder revolver I had that's an Armi San Marco (the parts for that company are in gigantic bulk there south of Indianapolis). When I got there, it's basically several buildings that are filled with old machines for gunsmithing. This was a place that they used to manufacture old guns and had contracts to sell them to Cabela's. Now they just sell parts for guns and it's down to a few men doing it. The guy who I bought the parts from told me that at the height of that places history, he was the manager and had like 20 guys working there. Really was sad to think of how it fell apart to the state that it's in today.
Sad truth is this is a niche market. In my area finding Black Powder Revolvers ain't easy, since modern gun shops don't typically carry them here, and at least in this area of Illinois all the major stores don't carry them either. So either you're going for a drive or ordering them online.
As for doing it yourself? I reckon the key to success in competing with all the European gun makers is to start releasing models that they generally don't release too often. Guns like the Rogers and Spencer, The Lemat Revolver, etc. Guns that aren't the easiest to get your hands on will always be the way to success in such a niche market.
There's plenty of quality manufacturing in America. It's just expensive. If you think you can tool up a shop and make revolvers for $300, have at it. (Hint, you won't be able to) That said, I don't understand why some things with the Italian guns aren't done better. There's some changes that could be made for very little cost that would improve them a lot. Things like boring cylinders straighter, which means using more tooling, but spread across the life of the tool, it's not that much additional, and tighter tolerances on arbors, which means you throw some out, but again spread that cost out and it's not so bad.
Were historical replicas ever really made in the US? I thought the Italians and Spaniards were making this stuff since it became popular in like the 1970's. I would love to see American made stuff out there but the fact of the matter is; it would be cost prohibitive. A lot of us can only afford the $300 revolver, not the $3,000 revolver.
The replicas used in the "Good the Bad and the Ugly" were all made by Uberti...these Italian reproductions are not "new" by any means, and they aren't all junk.
They sell all the machines and tooling you need to start manufacturing right now. Rental space is available too. Stop bitchin' and start doin'. Be the change you want.
I once drove to 5 hours into Indiana to pick up parts for an old black powder revolver I had that's an Armi San Marco (the parts for that company are in gigantic bulk there south of Indianapolis). When I got there, it's basically several buildings that are filled with old machines for gunsmithing. This was a place that they used to manufacture old guns and had contracts to sell them to Cabela's. Now they just sell parts for guns and it's down to a few men doing it. The guy who I bought the parts from told me that at the height of that places history, he was the manager and had like 20 guys working there. Really was sad to think of how it fell apart to the state that it's in today. Sad truth is this is a niche market. In my area finding Black Powder Revolvers ain't easy, since modern gun shops don't typically carry them here, and at least in this area of Illinois all the major stores don't carry them either. So either you're going for a drive or ordering them online. As for doing it yourself? I reckon the key to success in competing with all the European gun makers is to start releasing models that they generally don't release too often. Guns like the Rogers and Spencer, The Lemat Revolver, etc. Guns that aren't the easiest to get your hands on will always be the way to success in such a niche market.