Cylinder & Slide - Why So Expensive?

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Phydeaux642

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I'm getting another 442, sans internal lock, here in a bit and I got to thinking that maybe I might like to have some custom work done. Maybe a trigger job, new front sight, etc. So, I go to the C&S website and start poking around, and from what I could tell a trigger job, chamfering the cylinder ports and and a function test with accuracy tuning to fifteen yards cost over $400.:what: Is this pretty standard? I haven't had any custom work done before, but that seemed high to me after reading about some of the other custom work others here have had done.
 
C&S is proud of there work

They have a reputation for high cost. If you check various gun supply catalogs you will find they charge more.
If you then check various competion web sites and magazines such as IDPA, USPSA and ICORE you will fined that C&S is not noted.
Bentley and Rolls Royce used to race they don't now. Of course I haven't checked last week.
 
They are noted for the quality of they're work, and these days quality doesn't often come cheap. Maybe it never did. Just for grins, why don't you get a bid from Smith & Wesson's Performance Center?

Also understand that they, or any of the other better pistolsmiths, can zero a revolver - point of aim/point of impact with a particular load. But that doesn't mean that it will always do the same for you. Different folks have different eyes, and they hold guns in different ways.
 
THR's own Matt Almeda offers his Suffolk Special, basically, an action-tuned 442. Given the initial cost of the gun, the "extras" come very reasonably. And, the gun only gets shipped once. Maybe even has one in stock ready to ship. Considering shipping costs and the potential turnaround of many of the top gunsmiths, these are no small considerations.

http://revolverarmorer.com/The_Suffolk_Special.php
 
The bitterness of poor quality lingers...long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

I never had the bucks to have the guns that I wanted, and when I was young, my enthusiasm was noticed by an old gunsmith at the club I belonged to. He took me under wing, and taught me the ropes. Not only did I make a nice living for many years doing the work, but, it has turned into a very enjoyable "retirement hobby". I would encourage anyone who has the initiative to want to learn the trade to do so. It is very fullfilling, and there will always be a need for competent gunsmiths. If current day gunsmithing costs have you overwhelmed....learn to do the work yourself! It is an enjoyable pursuit.
 
I thought I was the only one who noticed the high prices from C&S. There are many very reputable smiths who can do that job for much cheaper.
 
LOL, How many people can get "their" wrong in this thread?
Just teasing. :)


Seriously though, I'd imagine that the reason that C&S is so expensive is the reason Mercedes are so expensive is the reason that Lacoste is so expensive .... and so on
 
Browning High Powers of the early 1980's were not noted for being reliable with anything other than hardball and mine was even iffy with them. I sent my High Power to them in the early 1980's for the C & S basic reliability package which at that time was $200. I think it took a couple of months to get it back because it was over the holidays. after several thousand rounds it has not messed up yet. they do good work. I don't have any idea what this would cost now or the time frame but I'm sure it has went up in price and the time frame involved. that happens it a time frame of 25 years or so
 
They must have gone up a bit lately. I had a M10 snubby worked on there, trigger job and chamfer cylinder mouths. It was under $200, but that was maybe four years ago.

And I must say, well worth the cost. That gun was like buttah when it came back.
 
I have not used C&S so I won't comment on their work. But even high cost does not guarantee a good job. A member of my club dropped nearly two grand on a revolver action job, tuning, etc. When it came time, he clicked a bunch of bowling pins to death.

Jim
 
C&S built a 4" Douglas bull barrel, ball detent locked into custom ejector rod shroud, complete action and trigger job with new parts and springs as necessary, fabricated gold insert Patridge front sight and squared and opened rear sighted in with GI ball ammo at 25 yards. $1200 of 1991 dollars. Colt then did the engraving and Royal Blue . I added the Fishpaw French walnut grips.
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