Any experience with MILTECH arms?

[critter]

Just wondering if anybody has had any experience with guns from Miltech arms. They advertise M1's, 1903 and 03A3 Springfields, Model 17 Enfields, Johnsons, K98's, etc. All are 'completely restored' or some such. The seem to me to be quite pricey.

Since they are not 'original', they don't seem to me to be 'collectabe'. They seem to high to be 'shooters'. Might be good for display as they are completely refinished and (their pics) look really nice.

Just wondering if anyone had any experience with them and wondered what your opinions might be whether or not you own one.

Thanks.

 

[larryw]

I don't own one, but their shop is very close to my favorite rifle range.

The guns are shooters. One of their gunsmiths is at the range all the time function testing the guns. He typically brings 10-15 guns at a time as well as a well-stocked workshop's worth of tools. He shoots each one, tuning it until he's happy, occasionally switching the barrels, etc. He's a very picky, VERY sharp guy. Did I say the guns are shooters, very good shooters?

During the social pauses in shooting, there's often a convention around his bench oohing and ahhing over the iron.

If and when I'm in the market, he's the first/only guy I'd see. I do not know enough about these rifles to comment on collect-ability, but based on my experience with and respect for Jim, you can expect a straight answer to this question from them.

 

[Preacherman]

I've handled and shot several of their "rebuilds", and I'm saving up for one of their Garands. They do a wonderful job on rebuilding these old firearms, not just to Milspec, but to what is virtually a "match grade" weapon. Excellent workmanship, quality parts (including some, for example in the Garand gas system, that actually improve on the original), and reportedly very good customer service - if you have a problem, according to owners of their product whom I know, they deal with it immediately and without quibbling. Yes, they're expensive, and I wish their prices were lower: but they're operating in a niche market, where no-one else is offering the sort of overall package that they do, so I guess you have to decide for yourself whether or not you're getting value for your money. Having seen and shot their guns, I'm voting with my money, as soon as I've managed to save enough!

(For those wanting to know more, see http://www.miltecharms.com/.)

 

[Wildalaska]

Ditto to what Preacher says..I had a customer walk in with a Miltech he bought TEN YEARS AGO that is having problems. While we could have fixed it, I was concerned about matching the finish. Called Miltech...."Send it back, no problem"

Thats Leupold style customer service

 

[P226]

I have a M-1 that looks and shoots great.When i orderd
it everybody said do not order from Mil-tech,it's not original.
Well i also have a c&r and have ordered c&r M-1's(still have 2)
everybody now agrees the Mil-tech is great,looks new,shoots great.

The Mil-tech is the one in the rack that shows US weapons.
Springfield M1-a,Colt AR-15 HBAR,MIl-tech M1,Inland M1 carbine,
Mil-tech 1903 (which i just got in DEC,have not shot it yet ,but it looks great),1898 Krag.

They are expensive,but they are very nice rifles.I do recommend
them.I do like and buy originals,but if you do not want to restore
them then Mil-tech may be your best bet.I like doing it both ways.
I like they worn look on some and now that i know alittle more i also like to sit inthe basement and restore them to like new.There is also a company called ORION 7 ENTERPISES INC that
does great work and has several grades of M-1's for sale.I do not
know thereweb address as i am in work now but i will post it later.I have seen only one M-1 but it was very nice.

 

[Quinch]

I have a Miltech Garand I found at an estate auction, still greased up in it's crate with a ton of accessories. I won't say what I paid, as I hate to see men cry.
I would pay full price for one if I had to, now that I've played with one. It will out shoot most anything and is as pretty as can be. It's my favorite rifle.

 

[Triad]

Orion 7 Enterprises

 

[Sven]

Can one actually visit their shop?

Los Altos is only a few miles away from me.

Thanks,

-s

 

[larryw]

I've been told they don't do tours, but if you call and ask nice, they may make an exception.

They're in Cupertino, near the post office that's on Stevens Creek just west of 85.

 

[chink]

Really? How is it that I hang out there and didn't know that they were there? My church is on bubb between stevens creek and mcclean and I drink (used to drink now i just hang out) at Paul and eddies which is just about across the street from teh post office.

 

[Detritus]

um, are those prices, listed on the site teh price for a complete rifle or is that the cost for the rebuild if you send them an existing gun??

IF those prices are what they want for a complete rifle..... well i'm willing to fork over the extra cash to get what amounts to a like factory new version of these guns.

now if that's just the cost of the rebuild, that's a bit different i might have to debate a little first. but i'd probably do it in the end anyway.


anyone on here have or know someone who has one of the 1941 Johnsons?? if so how much did it set you back for that rare bird? now that is a gun that though i may dream of it, adn drool over for the rest of my days, i'll never get to own :banghead:

 

[larryw]

Ah yes, Paul and Eddies; I chased many a nubile lass and killed many a brain cell there in my young and single days (place has been there for a lonnnng time ). And I know your church.

Miltech is not on Stevens Creek Blvd, but on Imperial Ave, which is near the PO.

 

[Cougar]

MilTech M1

My brother-in-law bought himself a real beauty of a Garand from MilTech. Granted, it wasn't cheap but it is in like-new condition. It probably looks as good or better than any M1 leaving the Winchester factory sixty years ago. The all-color matched walnut stock is such a thing of beauty I'd be afraid to take it anywhere and risk marring it.

There was some problem with his order due to a parts unavailability or finishing problems or somesuch, so they upgraded his particular rifle to all Winchester parts, dates matching (within reason).

If I had the wherewithall to get one, I wouldn't hesitate!

 

[Crimper-D]

I've been inside the place!

Medium sized warehouse with no signs.
Got in with my Dad's old army reserve shooting coach who is tight with the owner. Who is a really up front guy - gave me a 1hr walkng tour - personally
Close to a RELIGOUS experience! = Try to imagine a warehouse literally stacked to the overheads with barrels,stocks, trigger housings, sights, milsurp ammo,bayonets for everything they sold as well as cleaning kits, magazines stripper clips training manuals... I could go on but....Mom didn't raise no Sadist
Miltech's ads feature the fact that these are _restored_ weapons. If "collectors" can turn their noses up at a weapon that has been hand worked to look like it just came off a production line complete with match grade barrels, manual,bayonet, mags or clips as is proper for the weapon. - They are seriously in need of counseling.
They even had spiper models with the correct scopes here and there. The owner a secretary and a couple of gunsmiths leisurely going about their business...they even make their own wooden shipping cases on site in a wood shop out back.
Pricey? Not for what I see that they ship to their customers - This is a CLASS operation!
OBTW: the one specemin they had to gently pry out of my grip as I left was the prettiest mintiest SVT40 Tokarev I've ever seen

 

[NewShooter78]

If that's the price for the entire weapon, and not just for a restoration job on your own weapone, then I'd say that the price on the Garande doesn't seem too bad considering the MSRP on a new Springfield Garande is a little over $1,000.

 

[Monte Harrison]

Hmmm...
I could be wrong, but even refinished to like-new condition, $1100 is a bit steep for a 98k with original barrel.



Sho' is purty, though.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Now that's the only reason for me to retire and stay in CA - working for a firm like that and learning a heckuva lot to boot.

 

[mrwilmoth]

this info is still reliant so it deserves a bump!

 

[mroadking]

Does anyone know if Miltech is still in business? I placed an order with them last year, but have not received my rifles nor have they responded to my phone calls or emails.

 

[Desmo996]

Problems with Miltech

Hey mroadking - I'm in the same boat. I ordered an M1 Garand from them in July 2009, and was originally told that it would ship at Christmas 2009. I'm still waiting - it's March 2010.
I did get a message from Tracy of Miltech today, though, and there have been some family issues that have held up their production cycle. She said they're targeting end of March now. Hope so, I'm fully paid up.

 

[Justin]

This thread is originally from 2003. If you guys want to start a new thread about Miltech, that would be a good idea.