anyone been to Williamsburg Va. lately?

[Pancho]

And do you know what a Williamsburg Va. rifle is costing today? The last time I was there (15 years ago) a period built rifle built by Williamsburg's craftsmen fetch over $10 K and there was a 2 year wait.

 

[Sam1911]

I've been down a few times in the last couple of years. I think the costs will depend a lot on what you want, but I'd be surpirsed if the price was so low, and the wait so short.

There are other traditional makers that could do an amazing job sooner and a whole lot cheaper. A whole lot of what you're paying for there isn't the rifle/gun.

 

[Rogue Coder]

$10K does not surprise me. The last time I tried to visit there you had to pay to park, pay to get in, etc. That was of course about 12 years ago.

 

[Sam1911]

$10K does not surprise me. The last time I tried to visit there you had to pay to park, pay to get in, etc. That was of course about 12 years ago.

Well, actually you don't have to pay to park OR enter even the "colonial" parts of Williamsburg, VA. You do have to pay to participate in the historical education and re-enactment activities, and to enter the restored buildings which are run and maintained by Colonial Williamsburg. Considering the costs associated with the restoration work they do, to the level of authenticity they require, and then all that enormous staff of interpreters, reenactors, historians, and artisans (not to mention all the support staff and management required) I don't know how they do it so cheaply.

But, regarding the rifles or guns they make and sell, a big part of what you're paying for is the fact that your weapon was made THERE, but the craftsmen employed by C.W., in their shops, while they're doing their real job of educating and demonstrating. If you want a very beautiful historically accurate flintlock fowler or rifle, you can commission same from others who are equally skilled. If you're paying $10K or $15K to have a C.W. gun made, you're paying for the provenance.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Hey Sam, just curious, who else is making rifles with hand forged, hand rifled barrels? I wish my disposable income would allow me to afford this, but I am still curious.

LD

 

[Sam1911]

Ehhh...ok, that I don't know. There are great craftsmen out there, for sure, but that's a special thing.

 

[Pancho]

The last time I was there I spent half of the day and all of my wife's patience at the gun shop. Absolute authenticity, there was not even any electricity in the shop.

 

[cavman]

I am there everyday. Want me to ask around for something?

 

[royal barnes]

The last time I talked to the gunsmith about a rifle(10 years ago) no hand forged barrels were being used. They do it in the shop for show. He said civil liability issues had forced them to use blanks. Everything else is still hand crafted down to the screws. The price then for a plain rifle was $10,000 with a three year wait. There are superb makers out there who are cheaper and carry a name easily recognized if that is what you are looking for. I would love to have another Hershel House rifle.

 

[Pancho]

Lawyers and liability have stripped us again of our heritage.

 

[Geordie]

Williamsburg

I was there this past September. The gunshop was open but no work was being done. I do not think they have a full time shop right now, just docents. Clay Smith http://claysmithguns.com/index.htm was the last full time smith, to my knowledge. Hope this is correct and helps.
Your Servant & ect.,
Geo.

 

[Ohioan]

You might be able to find someone to make a hand forged barrel, but I highly doubt it. If you did, it would be very expensive. There are a few guys in my general area that have hand rifling machines. So that would be easier to get.

There are some outstanding builders out there, but if you were some big investment banker you would get funny looks if you told your buddies that rifle over the mantle was built by Jim Chambers. On the other hand, they would be impressed with the name Williamsburg.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

[cavman]

The CW gunsmith I just talked to said they are indeed hand forged, they cost about $20,000 and up, and there is about an eight or nine year wait right now.

They take them about 4-6 months to make a rifle. They will make any caliber you want.