custom rifle

[pastorp]

Question for you guys?? At what point does a rifle become a "custon rifle" Would a rebarrell to a different caliber or a restock of a military rifle qualify. Or must the rifle be reworked in its entireity.

To me a custom rifle has been built from the chosen action up. Probably with modifications to the action, but I see a lot of rifles under the custom rifle heading with very little work done on them.

Whats your opinion?

Regards,

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  pastorp, You are quite right in my opinion. Custom guns require a hand made stock fitted to that rifle as a minimum.  I have seen  "custom" rifles that were merely military rifles with the wood cut down. Over the years I have visited many custom gun shops and have maybe 6-7 rifles I would call custom. Mostly they have new barrels, handmade stocks, and a fine blue job. One is an old Sako, that was a barreled action from that company and it has a hand made stock that I would class as custom.  I am not sure if there is a rule for determining what is a custom rifle. It is largely up to each individual I guess. When I was about 15-20, my neighbor made beautiful custom stocked rifles. He did my old .30-06 for me. The stock was hand made starting with a blank that was just a slab of wood. He hand fitted the whole deal...... The most unfortunate thing was this very talented man was killed in an accident when I was about 20. He would have been one of our greats had he lived.

[mcwoodduck]

Custom can mean alot.
I think changing anything from factory would make it a custom rifle.
Change the stock, caliber, sights, added a paint job, or other additions that make the rifle work better for you and your needs.

[Rangr44]

IMO, a customized rifle is an inexpensive shortcut for someone who won't/can't afford a custom (bespoke) rifle.

While both types may have some similar commercial accessories, there's a world of difference between mass-produced parts and "made-from-scratch" parts like bottom metal, scope mounts and rings - not to mention a handmade/hand-finished stock.

.

[Mikey]

Well, let's see:  You have 'totally customized', 'partially customized' and 'totally custom made' and 'partially custom made'.

I would think the first is a mass produced firearm completely worked over with all parts replaced, with the second having only some parts replaced.  The third is completely hand-made or hand-completed from worked over mass produced parts (Mauser actions, e.g) with the other parts being custom made (barrel) or custom engraved (floorplates, etc.) and the fourth would be a partial version of the third. 

Now, this is jmtcw but I have two Winchester 94 AEs that I consider custom or customized yet they started life as factory made mass produced, as were my Swedisha Mausers and my sproterized mil-surps.

I agree with Rangr44 that a customized rifle is a inexpensive shortcut for someone who may not be able to afford a truly custom rifle.  Thankfully this does not mean that the customized rifle amounts to anything less than the truly custom rifle and all my customized rifles shoot as well as if not better than some truly custom pieces I have seen.

When I see someone come to my range with a truly custom rifle I always compliment him on his fine or sharp lookin' rifle-gun and let him talk it up.  I never verbally compete with someone who has spent the $ for a custom piece, and I may even spot for him when he shoots.  I never criticize anyone's concept of artwork, I simply allow them to make their own comparisons after I have shot my rifle...........and that's how it goes.......