Need a good gunsmith

[Star1pup]

Can anyone recommend a good gunsmith that is not more than a couple hours drive from Columbiana County? I've tried this post before on various sites and had no luck.

I have an LC Smith 16 gauge SxS that I would like to have gone over by a good gunsmith. I love the gun so much that I would like to put it in pristine condition if possible.

[MrFurious]

If you would ever consider selling this gun, you'd be better off leaving it in its original condition. Even if the bluing is gone and the wood has seen better days, its worth more that way than having been restored.

On the other hand, if you intend to keep it forever, by all means...restore it to your desired preference. Can't say I know any gunsmiths down that way (heck, I have a hard time finding one around here!). Check with your local gun dealsers. Usually they will know a few that they use from time to time to repair or check over used guns they take in. If it were me, I'd search the net looking for a gunsmith that specializes in old double shotguns. You may pay more, but I guarantee you'll be more satisfied with the work and happier in the end.

[Star1pup]

The gun will never be sold as long as I am alive, so it is worthwhile to pretty it up.

[MrFurious]

Thats cool. I've been looking around trying to find an old Baker SxS in decent shape to fix up and hang on the wall. Most of them had Damascus barrels, so finding a shooter would be next to impossible.

[birdhunters]

Star1pup I found an excellant gunsmith in Canton, Oh. Should just be about an hour or so away form you. his name is Duane Barthel. His phone number is 330-499-4171. give him a call, I'm sure he can fix you up with what you want. I had some work done on a 98 Mauser converted to 300 win. mag. a couple of years ago and let me tell you that thing will shoot a 1/2 inch group at 100 yds on the days that I can hold it that steady.

[Star1pup]

Thanks. I'll give Duane a call.

BTW: Any good grouse hunting in your county? I have a cottage at Atwood right across the border in Carroll County. My bird dog is a hunting Airedale and she is great on pheasants.

[vvarmitr]

I've heard a lot of good about Barthel though I've never dealt w/'em. Him & his son are gunsmiths together. He comes down to the Tusco Rifle Range on Thursdays, I think, then goes around to the local gun shops & picks up guns. If you are looking to reblue or even parkerize, he's the man.
If birdhunters doesn't take you up on your offer let me know. I would love to hunt birds over a dog at least once in my life.

[Star1pup]

vvarmitar: I guess we could work out a hunt if I could find a place with birds. Might have to bite the bullet and go to a preserve for pheasants. They usually plant a few at Highlandtown.

Star is a flushing dog, but I have gotten a lot of birds over her. She hunts like a Springer.

[rodbuilder]

Try Runzos at Westville Lakes . I believe they are in Columbiana county. They are advertising a good gunsmith in the area papers.

[birdhunters]

Sorry it's taken me a while to answer you Star1pup but I don't get on this crazy thing every day. I think the grouse situation here is like it is in the rest of the state. Very spotty. Just doesn't seem to be many of them around anymore. My guess is there's just too dog-gone many predators around. Then you throw their 20 year cycle in the mix and they are on the decline at the present. Now I know I'm going to really hear it from the turkey hunters but ODNR really didn't do the grouse hunters any favors by restocking so many of them feathered rats. They'll chase out a mother grouse and her babies just so those greedy son-of-guns can have all the food. Then the redtails,coyotes,foxes, and ferrel dogs and cats all take their toll too. It's a wonder we have any bird hunting at all. Well we don't really have much except planted pheasants. Enough said on that.
At present I don't have any place to hunt except on a private pheasant preserve. I've got an English Pointer bitch out of Elhew stock that's got a good nose so don't loose too many birds over her.
I won't hunt on the public release areas as there are just too many idiots that go there and I really don't like using up my spare time picking shot out of my dog or me. Besides I don't look very good when my body is leaking that red stuff from inside.
Now if you run across a good grouse woods give me a jingle and maybe we can hook up on a hunt.

[Lance]

Star1,
Are you just looking for a once over and cleaning or I you looking to do a complete restoration? How's the solder?? I have a buddy the spends a LOT of time on double guns and knows the who best guys around NE Ohio for those. Let me know more details and I'll give him a call.

[Star1pup]

Thanks for all the info. Thge ODNR says that turkeys and grouse donot compete, but how does a 1 pound bird compete with a 20 pound bird? I also think that hawks and owls are really the feathered coyotes! At least we can control the coyote population a bit.

Right now I'm considering a good cleaning and ckeck over with a full restoration in the future. No hot blue, however, as that could really mess things up. I have had a local gunner also recommend Duane Barthel so will probably give him a call in the near future.