I think for the work involved that the Kirst conversions are about double what they should be. No cylinder should be priced at 700 in today's CNC world.
JP
JP you must not work in the CNC world.
The problem is there is not enough demand to run the quantities that would get the price down. The standard Kirst product is priced where it is because we run svereral hundered cylinders in a batch.
We just dont sell that kind of quantity in Historical converters and I would have to sit on them for 20 years. The price is set by demand not by the work involved... the work involved is in the installation.....LOTS and LOTS of work these are not drop ins by any stretch of the imagination, you must be a machinist or have a machinist do the work.
Our starting price for a Historical coversion is allmost identical to Bob Millingtons and most of Bob's converter parts are bought from us.
There are many things that conspire against inexpensive "Historical recreations" .......
1 even if we could sell you inexpensive parts you must be a machinist to install them
2 your machinist is going to charge way more than I do because he will need to make tooling and fixtures.
3 You will need to send the gun out for refinish if it's a Colt and you want Colorcase......expect about $200 -$300
4 The Italiand are never going to do it if they don't think they can sell thousands
5 I am in the business of building historical conversions if you cut me out of the building part you pay RETAIL for the parts
So realistically on a 1st Richards if the converter was $350, Ejector $250, recolorcase $250, Labor $500, fixtures and tooling $500, refinish $200, correct markings $600 (includes the cost of stamps) The cost for you would be $2550 and this is just a base gun. For the same price if I do the work you could have Ivory grips and a little engraving.
While I know it would be cool to be able to buy these fire arms at Italian prices, you got to remember that these are American Handmade Art pieces. And I have to make a living just like you.
We are NEVER I repeat NEVER going to produce guns to compete with Italian prices. If you guys want inexpensive "Historical Recreations" get your friends together and start bugging the Italians. If enough of you ask for it they will make it. When they do I will switch to making very expensive HandMade Guitars
One final thing I would be happy to work at Italian prices when I get the same benifits Italian wokers....Paid vacation, Health insurance, and a living wage. Some of you guys want me to be working at third world wages and I'm sure some of the same people bitch when US Jobs go to India. Grow Up! If you want it buy it, if you can't afford it save up, and if it's completely out of your leauge dream on ...just like I do.
It's Not My Fault If You Can't Afford My Work.
Raven
P.S. It's none of you guys business but We live in a 400 Sq.Ft. House work in a 1200 Sq. Ft. shop and live like monks so that we can do this kind of work. How many of you are living in Mc mansions watching BIG flat screen TV's.....I'm still watching a 15 year old 25" so I can afford the toys I want. So, ultimatly the issue is not the price of my work it is your priorities.