Wacky Wednesday Gun Related Stuff…..?

[BirdsThaWord]

First, as a lover of all gun things BBQ, 1911’s and Dan Wesson 1911’s, just found this one online that would be so befitting of a Floriduh boy. Drool and fondle worthy to me:
20921
20922
Second: Had a 1911 customizer, custom parts seller, etc reach out to me. Had a few convo’s before about their beautiful work and a bit of my personal stuff. Said that they want to send me slides, barrels, thumb safeties, msh’s, etc for polishing. Said they have only done this in house, but want to see if I want to take that part on. Honored that someone who puts out such nice work would approach me to do so. Not sure if the $ is there or not, and what all the details are, but replied with some questions regarding expectations and other relevant stuff. Pretty cool to be considered! Not sure if it will turn into a side gig or not, but feel honored none the less. I’ll let you guys know if it becomes a thing. Maybe I could get us all a discount on services as part of the deal.

[dao]

Congrats Bird! Now you see it's not that we're just being nice, but rather we're simply pointing out that you have a real talent.

I've been watching quite a few auctions on GB of late for shiny guns and imo if you ever decided to get serious about it you could make a living out of doing what you do. Or at the least go a long way toward funding your hobby. The markup on polished guns is pretty darn high. Not sure if it would still be fun to you, but you'll know that soon enough when you start taking in the work you mentioned.

[Bawanna]

That is precisely the thing. Big difference between a hobby and a job. Also finding people with the loot to pay for such items might be few and far between.
That and how long could the fingers last trying to do that full time, even when you don't feel like doing it.
I was offered a position with Ballard Rifle in Cody Wyoming after visiting them taking my daughter to college. I love the area but they wanted to send me stocks, checker them and send them back. My first thought was I don't know if I can sit and checker all day full time. Plus I wanted to live in Cody, their shop was only a half mile or so from the Buffalo Bill museum, great place, visit it if you get a chance.
I was lucky, I didn't do it as they moved back east not long after that and far as I know they went under. They sure made some nice rifles.

[BirdsThaWord]

Thanks dao!
Yes, I am amazed at the mark up’s on them once polished. I think that doing that would probably be the only way to make a somewhat decent return on the time invested. Thinking on what you said, along with the Colonel’s words of wisdom, I don’t know that I would take the side gig offer on. I just don’t see how enough could be charged on those parts to pay me a fair bit. That and (again using the Colonel’s words) do I want to do it all the time (current free time) and would my hands allow doing so much polishing?

[Bawanna]

Not meant to discourage. See what their criteria might be. If you can do it at your leisure and make some money and your hands allow, that might be ok.

In your case your getting whatever money you agree too and not on the selling end. I'm a lousy salesman. I hate to take people's money. I want it, most of the time I feel I earned it, but I just don't sit well with asking for it.

Fortunately, most people are generous when I send stuff. So it works out fine.