Cetme sent to gunsmith...

[bartp40]

I sent my rifle off back in the Spring 2009. I was starting to get a little worried since I had not heard the status.

I received it today from Black River. WOW! He did excellent work.

I highly recommend Black River! His prices are better than most.

Many thanks. :icon_biggrin:



Black River Gunsmithing, Inc.
P.O. Box 153
Grafton, OH 44044

Email: Contact@blackrivergunsmithing.com

[97th Signalman]

I sent my rifle off back in the Spring 2009. I was starting to get a little worried since I had not heard the status.

I received it today from Black River. WOW! He did excellent work.

I highly recommend Black River! His prices are better than most.

Many thanks. :icon_biggrin:



Black River Gunsmithing, Inc.
P.O. Box 153
Grafton, OH 44044

Email: Contact@blackrivergunsmithing.com

I have known Jim for years. He's a good guy and does great work on battlerifles. What did you have him do?

[bartp40]

He made a butt ugly CETME looks like a sexy steel bipod with plastic forearm, folding butt stock, AK flash hider with new bolt head assembly and soft rubber hand grip. I supplied the parts and he supplied his wonderful expertise! :icon_biggrin:

[jfowl31]

How much did he charge for that work if you don't mind me asking.

From what you just described, he had to

a) push out 2 pin holding on buttstock
b) unscrew 1 screw holding on forend
c) drop in new bolt
d) screw on new grip

all that should have been REALLY cheap

Putting on the FH is more what I'm wondering about as far as cost goes. The other stuff......

[bartp40]

He also replaced bolt/head and head space, touch up paint and test fire = $150.

Having the rifle back ... priceless!:thumbup:

[jfowl31]

He didn't rip you off. Next time, ask a couple questions and everything he did, you can do EASILY with about 5-10 minutes of work and simple knowledge.

Honestly, these rifles are not very complicated. Everything that gunsmith did minus replacing the flashhider (because he might have had to cut the old one off) I would let my wife do on my rifle, and she's never touched the rifle before and is FAR from mechanically inclined.

Replacing the bolt head is a simple procedure, and that's the hardest thing that was done. Anyways, I'm not by any means knocking the gunsmith because he could have charged waaaaay more (and I've seen some that do), and I'm sure he's a good guy, but next time, definitely do it yourself. Its all easier than changing the oil on your car...

[mitchstoner]

+ 1, jfowl31

To me, at least half of the fun of the hobby is doing the builds, mods, and repairs myself. Even when I have NO clue what I'm doing, there is a ton of info on this and other forums. And tons of very helpful members who patiently answer the dumbest questions us noobs ask.

Thanks to all of you old hands!

[Don357]

I don't know about in your area, but I only know of 2 or 3 people in my area that claim to be gunsmiths that even know what a CETME is, much less work on one, and I can't see sending my Spanish Lady to someone I don't know to be worked on. She would get scared and miss me too much!

+1 on doing it yourself though, I enjoy using my hands. Most military rifles are made simple for battlefield conditions. Simple + Reliable + accurate = perfection in a firearm.:thumbup:

[97th Signalman]

How about a photo of Jim's finished product?

:ttiwwop: