NEW BUSINESS...
At 68, I consider myself too old, and too lazy, to start a new business, but have an idea that someone else may want to implement……
An opportunity exists for an entrepreneur to start an overseas business providing quality refinishing and/or restocking of American SxS shotguns. The key point being that lower labor and material costs in a third-world country would enable Americans to have their shotgun restored at one-third to one-half the cost of doing so in the U.S. Wages in these countries are often 1/4th or 1/3rd of the U.S.A. norms.
It would require a few skilled American craftsmen to lead the group, and to teach and supervise local workers the skills of stock-making, checkering, re-bluing, etc. Depending upon the country selected, attractive local woods may be available at low cost – or foreign walnut could be imported for more expensive redo’s. Pantograph usage would minimize costs.
Shotguns are a bit easier than rifles, in that only two basic patterns are needed – straight or pistol grip. The old/existing stock could serve as the basic patter, with customer specified changes to LOP, DAC, DAH, etc. being expected. Perhaps this new company might initially focus on the classic American names: Parker, Ithaca, Fox, Lefever, Remington, etc.
If a made-to-order custom specification stock could be profita ble delivered for $800, there would seem to be many U.S. buyers. Likewise, a quality reblue/blacking job for $200 would find many takers.
To minimize the import/export paperwork, a single central U.S. office could be the import/export shipping point – and order taking facility.
The current success of shotgun manufacturers in Turkey indicate that third world employees can be trained to produce quality output.
JERRY
