This is indeed a tough nut to crack. Even in the m/l genre these terms are used very cautiously, and with supporting evidence if used properly.
Many years ago I was in Gunmaker's Hall at The NMLRA Nationals in Friendship, IN with a rifle I had completed the previous year. I had bought the barrel stock wood, lock, trigger, etc. and built the rifle, using those parts. I was asked about it by another visitor and casually said I had built it from scratch, not meaning to mislead, but rather to distinguish it from an over-the-counter pre-inletted kit. One of the top builders of museum quality m/l rifles heard me and rather sarcastically commented, "Oh?, made the screws and all, eh?". I was very embarrassed and tried to explain what I meant. His comment was meant to put me in my place, and did so effectively.
Since that day, I have used the term hand-built for any gun made using parts that were outsourced, and not made in-house. As Jerry said above, there are very few men alive who have the expertise and who build guns making every piece from scratch. The House family, I believe, has even gone so far as smelting iron ore to get the iron to build the barrels. This is truly HAND-MADE.
SRH
