My bench area.
Jet 1024 lathe, 10 x 24 in. Should be enough for most barrels.
Who is The Grumpy Heathen?
Hello, my name is David Peart. A few years ago I retired from my engineering position at a local defense firm. Soon after retirement I started taking gunsmithing classes from the American Gunsmithing Institute. I have always like tinkering, and appreciate all types of machines, from firearms, to cars, motorcycles, boats, or airplanes. I think I have a knack for figuring out how machines work, and making them function better. Coupling this with my enjoyment of shooting sports makes gunsmithing seem like a logical and natural choice as a retirement career to have fun and keep me busy.
I formed Grumpy Heathen Gunsmithing to give myself greater opportunity to experience a wide variety of firearms. The quality tools I need to work on firearms, and additional classes, are not cheap. I am using the earnings from my gunsmithing business to continue procuring quality tools, shop supplies and equipment, additional courses, and the necessary evil of professional liability insurance. This is why my rates are lower than some other local gunsmiths. I am not trying to compete with nor run other smiths out of business, I just want enough income to offset my expenses.
Grumpy Heathen Gunsmithing is a home based business, I do not have a storefront. As such, please call me to make an appointment before you drop by my home. I am willing to travel to you or meet you part way. To keep my expenses low, I do not have a business specific phone number - my published number is my personal mobile number.
As a Federal Firearm Licensee I can help you with firearm transfers. Please call me ahead of time to arrange the timing for shipping your firearm. I do not want surprise packages to just show up at my home.
In the near future, I will be performing machine work on firearms, and hot caustic bluing. I have a very nice lathe now that I am learning and taking classes on, and will be taking a class and purchasing bluing equipment in the next few months. I appreciate all types and ages of firearms, and am finding myself very attracted to older ones from around the turn of the 20th century. Learning how to precisely use my lathe, and refinish these older firearms, will hopefully give me even more opportunity to get my hands on classic firearms.
I hope you will give me an opportunity to help you with your firearm needs. My mission is to provide exceptional service in ensuring your firearms are safe, reliable, and comfortable for you to shoot at a reasonable price (yes, I am open to bartering or exchanging services). The added bonus, for me, is I get to expand my knowledge, skills, and appreciation of a variety of firearms, and meet fellow kindred spirits in the shooting sports.