i took one rifle to have the handle bent, d&t(i gave him the scope, mounts and rings) and put on a 2 position safety. it costed me $320. to say i floored is an understatement. tho his werk was top notch. i looked around for another gunsmith, which is no easy task, when i found him.
i had a gunsmith right next to me, but he died from cancer. i could walk to his place in about 10 minutes. he taught me alot about gunsmithing, but i was and am a babe in the woods when it came to him. i was/am a shade tree gunsmith.
where he makes the money is a custom gunstock. he'll take a block of wood and turn it into a piece of artwork. i wish i had the skills he has!!! but underneath it all, he luvs 1889 to WW2 rifles.
right now on a semi custom rifle, i have about $80 on the action, $120 for bent bolt handle and d&t and put in a dayton trigger kit, $120 for the 6.5x55 numrich in the white barrel and $260 for the douglas stock. $580 is the cost that i've already put in. i don't know how much to put the barrel in the action, hot blued and put into the stock.
if the 6.5 swede shoots good, i have another 93 spanish mauser that will be a 257 roberts numrich barrel.
to some guys the savage action looks like junk, but they are accurate as heck. i've never had one or know of one that wasn't accurate. if you are looking for rifle that is beautiful, try win m70 pre 64. if your looking for an accurate rifle, the savage m110 will fit your bill and then some.