Renting a Hosford wall thickness gauge.

[Quack me up!]

Looking for opinions here. Seeing as I can't find someone with one of these gauges closer than about three hours away from me, I have an idea and want your input.
I was thinking of buying one of these gauges and then offer it for rent to fellow PGCA members. I can't justify buying it just for myself as I'm not fortunate enough to buy and sell very many double guns.
I would just keep the gauge here at home and when someone wanted it I would send it out to them however they want, USPS etc. They would just pay the rental fee and send it back to me. I'm not sure how much would be a fair rental price so I'm looking for input on that also. Maybe $50.00 for a week or ????
Let me know what you guys think. Maybe there's enough of these already floating around between members where this wouldn't be feasible. I'm not looking to get rich of off it by any means just maybe offset the initial purchase price some what.
Thanks for any opinions, pro or con.
Bob

[J. A. EARLY]

Bob,

I could not justify that cost either so I bought the Manson Wall Thickness Gauge from Brownells (513-000-066) for about $100 and have used it twenty-five times so it has paid for itself. It does everything I want it to do and appears to be very accurate, for barrels I send off are measured by others and we both come to the same conclusion on the thickness.

[OH Osthaus]

great theory - BUT - isn't there always a but

the issue is - which ever gun I am looking at would be gone by the time the gauge arrived.

funny - just today I was putting together a list of what I would put in a shotgunner addict version of a bug out bag.

The Skeets bore gauge (finally found one, be here in a day or two), a set of digital calipers, a tape, and a wall thickness guage, and maybe a copy of the serial number book. cafefully packed in a carry case, it would go in the back of the truck any weekend we were not stuck with chores at home.

I have passed on five questionable damacus SXS's (two were Parkers) in the past year or so. both Parkers had been honed - no tools - no idea how much, not taking the chance. I run into these sorts of things when least expected and in some odd places. I still might not buy them - but they won't haunt me ( I hate being haunted )


Back to the topic of the post - it is not a bad idea, really it could work in some situations- if the buyer could put a gun on hold at a shop, or had one coming with an inspection period from a on line source, access to a wall thickness gauge within a couple days - could be handy

[Ray Masciarella]

I think it is a great idea. How much are they? I saw one, I guess used, for sale for $600Best, Ray

[Quack me up!]

They're $600 new as I just talked to Jon Hosford yesterday.

[Ray Masciarella]

I went back to check the ad. It is for a new gauge. It's listed by a gun dealer who I guess is also a Hosford gauge dealer. It seems expensive but I'm not a toolmaker or machinist so what I do know. Other gauges are available for much less but it seems the experts here prefer Hosford so I go with them. I'll be your first customer if you get it as I do have a couple of guns that have not been checked. Best, Ray

[Brush Buster]

Just an opinion , as they say I finally ," Bit the Bullet " and bought the Hosford gauge a couple of years ago , probably the best money I have ever spent on an accessory /Tool ! The only way to look at it is ,if it prevents me from being burn't on even one thin walled Damascus or Fluid Steel barreled gun ,then it has paid for itself ! The other reasoning is ,I will always have it on retainer if I decide to buy another gun ,which you know we will ! The other part of the story ,if we found we never had another use for it we could always post it in our " For Sale " section here on the PGCA Site ,just look at how many Fellows would like to have one ! Again ,Just My Opinion ! Best ; Russ

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

My Hosford gauge gets extensive use from me and my Michigan Parker friends! Thus far it has:
1. Measured the MBWT of all my SxS's.
2. Discovered one Parker DHE with one tube at .015" near the placement of the forward hand when shooting. This might have saved me a finger or two!!!
3. Identified those Damascus barrels with MBWT less than .030". I pay attention tho what loads I shoot in these.
4. Discovered that after removal of pitting a #3 Frame 10 gague Parker still had more MBWT than did an un-reamed #2 Fram 10 gauge.

For Parker friends my Jon Hosford (like a British gun) has:
A. Discovered a nice little DHE 16 was not what it was cracked up to be. That gun was promptly returned to the seller with a written explanation. That same gun was offered a few months later at the UP Shoot to unsuspected and under-equipped buyers!
B. Discovered that a previously thought or CH's barrels were NOT too thin to shoot. A famous Michigan fowler was very pleased to learn this!
C. Provided accurate MBWT of their Parkers for their records.

My Jon Hosford is loaned to friends often. They in turn do favors for me as friends do. One cannot easily put a price on being invited on a layout hunt or being offered crack at buying a special Parker!

Friendship has its rewards!

Mark

[winplumber]

Could you guys rent me your nice Parkers so I dont have to spend so much money for quality ! John sees this post he may need to raise his price. I bought both he Gauge and dent removal set and love them both. As for renting I wouldnt rent either never know how its going to come back.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Yes I will rent you a nice Parker so long as we abide by all applicable Federal and State laws.

I will require a deposit equal to the value to me of the specific Parker plus any shipping charges. There would be terms such as fees for returning the item late or damaged. A firearm may also require a per shot usage fee.

Renting a gauge or "tool" would be much easier so long if both parties follow common business practices.

Mark