Reposted from the wrong area sorry I didn't see the gunsmith specific area
I am sort of looking for some general information for now as I am new to this sort of thing but here is my plan
I am working on the prototype of a percussion pistol I want to have manufactured for sale at some point in the future. I have most of the details worked out just a few odds and ends to finish up. This is a small two barrel derringer style and will be made from stainless steel, probably 416.
Percussion pistols are not considered firearms by the Federal Government (ATF) and most states and I intend to have them made in a state that does not consider them to be a firearm so no firearms manufacturers license will apply but I fully intend to follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Everything legal and above board. Plus I would imagine some sort of indemnifying the manufacturer would also be necessary (if, for instance, on resale they went to a jurisdiction by mistake that didn't allow them then the manufacturer should not be held liable although I intend to make sure things like that don't happen)
I definitely want them made in the USA not overseas
Also the barrels will be .410 bore and not rifled so no rifling would be required
My plan is to
1. Finish the prototype (still have a few bugs to work out with the firing mechanism and lock work) then deliver to someone who can turn it into whatever machinist or CAD drawings are necessary for manufacturing
2. Produce a small run, maybe ten or twenty, for testing and to identify any problems with manufacturing
3. Move to production in smaller lots, maybe 100 at a time. I'm not sure how big the market will be it might end up at just a few hundred a year.
So my questions are related to the manufacturing end as I have very limited experience.
Does this sound like a reasonable approach? How do I go about vetting a shop to do the job? Is ten large enough for a initial run or too small for a shop to take on? Would I be better to find a shop that can both turn the prototype into drawings and do the machine work (and does this exist)?
Thanks
I am sort of looking for some general information for now as I am new to this sort of thing but here is my plan
I am working on the prototype of a percussion pistol I want to have manufactured for sale at some point in the future. I have most of the details worked out just a few odds and ends to finish up. This is a small two barrel derringer style and will be made from stainless steel, probably 416.
Percussion pistols are not considered firearms by the Federal Government (ATF) and most states and I intend to have them made in a state that does not consider them to be a firearm so no firearms manufacturers license will apply but I fully intend to follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Everything legal and above board. Plus I would imagine some sort of indemnifying the manufacturer would also be necessary (if, for instance, on resale they went to a jurisdiction by mistake that didn't allow them then the manufacturer should not be held liable although I intend to make sure things like that don't happen)
I definitely want them made in the USA not overseas
Also the barrels will be .410 bore and not rifled so no rifling would be required
My plan is to
1. Finish the prototype (still have a few bugs to work out with the firing mechanism and lock work) then deliver to someone who can turn it into whatever machinist or CAD drawings are necessary for manufacturing
2. Produce a small run, maybe ten or twenty, for testing and to identify any problems with manufacturing
3. Move to production in smaller lots, maybe 100 at a time. I'm not sure how big the market will be it might end up at just a few hundred a year.
So my questions are related to the manufacturing end as I have very limited experience.
Does this sound like a reasonable approach? How do I go about vetting a shop to do the job? Is ten large enough for a initial run or too small for a shop to take on? Would I be better to find a shop that can both turn the prototype into drawings and do the machine work (and does this exist)?
Thanks