Services
Common to All Gun Types
Detailed Strip and Clean with Function and Safety Tests. The firearm is completely disassembled, degreased, ultrasonically cleaned, lubricated and reassembled. Checks are made on cycling (with dummy rounds in the shop), firing pin impact, lock-up and safety operation.
Corrections for:
- Misfires
- Excess Head Space
- Feeding jams
- Extraction / Ejection problems
- Wear and Corrosion
Our weapons
Services Offered
01. Trigger Jobs
We reduce trigger break force to the customer’s desired level within safe guidelines. We reduce the take up distance and over-travel if possible. We eliminate grittiness and reduce creep. We seek to make a clean, predictable, crisp trigger release. All trigger jobs include a “Trigger Plot” a FIRST exclusive service.
02. Bore Inspection
We use an optical borescope to see inside the barrel from one end to the other. A special 90-degree mirror on the end of the probe enables viewing lands and grooves straight on for close inspection. We can see wear, erosion, rust and pitting FIRSThand.
03. Sight Upgrades and Replacements.
Sights on all forms of firearms can most often be upgraded. We fit dovetailed sights, cut dovetail slots in barrels if necessary and boresight alignment so that you’re hitting paper first time back on the range.
04. Smooth and Tune Action
All but the most expensive guns carry some compromises in manufacturing in favor of affordability. That means almost all can benefit from a file here and a polish there and a better fitting overall. The result is a gun that feels smooth and tight and operates reliably. Many manufacturers require a several hundred round break-in period. A smooth and tune gives the same result with tightness assured.
05. Barrel Threading
The muzzle end of a barrel can often be threaded to accept a variety of performance-enhancing attachments. Just let us know what you would like to add—a suppressor, compensator, flash hider.
06. Installing Muzzle Device
Once the barrel is threaded the device must be installed, frequently in the right rotational position. This is called “timing.” It’s crucial that the top be at the top of the barrel very precisely.
07. Barrel Porting
Putting holes in the upper side of the barrel near the muzzle is called porting. It can greatly reduce muzzle flip. This shortens the time to recover and get back on sight for the next shot. It can also reduce felt recoil. We port barrels (and the slides above them on semi-autos). It’s useful on rifles and shotguns as well.
08. Rebarreling
Many guns need a new barrel for any of a variety of reasons. Many designs require fitting and adjusting to make sure head space is correct and the installation withstands the pressures of ignition and recoil.
09. Scope Mounting
We drill and tap the receiver or frame, mount the optic and boresight the setup on nearly any firearm.
Check and Measure Head Space.
01. Make Chamber Castings
On old guns, it’s often impossible to determine its caliber from outside markings. We will cast the chamber with a low melting point metal. When removed, it can be measured to determine which cartridge is meant to go in there.
02. Crown Barrel
The end of the barrel has to be finished off exactly perpendicular and with a specific geometry so that gases escaping behind the bullet don’t push it off sideways. This finishing is done on the lathe.
03. Fluting
Cutting grooves in a barrel or a bolt is called fluting. It’s done to reduce weight and improve heat dissipation.
04. Shorten Barrel
Within legal limits of course.
05. Reline Barrel
Some old ones with their rifling shot out can be given new life.
Services Specific to Gun Type
Feedback
Our clients’ testimonials
Read what our clients are saying
Repaired my SBR project. It wasn’t a good rifle to do the work on but I believe this shop saved my time and investment on this rifle. Gonna go shoot it tomorrow actually and get it ready for deer season. The gunsmiths were very good at relaying the info and what needed to be done. And the work was done at a reasonable rate.
Craig EnglishCEO 
Great smith with even better customer service!
Fritz GebesslerCEO
Excellent quality in milling and Cerakote. We had a wonderful experience with Jed. His customer service and knowledge are wonderful. We learned so much just by talking to him. A fantastic place to customize your gun or shop for some awesome custom Ruger 22s.
Erin ChrislerCEO
Great Gunsmithing place! They gave my WASR-10 AK that cold war look by installing my traditional ak furniture on it. Very professional and friendly people. Reasonably priced service as well. I highly recommend this place for all your gunsmithing needs!
Scott MaltzbergerCEO
Jed was absolutely terrific to work with. Provided fair estimates and over-delivered on my expectations. I came in with the intractable problem of a stripped hex-head due using red Loctite [I should have used blue]. Jed repaired the problem with thoughtful precision. Highly recommended.
S CCEO
I dropped my pistol off on a Saturday to have the rear sight replaced. They had it done the same day and at a great price. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, this is now my go to place for gun repair and modification.
BrewmuleCEO
I have been getting jobs done here for two years now, and there's no place else in the St. Louis Area I would rather go. I can always rely on Mr. J and the team here to perform meticulous work and explain why it should be done. I have used a range of gunsmithing services, and I definitely recommend this one for the wide range of work it can perform and the quality and care with which it is carried out. Thanks guys!
Dan SmithCEO
Fantastic gunsmith!! Went above and beyond my expectations! Very thorough at explaining the work that they were gonna perform. Even fairly involved slide mass reduction cuts. He knew exactly what I wanted and made sure through drawings and explanations that I was 100% on board. Excellent job guys!!
Jason VermeirenCEO
Once I found this place I will not take my guns anywhere else! Jed does amazing work and is a great guy to work with! This place is the real deal gunsmith I have been looking for!
Christopher ReyeringCEO
So this team knows their business. Price quoted correctly. Time Quoted correctly. Well informed and helped me with my AR10 platform thank you
Jim BosomworthCEO
I had a broken stock on a very old 20 gauge my grandfather gave to me and they did a great job of repairing it to keep it all original. You can't even tell it was ever broken. Great service! Great craftsmanship!
Josh EmsCEO
Great service and great people. Able to find rare parts and fix my first gun which had not been fired in over 30 years. Prices were even less than I expected and kept me up to date on the progress. Thank you! I will recommend to everyone.
Dan RidgewayCEO
Jed worked on my Winchester 1873 to solve a jamming problem. The job was more complicated than originally thought and Jed stayed with the original estimate. Problem solved...I just put 50 rounds through that rifle as soon as I arrived home from his shop...perfect cycling. Jed did a super job explaining how to avoid that problem. He also gave me some good advice on my Sig P-220. I will be back and I recommend this shop to my friends.
William ZschocheCEO
Just picked up 2 rifles that I had work done on and I am very pleased with the professionalism that was displayed by Jed at First Gunsmithing. He explained everything clear and concisely. I knew what work I needed completed and what the pricing would be. When I picked the rifles up Jed explained and showed me everything that was done and made sure it was all to my satisfaction. I will be bringing work here in the future.
Steven VerityCEO