Loading...
Hunter Techau has been gunsmithing professionally since 2002, graduating top of his class from the Colorado School of Trades. Before that, he spent a decade with the US Forest Service in leadership roles—fire and aquatics—but decided to follow his hunting roots and start Brown Dog Gunsmithing in Ath...
Own Brown Dog Gunsmithing?
01 // DETAILS
Full description and what we offer
Hunter Techau has been gunsmithing professionally since 2002, graduating top of his class from the Colorado School of Trades. Before that, he spent a decade with the US Forest Service in leadership roles—fire and aquatics—but decided to follow his hunting roots and start Brown Dog Gunsmithing in Athol, Alaska.
He didn't go to gunsmith school to build a big operation. He built it on two things: quality work and honest customer service. Most of his business comes from word of mouth. That's not an accident.
You work with Hunter through each step. Add muzzle brakes, custom triggers, scope mounts, antler inlays, or grip cap work. The possibilities vary by what you want.
Bluing Services:
| Type | Options | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Salts | Factory Polish, Matte, Exhibition | Used for majority of guns |
| Rust Bluing | Factory Polish only | Reserved for double guns |
The difference is in metal prep. Hunter strips all pitting and scratches where visible. Exhibition finish gets polished to mirror before bluing—significantly more labor. Couple bluing with stock refinishing for a complete restoration.
Hunter Grade: High-quality utility finish. Weatherproof, tough, grain not completely filled. Similar to average factory finishes.
Exhibition Grade: The top tier. All grain completely filled through 20+ hand-applied coats with wet sanding between each. Final hand-rub polish with rottenstone. Feels like glass, looks like a $3,000 gun.
Both available in high gloss or classic oil.
Practical Services: - Professional gun cleaning (complete disassembly, all subassemblies, function/safety checks) - Sight work: drilling, tapping, scope mounting, bore sighting, dovetail cutting, open sight installation - Trigger work: adjusting existing triggers or installing new ones (won't set lower than safe) - Muzzle brakes threaded and centered off bore (.001 inch tolerance), hand-tight removable - Recoil pads: Pachmayr exclusively, ground to fit, length-of-pull adjustable - Shotgun shell inlays: Save that first turkey or straight round—Hunter inlays the case head in your grip cap - Antler inlays: Hoof prints, initials, custom looks - Headspace checks, stuck case removal, barrel cutting and crowning, chamber polishing - Firearms shipping ($60 lower 48 for long guns, $70 California; $55/$65 for handguns—includes FFL transfer and insurance to $1,000) - FFL transfers at $20 per firearm - Firearms sales by special order with wholesale pricing access
99% done in-house. If Hunter can't do something, he tells you upfront. He has trusted referral partners for specialized work you'll know about before it leaves the shop.
Hunter doesn't promise fast turnaround. He promises quality. August and September are slammed (hunting season). A custom rifle isn't a two-week job. All the metal work has to be exact. All the wood has to fit like it's growing from the metal. That takes time.
Average repairs and maintenance are affordable. Custom rifle work is fair—visit his portfolio and you'll see why. He's not the cheapest. He's worth what you pay.
Midwest work ethic. Midwest customer service. One guy who actually gives a damn about your rifle.
Loading comments...