Shipping
Can I ship my firearms or NFA items directly to you for work?
Yes! As we are FFL holder and Class 2 Dealer/Manufacturer, it is legal to ship them to us, and us ship them back to you at the address listed on your ID.
I am local, can I drop off or pick up my items at your shop?
Yes. if you are local to us here in Central Texas, contact us to make an appointment to visit the shop. As a small shop, we do not allow walk-ins; we might be working with another customer or doing a Cerakote job that does not allow us to stop midway through the work.
Cerakote
How do I have something coated by you?
The process starts with contacting us either through an email or a phone call to describe what you wish to have done. We then talk it out together, and provide a work quote and a slot in the schedule. If you agree, you provide us the item(s) and we do the work. Once the parts are coated, we email you pictures of the work. At that point, we schedule pickup and payment, or send an email invoice and ship once paid.
What is the turnaround time?
Turnaround time varies for a couple of reasons. The two most common reasons are the number of jobs in the queue ahead of your work and the complexity of the jobs. A specific job that is just a single color application can be complete in as little as 2 business days. More complex jobs such as camo pattern on an entire firearm can be up to a week to complete. On average, turnaround times are 5 to 7 business days.
Do any Cerakote colors or series cost extra?
We know some shops charge extra for colors not commonly used, but not here! We keep every single color and variant of Cerakote on hand. Yes, that’s 300+ bottles, but we have them. This allows us to tackle a job without needing to delay a job waiting for the colors to arrive from Cerakote, or charge extra for expedited shipping of less common colors.
Can you make a color more metallic or color changing?
Yes! We have many techniques to do anything from simple metallic, to color changing, to even ghost colors that only appear under bright light. We have a number of custom colors we have created as well. We can even create glow-in-the-dark colors in some cases. See our gallery or Instagram for some examples.
Can you make Cerakote match existing parts?
In general, no. Matching anodized parts is not possible due to the difference in the processes. The hue and sheen of anodized parts will not match Cerakote. Even for parts with Cerakote, there are a number of factors that can have a newly coated part not match an existing part. Think of it like matching paint on a house or a vehicle; no matter what, it will be slightly off.
If you want parts to match, we recommend coating all the parts together. While more expensive, this provides the best outcome for a consistent look.
Will you disassemble or reassemble my firearm?
We can do either or both, however, we do charge an hourly gunsmith fee for the taken for disassembly and/or reassembly. Contact us for more specific needs.
I want something unique, can you help design something?
Sure! We tell people to look around on social media or Cerakote’s Gallery for ideas to get started and we go from there. And now in the age of AI, ChatGPT has become very good about creating realistic looks with Cerakote colors.
Laser Engraving
Can you apply a serial number to my Privately Made Firearm?
Yes we can! Note that there are special considerations due to ATF Rule 2021R-05F that went into effect August 24 2022, which require the serial number to include part of our FFL number for traceability.
Can you engrave info onto my firearms and suppressors?
Yes we can! You can directly send us your firearms or suppressors to have the info applied, or set up an appointment to drop it off. In some cases, such as NFA engravings, we can apply it while you wait.
What are the engraving requirements for NFA items?
Per 27 CFR 478.92, the ATF’s requirements for engraving are:
- Name (Individual or Trust)
- Location (City, State)
- Caliber (if not already present)
Letters must be at least 1/16 of an inch (1.57mm) in height and at least .003 inches (0.0762mm) deep
Can you apply NFA markings to polymer receivers?
In general, yes, although there are some polymers that prefer to melt than be engraved. You can contact us to discuss more.
Can you do custom engraving on a firearm?
Yes! If you have text or an image, we can look at it and tell you how it will come out. We can even go as far as do a test engraving on a block of aluminum. If you have an idea in mind, we can work with you to turn it into a digital image and then its just a matter of letting right laser do its jog.
Can you stipple the grip of my firearm?
This depends on the polymer used in the firearm. We apply stippling via laser and not by hand as we think it provides a cleaner look. The ability for the laser to cleanly apply the pattern depends on the polymer of the part. For example, we can do Glocks and most Sigs and Polymer80 parts. Some Smith & Wesson pistols do not engrave cleanly as the polymer prefers to melt than be engraved.
What is a suppressor Index Mark?
Attaching a suppressor to a firearm usually shifts the Point of Impact (POI) of the bullet. To make sure the firearm holds its zero, the suppressor needs to be attached the same way each time. The best way to verify that is occurring is having a reference mark on the body of the suppressor. We achieve this by engraving a thin line on the suppressor body, usually at the 12 o’clock position when attached to the firearm. This allows you to visually check the suppressor is attached the same way each time.
What is your turnaround time for engraving my NFA item?
We can usually do it while you wait. It takes about 15 minutes to set up a part in the laser, confirm the text is correct, and then for the laser to engrave the item.
Can you engrave onto other things like Yeti cups or wood or plastic?
Yes, our shop is set up with several different laser systems that each have their material specialties. We can engrave onto many different materials.
NFA Sales & Transfers
Do you handle NFA transfers?
Yes we can. Please Contact us for more info on that process. All transfers must be arranged with us before any items are shipped to us. Failure to contact us first and arrange the transfer can result in your NFA item being returned to the shipper if we are not expecting it.
Do I need to wait until the ATF approves my application to get my NFA item engraved?
No, you can engrave anything you want at any time, but we do recommend to wait until the ATF approval so that you can be sure the engraving and the Tax Stamp have matching information. If you engrave before the approval, and the ATF requests a change to the application name, caliber, location, then you would need to have the engraving performed again to match the approval.
Firearm Sales & Transfers
If I buy a firearm online from another dealer, can I have it shipped to you for pickup?
As a customization shop, we are not set up to handle transfers like a typical brick-and-mortar gun shop. However, we can often handle a transfer if there isn’t a better option for you. You must contact us first to get transfer authorization. This is required to make sure we can be available to receive the firearm. Firearms shipped to us without prior authorization are subject to having it returned to the seller. Firearms shipped to us in the blind have caused issues for us and the customer, resulting in the customer having to pay for shipping twice.
Can I come into your shop and look at different firearms?
No, we are not a traditional gun store; we are a gunsmith focused on customization services. As such, we don’t stock firearms or NFA items. If you do find a firearm or suppressor you like, you can contact us to see if we can order it for you.
Pricing
How does your pricing work for Cerakote?
Pricing varies for each job. To get a rough idea of what a job might cost, refer to the pricing table in each service page for examples. If you want a detailed or exact quote, contact us to arrange it. We’re happy to quote out work for free.
Why are your prices so much cheaper than other places?
We have the luxury of having a dedicated shop on our own property. As such, our overhead costs are considerably lower than other shops renting commercial space and needing to make a take-home profit off each job to pay their home bills. More importantly, we’re not doing this to make a large profit. We do it because we enjoy it and get to meet great people while doing it.
Do you offer discounts?
We offer several types of discounts. First, repeat customers get repeat discounts. The more you shop with us, the more we discount. Second, we highly value the service of military and first responders. To show our appreciation of their service, all military, active, reserved, and retired, as well as any active first responder, receive:
-10% off all Cerakote and custom laser engraving work
-One free firearm transfer
-One free NFA engraving
We ask you provide us evidence of which category you are, for example a DD-214 or badge or hospital ID.
Third, charity group are eligible for various discounts. For example, we have been known to do a Cerakote job for free for a charity rifle. Our goal is to give back to those that support is, and more importantly, support our communities and our country.
Do you offer gift cards?
Yes we do! Contact us to discuss amounts and delivery methods.