Rifle and Ratchet: The Taylor, Michigan Gunsmith I Send My Students To

The question I get most at the end of a Michigan CPL class isn't about the law. It's "Where should I go now?" My students want someone local they can trust with their gun, someone who'll answer questions straight and not talk down to them. For gunsmithing, Cerakote, engraving and builds, my answer is Rifle and Ratchet in Taylor.

Who Lucas is

Lucas owns and runs Rifle and Ratchet himself, so when you call or message the shop, you're dealing with the person doing the work. He's a Marine Corps veteran, and the shop is a veteran-owned small business. I reached out to him because I wanted a shop I could send my students to with confidence. What sold me is the service: it's top-notch, and Lucas is highly efficient. You get straight answers, and your work gets done. Lucas is friendly and respectful, and he appreciates customers who are the same way.

What Rifle and Ratchet does

Cerakote

Lucas is a certified Cerakote applicator, with more than 300 colors to choose from. Cerakote is a thin, tough ceramic coating that protects a firearm's finish and lets you change its look completely: one solid color, two-tone, or a full camo pattern. It isn't only for guns, either.

Laser engraving

Laser engraving puts a custom design, emblem or text permanently into a receiver, slide or part. It's a way to make a firearm one of a kind, or to mark a gift or a family heirloom.

Gunsmithing and build kits

Rifle and Ratchet is a licensed FFL that does gunsmithing work, and it offers pistol and rifle build kits for anyone who wants to build exactly what they want. Ask Lucas for a quote on your project.

Buying a gun: FFL transfers and a small inventory

Lucas keeps a limited inventory of guns he's picked up or taken in on trade, so it's worth asking what he has. Most of his customers do it the other way: they find the gun they want online, have it shipped to Rifle and Ratchet, and pick it up there. That's called an FFL transfer. A transfer typically runs about $40, but confirm with Lucas when you set it up.

1. 01Find the gun you want from an online seller.
2. 02Contact Lucas first and get his FFL details to the seller, so the gun ships to the right place.
3. 03When it arrives, set up a time to pick it up.
4. 04At pickup, you complete the federal paperwork and the background check, and the gun is yours.

If it's your first handgun, take a class before you carry it. My Michigan CPL class covers the law, safe handling and the range time, and I'm happy to help you think through what to buy first.

How to book with Rifle and Ratchet

• Location: Taylor, Michigan, in Downriver Wayne County (by appointment only)
• Phone: (313) 608-9157
• Email: rifleandratchet@gmail.com
• Website: rifleandratchet.com, where you can request a quote and attach photos of your project
• Facebook: Rifle and Ratchet Refinishing

Because it's appointment only, reach out before you head over. Tell Lucas that Wes from The Ammo Academy sent you.

Why a training school and a gun shop work together

Good training and a good shop go together. I teach people to handle and carry a gun safely and legally. Lucas keeps the gun itself in good shape and makes it your own. When his customers need training, he sends them to me. When my students need a shop, I send them to him.

If you're new to all of this, start with the basics. Read what Michigan requires for a CPL and what it costs. Then see what I keep in my own range bag, and build skill at home with dry fire practice.