Scott Van Dorsten is a formally trained master gunsmith and the founder of Van Dorsten Custom Firearms in Sheridan, Wyoming. His work includes custom revolvers, Scout rifles, precision bolt-action rifles, 1911s, firearm repair, and specialized product development.
Professional Biography
Van Dorsten graduated from the Colorado School of Trades with an associate degree in gunsmithing. His professional background includes five years with Weatherby and more than 15 years of gunsmithing experience before and during the development of his independent shop.
Van Dorsten Custom Firearms applies traditional gunsmithing skills and detailed mechanical diagnosis to firearms that may receive limited support from factories or general-purpose repair shops. His work extends beyond parts installation to questions of fit, timing, alignment, wear, geometry, spring force, ignition, surface condition, and the interaction between moving components.
Revolver Gunsmithing
Van Dorsten is particularly associated with Smith & Wesson revolvers. His published services include action tuning, hand and cylinder-stop fitting, crane alignment, correction of end shake, chamber polishing and chamfering, trigger and hammer modification, sight installation, and comprehensive concealed-carry J-frame packages.
That work treats the revolver as a complete mechanical system. Trigger quality cannot be separated from reliable ignition; cylinder timing and lockup must remain correct; chamber preparation affects loading and extraction; and changes to sights, stocks, and controls influence how effectively the shooter can use the finished firearm.
His Constant Companion package for Smith & Wesson J-frames reflects that systems-oriented approach. The package is intended to improve a working concealed-carry revolver through coordinated changes to action quality, trigger interface, loading and extraction, sights, stocks, and carry characteristics rather than decorative customization.
Rifles and Product Development
Beyond revolvers, Van Dorsten’s work includes Scout rifles, long-range precision rifles, 1911s, custom firearm construction, and general repair. His Scout-rifle projects include scope-mounting and ammunition-storage concepts developed for an equipment category he considers underserved.
In 2023, the University of Wyoming selected Van Dorsten Custom Firearms as a finalist in the Sheridan Start-Up Challenge for a proprietary Scout-rifle scope-mount concept and related accessories. The recognition reflects his combination of traditional gunsmithing with product development aimed at specific practical problems.
P&S Connection
Van Dorsten is part of the Extended Primary & Secondary Network as a technical podcast panelist. He has contributed to P&S discussions including Gun Nerds: The Revolver, Modernization of Revolvers, and a long-form examination of the .45 Colt.
His participation adds a working gunsmith’s perspective to discussions of revolver function, maintenance, modernization, troubleshooting, and the relationship between mechanical changes and reliable field use.
Key Areas of Experience
- Smith & Wesson revolver gunsmithing
- Revolver action tuning, timing, and lockup
- J-frame concealed-carry revolvers
- Scout-rifle construction and accessories
- Precision bolt-action rifles
- 1911 work and general firearm repair
- Mechanical diagnosis and component fitting
- Custom firearm and product development
- Primary & Secondary podcast participation
Selected Sources
- Van Dorsten Custom Firearms
- Van Dorsten Custom Firearms — About
- Van Dorsten Custom Firearms — Gunsmithing Services
- University of Wyoming — Sheridan Start-Up Challenge Finalists
Profile last reviewed: September 11, 2026.
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Scott Van Dorsten · Van Dorsten Custom Firearms · Sheridan Wyoming gunsmith · master gunsmith · Smith & Wesson revolvers · revolver action tuning · J-frame gunsmithing · Constant Companion · Scout rifles · precision rifles · custom firearms · revolver modernization · Primary & Secondary