I have a very old, but in good condition Jet 1024 lathe. Of course I have done a fair amount of gunsmithing in the past (still do some, but mostly retired), so needed a decent lathe and other shop machinery and tools. (I'm also a retired automation engineer.) An important thing about a metal working lathe is the size of the spindle bore (hole through the spindle) to allow barrels to go into and/or through the the spindle. Mine only has a 1-1/16" bore which limits the barrels I can work on. Also, the swing and length; mine is a 1024 which means it can handle a 10" diameter part by 24" long "between centers." There are a multitude of foreign made lathes, both new and used, on the market. Just do a search. Also, "How to Run a Lathe" by South Bend Lathe Works is an inexpensive repro book that is still available and a good reference.