I have an Etsy account where I sell some wood products and the occasional knife. One of the things I started selling last year was 1911 grips made from Koa, Mango, and other woods. Just yesterday I got a notification that Etsy took down those listings and pointed towards a vague explanation of not selling weapon parts. I emailed them back with an explanation that the grips are cosmetic and are not a necessary part to make a functional firearm however I have not yet received a reply. I don't know if they are blocking any and all accessories or they are going after function related parts, will update when I find out. I did see there were numerous other listings for 1911 parts though but maybe it just takes time to take them all down.

They did flag a knife I had made which I said was a push dagger style but called it a push cleaver due to its wide flat edge instead of a traditional spade edge. When I appealed they agreed it wasn't a real dagger and put the listing back up as long as I took out any reference calling it a push knife/dagger.

Etsy can curate a certain type of product, I get that, but this is a bit of a kick in the pants as they are the only place I really sell these things other than the gun show. I hope they revisit their decision on accessories. Anyone know other places where I might be able to sell my wares online where gun enthusiasts might look for them?

Ebay might work, gunbroker.  Not sure on other popular sites.  I see etsy selling AK furniture so thats quite a odd situation.   Recently looked there cause I wanted an AK koa or nice wood forend.

I didn't think about Ebay but yeah I guess that would work. I will check out gunbroker as well. As for Amazon, are they really small business friendly? I don't stock loads of inventory or plan on doing high numbers but I will look into that. I try to avoid Amazon somewhat though.

Thanks

As for Amazon, are they really small business friendly?

Depends how successful your product is, they are notorious for watching folks bring new things to market and do very well selling them via Amazons drop shippping system and then getting China to clone the product, tanking your search position on their platform while they boost theirs and undercutting you and stealing your customers. Bezos is a very predatory piece of garbage.

That said I know a few people who have set up side businesses via amazon selling local food goods and hawaii made fishing gear that did make some ok side cash, well worth their time.

Etsy is a great place for "biters". There are some 3d printers folks who steal files from Thingiverse.com and sell them on Etsy as their own.

Amazon is notorious for what Glasser said

Amazon is notorious for what Glasser said

Bezos isnt even an imaginative sh*tbag. He basically copied what Sears did to the Bionic Wrench inventor, only problem is that guy had a patent and  when they lost in court not only did Sears have to cease selling the chinese knock off they made, they had to hand over $6 million dollars, give the guy back he sales contract with Sears and continue to sell his original product.

Etsy got back to me and they don't care whether the part is cosmetic or not so I am SOL there. I made a gunbroker account and I will check out ebay too.