How long is too long to wait for gun smithing?

[Rick Lee]

I post this here instead of SIG Forum, where the target of my rage is a very beloved guy. He's sort of the Al Reed of gun refinishing. I was told they would have my custom 1911 built in 4-8 wks. That was December 28th, 2005 when I sent them a Colt Series 80 MKIV slide/upper. They were to supply a frame, the other internals, do the smith work and then refinish it. They wanted payment in advance and the bill came to almost $700, which I wisely put on my Amex. Well, the excuses have just never stopped coming as to why my gun isn't done. Meanwhile, there a thread on SIG Forum almost every day where people are showing off the guns this guy just refinished for them. Even though he hurt his back and can't stand for too long or was sick and couldn't be in paint booth for a while, blah, blah. Somehow, he's managed to do great work on lots of folks' guns, but mine just never gets done. This past Monday he posted on SIG Forum that his mother is dying and he has to put everything on hold, to which everyone sent him their prayers and support.

I am at the end of my rope and emailed my condolences to his wife, who runs the place, but told her I needed a rock-solid and imminent date by which I'd have my gun, or I'd write off the slide I sent them and dispute the charges with Amex. Was I totally out of line? How long is one supposed to wait for this kind of stuff? Since I paid the Amex bill back in January, will they still dispute the charges for me?

[rouxroux]

Rick, here's a quick answer to your problem. I have nothing but 100% positive things to say about these folks! (Meltdown) www.clarkcustomguns.com

[Rick Lee]

I looked there when I was researching this. But CCR, where I sent the upper, seemed to make more sense since they could source all parts and do the smith work for the beavertail and mating the slide to the frame. I'm done with this $hit. When I get this resolved with CCR, I'm just gonna buy a ready-to-go 1911 and not dick around with it.

[rouxroux]

I'm sorry you're going through all of this hassle...I know the feeling. BTW, Clark's does sell complete guns (I LOVE the meltdown series)...They even had one I still lust after, the millenium edition. (Plus it does not hurt that I'm 5 minutes away from their shop...how cool is that?)

[cashflyer]

My opinion is:
If the guy is running a business, and you were quoted "4 to 8 weeks", then anything beyond 56 days is too long.

Regardless of the circumstances in his personal life, he has an obligation to his customers. He should either hire an assistant to get the work out, or should have returned your pistol and your money.

It makes the problem that much worse that he seems to be getting other customer work out but not yours. At this point, I would get my property back - even if it takes a letter from your attorney. Then I would promptly take up the issue with AMEX. (I would want to have my property in hand to make sure no "accidents" happen when I start making attempts to chargeback.)

[Rick Lee]

I'll ask for the property back, but I'm prepared to write it off. I got the upper for $185. I can eat that and having this case closed ASAP would be worth it to me. I just can't stand it anymore.

[speeder]

That absolutely sucks. FWIW, I once had a similar experience w/ a certain beloved Pelican vendor that rhymes w/ "Need", but it wasn't as bad as what you are experiencing.

The way that you are being treated is just completely unacceptable; it's been 7 months, you were made to pay in advance and apparently other work received later was done ahead of yours. I would put all of the pertinent facts in a letter, including your anger at seeing other guns finished out of turn on the SIG forum, (which you happen to be an active member on), and state that you await their explanation. Then don't take any BS from this guy and flame his nuts off on the forum where he is Mr. bigshot. What an ass hole.

[Rick Lee]

Denis, the owner/moderator of SIG Forum would ban me in a cocaine heartbeat if I did that. This refinisher is God on that site and no one ever says a bad word about him. Yeah, I can probably get away with airing dirty laundry, but it won't put a dent in his business and would get me plenty of return fire from his fans. I really have no recourse other than telling Amex I want out. Below is the body of my last email to them.

"I have not heard anything in a while and my latest attempts to reach you by phone have just gotten a fax machine buzz. I read Brad's post about his mother on SIGforum and I'm very sorry about that. I also see, on a near daily basis, posts of SIGforumites' newly CCR-refinished guns. Obviously, plenty of work has been getting done, but my gun seems to never make it off the back burner. I'm at the end of my rope and want to cancel this transaction IF you cannot give me a rock-solid and imminent date by which I will have my 1911. I'd rather write off the $185 I paid for the slide and upper and cancel the amount I paid you back in January via credit card than have all this money into a gun that I have no reason to believe I'll ever receive. I can buy a decent 1911 for less money any day of the week and I can't imagine a 1911 that's worth a seven-month plus wait. Please do me the courtesy of a prompt response. Thank you."

[nostatic]

going after sacred cows on a gun bbs? Denis, have you been painting with the windows closed again?!?

Just write it off, get back what you can and call it a day. Life is to short...

[2.7RACER]

What is it with gunsmiths?
It seems the good ones always have a 3 to 6 month backlog.
Well, actually it seems they all have a similar backlog.
My best advice is to ask around at your local range about the best 1911 smith in the area. A good general smith is like a good general auto mechanic, might be ok for putting on scopes and sights but a 1911 really deserves a specialist.
1911's are like Porsches, they are not that tough to work on, but some gunsmiths that specialize in 1911's do gain a reputation.
I like working with a local guy, so if anything isn't just right we can discuss it eyeball to eyeball.
Even the best gunsmiths sometimes need to retune a handgun for whatever load you are working with.
Magazines can make or break an otherwise fine handgun.
I was fortunate to find such a person in Southern California that was local and took great pride in his work.
He built a Strayer-Tripp in .45ACP. The full deal, Barstow barrel, titanium hammer and sear, ambi safety, red dot sight, custom grip safety, extended mag release, 2 lb. trigger, super fit slide to the frame.
Special attention fitting the compensated barrel. This thing was and is a tack driver. There were some minor extraction issues with the loads I was using that he took care of within days after he got the gun.
Can't do that with some mail order smith, no matter how good the reputation.
I have since studied and learned how to do 90% of my own work. I don't install sights, but I can do the rest, barrels, triggers, fitting slides, grip safeties, mag work.
Didn't learn it over night. But for me it's half the fun. Kind of like tuning my Porsche.
If there isn't a really good 1911 smith in your area, my best advice is to work with a dealer that will guaruntee your satisfaction with any purchase.
A good dealer may not stock what you are after, but can get exactly what you are looking for. Quickly too.
If you can't or don't want to work with a 1911 gunsmith, get a Sig, they are great out of the box.

[RPKESQ]

Much too long. I made my living as a gunsmith ( I specialized in double guns, but did some of everything) and although sometimes things took longer than planned my customers always knew what the status was. I had to turn work away when too busy. My customers appreciated that in the long run. 1911's are very simple guns, lots of hard won knowledge with that design so schedules should not be hard to keep. See if Amex will help resolve this issue.

[rcm]

Have you travelled around the 1911 sites?
m1911.org
1911forum.com

I have some work done by guys suggested on these forums and it's all on time etc...