A response I didn't expect

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HoytFlinger

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Joined
Aug 14, 2011
Messages
296
Location
Lexington, KY
Bat M
Bartlein Heavy Palma 10 twist
McMillan A-5
Jewel triger
APA brake
Bat trigger guard
PT&G 300 Norma Match reamer

Top shelf build list wouldn't you say? I think it is anyway. Would you believe a smith turned the build down due to my reamer being "unproven" and they didn't want to bed my rifle with Devcon as I wished?? I was kinda shocked. Oh well. With a response like that I doubt very seriously they would have taken into account any wishes for the build I had even if they took it on. I'm glad they didn't accept the build now.
 
well... as Dirty Harry said "a man's gotta know his limitations." Maybe the guy just didn't think he could do what you asked. I'm sure you'll find someone who can...
 
HoytFlinger said:
Bat M
Bartlein Heavy Palma 10 twist
McMillan A-5
Jewel triger
APA brake
Bat trigger guard
PT&G 300 Norma Match reamer

Top shelf build list wouldn't you say? I think it is anyway. Would you believe a smith turned the build down due to my reamer being "unproven" and they didn't want to bed my rifle with Devcon as I wished?? I was kinda shocked. Oh well. With a response like that I doubt very seriously they would have taken into account any wishes for the build I had even if they took it on. I'm glad they didn't accept the build now.
Click to expand...

So find someone else there are a bunch who will read this on here and maybe take the work. I can understand the bedding thing though, guys like what they like and they do it every day.
 
I had a similar experience recently as my request to turn down a 1.25 OD barrel by.1875 inches & was rejected by my smith. After he explained why I understood. Not all smiths will do anything you want on a rifle build. Some dont want to ruin their reputation by stepping out of thier preferred MO and some simply dont care as much and will take your $$ regardless of the outcome. You'd rather have a smith turn you down instead of proceeding into an area he wasnt comfortable with.
 
I've already got someone else. It just struck me as strange. I didn't demand Devcon. I said I wanted it, but they didn't offer an alternative to it. This is a straight up build no funky crap just straight build. They turned it down because of an unproven reamer and Devcon. That is strange to me.
 
Sounds like it was more than just the bedding he didnt wanna mess with like you were saying. Good to hear, hope it turns out top shelf for ya.
 
Edd said:
It doesn't seem strange to me.
Click to expand...

It doesn't seem too strange to me either..... though i'd have been a little miffed at first....

As mentioned, most guys work with what they know and are unwilling to work outside of it. I think, if it's ethically motivated, it's an admirable quality. If the 'smith is most interested in taking good care of his/her customer they want to ensure the very best for them.

If they're honest and just don't know how to work with a certain material or use, to them, an "unproven" reamer, etc be thankful they didn't just take your money and subsequently ruin a heap of awesome materials.

For me, and to be completely honest, i'd hope the 'smith i choose would be skilled in using whatever materials i brought - presuming i didn't bring something hugely unproven/inappropriate for the task i was looking for.

I'm not saying Devcon is an example of this, just that i'd pprefer to partner with a 'long-in-the-tooth' 'smith who could evaluate what i was thinking and determine if 1) it would work well and 2) was the very best option and 3) compare my suggestion with what they normally used.

I think most master craftsmen have come to an understanding what works "best" for them and outside that, they're hesitant to "lower" their standards by using material "less" than their idea of what's "best".
 
There was a lot to his email that made me miffed. I will not post the name of the smith as it is his right to turn down work. I told him I was gathering parts, gave him the list, and asked his turnaround time. His response was.... parts gatherers are the most difficult and troublesome of all customers. Their lack of real world knowledge, hands on experience and preconceived ideas simply complicate an already difficult task.... .

Remember my email to him was about turnaround around time and that I was gathering parts and I wanted him for the build.

I am over this now as I have settled on a smith, but it was weird to me and quite frankly ****ed me off.
 
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