Gunsmith Rant

[Deleted member 48126]

I've used 6 different gunsmiths since I was able to legally purchase and own my own firearms. I've been burned by three. What is the deal with this profession? It's either all or nothing. I'm pretty annoyed right now since I went with a pretty famous smith to get a barrel for a rifle thinking it was a safe bet. When we were talking money he answered all my emails right away. As soon as he received his money not a word. I was told a 8-12 week turn around on the barrel that I ordered in mid February. Well now it's August and my last email correspondence was March 15th. ***?! Chris Matthews, some goon in Austin Texas, and now this BS...the only smiths I trust now are ones that I can physically drive to their shop to see the progress. I'm tired of being burned with firearms. Maybe it's me, and I'm just a sucker, but this garbage has to stop. Rant over. Sorry had to vent.

 

[HARPERC]

I have had my issues as well.

Taxidermist seem to leave me dangling the worst.

 

[Barrelnut]

Unless you know one personally and or have built a relationship with them (you are a repeat customer with deep pockets), it can be difficult to get good service from them. This is why I now shoot Savages. They are not gods and don't poop golden rifles as they would have you believe. There are a couple smiths that participate in this forum though that I am considering for future stuff.

And Harperc is right, taxidermist can make gunsmiths look like saints...

 

[Dosh]

We have rHad an outstanding smith that could do anything. Used him for years, but he passed unexpectedly 2 years ago. I have a barrel which will need replacing in a couple years, don't know where I'll take it. Have a great taxidermist doing great work. I've learned to be patient, you get your mount when it's ready and "she" is reasonable.

 

[Dosh]

We have all read many terrible stories about gunsmiths. Had an outstanding smith that could do anything. Used him for years, but he passed unexpectedly 2 years ago. I have a barrel which will need replacing in a couple years, don't know where I'll take it. Have a great taxidermist doing great work. I've learned to be patient, you get your mount when it's ready and "she" is reasonable.

 

[WapitiBob]

It's an industry where people attempt to turn a hobby into a business, who have no business being in business. The only reason they're still operating is because people pay them up front and when screwed don't show up on his front door to get their money.

 

[marioq]

Honestly, if they do something like that, I would say put their names up on here!!!nothing personal and no ill feelings. Just the facts of what u said and what was done. Try and keep all of us from getting screwed.

On a positive, Kevin cram mountour county rifles did a job for me and it was excellent. He communicated very well. Didn't send me random updates but no more than 24 hours went by and my email was answered with at least a "hey here is where we are."
When something changed on his end, I got an unsolicited email saying hey Mario got this thing happened, pushes me out about this much time. Very good work too.

Anyway, just my thought. I lived the Chris Mathews deal to for 2k

Real piece of excrement

 

[FEENIX]

Sorry to hear about your problem. I am fortunate to have 5 gunsmiths within an hour's drive from me, one of which is only two miles away. But there's one in particular that I keep going back to since 2003.

Despite the excellent working relationship, I still purchase all the required components for the build myself so any gunsmith timeline excuses is reduced. gun)

Cheers!

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Honestly, if they do something like that, I would say put their names up on here!!!nothing personal and no ill feelings. Just the facts of what u said and what was done. Try and keep all of us from getting screwed.

On a positive, Kevin cram mountour county rifles did a job for me and it was excellent. He communicated very well. Didn't send me random updates but no more than 24 hours went by and my email was answered with at least a "hey here is where we are."
When something changed on his end, I got an unsolicited email saying hey Mario got this thing happened, pushes me out about this much time. Very good work too.

Anyway, just my thought. I lived the Chris Mathews deal to for 2k

Real piece of excrement

I was still in college so my dad was literally hunting the guy down. My rifle was complete and paid in full, but he wasn't shipping it. There was always some kind of excuse. My dad threatened to drive out to Missouri from Georgia to pick it up from Chris. He finally got the message and shipped it. Three long years waiting for that rifle.

I won't post the guys information. He's too famous of a gunsmith. It would be a losing battle for me. His website says he's insanely back logged but the no communication thing is killing me.

My current gunsmith is in my hometown in Macon Georgia and a Iraq/Afghan vet so I relate pretty well with him. I drop off my rifles with all the parts or he already has the parts on hand before I drop it off and I pay half now and then half on pick up. He's only 20 mins from my house in Macon so it's a great working relationship. He'll probably be the only smith I use from now on. He built a full custom AR for me in 2 months. He was spot on with his estimate. He's built/worked on two rifles for me since and Both are awesome.

Thanks for all the responses guys. It's good to know I'm not alone.

 

[marioq]

I hear you. Do what I did to a similar guy, write from a. Different email address. It goes into a different pile and he will see it. worked for me for a famous guy

 

[HARPERC]

Flip side I have made some great friends in both fields.

Some of the shots I've been able to make, wouldn't have been possible without stellar work having been formed.

 

[450hunter]

Trust me, it could be a lot worse!! You could live in Fairbanks, Alaska. Try finding a decent gunsmith here let alone one with decent customer service. Plus your stuck with a lot of shipping cost and everything has to be done over the phone/internet. You have to take other peoples word mostly about a shop because visiting it would cost a lot.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Trust me, it could be a lot worse!! You could live in Fairbanks, Alaska. Try finding a decent gunsmith here let alone one with decent customer service. Plus your stuck with a lot of shipping cost and everything has to be done over the phone/internet. You have to take other peoples word mostly about a shop because visiting it would cost a lot.

Yeah that's rough. I bought and sold to guys in Alaska. Smooth transactions but the 2 week mailing wait is nail biting.

 

[DM770]

I hear you. I am on my third and I live within an hour of two of them. Buy your own parts and don't pay up front for shop time. Just because you do great rifle work doesn't make you a good business owner.