Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Anyone ever have work done by Regan Nonneman?

Trying to get a feel for what I should be expecting at this point on a project that I sent him over 18 months ago now. I didn't expect it quickly, but I sent a quick note for an update at the 6 month and 1 year points. Nothing pushy - just "how is is coming along?"

Since the 1 yr anniversary, I've left a few messages and emails - probably 6 total emails and 1 voice message. Again, very low key - I know that people are busy and the more time they spend answering emails and phones calls the longer things take.

I was getting a lot of getting "next week" or next month answers for a while. Last email got no reply at all.

Anyone near him in Missouri? Did he go out of business or something happen to him? He's got a good rep and came pretty highly regarded. I know that things take time, but pushing two years for a package that he advertises seems long?

Trying to figure out if I am ever going to see this rifle again.....

I guess that it doesn't mean anything, but never heard of him.

http://www.leveractions.com/

A "9-11 address change only" ?

Yep. That has been their location for years. I don't think, like most guys in the firearms world, that website updates area a high priority for them.

I rarely send things out for any work and this guy had a good rep in the lever action community. I guess I will wait and see....

I had a Marlin stainless laminated in 35 remington converted to 356 win a couple of years ago by him. I don't know what your having done but mine only took about 3 weeks out and back.
Take care, and best of luck.

P.S. was happy with the work also.

I sent an 1895 Marlin for a conversion to a takedown 50 Alaskan. I opted for Nonneman over WW based upon a lot of reviews, word of mouth, etc.

It gets frustrating to keep getting put off or get no reply at all.

Not my Rifle and only my opinion but that is no way to do business no [bleep] way, I dohn't give a crap if you are a "EXPERT Gunsmith" or not. I had a 35 remington Marlin 336 that gave me fits by misfiring 2 out of 5 times everytime it went to the range, I was referred to him and he quoted me the turnaround would be 3 weeks or so. Granted that is a pittance to what he is doing to your rifle but nowhere justifiable in not communicating or giving you a approximate delivery date.

If it were me I am on the road today and going to get it back , no if's and's or but's.

I am not sure that I am to the point of making the 12 hour drive just yet, but I agree.

I understand getting behind. I think that everyone in the industry is busier than ever these days. I sent two, very politely worded emails this week, and have had no reply. I am not going to swamp the guy with emails. If one or two doesn't generate a response, more won't have much effect either. I also don't figure that getting angry in the emails are going to have much positive impact either. I have a fair amount tied up in this. I want it done, but I also don't want a guy that is PO'd at me finishing the project. lol

I guess I am not even that mad about it. It certainly isn't a gun that I need at any point. We haven't had a grizzly attack in PA in some time. This is more of a "that would be kinda cool to have" project than anything.

I just get frustrated when there have been a couple of vague dates promised and missed, followed by no communication.

I completely agree with you.

Two years is unaccepatable , if this is your trade how disingenuos is it to accept work that might not be done in a reasonable amount of time. Ok lets define reasonable, we are not building an airplane,custom car, motorcycle or something that is complex. I would say in the case of an action modification and rebarrell( a skill he advertizes on his website) at the most 6 months to a year. If you can't build it in that time you are not very good at your trade . End of Story

Dropped off barreled action with a recommended smith couple years ago and the scenario pretty much mirrored yours. at 18 months I took a drive with the wife and dropped in on him. left a bit later with my barreled action and a handshake. wasn't angry with him but happy with my choice. Sent the project to jkobe and the work was done in less than a week. Not so funny side note McMillan has had said project for 7 months.

+1, many have more patience than myself. It becomes the principal over the money for me. My e-mail would "get f*cked and send my sh*t back".....and I'm not kidding.

Some people should be home baking cup cakes vs in business for themselves.

I think a lot of us have the same mindset. Give me a good product and deliver it when you said you would deliver it.

I don't think a lot of us mind waiting if we are told up front that we will wait for 18-24 months, or what ever time period it is taking.

What most of us don't like is being bullshitted and then put off when we call to inquire on a job that was promised to deliver 6 months or a year ago.

been there, had a trigger(timmey trigger) job done, the smith messed up the bolt stop, took it back started getting the run around, "oh, I am going to make the part", I dropped in, a got it back and then I find out "timmey triggers are warranted for life

Did he originally provide you and estimated delivery time?

I've dealt with him and his work was excellent, but he did take over a year. That's no longer acceptable to me and now I make sure I query those performing work for me.

He put this 358 Winchester barreled action together along with the rib and front sight on a #3 receiver. Woodwork was done elsewhere.




DMc

Yes, every smith occasionally has a brain fart. Even Cliff LaBounty.

Jack

6 to 8 months. I honestly did not expect it to get done in that amount of time. Also did not expect 3X that though.

Sorry for the rebirth of an old post,BUT
I am in the same boat if not worse. I'm getting the ole "one more little thing then I'm onto Yours"
When I first contacted him he won my business by telling me how he hated the fact that some smiths would not give a completion date and how I could take his to the bank. Well his was a definite early spring, now mid july and don't even want to return emails. Oh ya where the worse part comes in is he's paid in full and I'm an international customer. Getting discouraged cause even if I got my $ back I really don't want to start at ground zero again. Hey at my age 18 months is 18 months

Sorry for your grief. Circumstances like these allow anxiety to over-shadow anticipation. Having had an empathetic "been there done that", tell him to pack it up and ship it home. Be sure to let him know Yahoo, Google, and 24-Hour Campfire reviews about his website and on his performance will be fully documented and detailed.

Best of luck.


DMc

I just hope I have enough time left. The funny, well ironic part is I went with him for only one reason. I explained my timeline and said
" I would never feel right asking another tradesman to give me an exact date, so with the other guys saying how busy they were I chose not to go with any of them"
Get this. This is word for word the reply I got
"That's foolishness. If a smith is worth his salt you should be able to get an exact date, and I'm giving You the exact date of --/--/--"

Anyone or everyone like to guess how many times that dates been broken?
Beat that. EXACT FRIKIN DATE
I'm getting to outraged to carry on this thread

I didn't send a whole gun - just some internal parts from a Marlin 336. I paid him in cash and had my parts back in 4-5 WEEKS!! Maybe mine was just an easy job, but I thought the timeline was just fine!!

Geez now if the rest of us just had real small jobs
OR
A time machine

Oh well

I'm going to bump this one. It's note worthy

Had that problem once with a local smith that had done a couple of rifles for me. Took in a handgun to install a missing front sight.
After many promises and delays I went in to pick it up, it was assembled I got it back but found it wouldn't chamber a round cleanly. I don't know how but he screwed it up and couldn't get parts I guess.(it was a unusual model)
TLee here on the site managed to modify and get it working for me in a short time.

Any resolution yet?

FINALLY
Yes, 3 more weeks
Pease forgive my slight measure of skepticism

I see his name mentioned quite a bit on the Lever Action forums. If you would, let us know when you finally get your rifle back and if you got what you were after.

Definitely, with accuracy report, function and pics

Not ready. Maybe christmas

I know him very, very well. When I say that, I'm saying that we hunted and fished together when I was 12 or 13. He is, like a lot of gunsmiths, a one-man show, plus has a farm, and is a workaholic type. We have been down a lot of roads together, and he will build you a rifle that you like, that's all I can say. He learned on his own by working part time with John Linebaugh. I'm always more worried when a custom gunsmith isn't behind, but I understand your situation.

His farm is one that was owned by my uncle and is about a mile and a half through some great deer brush from our farm and my brother's house! About a mile and half through the air, but no roads, so it takes seven or eight miles to get there.

IT WAS ACTUALLY SHIPPED ON THURSDAY >>>>>>>>>>>>>>WOOPPPEEEE

Looking forward to your feedback.

I have heard nothing but good about his work.

My importer has it, and it's on route to me now. At least after 2+ yrs we have it in this country

i had a smith do work on a 45 for me and took way to long when i started to bring state police in too situation the work suddenly got done.Have used same guy since with no problems but darn should keep turn around time reasonable

He shoulda learned more from John

So it didn't go well then. Care to elaborate as I have followed this thread to see how it turned out

PM to You Kevin

Nonneman has had my rifle for almost two and a half years. I phoned him at least five times; each time he said it would ship within a month, and each time I received nothing and heard nothing. I sent a demand letter: no response. That's just not right. Where I come from saying you will do something and not doing it ... well, we call that lying. I am taking him to small claims court. He's be served. I'm looking into the legality of theft charges. IF HE RIPPED YOU OFF, DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT! Search for 'Missouri small claims' and it's easy to file. I may not anything out of this but I'm not 'writing it off.'

I think I would get it back and take my business elsewhere.

I am having a bad experience with a smith over a custom Mauser. The take away is that real professionals tend to use contracts, so that everything is in writing. I noticed the OP saying that he should have learned more from John (Linebaugh). John and Dustin do great work and are good fella's, but they, too, are notorious for dragging their feet. You just have be fine with knowing that getting a gun from them can take several years, no matter what they tell you up front. The same goes for lots of smiths who don't use contracts. Guys like Dave Norin, and Hamilton Bowen use contracts so that crap like this doesn't happen. If most custom gun makers were as "Type A" about their business practices as they are about building their guns, you wouldn't see this crap!

I had the same problem with a fellow in Georgia on a 1851 Colt 36 cal. Navy I sent him for a "tune up". Said three months and turned into a year. I finally asked for the gun back and after a few weeks he sent it. It was done and wonderful but I wouldn't do business with him again. This was a routine he does a lot but he is so busy it gets out of hand.

Anybody use him lately??
He is still active ....Thanks

I have a rifle there. It’s finished. Been finished since mid December and was promised it by Christmas. Still waiting. Always an excuse and an apology and a promise to get it right out. Was quoted an 8 month turnaround. Two years ago.