Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Gunsmiths

OK, here it is from an 80 year old retired gunsmith. Number one, if he is good, he is going to be very busy so have a little patience but get an estimate of a completion date with a little slack. Number two, just like people in any profession you have good and bad. Talk to folks who have used his or hers (yes there are some pretty good gals) services to get an idea of their reputation. A good way to do this if you are not a local is go to the local gun range and see if you can get an honest opinion on the type of person you will be dealing with. And last but not least, be aware of an extremely low price for the work you want to have done. A good honest gunsmith knows what his time and efforts are worth so they charge accordingly but a bad one needs anything they can get. Unfortuantly, I can tell you horror stories that I ran into with customer over the years. In this case with this smith, I would be very apprehensive at this point.

I have dealt with 5 gunsmiths in my life 3 absolutely sucked on workmanship and communication. 1 was marginal at best and 1 was decent. Dealing with the 1 that was decent was a big breath of fresh air for me.

OP, sorry to hear you are going through this and I hope it works out for you.

To others reading this: I have used Clay Spencer of Scottsville, VA twice in the recent past for re-barrel jobs with great satisfaction and very fast turnaround.

Most of my work has been done by engineers or tradesmen of some ability and technical skill...I have also run into a couple that seemed to believe they were 'artistes', that loved to believe they were 'special'.

I prefer the fellows that can actually do as I ask with no fuss, and I prefer someone else deal with the ones that believe their own bullshit.

I think some of you are missing the point here, or else you just love to call posters names, which is probably the case in one instance anyway. The OP has been told that the work has been completed and the guns are boxed up and ready to ship, but the gunsmith doesn't have the money to ship them back. The gunsmith can't come up with $50, or maybe $75.......BS. he isn't worrying anybody, he just wants his guns returned to him. If the gunsmith is legit, then he had to log the guns into his FFL firearms acquisition and disposition record book, that EVERY one that holds an FFL must do. If he acquires a firearm to work on, and it's not disposed of properly, that's an ATF violation.

Yes I am in complete agreement.

However; in my experience people that pester the fugk out of gunsmiths, knife makers, and taxidermists usually end up with those type of responses. Not saying that is the case with the OP, but it is very common.

I forgot about Class III guys too. I'd say the more phone calls you make the less they give a fugk about you receiving your product.



Dave

Damn Jorge that was a long read

Glad you made out ok

Moral of the story: don't f with fighter pilots

That would be my 1st. 2nd, and 3rd choice.

He sent me a email today, said they will be too me early next week. I am not going to out him yet, and I do have patience. But what drives me nuts is not following through and excuses for every thing.

Makes me wonder if he's on the fire. Keep us apprised of this. I'd like to see it come to a successful resolution.

Joe.
After you received your guns, post pictures of them

He said I would have them early this week, have not heard anything yet

Wouldn't happen to be Diablo Custom Rifles would it? There are MANY folks on here including myself waiting on work.

This thread is like the Chinese army.

Many you say?

Still no guns showed up ?,,,another 2 weeks of lying.