doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A stock maker with reasonable turnaround?

While "wait time" is perhaps a bit unpleasant, I've gotten used to it. Whenever I send a newly acquired SxS to my gunsmith for restoration, I anticipate return in about 12 months. The same for restock jobs.

Most of us own multiple shotguns that we can use while another is being repaired. It now seems that I almost always have an older SxS in a shop, somewhere. The delay doesn't really bother me, as it is what I've come to expect. It is part of the culture of hunting with classic SxS's; and a good rationale/excuse for owning a "few extra's."

I prefer to deal with competent and reputable craftsmen, even if it takes longer. The fact that they have a long backlog means that others also treasure their workmanship. It probably also means that there is more work than the existing supply of good gunsmiths can handle. We do NEED more good gunsmiths!

JERRY

Jerry has it right, the good ones are worth waiting for, waited three years on a Lefever restoration and restocking, worth every cent and minute!

Craig

While I agree that good craftsmen are always in demand, I've found nearly all of gunsmiths that I've used promise one thing and deliver another, in one form or another. With my guns, it has always been late delivery, some not by much, some several times the promised period. I start calling the gunsmith well ahead of the promised date, because I know I'm long forgotten. I get the usual exchange of promises, I wait more and call again to remind them again. I get the feeling that many gunsmiths manage their work helter skelter. Others show you work examples and deliver something else.

It's a really frustrating experience most of the time for me.

There has been one exception to all this and I consider him a friend.

Another couple options might be Show Me Gunstocks or Macon Gunstock both of which are located in Warsau, MO with Wenigs. I do know that for a semi-inletted stock, their time was less than Wenig's. I believe they both also do the complete work. May give them a call.

Try mtcustomguns.com

Chuck the hard part for the gunsmith is that if you have a project going that will take 6 to 9 months to finish, and someone comes in wanting a recoil pad put on, you do the pad for the cash flow to pay the electric bill. That probably isn't what a 'smith really wants to do, but if he works on only your project till it's done he'll go out of buisnes. Mark

Chuck the hard part for the gunsmith is that if you have a project going that will take 6 to 9 months to finish, and someone comes in wanting a recoil pad put on, you do the pad for the cash flow to pay the electric bill. That probably isn't what a 'smith really wants to do, but if he works on only your project till it's done he'll go out of buisnes. Mark

Mark,
I know what they do and why. Like I said, it's frustrating to do a deal with someone that doesn't do what they say they will. Often, customers wanting major work, slide so far back behind those recoil pads,trigger jobs, and other quick fixes, that they are never serviced. There have been plenty of those stories here.

As The Duke said: "a man is his word".

My LAST experience, and it will be my last, start to finish for a Box Lock restock took almost four years. I provided a semi inletted blank, sent it off and waited...and waited..after a little over 3 years, I went and got it. The box I shipped it in hadnt even been opened. I called Wenigs, got a price and a delivery date. Wenigs was about a month later than the date they quoted. I wont do it again as I am now 76, and would like to see projects finished while I am around to enjoy them.

CHUCK (and others),

I understand your frustration, but it is because you don't completely understand "GUNSMITH LANGUAGE." There is a secret code, that I will reveal....if you promise not to tell anyone.

If you know the gunsmith well, and he has done work for you in the past, you take his estimated time required (in months) and DOUBLE IT. He's not intending to lie to you, he just assumes you know the secret code.

If this is the first time you have dealt with a gunsmith, you should simply TRIPLE his time estimate.

SEE, its really quite simple...

JERRY