doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hostage Negotiations

I have been fortunate, BM, but I also do my homework, as best I can, on a 'smith. I have never had one gone for a long time, but then I have never asked for a restock, or a full restoration either. Blue jobs, dents removed, ejectors fixed, one had a lock work that wouldn't recock, checkering, rib relay, trigger work ........... all these are individual jobs I have had done by well known 'smiths, and never once did I ask them how long it would take, and never once did anyone keep a gun or parts of a gun over 4 months.

Maybe they appreciate not being pinned down, and repay that appreciation with timeliness. I dunno, but that's my track record.

SRH

P.S. I also try to do all the work myself that I can. Fitted an extractor to a Fox yesterday afternoon. Two hours of blacking, filing and polishing, and I saved myself weeks without the gun.

Somehow, I don't think asking for a proposed completion date is the source of my problems, but who knows?

When I give a customer a completion date, in my job, I honor it. If I can not it is for good reason and the customer is advise what that reason is, not some bull shit story to cover my butt. I add extra time into each job trying to anticipate delays and problems expected in completion. I expect the same when I go to other professionals. If you want to be a professional, then act like one and treat others the same.

The problem is that some people talk off the top of their heads and don't take time to really figure the job right in both time and money terms. Underestimate a job, to the point you can not make money doing it and it will never get done. Fail to consider other jobs promised and in process and it will never get done. Once a deadline is missed and it becomes harder to start and finish a job. Human nature.

When I deal with gun smith doing work for me I ask all the usual questions. But my work is all elective so time really does not matter to me that much. Do the job right, charge me what you quote me, unless it gets worse than expected. It happens I know. Don't tell me six weeks and end up being a year. Don't quote me a grand and bill me two grand unless you can explain it well and have warned me about the problems when found. Then I am a happy man.

Amen Doverham.

I've tried the "no pressure" approach several times & my experience is that it results in your work getting pushed farther to the back as new jobs come in.

A very well known English trained gunsmith who is now retired once told me "the squeaky wheel gets the grease". I do think that being polite when you squeak is the proper way to do it if you want results.

Sometimes it can be very frustrating & I wish I had an answer to the problem.

I like the title of the thread. Didn't know what to expect when I opened it.

When a tardy gunsmith has gotten really, really good at his craft - both at missing promises of time and quality - he shuts down and goes into the automotive repainting business. For therein lie the Earth's greatest liars.....

Well all this got me to call my GS this morning to check on my Atkin.
Engraving is not done for the hinge pin and seems he made the new cocking spring wrong. Oh well I suppose I will need to buy another English Best at the Southern to shoot.

Here's the deal. He's going to do what ever is the fastest and easiest first! It's just the way it is. I have many stories as well butI have a buddy that has had a gun to be restocked I know five years...but in the mean time he has glued a chip for me and repaired a forend for him.I told my buddy I'd dump him.

I don't want to give the wrong impression here. I truly trust this guy to make the right repair needed. In fact I feel lucky to have someone of his background to make the repairs.
I am sure the Atkin will return in fully working condition and looking great.
Just getting anxious

I hate to say it because I enjoy my guns right up there with the best things in life. Unfortunately in a rather lengthy tenure working with gunsmiths and custom gun builders I find almost all to be rather aloof.

I put them right up there with swimming pool contractors.

Another recent example. I sent two SXS barrels off after talking to the gunsmith by phone who told me 'two day turn around" . It is now going on 3 weeks.

The big name guys and the up and comers seem to have the same business ethics. Never have I had one notify me that my job was done early although I have had maybe 5 guns make the promised date, which turns out to be about a 10% completion on time rating. I too have had to drive a full day to pick up expensive guns that never were completed or even started after sitting at their shop for a year.