doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Mike Orlen?

Has anyone worked with Mike Orlen lately? I'm trying to reach him to talk to him about some work but I'm not having any luck.

Thanks,

OWD

A friend of mine had him lengthen the chambers of a French 16 within the last 5 or 6 months. No problems.

I talked to Mike on the phone about 2 weeks ago in regards to opening the chokes on a Husky. Sent the barrels about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Going with by past experiences with Mike I look for my barrels to be back by the end of the week.

OK, thanks. I'll keep trying to reach him. Is 413-253-5665 still his phone #?

OWD

Hi. I believe that is the number I've called to speak to Mike over the past 3 months or so. I've hesitated to share my experience about Mike here, but because someone else opened the door I figured I would share. My only purpose in doing this is to give people here information so they can make the right decision.

I have NID barrels that were slighly pitted so I researched whom to send them to. After reading numerous threads about Mike here and hearing about the great work and fast turn around time, I sent my barrels to him. This was around July 10th if memory serves. I know gunsmiths work at a unique pace, but I figured this work would take a month or so based on everything I read here. To make a long story short, I still do not have the barrels back. I've spoken to Mike (or Michael as he likes to be called) several times. Each time, he says the same thing. "Oh the barrels are right here and I should get to them this week". Let me just say that if he told me the work is going to take 3 or 4 or 5 months, or whatever time frame when I first talked to him I would of been fine with that.

I did see the very long thread here about someone who had barrels at Mike's for over or year or something like that. Unfortunately I read that 6 or 7 weeks after sending my barrels in. I'm sure some who read this will think I'm in some way attacking Mike, but that certainly is not my intention.

Again, I'm only posting this so there is more information out here. Based on my own experience and everything I've read here I now believe this. It appears Mike does quality work that everyone seems more than happy with. His turn around time for choke type work is done quickly. But I now feel that anything beyond choke work is going to take quite a long time for him to do.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who had pitting honed from barrels by Mike and how long it took from start to finish.

Just my .02 cents

Take care

Vince

HI,
My experiance was,in 14 mos. of, never returned phone calls, after a few calls no pickup(I solved this problem by calling on different phones then he would pick up!!) All I got was we will send it tomorrow, next week etc.etc. etc.
I finally sent a regestered letter ,signed recipt returned I got my bbls. back but no rust blue thet I paid for ,He opened up the chokes like requested. It took 14 mos. to get this done!
I was glad to get my bbls. back. Heres hoping you make out better than I did.

idler

Crap, another story about a bad experience-I'm probably screwed. How long ago did you deal with Mike ?

Gregg, I recommend that you read the other thread. I can't find anything among Mr. Orlen's services that anyone should be having done to a good shotgun. The exception would be barrel bluing and he has not been doing that recently.

Who's Gregg ?

Me.

Who else can open the chokes on chrome-lined bbls? I would appreciate recommendations.

Thanks

OWD