I have done business with Fords for more than 15 years. In the past they have made mistakes but were always willing to stand behind their service. They had put together a gun wrong, had problems with nickel finish and had to replace an Colt python frame after breaking one I had sent to them.

It amazed me that they wouldn't take care of the latest problem. I shipped them 2 NEW blue colt Python barrels (a 2.5" and 6") to have a bright nickel finish applied to them. I have the paperwork I sent requesting the nickel finish for my records. After waiting a couple of months the barrels were returned RE-BLUED and NOT nickel finished. These were new barrels that clearly didn't need a new blue finish. The lettering was no longer to factory spec after buffing and re-blue. I contacted Larna Ford immediately about the error. She offered to refund the resale/retail value of 2 nickel barrels and charges for incorrect blue ($1550). I waited a week for a check and got nothing. I called back this time speaking to both Horace and Larna. Horace offered to have me send the barrels back and he would nickel them correctly. I pointed out to him the the lettering was no longer factory crisp from the re-bluing and that another buff and nickel finish would not look like a factory barrel with rolled lettering. After some discussion Larna again agreed to issue the full refund/reimbursement of $1550 via my credit card. Again I waited about week, still no action. I called again and Larna said she was going to get a divorce over the situation and wasn't going to send the refund.

I then contacted the State attorney general and BBB to file fraud complaints against them. I do not understand a family business who claims to stand behind their service doing something like this. I can say that given the number of mistakes they have made over the years and their current unwillingness to make their mistake right you should not do business with them. AVOID FORDS if you value your weapons and accessories as they will not pay to fix their mistakes. Here's a response from their last email to me "The 2.5 inch and 6 inch barrels were returned to Roger .. refinished in a prestine master blue finish, thus increasing the value of each barrel." Would any gun collector say that re-bluing a new colt python barrel would INCREASE the value? It's absurd and clearly not true, especially since I had requested a bright nickel finish for the barrels.

You have had multiple problems with them and you continue to do business with them?

I had to look at your other eight post.

Now I gotta ask, Where are you getting colt barrels?

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Dum vivo cano

I guess it's none of my damn business but who nickels two brand new factory blued pythons...

These kinds of posts always raise questions because we cannot hear the other side's story.
I've heard nothing but good about Ford's and my personal experiences there have been positive.

I've had 6 S&W revolvers refinished at Ford's in the past two years and each one has been spectacular. Sure the wait is long but it's always been worth it to me. The last two were ready around the same time so I made the drive to Crystal River, FL to pick them up and Larna agreed to meet me at the shop on a Saturday morning when they're normally closed so I could pick them up in person. Very sweet lady and a pleasure to talk with. She even gave me a tour of the place and showed me where all the steps take place and how it's done. Had a great visit and the revolvers are stunning.

I'm sorry you're having difficulties but mistakes happen and people are human. I love Ford's work and will continue to use them in the future.

At the time I worked at a gun shop that sent out their refinishing to Ford's. Probably 50+ guns a year. I bought out the stock of several guns shops more than 10 years ago and have been selling off bits of it over the years. A gunsmith friend needed nickel python barrels to replace some damaged barrels on guns he's repairing. So Ford's has screwed me, him and his customers.

Why not just file a fraud charge with your CC company?

No FRAUD has been committed.
OP is just wizzed...
However, he has advised over 50+ past dealings with
exceptional results.
Then slams a top line company over one transaction.
Stuff happens. Move on.
OP...is your smith building "Frankenguns"

I sure would say fraud has been committed. OP has paperwork deatiling work he wanted and paid for. OP did not receive the work he paid for. CC company would refund that in a heartbeat and go after the vendor.

Reckon you ought to take a breath
before throwing out criminal accusations.

Not sure it's a fraud, by any means, but it is a costly mistake. If Ford's has refused to to refund cost either by check or credit card rebate, O/P could and should dispute charges with his credit card issuer.
I hate to hear this as Ford's has always been highly recommended.

So if I pay for something, they take my money, don't deliver what I paid for, and refuse to return my money, what do you call it?

A mistake....and dis-satisfied customer.
No criminal intent what-so -ever.

The OP wanted two new blued barrels nickel plated, then complains that the barrels were buffed. He then wants his cost for the work on the barrels refunded, and the retail value of two nickel barrels credited. You wanted refinished barrels, let them refinish them, or take the credit for what you paid them to do the incorrect work, and send your barrels someplace else for a non factory refinish.
I think he deserves his paid cost to refinish reimbursed to him, and they did make a big mistake.

It becomes criminal when they offered a refund/restitution payment then backed out. I am out the original cost of the barrels, refinishing and shipping plus the resale value. Pretty poor way of dealing with customers. Anyone want to buy to re-blued barrels for $1550? I don't think so...

I don't buy any of this story.

It ain't fraud and it ain't criminal. It's a mistake. Sue them in small claims court in Florida. Life ain't fair-deal with it.

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Forum consigliere

How is that any different than posting an "I'll take it" in the Classifieds then not responding for 11 days before backing out of the deal? Oh, wait, the computer virus. Maybe Fords should get one of those since it makes everything okay...

I agree.If something is refinished it's going to be buffed.You can't expect Factory crisp markings after a refinish.

EDIT:I just reread your post and saw that Larna is going to divorce Hornace over this deal?

Read the OP's post again. He said he sent two new blue barrels to have nickled...not two complete blued revolvers.

Just my assorted musings.
Divorce over honest mistake, that doesn't involve a ton of money or sex?
A refusal, by the company who admitted making the mistake, to refund money?
Two new blued barrels to have a finish change, to be resold to gunsmith who needs to repair two different, high dollar, revolvers.

Sorry this does not quite pass my sniff test.

I think the only mistake was by the OP forgetting to check off nickel for the refinishing work.Yet somehow Fords was suppose to know what he meant.The op only visits this forum to buy sell or complain.I wouldn't take him serious.

It's not the quality of their work that is causing the problem here, it's the mistake they made and according to the op have acknowledged and even agreed to make right and have failed to follow through. As for all the divorce talk, I'm sure the wife was just joking. It sounds like she agrees that they should make the situation right with the op and the husband doesn't, therefore causing a disagreement or argument between the two, leading to the comment about divorce.

I have not had Ford's do any work for me and only know them by reputation, 98% positive by my recollection. The OP states he was offered a refund for the cost of the barrels and (by report) improper refinish, and told he could keep the parts too? No wonder that caused some friction at the company.

None of my business, but I know they recut S & W logos so I presume they do lettering also...I would see if they would do this to everyone's satisfaction with whatever finish and call it good. Good luck with getting this resolved.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I am going to go ahead and parrot what many others have already said.
There is a whole lot more to this story than is reported here.

Why would new blued barrels need to be buffed? Wouldn't a dip in the solution remove the blue?
Just curious.

George

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

I do not care for anyone who slams a business on a public forum. This entire episode reeks of a overly demanding customer, who demands perfection, and is having a tantrum, as evidenced by his stating he had several problems in the past and always complained until it was made right. I dealt with people like this occasionally in the car business. After the first tirade, I quickly learned to refund their money completely and to NEVER do business with them again. Sorry, but it is impossible to make everyone happy, every time

So some gun smith ruined 2 Python bbls?

Sometimes ya gotta work fast before the moon slides past your shade tree work bench.

Having owned 4 or 5 Pythons I understand the value, right now a 2.5" seems to be pricey.

The complaint, if true, is against a refinisher on the short list for best in the nation; not your typical shade tree gunsmith...

Let me get this straight.

In 6 year you've had 8 WTS posts and 3 bashing posts.

Given those bona fides, I lean towards Ford's.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Crazy prices on Pythons now BUYERS BEWARE..fact

Lotsa parts swapping going on with PYTHONS out there..fact

Lotsa REALLY high prices out there too.. Esp Nickel..fact

Fords is straight up..fact

I just received all my parts from FORD CUSTOM GUNS. Beretta A1 96FS 8 small parts and .40 barrel Bright ( hi Polish ) Nickel .... WOW .. Really nice work - 2 thumbs up ... Professional & Friendly folks ... I have another custom build I'll be using FCG again ... Listen folks - ignore the neg babble ... FCG is top notch. I'm very happy with FCG service and turn around time. ... My Beretta A1 96 FS looks fantastic with the Bright ( Hi Polish) nickel .... My Name is Jack Sparrow ... Wednesday 07.27.22 ... I will back here on this sight ... I have ( 2 ) S & W .380 EZ W / thumb safety and I have ( 1 ) S&W .380 Blk & Gold Performance Series. & I have ( 3 ) revolvers as well in the S & W family Line up .. Be safe .. Be well .. Be Happy ... Lets' respect each other and help heal this country.

Without before and after pics, your post doesn't move the needle for me.

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Psalm 27:2

Is there nothing current to argue about?
This thread is close to 7 years old.

Clicking on this thread was worth it just to see Gary doin' some Bayou Barristerin'.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I've been looking for a thread worth jumping in on! I guess I'll keep looking!!

Ivan

I was wondering the same thing.

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Waiting For The Sun.

and in other news, General Fransisco Franco is still dead.

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

I've never heard of Ford's. Do they have a website?

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Live long and prosper

Yes they do and have done great work for many years/ Many would say they do the best job of anyone these days with refinishing. Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing | Crystal River, FL

Me thinks JAck Sparrow is a 'service' one pays for to clean up your interweb reputation. Registered this month(today?), with this first (only?) post to defend the vendor the OP besmirched.

You're dating yourself, my friend...

The lettering can be recut to factory specs by a quality engraver and you will never know. I’ve seen 2 different guns that Fords did and the stampings were recut and look factory rolled. Before I cried foul, I would give a company like Ford to correct the mistake. What did you have to lose?

If a deep shiny blue is important enough to you that you're willing to accept, or at least risk, rounded-over sharp edges, dished screw holes, faded rollmarks, and a gaping sideplate seam, then Ford's is the company for you!

Search this forum. Look at the photos. Be your own judge.

Agreed. Digging up a 7 year old thread to defend a business?

Suspect for sure.

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

My question exactly. No aggressive buffing required. Simply a cleanup after solution "dip". I sympathize with the OP, but, unfortunately stuff happens. A few years back, we were driving our brand new Escalade to Denver, and the tranny went out.

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John

So is Michael Jackson.


Oh, and...

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

This is funny, Fords at one point may have been a great company, BUT they have done nothing but screw up anything I've ever sent them.... twice with 2 different guns.

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This is the way....

[QUOTE=Erocksmash;141526707]This is funny, Fords at one point may have been a great company, BUT they have done nothing but screw up anything I've ever sent them.... twice with 2 different guns.[/QUOTE Can you post some pictures .I have only seen pictures of totally rusted guns that had to be over polished. I would like to see a gun that was fine before they received it.