How much lee-way to give a Gunsmith??

[robotoid]

So I give this fellow my gun 3 1/2 months ago for a barrel swap, an about 1 hr job I'm lead to believe. He tells me at the time he has an about 2 week lead time. I give him 2 1/2 months before I call and ask what gives??. He says he had to order new tools since he couldn't find his old set of revolver work tools, and he had a "vacation" in there too. He assures me then he is going to work on it that weekend. Here we are another month later I still do not have my gun back nor have I heard from him. My dilemma is gunsmiths seem to be few and far between, and he is doing it for a reasonable price. At this point, I'm considering calling him tommorrow and telling him done or not, I want the gun back. Anyone know a good gunsmith who does S&W revolver work in the SE Michigan area?

 

[pete-driver]

This sound like a smith in Grand Rapids. On Michigan St.?
I would go pick it up unannounced. Phone calls are just for excuses.

 

[robotoid]

This sound like a smith in Grand Rapids. On Michigan St.?
I would go pick it up unannounced. Phone calls are just for excuses.

Sorry, no. Day-twah suburbs area. I can't just pick up unannounced either, this guy picks up/drops off his work at a local gunshop(s). I get the impression he has no "store front" per se.

 

[DeathGrip]

Who gave you a workorder, the gun store or the smith? I find it odd that you say he works out of gun shops yet contact him directly. Try to put the heat on the shop to get it done as they gave him the work and thus can have a little more influence.

 

[TRanger]

No reputable smith is going to say he "lost his old set of revolver tools." This guy is a kitchen-table amatuer. Get your gun back before he ruins it.

 

[robotoid]

Who gave you a workorder, the gun store or the smith? I find it odd that you say he works out of gun shops yet contact him directly. Try to put the heat on the shop to get it done as they gave him the work and thus can have a little more influence.

Usually, the shop does the write the WO and the gunsmith calls later with estimate to get a go ahead. Just happened he was at the shop dropping off/picking up when I went in to drop mine off, so I got to meet with him face to face and explain what I wanted. He wrote up the WO himself since I was talking to him. I think the shop has something on the gunsmith write up form to the effect you're dealing with him, not them, and they are not affiliated. I have been in the shop numerous times and asked if this guy has been seen or heard from and they always tell me he has. I always ask if he brought my gun back in yet and they say to call him.

 

[gunlovingirl]

"...and he is doing it for a reasonable price."

Doing what for a reasonable price? Doesn't sound to me like he's doing much of anything. Except giving you excuses. You have a whole lot more patience than I do!

 

[robotoid]

No reputable smith is going to say he "lost his old set of revolver tools." This guy is a kitchen-table amatuer. Get your gun back before he ruins it.

I believe the specific was he could not find his frame block or barrel wrench. At least I know that means hes not jamming a hammer handle in the cylinder opening to twist off the barrel. He did mention when I gave him the gun he didn't do much revolver work anymore.

 

[DeathGrip]

Get your gun back now.

 

[robotoid]

"...and he is doing it for a reasonable price."

Doing what for a reasonable price? Doesn't sound to me like he's doing much of anything. Except giving you excuses. You have a whole lot more patience than I do!

Precisely my point, I would not be so patient if it weren't for that fact decent gunsmiths (or gunsmiths period) are so few and far between in my area.

 

[n4zov]

Tell the gun store that you want your gun NOW and no excuses! They are responsible for the gun since they accepted it from you and their relationship to the gunsmith is as one of their employees. I would stop having any contact with the Doofus who is supposedly doing the work and concentrate on the store. Send them a certified letter telling them you will be there on such and such a day to pick up your gun.

Yes, good local gunsmiths are hard to find, but you have not found a good one. If S&W will perform the work, they are your best bet even if it costs more. There are also some good reliable smiths who will do the work but you may have to ship the gun to them and it may not be as cheap as your would-be gunsmith promised, but at least they will do the work in a timely manner.

 

[Crazy K38]

first of this is more unprofessional than showing up in court in your underwear, call him and tell him you ARE getting your gun NOW. This is pathetic, he promises 2 weeks and ends up with this.

 

[USAF385]

Get it back!

You've lost 3 months of shooting with that gun!

 

[Photog]

I had a very, very similar experience. I purchased a pretty well used pre 27 and found a same vintage 3.5" barrel. I took it to a well recommended smith here in town and he said he would let me know in a day or so. Sure enough he called and said the new barrel would have to be turned just a bit so that the barrel/cylinder gap would be good. He said it was about a 30 minute job and I could have it in a couple of days.
8 months (!) later I finally got it back, after many visits, many phone calls and standing in his shop and explaining my situation to the person behind the counter while about 6 customers listened. I am told that I have a fairly loud and deep voice and I put it to good use.
I got a call from the shop saying my gun was ready. I went and picked it up, but the smith would not come out and talk to me, he just had his counter help hand it to me and present the bill.
Never stepped foot in the shop since, and made sure and told all my shooting buddies what had transpired. Apparently he go wind of this and was none to happy.
I agree with the rest of the posters who say to get it back ASAP. Good luck.

 

[Zilmo]

Can't add much to what the other posters have siad. Get it back, and do not let him work on it.

 

[RDak]

Your gunsmith is a POS in my opinion.

Please go to the Michigan Gun Owners site and let us know who he is and what gunshop allows him to do business through them.

http://www.migunowners.org/forum/index.php?

 

[gunlovingirl]

Usually, the shop does the write the WO and the gunsmith calls later with estimate to get a go ahead. Just happened he was at the shop dropping off/picking up when I went in to drop mine off, so I got to meet with him face to face and explain what I wanted. He wrote up the WO himself since I was talking to him. I think the shop has something on the gunsmith write up form to the effect you're dealing with him, not them, and they are not affiliated. I have been in the shop numerous times and asked if this guy has been seen or heard from and they always tell me he has. I always ask if he brought my gun back in yet and they say to call him.

The shop can tell you anything they want, but if they write up the workorders and give this guy the work, he is acting as their agent, and is working for them, whether he's doing the work in the shop or not. Is the shop a member of the BBB? If so, file a complaint.

 

[Dan Cash]

Get your gun back now and say after me "Cylinder & Slide."

 

[S&W ucla]

robotoid,

Just up in your area for the SWCA annual meeting. Got to tour around the whole state for a week and enjoyed the visit very much. If I were you, I'd talk to Kenny Kelly at magnaport (Harrison Township). They have done some excellent work for me on my 629's last rebuild.

Good luck,

Steve

 

[Len]

I ran into a similar situation with a car gun "vault." Guy kept delaying and providing excuses....until he had the credit card cash in hand.

Then it was one excuse after the other, for months.

The upshot of the whole deal? No vault, out 300 bucks, BBB and local state consumer affairs couldn't budge the shyster. They suggested small claims court, which is hard to do when it's not in the same state!

Get your gun back, now. I think I know which shop you're talking about.

If you don't mind a 45-60 minute drive, go to Williams Gunsight and Outfitters, near Flint.

If you're leery about dropping it off for the barrel swap, give them a call, and ask to get it done while you wait. [That costs more, though.]

Then use the time to browse around...I always seem to find something that I didn't know I needed.

Disclaimer: I'm not an employee or related in any way to Williams, other than being a satisfied purchaser of their guns and repair/customization work.

Len