Recommendations on a gunsmith

[The Gila Bender]

Tipoc, give The Gunsmith, Nelson Ford, a call in Phoenix, AZ. He does great work on any Smith revolver. He has done mechanical restoration on two old 38/44's for me and I couldn't be happier!! Give him a call at 602-992-0050.

Nelson Ford has done everything from simple adjustment and spring replacement to full restorations for me. He's gone through most of my vintage S&W's and Colt 1911's and is very good at putting life back into an old revolver or pistol. Highly recommended.

 

[RKmesa]

Just picked up a few of my shooting wheelguns from Nelson Ford the other day. All he does are Smith Revolvers and Colt 1911's...

 

[OkieKen]

Being patient is a virtue for both yourself and the custom gunsmith when you send quality guns to be worked on by any of the better known masters of the trade. I have over the last 44 years had any number of guns worked on, modified or customized and have found it is better for both myself and the gunsmith to not be in a hurry. One of my closest friends who is both a master tool and die maker as well as a very accomplished 'smith will not even take work that does not interest him or from guys who "pester" him to hurry and get their work done. I agree with my friend Shawn and Muddyboot in their posts above.

Here's an update:
Shortly after my last post, I got an email from the Chicoines telling me the repair would be done by the end of August. Based on that latest stall stactic and some other information, I decided to cut my losses and get that gun back. I replied that I wanted my Grandad's gun back NOW, along with any parts I had paid for, and that the choice was theirs to ship it in pieces or as a completed repair.

Good news is the gun arrived home today with the repair completed, and seems to be of the quality I had hoped for. I'll leave it to you to decide for yourself if more patience would have worked better in this particular fact situation . . . . .

 

[tlay]

Gary Reeder mostly works on Ruger guns. His son works on 1911s.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Here's an update:
Shortly after my last post, I got an email from the Chicoines telling me the repair would be done by the end of August. Based on that latest stall stactic and some other information, I decided to cut my losses and get that gun back. I replied that I wanted my Grandad's gun back NOW, along with any parts I had paid for, and that the choice was theirs to ship it in pieces or as a completed repair.

Good news is the gun arrived home today with the repair completed, and seems to be of the quality I had hoped for. I'll leave it to you to decide for yourself if more patience would have worked better in this particular fact situation . . . . .

Good for you man,At a certain point enough is enough and almost a year is more than enough.

 

[BCDWYO]

Just picked up a few of my shooting wheelguns from Nelson Ford the other day. All he does are Smith Revolvers and Colt 1911's...

Hey RK...I've had several Smith Revolvers in to Nelson with great results also.

I recently got my granddad's Ruger Security Six and the trigger is horrendous and I was thinking about taking it to Nelson... To your knowledge does Nelson not work on Rugers?

 

[SgtLumpy]

I've known Nelson to work on Ruger revolvers, even though he's most experienced with Smith wheels and 1911s. He won't work on compact autos nor plastic guns. The guy's a hoot to deal with. Does fabulous work.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[RKmesa]

Hey RK...I've had several Smith Revolvers in to Nelson with great results also.

I recently got my granddad's Ruger Security Six and the trigger is horrendous and I was thinking about taking it to Nelson... To your knowledge does Nelson not work on Rugers?

Last time I was in his shop, he had a guy come in and asked him about working on Rugers. I don't remember exactly what he said, but as I recall, it was a "colorful" "No".

I do know that if you call him, he'll tell you whether he will or not - one way or another.

 

[BCDWYO]

Last time I was in his shop, he had a guy come in and asked him about working on Rugers. I don't remember exactly what he said, but as I recall, it was a "colorful" "No".

I do know that if you call him, he'll tell you whether he will or not - one way or another.

Yeah...colorful pretty well describes it! I'll give him a holler before I drive down there to get scolded!

 

[Pastprime]

Glad I read this thread and the information about David Chicoine's hand injury. He's had a revolver of mine for repair since July 2012. It would have been nice if he or someone working with him had informed me of the situation. Now that I know what is causing the delay, I will swallow another dose of patience...

Hank