Requesting a status update on a project

[keithhagan]

How often is "too often" to request a status update on a firearm you have with a gunsmith?

Naturally, it depends on the nature of the work, but lets say it's a project that commonly sits with a gunsmith for about a year at a reputable shop, for example a caliber conversion on a revolver.

Once a month ok? Once every three months? Six months? Never?

 

[ContinentalOp]

I've never had custom work done that took more than a few weeks, maybe a month, but I would say I wouldn't ask for an update until the estimated completion date had passed, or maybe even a week or 2 after, especially with a reputable shop. You're paying this gunsmith to do work for you, so it seems somewhat disrespectful to ask for updates before the completion date, or any benchmarks agreed upon. On the other hand, if the gunsmith is open to being asked about updates, I'd go with what he suggests.

With that said, a lot of the gunsmiths I've seen that have a long wait time won't keep your gun for the entire time. You pay your deposit, and when the gunsmith is ready to work on your gun they notify you to send it in.

Just my opinion.

 

[ken158]

I have little patience, but will honor a time period agreed upon at the start. I cant recall ever getting any smithing work ever done in the specified time frame but have no guilt in calling when the time has expired without my project being completed.

 

[S&WIowegan]

Not often

I have had a good bit of experience with this question. One of my first custom builds was with Andy Horvath and the experience was totally satisfactory in every way. I don't believe I called him at all after we agreed over the phone.

After my experience with Horvath, I was lulled into a false sense of comfort. My next experience was extremely disappointing. I sent a raw grip frame to a very well-regarded custom builder and had very long delays and complaints from the gunsmith that the job was too much trouble. I finally did get the job done and the pistol runs OK.

My next bad experience involves another custom builder and one of his staff gunsmiths. The smith and I worked out a plan and I sent a box stock Colt Combat Commander to be customized. A few months later I got a call from the smith I was working with saying he was leaving to start a business with a buddy. I had the option to allow him to do my project or leave my project with his now former boss. I chose to go with the former boss but a few months later I called him to discover no one was working on my project. Furthermore, they really didn't want to be bothered. I got stubborn and held him to the deal. I eventually got my gun and it was OK with a horrible trigger which a local guy fixed.

I've had a few other less than acceptable experiences I won't go into. Suffice it to say the small and medium custom gunsmiths can be very problematic and unreliable or great! The odds favor you if you are kind of famous and can help the smith get more work.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Used to know a Master Machinist up at Los Alamos National Lab.
He hated the Question, Do you do Gun Smithing?
Tirade Time!
He would yell, no, because the amount of time you have to talk to customers is the same amount or more than the time required to work on the gun!

 

[Chuck24]

When i was doing custom airbrush work, i would quote a price plus 50.00 every time you called to ask if i was done yet. Plus if you likely to croak before i was done you had to pay up front

 

[glowe]

Your poll is quite confusing. The last option seems to be two seperate choices? Never/not until the estimated time has lapsed

I would always wait until the estimated time for completion has passed. Calling before the job is supposed to be done is wasting their time. Never means never to me and that is certainly not the way to go if the project exceeds expected completion date.

 

[JohnHL]

If the gunsmith had anything to tell you, he would call you.

John

 

[zzclancy]

I voted never.

He needs to be working not taking phone calls.

You never want fast. You know what happens with fast.

 

[Rpg]

Folks wanting real custom work done, the kind that requires significant gunsmith skill, need to understand that it takes time: more time than a lot of folks are willing to wait. Folks go nuts when a $20 Amazon package is a day late: they're not more patient when a high priced job takes months or years.

I've been a client for custom gunsmith work many times over the last 40 years. In no instance have I imagined it wasn't going to take a long time.

I'm not talking about drop in part replacement. I'm talking about stock fabrication, stock checkering and finishing, relaying barrels, proper refinishing (not paint and bake), metal checkering, parts fabrication, etc. If you want first rate work from a master gunsmith shop, you'd better be ready to wait one, two or three years!

If you find someone that can do that kind of work quickly, you've found someone who isn't busy. They're not busy either because they aren't established gunsmiths or they're not very skilled: usually both.

 

[H Richard]

That should be a part of yor agreement when starting a project. His estimate when it would be finished, and your 1st call at that time. Any time he spends answering your calls is less time spent on doing your job.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

The only experience I've had is with a member , BMCM . He's done easy stuff , and some pretty involved jobs . One was one of my 745's . I sent it for a look over and a tune up . It got so involved he made a post out of it .

I know he's busy , so I don't bother him . If needed he will send me an email if he has questions . I just look forward to the day he lets me know my S&W is on it's way home .

 

[Drm50]

My Smith would give you time estimate and was always close. Knew him since I was a kid and how to act. Many though he was gruff and only put up with him because of the excellent quality of his work. He is gone now, last of the real gunsmiths. If you came in shop while he was running lathe or mill he didn't turn it off to trade hunting tales. Opening, lunch and closing were the times to talk.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I use the date estimate I was told it would be ready, and might ask once, about halfway thru . . .

Cheap, Fast, Good. Quality providers of any good or service will generally let you pick two . . .

 

[Ingramite]

A few years back I had a Model 15 that a prior owner had "some trigger work" done. The hammer would "push off" if you cocked it for single action but pushed slightly on the cocked hammer. I didn't like this on a carry revolver....so.

There is a local gunsmith who has a great reputation for outstanding work. The second part of his reputation is "don't get in a hurry". But I knew that going in.

The day I dropped off my revolver I explained all of the what's and why's and the Smith is taking it all in, nodding. He even volunteers that the "push off" is normally caused by some untrained and heavy handed work on the trigger.

Then I ask the question at hand.... I eased into it by telling him that this was not a rush job...but could I get some realistic expectations on price and time?

Price would depend on what he found when he got into it...realistic and understandable. Then he told me "about a week" on the timing and I was about blown away.

A month goes by and I don't hear anything from him and I'm not about to start warting on him. As the two month mark approaches I decide to give him a call to check. He hadn't started on it yet...his only answer. No excuses or reasons and no projected date.

My next call was after another whole month without updates. His reply was only 4 words...."come pick it up".

Long and short of this story is that he did nothing to the revolver but collect a $60.00 "inspection fee".

Here is a funny thing about living in a small town. You try to "do right" because reputation among the people who you have to live with is very important. Both him and I were walking the very same tightrope.

It was painfully apparent that he was fed up with my phone calls and impatience. He also read my disappointment in him and his "work". We both understood that he had forever lost me as a customer. So, all that was left to do was for me to pay him his pound of flesh and get my revolver fixed some place else.

If this locally famous Smith had told me that it "might take me a year" I never would have picked up the phone to bug him for a year. I get that he is busy and his time is more valuable than mine.

In the end?
Sour grapes all around.