What is with gunsmiths?

[robbor]

Has anybody visited a gunsmith shop and ever seen a smith actually working. I have a barrel at the smiths to be rechamberd from 308 to 300 rum, Brandnew barrel and nothing else needs to be done. He's had it close to 3 months and has not touched it yet. Every gunsmith experience has been that I end up calling them AFTER their deliver date and almost end up having to pressure them to do the work. I also have to wonder if they put walkins infront of mailins. Its almost like they leave you no choice but to complain?
I called him after 2 months and tried to get any rough answer on when he will get to it and he would not answer me.

 

[Cheechako]

robbor

That's a pretty wide brush that you're painting all gunsmiths with. Sounds to me like you simply got a bad one. When you finally do get your rifle back I would tell him that you will take your business elsewhere and so advise your shooting buddies also.

So, do ALL newspaper delivery persons throw the paper into the brush and snow??

Ray

 

[DaveBrokos]

In the last 12 months I had two rifles built and a custom stock built, all three were bad experiences. My advice is do not use a gunsmith who spends as much time shooting as he does working.
That said, most of the good ones shoot a lot.

 

[rstreich]

Just get a new gunsmith. There are a lot of smiths who operate like that, but then there are a lot of business people who operate like that.

With the gunsmith that I use,Greg Tannel), I schedule a project about six months ahead of time--that's his backlog. When my turn comes up he gives me a call and I ship him my parts. Only once have I not gotten my gun back three weeks later. In fact, he just got two barrels and two actions from me last week and he called today to tell me he'll have them out either tomorrow or the day after.

 

[expiper]

Get all of your parts in a bushel basket,,have notes...be on time ....tell him what you want...listen to his advice,,if you cant take his advice,,what are u doing there???!!!))...Have you ever seen a brain surgeon working??? Most folks think a gunsmith is just someone who fiddles around all day and tells tall tales by the ole' potbelly stove,,,!!!!
Most true professionals will take a break from their work to greet a customer and get his thoughts on the same page ...then you gotta know when to get out of there so he can get back to work...a gunsmith shop is not a place to hang around...let the man do his work,,he cant be working to the millionth of an inch and you standig there over his shoulder asking ...why he is using brown cutting oil on the reamer,,,duh,,,,I think most people think they culd do the same work if they just had a $$$$ lathe just like HIS....most of the good gunsmiths have worked at it all their lives,,and they aint teenagers)) ....shure we all want to chew the fat and feel like we are involved...and that is good ...but dont wonder why he stops when you walk in....just know when to leave...so he can get your,,and everyone else too)) work done......
There is a good gunsmith in my lil town....every time I take some work to him I have to squirm my way thru the same eye-wittnesses....to get in and out of there!!! I think this is just another reason that so many of the good old gunsmiths are grumpy...they want you to leave....
How many of us,,even if we are an office worker)) want someone hangin out in our work space or cubicle just chit chattin....who culd even work on the puter with a crowd around...just think about it....this guy even sleeps in and people complain....but lil do they know ...he works till 3 or 4 in the morning ...just so he can have peace and quiet,,and GET SUMTHIN DONE..
I am just as guilty as the next guy,,,,just trying to learn from my mistakes and pass it on for the good of us all......Roger,boy do I sound like a grump tonite!!hahahahaha)

 

[okie]

mine's grumpy also,doesn't advertise and threatens to shoot people who want their scope "boresighted" or a tigger job on automatic -deer- ten- shots- a -year -gun. I've seen him tell people their P.O.S. won't shoot now, yesterday, or tomorrow. real blunt, to the point& grumpy BUT he is FAST! kinda makes me wonder if his parents gave him enough attention. oh yeah, 3x divorcee also drove himself to hospital,from dr.'s office having heart attack---refused ambulance!!!) LAST WEEK!!! he called today said he headspced/chambered my new project TODAY!!!! definetely a different breed. I love him.

 

[coosabarr]

The smith I use is very timely. I have never asked how much or when it will be ready. He calls to tell me it is done and I take him money.

 

[Happycamper]

the gun smith i saw had 100 to 200 guns to do work on
he does em in the order he gets em
it does take a long time some times over a year to do all that work