Smith replied to my email that it should be ready by Friday.

I let him know that I understand he is a one man shop, and I’ll gladly wait whatever time frame he tells me without bugging him. But to go from 2-3 months to 9 isn’t acceptable as no event should delay work that long outside of a catastrophe.

If he and I can come to an understanding on this I’m willing to let him do my full custom build 44 magnum.

Pics to follow when I receive it.

OP:

Maybe this should be in “pitch your bitch”.

I sent a revolver to a custom gunsmith 9 months ago. At that time he quoted 3-4 months.

After 3 months I requested a quote. He then stated he hoped to start in 3-4 weeks. That was 6 months ago.

I emailed today with a very pointed email that I respected his work and after this work I would later pay for a fully custom build if he was only up front with the time frame.

Why say one time frame when you can’t or won’t deliver? Why make a liar out of yourself? Just be honest and let the consumer decide.

Am I wrong? This first custom work is less than 1K. Subsequent work could be 3-4K dollars. Why pass up 100$ when you could make 1000$?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OttoSig,

Lots of them are backed up for months if not years. Projects turn into big kerfuffles when the customer calls back and adds X, Y Z to the project that adds time-now everyone’s project is pushed back

The longest I waited was 7 years. It was totally worth it.

I've learned in the last twenty years of dealing with custom gunsmiths, most of the time, no matter what they quote, it will be about two years.

Just about the time you forget you even own the gun they will call you and tell you it is done with a bill for more than they originally quoted.

The game just is what it is.

Waited four years on a "3-4 month" quote. Just got it back. Happy? No, not in the least. It is what it is however.

"SGC" (Standard gunsmith calendar)
Figure at least 3, maybe 4 times longer than they quote.

I've had things done on time. Even had a couple things done sooner than quoted. But 80+% of the time, "SGC".

I wonder if anyone ever died while waiting for their custom gun to be completed. Serious question.

I think I waited 2-3 months for Mag-na-Port to do work on my Freedom Arms revolver and that was long enough (they did a great job). I would never let someone take years to work on something, too high of risk of never getting it back. What happens if they die or go out. Of business? You sure are not getting your firearm back. Plus, I would never pay more than they quoted for the work. If they are not good enough at what they do to quote the correct price then I would not be using them.

But apparently there are enough people willing to use them that they do not need my business.

Many GREAT gunsmiths are terrible businessmen.
I had a REM700 blueprinted, new bedded Mac stock, custom barrel, custom trigger. I was quoted a timeframe of 6 months MAX.
I called after about 2 months to check progress and was told in a very pointed fashion, “When it’s done, I’ll call you.”
Well alrighty then!

I waited 6 months to the day and walked in saying, “I’ll pick up my gun NOW.” I didn’t care what stage of build it was in, I’m going to get it. He asked, “What gun was it?” I said a lefty Rem700 long action.
He says, “Oh, we were wondering who owned that. We lost your paperwork.”
It had been finished a couple of months before and now I’m picking it up in middle of summer in fu&#%ing Phoenix!

I'm lucky my pistolsmith is 10 miles away. Also lucky I already have all the work I needed done. I'm ready to retire from competition, and sell off most everything.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I wonder if anyone ever died while waiting for their custom gun to be completed. Serious question.

Yes, they have.

Not common, but it does happen. It is usually transferred to the survivors/heirs

quote:

Originally posted by KevH:
The longest I waited was 7 years. It was totally worth it.

I've learned in the last twenty years of dealing with custom gunsmiths, most of the time, no matter what they quote, it will be about two years.

Just about the time you forget you even own the gun they will call you and tell you it is done with a bill for more than they originally quoted.

The game just is what it is.

Fuck all that bullshit. To each their own, and no disrespect to those who are good with that, I realize these are simply your findings. But not my money, not my time.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I wonder if anyone ever died while waiting for their custom gun to be completed. Serious question.

I've heard of both customers and gunsmiths, more than a few times.

Years for custom gun works? You can count me out. No amount of super duper talent can convince me to do business with them. Ever.

I agree it seems they all have long waits, and/ or grossly misrepresent how long it will be. Endemic and uncalled for. I was recently at a match and a guy was scheduling a rifle to be re barreled - well respected smith said you are on the list- when you are about 2 weeks prior to be up will call you to deliver gun so it isn’t sitting here so long, and you won’t miss matches due to lack of gun. Great way to do it actually.

Keeping someone’s gun for a protracted period of time when you fully know you won’t get to it for 18 months is inexcusable

I have more negative experiences than positive with gunsmiths over the years, to include one who simply lost the parts I gave him and couldn’t be bothered to find them when I pushed the issue

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Years for custom gun works? You can count me out. No amount of super duper talent can convince me to do business with them. Ever.

That’s been my thought as well. I just learn to live with the gun as it came from the factory or sell it for something else that fits my needs.

You do realize it takes great skill for the precision required in a top bullseye 1911. Very few smiths have that great skill.

Sometimes artisans and craftsmen aren't very good businessmen.

Its hard to even find a standard gunsmith in my city.

quote:

Originally posted by captain127:
I agree it seems they all have long waits, and/ or grossly misrepresent how long it will be. Endemic and uncalled for. I was recently at a match and a guy was scheduling a rifle to be re barreled - well respected smith said you are on the list- when you are about 2 weeks prior to be up will call you to deliver gun so it isn’t sitting here so long, and you won’t miss matches due to lack of gun. Great way to do it actually.

Keeping someone’s gun for a protracted period of time when you fully know you won’t get to it for 18 months is inexcusable

I have more negative experiences than positive with gunsmiths over the years, to include one who simply lost the parts I gave him and couldn’t be bothered to find them when I pushed the issue

This is how it should be done. You have to have a general idea of how long a job will take. Make a basic schedule, quote estimated times and dates, and then contact the customers a week or two ahead of the actual date that the work is going to be performed to ship their guns in. That way you don't have a shop full of random guns and parts to keep track of, and your customers aren't without their guns for months at a time.

Robert "The SIG Armorer" completed the work on my pistol a bit earlier than promised.

The other extremely well-known SIG gunsmith, who is a prominent member of this forum, worked on three of my pistols, none of which was completed anywhere near the promised time.