350.00 restoration job..

[chuckindenver]

thought i would share this little gem.
last weekend i received this pistol, a regular customer recommended him to me.
he sent this to a company that does Military restorations, out of class, i wont say who they are.
every part on the pistol is phosphate finished, front and rear sight are both damaged, and will need replaced,
barrel was parked inside and out, and all the parts heavy blasted.
some i may have to just replace.
took this company 6 mos, and they charged him 350.00 plus 50.00 shipping to ruin this pistol.
i told him, i would do the best i can, his bill wont be over 175.00 even i have to replace some parts, shy the barrel.
and have it done 3 weeks.
i know not all collectors here are into, or buy guns that need restored.
but for those of you who do, its buyer beware, ask for pics of past work, and ask if they blue and park,
also ask if they use a heavy media, and have a satafaction guarante.
if this were a home job, with a hobbiests work, it would be ok.
i personally cant see how anyone can ask for top dollar for such a job..

[Chaz]

"...ask for pics of past work, and ask if they blue and park,
also ask if they use a heavy media, and have a satafaction guarante."

OR just send it to Chuck and save yourself the hassles! You'll smile like the Cheshire Cat when he returns it. BK (Note, Chuck doesn't pay me to write these comments.)

[randy langford]

somebody should be hung, shot, and boiled in oil.

[Andouille]

"out of class, i wont say who they are"

Damn straight, Chuck. Any outfit doing that kinda crappy work is definately and completely all out of class.

[Bill D]

I'm afraid I would be just a bit unhappy if that were my pistol. I understand class....but out of preventing anyone else having to suffer through a job like this, couldn't you give us a hint as to who the butcher was?

[chuckindenver]

id rather not say,,just dont send anything to be restored to WY.
unless i move there..
i stripped the pistol yesteday, the finish was pretty thick, actually looks ok under whatever was on it.
replaced the front sight with a postwar replacement, and dressed the rear sight.
another note.
customer said the pistol wouldnt function right, and shot fine before he sent it out.
i noticed the GI grip safety was replaced with a cheap repro, as was the sear and disconect.
ill put real parts back, replace the slide spring with a new GI 15 pound spring.
and see how it runs when done.
GI grips were also swapped with China,s best.
the customer didnt know the differance, i do, and ill call and tell him for sure.

[Bill D]

Doing crummy work is one thing - stealing parts, and that is exactly what this gun butcher did, puts this whole fiasco on a whole higher plane. Someone like this does not deserve to stay in business. The only bad thing about this is, there may be some very competent smiths in the Cowboy State, but I'll never know because I wouldn't cross the state line with a firearm I thought anything of.

[chuckindenver]

i agree,
however, i am a face to face smak talker, never been one for doing it via Email, phone, or public forum.
next time i see his guy, ill be sure to say something..
strange thing is..this guy advertises himself at the Co, gunshows as a 1911 expert, and has 2 tables of over priced after market parts, and hacked up GI slides on his table.
that in itself is a reason to avoid him.
im far from an expert, and only a student of the model, i dont know production dates, ect, but i do some reaserch before i dive into someones pistol.
and try the best i can to do a job, that looks like the original, and know when to say, sorry, i cant help that one...so to speak.

i give everyone a chance to prove themselves, and with respect.
i didnt see the pistol before he started.
i do know he sells the GI grip safetys for 50.00 and repro,s for 25.00
im surpised the trigger and hammer were left in the gun.

[Bill D]

As a matter of fact, I very much respect you for your "face to face" policy. That's the way I would want everyone to do business.

Do you ever get down to the Colorado Springs shows at the Phil Long location? I'd really like to meet you sometime. I make my annual "pilgramage" to the Colorado Gun Collectors Show but have really slowed up on the other shows at the Mart. Lately, there have been so many democrats in there buying arms and ammunition that I have trouble getting up to the tables. Besides, there is very little that I want any more and a lot less that I need.

:1948:

[chuckindenver]

as a matter fact, i do the Sertoma shows now and then, i should be at the Thanksgiving show later this month,
The mart show has really grown..no empty tables, and min, on the beenie baby stuff.

[Bill D]

Let me know where you will be at the Thanksgiving Sertoma show - or tell Nick Daily. I'll look you up.

Bill

[chuckindenver]

lol, just ask him were Chuckindenver is,, he gets a kick out of that..
i was at his table a couple years ago, and a guy walks up, and says hey..
arent you Chuckindenver???i never saw him laugh so hard.
and now thats all he calls me...you should see his emails...gawd.
ill be the only guy with a Brittany at my table, she,s my watch dog.