anyone know a good restorer/gunsmith for Colt New Service?

[eaglemike]

My grandfather gifted me a New Service in .45LC many years ago. The finish is quite worn, and the lockwork needs help. He'd owned it at least since I was a small child, so obviously has sentimental value.
If you know of someone trustworthy that does decent work, would you please share?
Thanks in advance!

[kendog4570]

I have been gunsmithing professionally for over 15 years. I send all my flat spring Colt work to Frank Glenn in Phoenix.http://www.glenncustom.com/ It has been said that the devil himself lives under the side plate of a Colt! I guess Frank made a deal with him... Good man, honest work.


Whatever you do, DO NOT send it to "The Custom Shop" in Hamilton Montana. They used to pass themselves off as a Colt authorized repair shop after Colts quit working on them about 6 years ago, until the brethren got wise to the jerk. Any real work that needs doing will go from them to Frank anyways, and the owner of the place is a complete *******.
Don't know where to send you for refinish. If it is not too bad you may want to enjoy its honest wear rather than have it all ground up.

[kendog4570]

Originally Posted by eaglemike

My grandfather gifted me a New Service in .45LC many years ago. The finish is quite worn, and the lockwork needs help. He'd owned it at least since I was a small child, so obviously has sentimental value.
If you know of someone trustworthy that does decent work, would you please share?
Thanks in advance!

How about a picture or two?

[eaglemike]

Originally Posted by kendog4570

How about a picture or two?

I'll dig it out and do that.
Thanks very much for your advice.

[freonr22]

For refinishing, ive read hundreds of times, Fords or Turnbull, but idk how much that refinishing is worth to you.
Also, ive read hundreds of times kendog is the go to.

[M1NM]

I've seen 1 Turnbull restored gun - first rate. Can't say anything about the others.

[kendog4570]

Two things going on here. Lock work, which is gun smithing, and restoration, which is art. I had a single action worked on/ restored by Turnbull in 2000. Mighty pretty to look at. Maybe a few shortcuts taken that became evident after real close examination. Not sure if he will even mess with a New Service any more.

[MajorSideburns]

I don't know if he does refinishing but Craig Maraviov in Woodland has excellent knowledge of the Colt mechanics and can fix it up for you. Very few gunsmiths these days have the knowledge or skills to hand fit the parts, if you send it to him you won't be disappointed. He does meticulous work and has repaired and timed 2 Colts (which I unfortunately no longer own) for me. Doesn't look like he has a website but this yelp page has his contact information https://www.yelp.com/biz/maraviov-gunsmithing-woodland

[eaglemike]

Thanks very much for the input!

[SDDAVE56]

Yes good info here, thx.

[Wyatt Burp]

Originally Posted by MajorSideburns

I don't know if he does refinishing but Craig Maraviov in Woodland has excellent knowledge of the Colt mechanics and can fix it up for you. Very few gunsmiths these days have the knowledge or skills to hand fit the parts, if you send it to him you won't be disappointed. He does meticulous work and has repaired and timed 2 Colts (which I unfortunately no longer own) for me. Doesn't look like he has a website but this yelp page has his contact information https://www.yelp.com/biz/maraviov-gunsmithing-woodland

Last year I took a New Service to Craig. It was a 1916 British .455 converted to .357 with an 8” Numrich barrel and .357 cylinder. Shooting only .38s in it the barrel came loose. He put it on right for me. While that is no big deal I was going to recommend him to talk to and glad to see your post. I have a 3” 1904 Colt DA .41 that needs a little work and will take it to him. He also rebarreled two Colt SAAs for me. A great gunsmith shop like the ones I went to with my dad in the 60s.
About refinishing that New Service. It’s a personal thing, but J don’t believe in paying someone to ruin the originality of a gun. And every scratch in it is testimony to those who used the gun, including your grandfather. But I know you did not mention having that done and it was mentioned by someone else in case you did.

[MajorSideburns]

Originally Posted by Wyatt Burp

Last year I took a New Service to Craig. It was a 1916 British .455 converted to .357 with an 8” Numrich barrel and .357 cylinder. Shooting only .38s in it the barrel came loose. He put it on right for me. While that is no big deal I was going to recommend him to talk to and glad to see your post. I have a 3” 1904 Colt DA .41 that needs a little work and will take it to him. He also rebarreled two Colt SAAs for me. A great gunsmith shop like the ones I went to with my dad in the 60s.
About refinishing that New Service. It’s a personal thing, but J don’t believe in paying someone to ruin the originality of a gun. And every scratch in it is testimony to those who used the gun, including your grandfather. But I know you did not mention having that done and it was mentioned by someone else in case you did.

I agree regarding the refinishing, I also prefer to leave everything looking as original as possible and enjoy the character that provides. The only bad thing I can say about Craig is that he is in demand, and only one man so has a backlog of work. Be prepared to wait months to get your firearm back. But I think that is more a testament to his quality of work and the fact people seek him out for business.