Springfield Gunsmith question / Overall question

[downdiver2]

Hey all,

I had some work done locally to a Spring Field 1911 Mil Spec. Long Story short, I had the firearm completed, took it out and took it right back due to mistakes to the hammer, ambi selector, and overall safe operation. I just got the firearm back recently after its 2nd visit.

Lets just say, due to my experience at the range, I dont trust this firearm now that I got it back. Im super bummed I took it to this place in the first place, now seeing what they did. Unauthorized work I didnt ask for (I didnt pay for it either) and the operation of the firearm.

So, I have been searching threads for 1911 Gunsmiths and my question is: Would it be bad for me to send the firearm to Springfield's custom shop? I ask because I did not upgrade using Springfield parts, or does that not matter?

I feel like a dog with his tail between his legs asking Springfield to fix a firearm I could / should have gone to them for the first time.

I also dont want to buy these parts all over again if I dont have to. I dont want to double my mistake $$ - so to speak.

[Chapped Hide]

Hey all,

I had some work done locally to a Spring Field 1911 Mil Spec. Long Story short, I had the firearm completed, took it out and took it right back due to mistakes to the hammer, ambi selector, and overall safe operation. I just got the firearm back recently after its 2nd visit.

Lets just say, due to my experience at the range, I dont trust this firearm now that I got it back. Im super bummed I took it to this place in the first place, now seeing what they did. Unauthorized work I didnt ask for (I didnt pay for it either) and the operation of the firearm.

So, I have been searching threads for 1911 Gunsmiths and my question is: Would it be bad for me to send the firearm to Springfield's custom shop? I ask because I did not upgrade using Springfield parts, or does that not matter?

I feel like a dog with his tail between his legs asking Springfield to fix a firearm I could / should have gone to them for the first time.

I also dont want to buy these parts all over again if I dont have to. I dont want to double my mistake $$ - so to speak.

They may work with the existing parts but they won't do it for free if that's what you're hoping for.

[9mmContagion]

They aren’t taking any jobs right now anyway. Except factory repairs. What’s the deal with it? You can contact Brett at Cifaldi Precision in Corona. Also a member here

[downdiver2]

They may work with the existing parts but they won't do it for free if that's what you're hoping for.

I expect to pay labor and "Recommend" new parts compared to what I purchased. Just dont want to pay for "We recommend this Springfield part over your Wilson Combat part" type of scenario.

[downdiver2]

They aren’t taking any jobs right now anyway. Except factory repairs. What’s the deal with it? You can contact Brett at Cifaldi Precision in Corona. Also a member here

I feel a little responsibility to not put the gunsmith on blast on a public fourm. But, basically it went full auto at the range. The ambi selector feels really loose and as a lefty, I cant engage fullly in safe. I have to switch hands and force it to safe with my right hand. I hope the full auto has been fixed, but the Ambi is still a problem. Im not going to test fire it until I send it off to a reputable gunsmith.

Based upon some other forums, I have called a few reputable guys out of state and a lot are over booked, or just had surgey, etc. A lot of "Not taking any right now"

[CifaldiPrecision]

[JTROKS]

When I worked at a gunshop we do a list of the work that is required to bring the gun to a safe, operational condition. Then a list of recommendations such as tuning the gun. Then a list of what the customer wanted done. No work is done until the customer initial each item listed he’s authorizing worked done on. At least that’s the plan, but the owner of the shop can override the paperwork when he looks it over and provide a package deal. The owner of the shop checks all the work authorized by him and puts an amount being charged. We didn’t have a computer in the shop back then so everything must be hand written instead of copy pasting from a list.

OP you mentioned you don’t want to blast the shop in the forum. Is this a big shop that’s well known for working on 1911s? Or is this shop a gun shop with general gunsmithing on the side?

[downdiver2]

When I worked at a gunshop we do a list of the work that is required to bring the gun to a safe, operational condition. Then a list of recommendations such as tuning the gun. Then a list of what the customer wanted done. No work is done until the customer initial each item listed he’s authorizing worked done on. At least that’s the plan, but the owner of the shop can override the paperwork when he looks it over and provide a package deal. The owner of the shop checks all the work authorized by him and puts an amount being charged. We didn’t have a computer in the shop back then so everything must be hand written instead of copy pasting from a list.

OP you mentioned you don’t want to blast the shop in the forum. Is this a big shop that’s well known for working on 1911s? Or is this shop a gun shop with general gunsmithing on the side?

I authorized quite a few mods. Its a shop that does general gunsmithing - not a retail firearm / gun shop. *Lesson learned lets say

[downdiver2]

Well, for public safety, I'd like to know who the "gunsmith" is.

I'll PM you if you really want to avoid it. Geographically, Im south of Irvine and north of San Juan Cap. I stayed close to home.

[SamsDX]

I'll PM you if you really want to avoid it. Geographically, Im south of Irvine and north of San Juan Cap. I stayed close to home.

We're probably pretty close to each other, and I think I know the shop you're referring to. Quite frankly, I'm not surprised - I had a Niteforce scope mounted to a LaRue QD mount, and it came loose after less than 20 rounds at the range. It turns out that the rings weren't torqued down anywhere close to spec.

I also had them install a set of night sights on my Colt Combat Commander. I bought some Trijicons to them, but apparently they were out of spec and so they were returned to me after several weeks of sitting in the shop. I got a replacement set, and while they went ahead with installing them, after taking the gun to the range, they came loose and fell off after 8-16 rounds. I went back and asked them to order something that will work, and while I finally got a set of working sights, I got charged twice for the installation service.

Although these are serious issues, they didn't impact my safety or the safety of others, so I didn't bother any further. The rifle wasn't going to be used in a serious application, and I wasn't going to carry the Combat Commander. However, a pistol going full-auto is completely unacceptable. That's a major liability, and they should not be in the business of working on any gun, if, after they are done with it, they can't do a basic function/fire test to make sure it is safe. It is irresponsible, and it's a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

That said, I completely understand your reluctance over taking it back to them for further repair. Did they muck with the frame or the slide such that the original parts would no longer function correctly?

[SkyHawk]

I'd think a simple function check at home should have let you know the disconnector was not working.

Always do a function check after any work or disassembly. That includes a check of the disconnector. If you dry fire, keep holding the trigger and rack the slide - and the hammer follows the slide going into battery, you will have a problem at the range.

Another good idea is to only load two rounds per mag after any major work.

[downdiver2]

Did they muck with the frame or the slide such that the original parts would no longer function correctly?

It also came back with a bobtail - I didnt request a bobtail. Thats a serious mod to the frame

The reply I got was "ohh man, sorry about that". What could I do other than ***** and moan and not pay for it (Which I didnt). Cant reattach the metal.

[SkyHawk]

It also came back with a bobtail - I didnt request a bobtail. Thats a serious mod to the frame

Ummm, wow.

[downdiver2]

I'd think a simple function check at home should have let you know the disconnector was not working.

Always do a function check after any work or disassembly. That includes a check of the disconnector. If you dry fire, keep holding the trigger and rack the slide - and the hammer follows the slide going into battery, you will have a problem at the range.

Another good idea is to only load two rounds per mag after any major work.

Noted, thank you. I didnt do any of that.

[xSlapshotx]

That's a major F up.