Am I being unreasonable? ** UPDATE **

[Roering]

Front page of his website says "fast turnaround".

I guess "fast" can be a pretty subjective word.

Please let us know how things turned out.

[splithoof]

I have learned over the years that good gunsmiths take a long time to turn around most projects. When I send a gun off to be customized, I put it in my mind that a year is to be expected, and anything shorter than that is a bonus. I would suggest you purchase another 1911 (a higher quality, semi-custom) if you can afford it, and not dwell on the Kimber while you wait. If after a full year has gone by without any updates, then it would be appropriate to initiate a return.

[P5Ret]

Front page of his website says "fast turnaround".

I guess "fast" can be a pretty subjective word.

Please let us know how things turned out.

Exactly!

[hunterb]

I sent my 1911 to Alan Tanaka, who warned me he doesn't really do that kind of work anymore but we have family in common so he agreed to do it, and he warned me it would take a LONG, LONG time. I would be at the end of the line behind all the custom pistols he was building.

It took 3 months. I paid when I picked up my gun.

A year is just plain stupid, poor business practice, and inconsiderate beyond belief.
Scratching Stan Chen off my list. Just kidding he was never on it.

OP, get your gun back, send it to Cifaldi Customs, and you will have it back in a few months tops. Probably sooner. The Cifaldi Customs guy apprenticed under Will O'Hara, and lots of CalGunners are very very happy with his work. I will be sending him a Les Baer to work on in a few months when I save up enough scratch.

[dfletcher]

Hello Calgunners,

I just wanted to vent on a situation and hear your thoughts.

This is concerning a 1911 pistol that was sent to a known gunsmith for custom machine work.

I was quoted a 6-7 month turnaround time and we're closing in on 1 year. I've always had to call for updates and I've been told "soon".

Work has already been paid for.

This is my only center fire pistol and I'm thinking the gunsmith should have contacted me when he was ready to start my project.

Has anyone had this happen before? Is this standard practice or am I being overly anxious/ unreasonable?


Please share your thoughts.

Thanks!

The only professions with a longer frame of reference for time than gunsmiths are geologists and anthropologists. That has been my experience for the past +40 years. Or as a gunsmith would put it - "just yesterday".

Kidding aside, work can be done only so fast and they're often times dependent on others for a tool, part or material. There aren't enough of these guys around and they're usually single owner shops. My approach is to leave the gun or part and forget about it until I get a call back. I generally don't want someone hurrying their work on anything that puts about 40K CUP in my hands.

[71MUSTY]

It was a Kimber Stainless Target 9mm for the RO Machine package.

http://www.chencustom.com/machining/

Oh now I understand, it's a Kimber, they are probably still laughing.

Just Kidding OP, L-2 sounds spot on.

[divingin]

I was quoted a 6-7 month turnaround time and we're closing in on 1 year. I've always had to call for updates and I've been told "soon".

Has anyone had this happen before? Is this standard practice or am I being overly anxious/ unreasonable?

Don't know about "standard", but it's not uncommon in the custom work arena.

I'd suggest calling often, and asking for a "remaining work to do" update, rather than just a time of completion. And ask where in the line of projects you are.

[billkohatsu]

Never pay in full before the work is done.
In addition to losing importance priority (as happened to the OP), the customer lost all leverage if the work quality is lacking.
To the OP, just ask for your pistol and money back. If he decides he needs the money, he will complete the work quickly.

[tbc]

[Canucky]

The RO package is $1270.00 wow. Good luck OP, hope you get this sorted out.

[XDJYo]

I'm actually surprised. Stan Chen is well thought of in the gun community/1911 world.

That said, there are good 1911 smiths here. Cifaldi is one of them. Chuck Rogers is another as is Alan Tanaka.

OP-Hope you get your 1911 back (even if it is a Kimber. J/K!) and you get your gun completed to your satisfaction.

[DArBad]

OP, I don't think you are being unreasonable. He took your full payment, then made you wait and wait and wait some more. In my book, that's being a douche bag.

I would suggest demand for a full refund of your money, and send your gun to someone else. I would suggest Bret Cifaldi. Kimbers are good guns by the way, its my favorite amongst the factory level 1911s.

[robert101]

I will add my 2 cents and say demand your money and gun back within 48 hours. This guy is B.S.'ing you that it takes a year to do work. He should have declined the work in the first place. Don't let him keep your money as though all is good. Demand a full return or else. Stan Chen is a no-go in my book for ever.

[Broham85]

Thanks for the advice guys. The website only had the pay now option and I assumed since he was reputable there wouldn't be an issue.

I know some of you said to wait, but I don't work like that. He received full payment and provided the time frame. The thing that gets me is that they didn't provide any updates. I've always had to initiate communication.

I sent an email demanding a refund and currently awaiting response.

I'll let you guys know what comes out of this.

[XDJYo]

Thanks for the advice guys. The website only had the pay now option and I assumed since he was reputable there wouldn't be an issue.

I know some of you said to wait, but I don't work like that. He received full payment and provided the time frame. The thing that gets me is that they didn't provide any updates. I've always had to initiate communication.

I sent an email demanding a refund and currently awaiting response.

I'll let you guys know what comes out of this.

Hopefully everything is resolved quickly and painlessly for you.