kensmachine wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2015 at 12:03pm:


I have heard that also. The list are those that were doing re-boring when I got into the business. There were more but I took a few off when I got complaints about them.

I get the impression Redman is more concerned with mass production of liners for resale to jobbers than with custom work for individuals.  When he was starting out and hungry, he was very good, and about the only game in town back then.  I think his liners are still good, but TJ's offers variable lengths and outside diameters, so I usually go with them now.

Can't remember where I read it, but somebody had an exotic caliber single shot with a barrel that had been relined to a .22 rimfire or centerfire.  On a hunch, he heated the barrel and pushed the liner and solder out, and found the original bore, chamber and rifling were still in good shape.

I guess that would be referred to as "De-Lining" .

Called Cutrifle regarding a rebore once and once again, left message with contact info both times.  Never heard diddly squat from them. 

What possible good can come out of ignoring a potential customer! Why not simply have the basic courtesy to answer the call and be straight and honest with the customer regarding their workload and turn-around time. Those shops or gunsmiths who are too busy or too good to return my call today may be begging for my business tomorrow. Don't they teach basic business ethics in machine or gun shop?

The very reason I don't have a phone in the shop. I hate to say it but some of the retired people think that I can talk about a project over and over again. Maybe not retired but have a lot more free time. I would rather receive an e-mail about a project than talk on the phone about it.

Gunsmiths should bill for phone time. Attorneys even bill for their secretaries phone time and we know that we would all be better off with a serious reduction in their number (say, 98%?).

luck88 wrote on Aug 7^th, 2015 at 1:27am:

You have a valid point and I agree with you. I know of one shop that put on their answering machine that they were backed up and would not be taking any more work till they caught up. 
I'm usually backed up about 6 months and many times I get calls or e-mails within a week of receiving a package asking me if I have looked at the project. 

Another smith told me a story of when he first started and was working for an old smith. A young fellow came into the shop a few days before season started and told the smith he needed his gun by the end of the week. He said it several times and finally the old smith handed the gun back to him and said " you better take it now to ensure you have it by the end of the week."