Great job huh?

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Uncle Alvah

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Feb 7, 2004
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Took my 1911 RIA to a local "gunsmith".
Needed a dovetail milled in the slide for a Hy-Vis sight.
Took over a month to get it back.


closesight.gif
 
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There's nothing you can't do with a wood chisel and hammer!



BTW, did you say a 'gunsmith' did this?
 
Personally I'd threaten a lawsuit if he doesn't replace the slide on his dime. If he's putting out hack jobs like that he certainly can't afford the judgement (which would very likely be decided in your favor). If nothing else, there's always small claims court.

Discuss it with him like a human being first, then if he still isn't willing to refund the money and fix or replace the slide, bring up the legal ramifications involved. He destroyed your firearm slide. Last I checked, damage to property shows negligence on his part, which is legal grounds for a lawsuit unless you signed some kind of waiver or contract that limits the "gunsmith's" liability.

If I let someone work on one of my guns it's only because I've seen their previous work. I could've milled your slide with my dremel and had it turn out better.
 
OH DEAR! I sure hope the picture looks worse than it does in person. I would hope he has offered to replace the slide, or do something to make that right.

I would be in a rage.
 
:D
Personally I'd threaten a lawsuit if he doesn't replace the slide on his dime. If he's putting out hack jobs like that he certainly can't afford the judgement (which would very likely be decided in your favor). If nothing else, there's always small claims court.

Discuss it with him like a human being first, then if he still isn't willing to refund the money and fix or replace the slide, bring up the legal ramifications involved. He destroyed your firearm slide. Last I checked, damage to property shows negligence on his part, which is legal grounds for a lawsuit unless you signed some kind of waiver or contract that limits the "gunsmith's" liability.

If I let someone work on one of my guns it's only because I've seen their previous work. I could've milled your slide with my dremel and had it turn out better.
Click to expand...

Rail has given some good advice. But if you could get away with just buying a new slide and shoving the old one up the butcher's.........the cost might be worth the satisfaction :D :D :eek:
 
It looks like no one told him about hard slides.

"Personally I'd threaten a lawsuit..." A lawyer would want at least $2000 up front before even considering taking it on. That is why small time goofups and shysters get away with stuff and aren't worried about lawsuits. There are small claims courts in some states, but even there you pay out costs with no guarantee of winning.

Jim
 
A fear of something like this happening was why I sent my slide to Springfield for sights. I think I found a 1911 pistolsmith in the area but I'm leary...very leary.

One question though...did you say anything about the quality when you picked that up?
 
Is this the same guy who does those terrific "Duct Tape" grips?

I don't know how somebody could hand you that gun and have the nerve to charge you $50 for that job.

I don't know how much a new slide will cost you but that guy needs to buy it.
 
Did you have to supply the chinese file to this smith, or does he have his own tools??

At least publish his name so others don't make the same mistake.
 
One question though...did you say anything about the quality when you picked that up?
Click to expand...

No, I did not actually see the work until I was home with it.Was too late to call, so I emailed him.

The guy wants to try and "make it right, but I'm not about to let him touch the gun further. I emailed him my complaint about the shoddy dovetail, that the sight was crooked, and that the slide was marked on both sides from where it was clamped in the vise(there are two straight lines in the finish running lengthwise on the slide. There are subtle, but distinct).
This is his reply:
I apologize. I should have looked at the sight after leaving it for the lock-tite to set. The dovetail was cut on a mill. It was tight so I opened it up a thousandths on both ends because the sight was wider on one side than on the other. The sight is lock-tited in place as the manufacturer suggests. I am sorry you are not happy and will work with you on it if it is ok with you. As far as the slide getting marked up often this happens when machine work is done. It has to be clamped firmly in place to keep it from moving while machining.Usually slides are refinished after machining operations if one is concerned with how it looks. This usually adds to the price. Looking at your pics, you are right, it does look crooked. It looked straight when I set it in place with a punch and lock-tite. I tried to line it up with the original sight. I can remove the site and refinish the sight in black parkerize and install the sight straight to make up for it.
Sorry for the inconvenience. I won't disturb you today. I will call tomorrow and see what I can do to make it right.
Click to expand...

I figure I'm bagged on this one.
- I want him to refund my money, and pay for a replacement slide, he can have this slide, but that ain't likely to be happening.
-If I sell the gun, I'll take a beating on the sale.
- If I keep it, I'm going to have to pay for a new slide and fitting, or leave as is and live with something that I'm completely unhappy with. Plus, if I get nothing out of the guy and replace the slide, I'll be eating the $25 sight, the $50 in labor, the price of a new slide and the cost of fitting it.
THIS SUCKS FOLKS! :fire::fire::fire:

I'm HIGHLY regretting not just leaving the gun as it was, but that little front sight was impossible for me to see. I really like the gun, and I figured with the HY-Vis sight, it would be the nuts. Now, I just want my 1911 restored to it's original condition.
 
I don't know if it is gonna be an easy fix... the front of the dovetail cut looks to be crooked. It don't even look like the front right of the sight is even making contact with the slide. Is this guy a pro smith or a side job smith? If he is pro his insurance might cover this.

I wouldn't "settle" with this guy, he screwed up big and needs to make it right.
 
You know a competent gunsmith may be able to fix it. You should run it by someone good. I sent a bunged up 1911 to Lou Bonitz at Grizzly Custom Guns and it came back beautiful...it's now my favorite. It wouldn't hurt to ask. Good luck with it.
 
I doubt that was done in a mill.....Unless the mill was out of square or his x and y were WAY off!
 
There are some very good welders around who specialize in gun work. That part is critical. The dovetail can be welded and recut by someone competent.

Couple recommendations -
1. Pete Zafateros
Excerpt from a post on another forum. FYI, Chuck Rogers who recommended Pete, is one of the top few smiths in the country. If he puts his stamp of approval on it, I don't question it.
TIG, Micro-TIG and LASER welding.
Give him a call, tell him Chuck Rogers sent you.

Pete Zaferatos
Phoenix, AZ
602-327-2363
[email protected]
Click to expand...

2. Jim Milks
Jim is formerly of EGW, now out on his own. Highly recommended by many folks, pros and customers.
http://innovativecustomguns.com/
Innovative Custom Guns, LLC
162 Moudy Drive
New Enterprise, PA 16664
email – [email protected]
814.766.3004
 
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