Charles Daly Warning

[pelham]

I bought a new 1911A1 from Charles Daly and found the gun to shoot very well. Then while at the range this past February the left hand safety lever fell off. I called Daly and returned the gun under warranty as instructed and received the gun back in April. When I test fired the gun the safety lever on the left hand side fell off again after about 30 rounds of Winchester range ammo (no hot loads). I emailed Daly-no answer. I wrote them by Certified Mail and it is sitting at their post office since the delivery failed (no one home) and they haven't picked it up from the Post Office. Needless to say my money will be going somewhere else in the future and I'll recommend that route to everyone I meet. :mad:

[1911slabsides]

Let me start by saying that I am no thing of beauty myself. With that said I have really found IMHO the CD's to have really nasty copies of "frill" parts. I'm not real crazy about holes in triggers and gas pedal safeties and all. It seemed to me that these add on parts were copied from a great distance by someone that said, "hell thats close enough" Hopefully I didn't offend anybody that has a CD. This is just My Humble Honest opinion.

[1911WB]

I had a CD several years ago; but it had so many FTF's & other "issues" that I finally got rid of it.

[readyfire]

OkOk i gotta take up for CD,my field efs has run through 1500 plus rounds of jhps and 230 ball with a mix of corbon 165s and powrball.I havent had one single failure to cycle feed extract not one.I also own 2 saGIs and before i sold it the daly spent all its time in my drawer ready for home defense.I did not sell it because of defects .i sold it because i was able to get my full purchase price for it and get another springer gi .It was a good gun,my smith loved it,i even had it worked a bit i liked it so much!Theres gonna be a bad apple out there once and a while.i had a ruger p97 fall apart in my hand at the range and thats suspose to be one of the toughest pistols out there.I will buy another one sooner or later to take its place.Just givin a good word on the part of chuck daly!

[pelham]

When a bad apple occurs the maker of the bad apple should stand behind the product and fix it or replace it. Daly hasn't done either of the two. I've owned a lot of guns and never had parts fall off when firing. Especially once before and once after it was "fixed".

[readyfire]

They should stand behind their guns ,i have heard stories of bad service from charles daly,i was just sticking up for the gun .I agree with you firmly!

[stumbler]

I have one that, so far, I am satisfied with. Mine is an older model and I sent it back for one problem (it shot low with the sights, front sight was lowered). The only other "problems" I have is trying to get aftermarket parts to fit. I do not like the slide release and have to really work to get any other slide release to fit (so I said leave it alone).

[1911slabsides]

I suppose that it is time that I back up on what I said. I can't say that CD's are bad guns. I just don't care for all the "fango dango" "tactical blacktical" "crapola schmizola" they were trying to copy. A CD may roll right along with the rest of them. But I gotta be honest I would probably buy a CD over a $1200.00. pistol with the same options even if the options were real and the CD had copies of the options :rolleyes: . In other words I don't really care for all the fancy extras, they confuse me.

[pelham]

Here is the kind of answer I got from KBI. I guess registering the warranty doesn't do any good because they obviously don't keep them on file. The gun is less then one year old from the date of purchase in 2003. :mad:

"Dear Mr. Frandsen:

According to our records we repaired your firearm as a one time courtesy in April 2004. Your pistol is an older model that was sold over six year ago. It was sent to our service department without required documentation (proof of purchase). Please be advised that all our Charles Daly firearms purchased NEW after September 1, 2001 come with a limited lifetime warranty. This warranty is for the original new gun retail purchaser and is not transferable. If your pistol is under this limited lifetime warranty (valid proof of purchase required) please call our service department toll free at 866-325-9782. A valid proof of purchase should list date of purchase, serial number, price paid, name of the dealer, and list you as the purchaser.

If your pistol is not covered under warranty you may ship it to our service facility for inspection and evaluation.

Best Regards,

KBI INC
Service Department"

[1911slabsides]

pelham,

In reading between the lines there was a great deal of information present. Let me give you the general feeling of the letter.

Sir,

Would you mind taking your silly a$$ed problem down the hall to somebody that gives a damn. You are welcome to spend as much as you like on shipping and when it arrive here we may open the box and repack it and send it back with a hard luck story for you. Thank You for your time, (like your time is going to change anything) possibly you can put some effort into it we will meet that effort with another reason why we can't help you.

Sincerely
Mr Idon'tgiveadamn

sorry you had to hear all this here. But I'd hate for you to hear all this on the streets. ;)

[pelham]

That was pretty much the message.

I've filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau folks and will be filing one with my State Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. People who do business like these guys need to go out of business. :rolleyes:

Just in case anyone wonders this is the link for registering your weapon with Charles Daly. Registration (http://www.charlesdaly.com/ProductRegistration/Register/Step1.asp) Obviously this link puts your registration into the waste paper basket next to the computer it goes to.

[Dave1911]

Pelham, I am new to this forum but I wonder where you bought this firearm. Direct from KBI or through a dealor? Could it be that they sold you a used gun? I think there is a date under the grip panel on the right side...or in the box mine was in was a dated paper when it was test fired. Do you have that or did you send a copy of the reciept? I own a EFS and have had no problems and hope that you can get this resolved.

[pelham]

I know the dealer personally and it was a gun that was at the wholeseller's for awhile.

[Dave1911]

Hate to hear about the bad service....maybe I'll get lucky. I bought mine 2/10/2004. It was tested and inspected 6/21/2002. I would guess it was at the warehouse or on the shelf for two years So far I've had no problems with the pistol but haven't dealt with the company. Thanks for sharing your expierience. Might help others in the long run. Good Luck.

[Kerwin]

I think you should complain and so should the other buyers. It is one way of making these guys know that they should stand by their products irregardless of its age or model.

Charles Daly or KBI or even armscorp should stand by their pistol, old model or not as long as the client has a valid reason to return their product. For your troubles, they should have replaced your pistol with a new one.

[railroader]

I have only had one experience with Charles Daly service. I have a DDA 45 which is a polymer cz clone. The gun ran fine but the slide would lock back with rounds in the mag sometimes. I tweaked the slide stop spring which helped but not 100%. I sent it in for service. The service department replaced the spring as a "courtesy" then voided the warranty because I tweaked the spring . The slide locked open with rounds in the mag after the "service" so I tweaked the new spring and now it runs fine.

I guess my point is don't buy a Charles Daly for the warranty and plan on changing anything. Don't do it unless you plan on putting all the old parts back before you send it in.
Why would you want to change parts? I haven't owned a Daly 1911 but I had an Armscor which looks very similar. It shot well but the fitting on some of the parts on these fillipino guns is just ok. I changed the grip safety on mine with a kimber one because it just fit alot better. I went on to change the trigger, sear and hammer with kimber parts just because they were better and I got a very good deal on them. Also I wasn't worried about the warranty. Mark

[1911slabsides]

I guess I have a problem with warranties in general. I've always though of a warranty as a bet from the manufacturer that the item will break. I guess many are okay, but some of the stories I hear sound like a shipping and downtime nightmare. with little hope of improvement. I have a ton of non faith in some companies. It boils down to a whole lot of nothing.

[robertbank]

I have a Para P 14 as you know. I had the stainless coating on the bushing begin to peel. Emailed Para here in Canada. John sent me a new bushing, then, as an after thought, asked me to describe the peeling and that was it. Now that is service! I also own Norincos...don't speak Chineese well but those guns are like the Pink Rabbit they just go on ticking, rough parts and all, for just $399 Cdn. or about $288 US

[pelham]

Companies like people can be honest or dishonest.

[1911slabsides]

Companies like people can be honest or dishonest.

pelham that is about as simple a run down as can be given. You covered all the information possible in one simple line. That is the simple hard fact.

I guess it's as simple as the roads people choose to take in life and we have two choices, either accept them and let them go on or deny them and hope they fade away.

[Noklue3]

Here is the kind of answer I got from KBI. I guess registering the warranty doesn't do any good because they obviously don't keep them on file. The gun is less then one year old from the date of purchase in 2003. :mad:

"Dear Mr. Frandsen:

According to our records we repaired your firearm as a one time courtesy in April 2004. Your pistol is an older model that was sold over six year ago. It was sent to our service department without required documentation (proof of purchase). Please be advised that all our Charles Daly firearms purchased NEW after September 1, 2001 come with a limited lifetime warranty. This warranty is for the original new gun retail purchaser and is not transferable. If your pistol is under this limited lifetime warranty (valid proof of purchase required) please call our service department toll free at 866-325-9782. A valid proof of purchase should list date of purchase, serial number, price paid, name of the dealer, and list you as the purchaser.

If your pistol is not covered under warranty you may ship it to our service facility for inspection and evaluation.

Best Regards,

KBI INC
Service Department"


Why not just send them a copy of your bill of sale showing you bought it new in 2003 so that they can confirm that it is a warrenty item? Sure would be alot easier.

All the best,

Art

[pelham]

The Gun has been returned to Daly. This will be the second attempt to get it fixed. It'll be interesting to see what comes back from them and how long it takes. :confused:

I doubt I'll ever trust the gun enough to use it for anything other the a range gun or a door stop.

[Kerwin]

Make sure all firearms are unloaded before making it as a door stop. :)

Hope you enjoy your Daly.

Kerwin

[verdejt]

I also have a CD. My FFL dealer and I have been trying for about 2.5 months to get a new barrel bushing and guide rod bushing. We keep getting the run around. Due to this I have since purchased a Kimber Pro Carry II and when the parts finally come in will sell my CD. Due to our experience my dealer was considering carrying CD but no refuses to.

[pelham]

Start building book on these people. Complain to the Better Business Bureau and to the Federal trade Commission. I've done both. My dealer won't carry anything made by Daly based on the run around they gave me.

[1911Tuner]

Which model is it...and what is it doing that you're not satisfied with?
It may be something simple that you can fix yourself. Basesd on what I've been seeing recently, I've abiut decided that some of the service/warranty armorers in some of the manufacturers' warranty repair stations should have stuck to ringin' up sales at the local Gas'n'Go Mart...

[wichaka]

I've abiut decided that some of the service/warranty armorers in some of the manufacturers' warranty repair stations should have stuck to ringin' up sales at the local Gas'n'Go Mart...

Amen brother!

Just got done with another SA Mil-Spec. The guy bought it new & was going to send it back, but I offered to fix it for free. I like tinkering with them. His extractor was out of whack........now its in whack.........if that's possible?

If its simple stuff, I don't charge a thing........love to help out. Been hearing about way too many warranty night mares..........and too many guns period going back to the factory.

I'd like to know what the returns are.......say for 2 different 10-20 year periods. For any of the makers.........i.e., obtain warranty repairs info. for 1961-1980, then 1981-2000 for Colt........SA, just to see what the repairs were and how many guns they were getting back. I just have a feeling that makers are getting alot of guns back these days........

[verdejt]

The model that I have is the MS 1911-A1. To date still don't have the guide rod bushing. My dealer checked the other day and the part is still back ordered. So far it has been about 3 months. He was considering carrying this manufactures line but due to their lack of parts support he doesn't want anything to do with them.

[verdejt]

I have been trying since April/May to get a replacement recoil spring plug P/n 4516MS. All my gunsmith gets on the phone is nope no parts available yet. I keep sending emails and get no replies. I would be happy with detailed machinist drawings so that I can get one manufactured. I wouldn't buy a CD if it was the last gun on earth. I would use a sling shot instead. Not sure what everybody else has had for experience but to date I wouldn't recommend them to anybody. :mad:

[Mustang]

Sorry to hear about the problems you're having. Always hate to see a fellow gun owner in difficulties. Have had one occasion to contact a company about warranty work. Bought a Ruger New Model Blackhawk chambered for 9mm/.357. Took the gun out of the box, placed it in a high quality gun rug and there it stayed except for range time. After about 500 rounds the bluing at the end of the barrel started coming off. Finally a fingernail sized portion went all the way down to metal. Called Ruger, explained the problem, was sent a mailing tag for UPS and had the weapon (with both cylinders) back in less than three weeks in pristine condition. So, for what its worth, that's my one warranty contact.

[robertbank]

I too feel sorry about your experience. Had a small problem with my P-14. Para sent out a replacement part the next day without ever asking to see the offending part. The guns still functioned but the coating on the bushing was coming off. Gun was never out of my hands and Para made it clear to me they would continue to provide that service for as long as I owned the gun.

[cottontoptexan]

Gentlemen,

I think Tuner is on to something. These repair people are probably not very experienced. I have been putting 2 and 2 together and wonder if their repair station is not in the back room of a Gas n Go station. They pump gas when someone drives up and work on guns in their spare time.

[mrgraywolf]

Just a note: My Springfield TRP was shooting low and locking back on mags with rounds still in it new out of the box.

Made a call, spoke to a really pleasant voiced lady.

Sent it to SA, got it back with a test target, 2 new mags, they replaced the bushing I think, and now I can tag pumpkins at 50-60 yards, and punch paper all day.

No problem , no question, and they even offered to honor the old out of date coupons that came with my original Mil Spec, for purchases on mags , parts etc.

Go with an established company, with a solid warranty. It is well worth the money , unless you have a pistol smith next door, and want to trick out your toy.

[josh]

Are there any updates on this?
Has daly repaired your gun yet?
I am seriously considering buying one but your experience makes me real nervous.

[Dave1911]

I have had mine for about a year now and have put 500+ rounds through it. No problems. Nice gun for the money. If something breaks it is easy to get parts and most drop in. If not then a local smith can fix it and don't worry about a warranty. That being said...I bought a GI springfield for about $20 dollars more. It also has been reliable but not so many "features". Both make loud bang when the trigger is pulled and are acurate enough for my needs.Please remit 2 cents.

[chitoryu2454]

i bought a cd awile back.....shot fine for a while then the ejector came loose. sent it back ....they " repaired" it. shot 2 8 rnd mags ....ejector came loose .....sent it back...they "fixed" it....complete with punch marks on the rails where their "gunsmith" couldn't find the hole....shot 3 8 rnd mags.....loose ejector......got smart....found this place....got help...fixed it myself...i am a stronger person for taking hold of the situation and "gettin er done"....get good information from the good folks here...do it yourself...it will mean more to you. the more you do the more you learn....half the joy is not the journey's end but the path to the end. you can learn alot from this place.
best of luck

[pelham]

After a year I thought I'd give you an update. When the gun was returned I guess I had upset the folks at Daly since it came back dirty and with surface rust on the some of the external parts. I cleaned the gun up and put it in the gun safe and went out and bought a CZ-100. The Daly comes out to be cleaned and oiled but I haven't had any interest. Once a gun fails that many times (3) and you find out the attitude of the company that makes it, I would never trust the gun in a pinch. It's also the reason my HP came from someone else other then Daly. :(

[chitoryu2454]

i ordered a new recoil spring and slide stop at the first of feb. parts came within a week....maybe call tem yourself and find out what the deal is.....besides a redoil spring should be no biggy to get somewhere else.
good luck