Reasonable turnaround time on minor gunsmithing?

[1911_lover]

My local Smith does very good work but man is he S-L-O-W!! I bought a SS GI Springfield about a two months ago and he has had it for almost three weeks to install the following:

1. Install Millet front and rear fixed sights.
Stake in front sight. No dovetail. Rear sight should fit in rear notch with no modification.

2. Install Nowlin trigger.
Standard run of the mill nowlin trigger. NO trigger job. Just take out the factory short trigger and drop in the nowlin trigger.

3. Install Flat Mainspring Housing.
Springfield ILS system has to be removed but the new MS housing should drop in.

Now I understand that no part is truely a "drop in" part. A small amount of fiting may be necessary but I do not perceive this to be a major modification. I figure it will take about 45min-1hour to complete. 30 min for sights, 10 min for MS housing and 15 min for tigger.

Whenever I ask him about it, he gets upset and gives me the "quality takes time, blah, blah blah" routine. I understand that he is busy but do you think my estimate of the time to do the work is right? If you are a smith, how long would it take you to complete this job?

[Hersh]

'It doesn't make the wait any easier, but if he's busy he's probably in demand. If he's in demand he's probably pretty good so hopefully the wait will be worth it. It seems like the people who do really good work are always back logged.

My 2 cents,

Hersh

[chitoryu2454]

i agree with hersh....and if it were mine i would much rather that he be slow, caughtious and good than fast

[Kruzr]

Chuck Rogers says........
Cheap Good Fast
you can pick 2.

[1911_lover]

If the rolls were reversed, I would try to get the quick and easy jobs out first.

He will make about $75 on me in 1 hour. Doesn't it make more sense to spend 1 hour working on one gun and make $75 instead of working for 12-14 hours on a really complicated issue and make $150...........

I think he gets involved in a complicated resortation or modification job and when other (less labor intensive) jobs begin to pile up, he gets frustrated and irratable. He constantly complains that people are calling wanting to know when their guns will be ready and it really makes him mad if you try to rush him. This is why I hate to have custom work done. The turnaround time takes all the fun out of it for me. By the time I get the gun back, I have usually moved on to some other project.

I think 2 weeks is plenty of time to complete this work and do a quality job. Am I crazy?

[Ericthenorse]

Most smiths I know have some sort of "list" They will work on guns in the order they are on the list. Next time see if he has one. You might be able to put yourself on it, and still be able to shoot your gun untill he is ready for it...

[Hersh]

I think 2 weeks is plenty of time to complete this work and do a quality job. Am I crazy?

Not at all, this guy has your 1911 and you want it back ... perfectly understandable. Unfortunately it sounds like getting it back when you want isn't gonna happen. I have a few things I'd like done to my pistol, but I know the wait will be huge and the seperation anxiety will kill me :D

I've noticed over the years that just because someone is an excellent craftsman, they may not necessarily be top notch business people. For example, I had some auto body work done by a guy that's considered one of the best in town, but in the day to day administrative tasks of running his business he's less than stellar.

My Dad has a saying that always drove me crazy, but I see the wisdom: "It ain't right and it ain't fair, but it's real !"

Hersh

[1911_lover]

Not at all, this guy has your 1911 and you want it back ... perfectly understandable. Unfortunately it sounds like getting it back when you want isn't gonna happen. I have a few things I'd like done to my pistol, but I know the wait will be huge and the seperation anxiety will kill me :D

I've noticed over the years that just because someone is an excellent craftsman, they may not necessarily be top notch business people. For example, I had some auto body work done by a guy that's considered one of the best in town, but in the day to day administrative tasks of running his business he's less than stellar.

My Dad has a saying that always drove me crazy, but I see the wisdom: "It ain't right and it ain't fair, but it's real !"

Hersh
You hit the nail on the head Hersh.

My smith is very jaded and easily irrated. He does very good work but he has a horrible personality. Most people can't stand him because he is a "in your face" kind of guy. I suspect he has lost alot of business because of it but most know that if you want it done right, you take a number and wait.

The separation anixety is terrible with me........I guess that's the real frustration I feel....

[Hersh]

The separation anixety is terrible with me........I guess that's the real frustration I feel....

I feel your pain my friend. Post back and let us know how the mods turn out !

Regards,

Hersh

[jeff1124]

I have what is a very simple solution to your separation problem! Buy another 1911! That's what I did. You could get an RIA cheap and eventually build it into a real shooter.