Black Diamond Gunworks?
 

Anybody with any experience with Black Diamond Gunworks? Located in Ohio and owned by Matthew Begley. I'm considering having him do some work and any feedback positive or otherwise appreciated.

Matt was a PGCA Member here but I don’t know if he still is.





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He has fixed a couple Fox guns that had heavy triggers, great job, fair price and did not take that long. He has two projects of mine right now. I have not heard anything negative about Matt. SXS Ohio

Matt has done work for me. Communication is top notch and the work is equally impressive.

I have used him a few times. Very good work and communications.

He’s working on a Fox upgrade for me. So far so good.

Still trying to confirm an engraver after Gournet’s passing. Totally nothing negative on Matthews part.

Would highly recommend!

Matt hasn't done work for me but his work is extraordinary and is always willing to answer any of my million questions that I ask him. Matt's case colors look extraordinary look him up on Facebook you will not be disappointed, Steven.

Mark, surely there's someone in here that knows of a master engravor, and could put you in touch with them, Steven.

Almost wish you hadn't mentioned case coloring, gonna tempt me when I send this barrel work to him! I definitely want to look at some of his work. I'm looking for the original soft, subtle blues and purples that Parker produced. I'm not liking a lot of the recent work I've seen with all the "wheat straw" coloration

He just did a parker Trojan that looks really nice

Can you point me to the pics of the Trojan? Much appreciated!

Black diamond Gw on Facebook if you dont have Facebook you can email me at grayboy384@gmail.com

I went on their website and only saw pics of Fox guns.





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Dean, they recently did a Parker Trojan it may not be on the website but its on their Facebook page, Steven

Very poor quality pics. I can only see that it is probably a Trojan but there is little to no resolution to this set of pics… sorry.





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Dean, go to the Facebook page the pictures are there and off good quality Matthew does nice work weather its proper Parker colors or not Im unsure but his work looks great and he is very easy to get along with

Okay, I just went on the BW website agakn. I can see it clearly now.





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It would have looked just fine without those case colors.

Have recommended him to friends who were happy with the quality of his work.
Kind of gunshy about shipping guns anymore, and he is only a 3 hour drive from me

Well, my CHE 1 1/2 frame is headed for Ohio to Matthew with high hopes. I opted to have a local FFL ship it for me, kinda spooked by the horror stories recently on shipping guns. I've already been dragged thru the gravel with this project and don't need any more drama!

Keith, Im excited to see what he comes up with he recently did a Remington sxs that looks really nice, Steven

He's done a good bit of work for me mainly on Foxes. Regarding his case colors, he bought the process from the folks who bought it from John Gillette when John retired more then a few years ago. FWIW, he can do just about anything. He is actually sleeving some guns these days. Got the tubes from England. He took on an apprentice I believe two years ago and that apprentice was just accepted into the Custom Gun Makers Guild (Matthew is a member there as well). He does everything from soup to nuts as they say. He's a good stock maker as well. Spend some time with Dan Rossiter before Dan moved on to G&H. I believe Dan's father still does the stock duplication for Matthew, but I could be wrong on that end. He will have a booth at the Southern. Does a lot of custom metal work and a lot of upgrades.

I sent him what was in Kirk Merrington's words "A properly botched sleeve job" by a gunsmith who's name I won't mention publicly. Kirk wasn't taking work in at the time but was kind enough to agree to see me and take a look at the gun. After some conversation with Matthew he was certain he could straighten the situation out although the remedy may require a fresh set of tubes.

He does outstanding work. The Trojan mentioned is one of my guns

I did the bluing, engraving, assembly. Matthew did the color case hardening for me.

Nice engraving on that Trojan!

Who did the stock replacement?




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When I lived in Tennessee, there was a stock maker about 10 miles from me. Sherman Mays. He passed away about 4 years ago, 6 months after his passing we moved to Pennsylvania. In the move, the stock got damaged. I repaired the damage and refinished in Timberluxe. It’s not perfect but I get to remember a really good friend every time I look at. I’m looking forward to breaking some clays and shooting some birds with it. I know Sherman is smiling somewhere if he’s still watching me.

Very, very nice!

Thats a beautiful upgraded Trojan you have there sir, Steven

Thank you!

You're welcome sir, Steven.

Dan Cullity in Sandwich Massachusetts is a master engraver. He did engraving for Colt for years.

Dan engraved for Colt when he was in high school. He would stop by tbe Colt plant after school and return the work finished in a day or two and pick up another piece to take home to engrave.





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Bert is doing a Trojan for me and has sent my barrels to Black Diamond (along with the barrels from a donor Trojan) for a rib swap.

I have carried this gun behind three dogs for thirty years and have taken many birds. I would often “rap” their heads on the rib if they were still fluttering when retrieved to me, eventually pitting the rib.

I deemed it an elegant solution, as I want this to be “lock, stock and barrels”, the very same gun that I carried behind those dogs.

Only now, it will be sporting their images and our quarry on the (previously) unadorned action in tribute to them, as well as gold filling the Parker name (& perhaps adding “Trojan”) in tribute to the gun.

Bert does excellent work. He knows and appreciates the gun as is. And for an engraver…,well it’s a blank canvas. And I’m excited to turn him loose on this project as I trust him and the vendors he chooses to help realize my vision.

Seems a shame to not upgrade the stock, and I just may. I’ve not completely decided. I’ve plenty of time yet to entertain the idea.