Delgrego help

[William Rosenbury]

Hello all, last year I sent a Parker 20 ga to Larry Delgrego for some repair work. Shortly after it arrived he ran into some health trouble and I was wondering if anyone has heard from him or knows how he is doing? I’m located in Georgia so it’s been difficult to try to figure out how to get in touch.

Thanks! William

[edgarspencer]

His answering machine message, as of a few days ago, says something to the effect that all guns are locked up and secure.

[William Rosenbury]

That’s the last I heard as well. Do you have a gun with him?

[edgarspencer]

No, I don't.

[Kevin McCormack]

William, please check your PMs.

[James L. Martin]

I am in the same boat, I left 2 guns with him in April this year. Any update would be great. Thanks James Martin

[Victor Wasylyna]

Does anyone ask for a surety bond before sending a gun out for work? Based on the stories we have heard on this site over recent years, I think that’s the way to go. Question is: will the craftsman taking our guns comply? Or are they too flush with work?

-Victor

[Bill Murphy]

What the hell is a surety bond? How about a verbal reply from someone in the company? These people are friends of mine. Who is in charge if Lawrence is not available because of health issues?

[Alfred Houde]

Trust me, this isn't a situation of Larry being overwhelmed with work. He is battling a health issue that is about as serious as it gets.

[Brian Dudley]

As far as I know, the shop is closed. And has been for the last 8 months or so.

[Victor Wasylyna]

Perhaps this might offend some here, but in my opinion, health issues (even death) are no excuse. A business (small or large) that receives the property of others should have a succession plan. Failure to do so is lazy and unprofessional, period.

[Bill: A surety bond guarantees that a business/contractor completes the work it/he was hired to do. Ever heard of a contractor advertise his business as "bonded and insured"? Yeah, that's what I am talking about.]

-Victor

[edgarspencer]

Perhaps this might offend some here, but in my opinion, health issues (even death) are no excuse. A business (small or large) that receives the property of others should have a succession plan. Failure to do so is lazy and unprofessional, period.-Victor

I couldn't agree more. When Jerry Kaiser, of KP Firearms, passed away, it took me almost a year to get a rifle and the scope that was to be mounted for me, back. As I recall, the ATF required an attorney to review the "Book", and make the arrangements. It was a nightmare, for me and dozens of others.

[David C Porter]

I once had 7 guns on consignment & the owner on the store passed away. Everything in the store went into the probate court. It took 2 years to get my guns back. And to get them back they had to re-register them back to me at about $60/gun.

[Bill Murphy]

Victor, I don't think most people would think a surety bond would be necessary for a repair on a shotgun. I sympathize with anyone who is victimized by a gunsmith. I have been in that situation before, lost one gun and almost lost others. I think a trip to Ilion would be in the cards for anyone with guns at Del Gregos. Not because of their reputation, which is good, but because of the time period.

[Brian Dudley]

To me, there is a big difference between someone who just dies with no notice or anything, ie: gets struck by lightning or a bus, or any other way, fill in the blank. Vs. the case of a known serious illness, it is in everyones best interest to make arrangements for the return of customers possessions and clear them out of the backlog. There is no excuse for sitting on the stuff.

[todd allen]

This is a pretty serious topic, for sure! We are all human, so can die in an instant without notice.
Add to that, most of the really good gunsmiths are pretty old, and a lot closer to that inevitable instant.
Sounds like a discussion worth having.

[William Rosenbury]

I have called and left a message. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I’d love to hear them

[Mills Morrison]

My go to gun dealer and ffl here had a stroke recently and a friend had some guns on consignment with him. Made for a tough situation. If all else fails and it were me, I'd call the ATF. Granted, they may create a new set of problems

[Victor Wasylyna]

I'd call the ATF. Granted, they may create a new set of problems

Yeah. They’ll come and shoot your dog, then arrest you, then maybe they’ll sort it out.

Try Plans A-Z first.

-Victor

[Mike Koneski]

Yeah. They’ll come and shoot your dog, then arrest you, then maybe they’ll sort it out.

Try Plans A-Z first.

-Victor

"We're from the government, we're here to help you." :nono:

[Dean Romig]

I really don’t believe we should be kicking a guy when he’s down. It will all sort out.





.

[Mills Morrison]

Dean has a good point.

[edgarspencer]

Eight months is more than enough time to "sort it out".

[Pete Lester]

I have called and left a message. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I’d love to hear them

In past I have met his son Luke in the shop. You might try to find him via Whitepages.com. Somewhere along the way I heard his sister was involved, I don't know if that is true, her name is Tracey. She is on Facebook but she does not list any contact info. She posted the following information regarding Lawrence on 9/22/23:

After six trips to Minnesota...my brother has some good news to share. Cancer markers in his blood within normal range, no metastasis, tumor is shrinking and dramatic decrease in visible cancer on PetScan. This chemo is working. The plan moving forward is 4 more months of chemo and then surgery to remove tumor, part of pancreas and spleen. Praying that he continues to tolerate chemo, while it works to kill ever cancer cell in his body! Thank you for your constant thoughts and prayers.

[George Davis]

A road I've traveled and now experiencing: Many years ago Dan Cote" sent a fine English Shotgun to a well known gunsmith who suddenly had serious family health issues and couldn't be reached for almost two years. My brother and I had the opportunity in our travels to locate this gunsmith and take possession of Dan's gun and deliver it to Kirby Holt and back to Cote". Fast forward ~ 10 years and said gunsmith had returned and has been producing stellar work on English Shotguns. However earlier this year he notified us (brother & I) he was having issues!!!! I was able to immediately travel to his shop and retrieve multiple guns from one of his staff members. Unfortunately they were unable to locate a Beautiful Joseph Lang and the shop is now closed and we are unable to get any response from said gunsmith and/or his family. We were told by the Gun Shop employee we would be contacted and we are still waiting 9 months later.

[Kevin McCormack]

George, I would say in these situations you have to recognize that "reality bites" (e.g., non communication after multiple attempts) and go into hardball mode. I would report the gun as stolen to the BATFE, who will in turn enter it on the NCIS list. Before they do that, they will scan their FFL log entries; if that gun is recorded under an active FFL, I can assure you things will warm up quickly.

[Andrew Sacco]

Kevin's idea is a good one. While it's a lot of paperwork and hassle reporting them to the attorney general, that has worked for me once or twice on other issues. Be forewarned it sure burns a lot of bridges having the AG call a business due to a criminal complaint. Years ago a furniture maker delivered the wrong table and chairs and wouldn't take them back or respond to any calls. After 6 mos I got the AG on the case and lo and behold, I got a new set and they offered to let me keep the incorrect set.

[Bob Hayes]

I had a incident with Delgrego years ago.His mother ultimately handled the situation(returning calls) and gun was shipped back regular mail without ANY insurance.

[Bill Murphy]

1. How do you know there was no insurance? 2. How does scanning the FFL gun sales help to find a missing gun when the 4473 does not identify the gun. I am not being picky. I would like to recover my missing gun too.

[Brian Dudley]

The atf would likely be little help. You would maybe get farther with local law enforcement. Not that I condone or promote that sort of action.

[Bob Hayes]

The gun was under insured dramatically after he advised me on the value of the gun.It was sent back without a signature required as well and no notice was given it was even shipped.
Cost was on the shipping label.

[Daniel B Sweet]

I sent out a Pre 64 Model 70 Featherweight for work to another state. I was patient, did not want to become a pest but after a while I just had to check up on the progress. Called the shop, no answer, no answering machine, contacted a friend in ATF and asked if he could have a local agent check on this shop, not just for my gun but to make sure this shop didn't just close up. My ATF contact tod me they just couldn't pop in and check on this guy, WOW! I next called the local sheriff and after a couple days of becoming a pest the Sheriff advised me the shop owner was in a nursing home. I managed to contact his sister and convinced her to look in his shop for my gun, I got the gun back shortly thereafter. As far as Larry DelGrego goes, I have been in his shop a few times and I hold him in high regards and wish him nothing but good health, and his family the very best.

[David Noble]

1. How do you know there was no insurance? 2. How does scanning the FFL gun sales help to find a missing gun when the 4473 does not identify the gun. I am not being picky. I would like to recover my missing gun too.

Bill, the 4473 does identify a gun by Make, Model, Ga/Cal, Serial Number
The gunsmith or dealer will not have a 4473 for the firearm unless they actually sell the gun to someone, however it will be entered into their bound book.
And the BATF will not have a copy of the 4473 unless the FFL closes and sends all their 4473's to the BATF. ATF will not send an agent to "look" for a missing gun reported by an owner, but if the FFL dealer or gunsmith realizes the gun cannot be located, then they would file a missing firearm report to BATF with all the gun information and it would be noted in the FFL's log book as missing.

[Rick Losey]

fortunately - the best gunsmith I know is a lot younger than me - so if he doesn't blow himself up with his new interest in black powder - I won't worry :corn:

but two gunsmith stories - many years ago I had a Sterlingworth in a shop when the owner died - I did not know that but stopped the shop several times to try to reach him - then there was a notice on the door- estate auction - all contents to be auctioned off on a certain date and if you had something there you had to show up just before the auction with proof of ownership to retrieve it before it was sold- I imagine there was a lot of potential for legal action with that process - but I was there on time to recover mine.

second happened to guy I shot in a pistol league with. He had sent a 1911 to a smith that was supposed to be the best race gun maker around at the time - he waited a year with no news so sent a polite letter asking for an update ( way before email came about) - shortly after a box of disassembled partly modified parts arrived with a note lambasting my friend for his lack of patience :shock::rotf::rotf::rotf:

[Bill Murphy]

David, my mistake. A gun is entered on the 4473. What I meant to say is that the information on the gun is not sent in to ATF or anyone else, it is buried in the licensee's records.

[Alfred Greeson]

Having had several discussions and work from the DelGrego family and shop, I would caution worrying about the integrity of the shop. Dealing with a recent diagnosis of lung cancer over the last several weeks myself, I can attest to the strain and devastation to family. I have the utmost respect for the DelGrego family and request prayers for them at this time as I know any of us would expect.

[Bill Murphy]

I never questioned whether the Del Grego shop insured their shipments. All shipments I am aware of were sent "Registered Mail", reputedly the safest way to send anything, because the shipment must be signed for at each step. I suspect that their shipments are self insured, but I am not sure of that. I would assume that any big loss without insurance would end up in court. In fifty plus years of shipping to and from their shop, I have never discussed insurance with them. OK, silly me.

[Art Wheaton]

Lawrence passed away after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. A sad day for the Parker community and the family. Last i knew they were trying to return guns and shop was closed.