Parker Reproduction returned from Bachelder
 

Just wanted to give an update on the Parker Reproduction I have been trying to get back from Bachelder Gun Works. I sent them my 20 gauge in January 2018 to have the gun stripped and cleaned and case colors redone. After nothing happening all these years I finally started calling in April to get my gun returned. Finally after being on the phone three times last week giving them hell the gun showed up at my door today. As far as I can tell the gun was never touched even though I was told it was stripped and prepped for case colors at one point. I was told many things over the past four years that I think were lies. The original worn case colors are still on the frame. I don't know what is going on with there business but I just want to warn the fellow Parker Members to be very cautious in doing business with them. I know I will not being doing any business in the future with them.

That jives with a few other things I have heard. Thanks for the heads up

That is really sad to hear, as Brad was a very nice man to deal with.

When Brad was still alive, I sent VH 16 O frame straight grip to be colored..I was quoted 3-4 months..Shortly after, friend stopped at his shop and told me there were at least 250-300 gun there to be worked on..I got mine back after 8 months..and Brad died shortly after..

Matt and I have been visiting for over 4 years since he sent his Repro to Bachelder. The amount of run around and outright false promises they were feeding him was unreal. How this place can do any quality business is beyond me. Please be careful who you send your precious firearms to. This is not the Bachelder of the past.

Had similar experience with Bachelder’s for barrel work on my Damascus hammer gun. Brad called shortly after receiving my gun to confirm the work to be done. He passed 30 days later. After 4 years of calling and getting updates from Parker and finally determined not much work had been done I clamored for the return of the gun. Received it 6 months later with ZERO work having been done and an invoice for $400. Go figure.

Tom, that is an outstanding business plan. I wonder if he submitted it to his bank with a loan application.

Did you pay it?

I presume they won't ship until the bill is paid.





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Yeah, that is how they operate. The one and only job I contracted out to them for barrel finishing, about 8 years ago, went that way. As I recall the 4-6 week estimate turned out to be over a year and many promises of "2 more weeks". I had to pay before shipment. And when I got the barrel the work was total crap. And what is my recourse at that point. Nothing. The lack of professional courtesy and communication was astonishing.


Thank you for updating us on how it turned out Matt. At least the gun was not touched and you got it back whole and usable.

Oh. Tom's post said he received the barrels with an invoice.

I didn't have to pay a thing. There was going to be a hell of a phone call if an invoice was sent with the gun.

My brother and I have been into the shop a few times in the last few years as it is local to where I grew up. I found the staff to be friendly and helpful, although my brother ran into similar problems as described above. He had the top lever spring in his L.C. Smith break and brought it in to Bachelder's for repair around March and was quoted about 2 months turn around time. Well, August rolled around and the gun was still not done. He called several times over the next few months and was told "a few more weeks" several times. He was finally able to pick it up in November, but obviously the experience left a sour taste in his mouth. Hopefully things pick up going forward.

I did pay the invoice. Stupid or not, I wanted the whole ordeal over with and was happy to get my gun back.

Sometimes peace of mind is worth something.

This is very sad. Brad would turn over in his grave knowing how degraded services at his shop have become

There's nothing like the feeling in your gut when you know you're getting screwed. Rest assured that passing the word around is going to cost them much more than $400 in lost business. What's really unfortunate is that simple honesty is all they need to continue to be successful. If they do good work at a reasonable price people may be willing to wait. Being blatantly dishonest is going to take them nowhere fast.

The one thing you can feel good about is that you're going to save a few guys some frustration and hard feelings.

This is why I really hesitate to recommend anyone. Great craftsmen often crash and burn when overwhelmed with success.

Good comment, Mark. An overwhelming number of guns on the rack in a repair shop is a sign that things are going south in a hurry. I have seen it happen here in Maryland more than once.

Yet some of them continue to accept new work knowing full well that they won't be able to keep to their commitment of when the job will be done.
If they would learn that it will NOT tarnish their reputation to simply refuse work so they can stay ahead of the workload while continuing to produce the fine work they had been known for... The smiths who haven't learned this fact will need to quickly change their business model if they are to survive.





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You'd think. And yet I had one very prominent smith tell me, "Just send it to me. I have a pile of them here and I'll do them all at once when I get around to it."

He didn't get my business but I still see him being recommended all the time.

Some smiths I've used with good results have started not taking new work for several weeks while they complete work. I respect that approach, even if I am willing to wait on good work.

Over the years I have dealt with three I would say nationally know and admired Smiths for restoration work. Two were complete nightmares and one exceeded my expectation in both quality of work and time getting the work done. Brian Dudley was that smith.

I could not agree more on Brian.:bowdown:

I sent a Holland & Holland sideplate to Lucio Sosa for a mainspring replacement last year. I tracked the shipment all the way to his shop.
I received a return tracking number from Lucio later the same day that he received it, with the repaired part on its way back to me.
It probably took me longer to reinstall the sideplate, than it did for Lucio to fit the new spring.

Twelve years ago or so, I sent Brad a set of Damascus barrels to refinish and fit to the frame of a VH 12 that had been sacrificed to Sherman Bell's "Finding Out For Myself." The work was excellent and had a very quick turn around. He remained on my highly recommended list. This is sad news.