Bachelder's work continues to be stellar

[edgarspencer]

I think the original intent of the OP, the member who was pleased with work he received from Bachelders, was simply to state just that. If other's felt the same way with work they have gotten from the current Bachelder organization, it wouldn't be inappropriate to say as much.
However, I find it in very poor taste to both use the OP's post to argue points which are the opposite of his, and to disparage the work of the organization the OP refers to.
I can speak first hand to being thrust into a position I thought would never come, and to be under the microscope of those expecting me to pick up precisely where my father left off, as though nothing happened within the company, nor any traumatic loss within my own family, and especially to me.
I worked for a man who was arguably one of the best in providing a technically challenging product, from drawing, to finished product. These weren't widgets, but high strength alloy, and stainless steel castings used in power generation, oil and gas drilling, and surface and submarine building. What everyone assumes, almost always incorrectly, is that the father teaches as well as he performs. That I was able to succeed was because I was paying attention. Some people learn by hearing a description of how it's done, and others learn by watching it being done.
As a businessman, and individual, who had experienced this, I had several long conversations with Parker about loosing a father, and being immediately expected to fill his shoes.
I think almost all of us have had a project worked on by a gunsmith. Many of us have had too many projects to even remember, worked on, and were glad there was someone out there to take those projects on. I wouldn't even begin to guess how many of us demanding customers are out here, and then guess how few good gunsmiths there are to service our needs.
Any organization worth going to, is going to be expected to do precisely what the customer wants, with zero defects; within an often unrealistic time-frame, and at a price they want, and often negotiated downward. Delivering one or two out of the three features; price, quality and delivery, is as good as failure.
A lot of dust collects on the stack of guns in nearly all shops, and being a little guilty of what a lot of customers do, I have no right to bitch: Guilty of leaving a gun, saying 'no rush, when you get to it, tell me what you think" lots of those customers don't even know what they want, but expect the smith to read their mind.
I spoke with Brad about a project I wanted him to tackle. He was forthright in his time frame; 5-6 months. Then he died. It hasn't been a year, and both the company, and a customer visiting the company, have told me my project is nearly done.
I sent Brad a gun many years ago, to have barrels finished, and re-case harden frame, and ancillaries. I told Brad, over cocktails a few years ago, in Baltimore, How much I liked it, and he thanked me and pointed to his son, saying "He did the barrels.

[Matt Buckley]

I have a Parker Reproduction in for case coloring. They have had it over a year and when talking to Lori recently she thought sometime in the next 3-4 months. I don't have any problem waiting a little longer if it turns out looking like the colors of William's gun at the top of the post. They do very good work.

[Marty K.]

As a customer having decided who I wanted to do my work all I want to know is how much and when roughly it will be completed...those are both reasonable requests. It really is that simple....then do what you promised....you must be accurate in your determination of when work will be completed and the gun returned...if it's 2 or 3 years then dam it say so.... anything else is not good business no matter how good your work is.....

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Marty Kohler

As a customer having decided who I wanted to do my work all I want to know is how much and when roughly it will be completed...those are both reasonable requests. It really is that simple....then do what you promised....you must be accurate in your determination of when work will be completed and the gun returned...if it's 2 or 3 years then dam it say so.... anything else is not good business no matter how good your work is.....

Going through that right now with a D grade. Delay after delay followed by the excuses then finally to be delivered at the last fall Tulsa show. Now I hope to have it by the Spring show but I ain't holding my breath.

[Randy Roberts]

Originally Posted by Randy G Roberts

Going through that right now with a D grade. Delay after delay followed by the excuses then finally to be delivered at the last fall Tulsa show. Now I hope to have it by the Spring show but I ain't holding my breath.

I should have clarified that this gun is NOT with the Bachelders.

[BRDHNTR]

Bachelders under Brad's leadership was very responsive and timely with all the work I sent them. I know from talking with Parker on a number of occasions that they have been working hard to clear a large backlog of work. The last project they did for me was a thorough work effort on my DHE. It took longer than the original estimate and I stayed on them until completion. They should by now have cleaned up their backlog. I will still consider Bachelders to be my first choice. Just remember that Brad was the driving force in their business. Quite suddenly Parker has been thrust into the position of leading their shop. No small challenge for anyone in a highly specialized business without the many years of experience of his father to be there to guide him.

[George "Scott" Davis]

I've had two barrels done by Parker and they are outstanding!!! They were their almost 9 months but was caused by Brad passing. I recently sent them two more barrels and was told they'd be here by summer. Quality work is a slow process!!!

[Keavin Nelson]

The barrels I had Brad do two years ago took almost nine months, but were worth the wait, as I posted on here shows. Unfortunately in Brad's passing they lost their leader and someone who also had great talent, a void very hard to fill.

[todd allen]

Most of us are too old to wait three years for anything.

[King Cobb]

Originally Posted by todd allen

Most of us are too old to wait three years for anything.

Then sell the gun and buy one that you don't have to wait to have restored.

I agree with others on this thread that this is getting ridiculous.

Brad did good work and was a perfectionist. That pursuit of perfection took time. The last time I had spoken with Brad he indicated Parker had taken over lead on the barrel refinishing and was an worse about the barrels being perfect then he ever was.

There are reasons guns take long a long time to be completed. The level of work required is a big part of that. I have a restoration project I will soon embark on with another talented individual and have been quoted 2-3 years for the total project. If you are having a barrel refinished it takes time, ribs relayed? more time, more than that.....even more time. Throw in Brad's sudden death and it gets even worse.

Dean you can't always go FIFO, Brad set up the process of doing the barrels in batches rather then doing barrels individually as they came in. He has said on this site the process works better that way for the barrels and for them from a business standpoint.

I am personally appreciative of the diligence involved, nothing would hack me off more then getting a nice set of barrels sent back to me only to see that after the 3 month intitial estimate there were issues with the refinish--as has happened with other barrel restorers....but heck you got your barrels back on time I guess.