Baldwin Bolt Jeweling?? Problem Help

[CGGunner]

Well this is most unfortunate. I’ve used skip for many jeweled bolts and always super happy. In fact I emailed him a couple days ago to see if he was still in business. I hadn’t heard back which was actually not like him (based on previous experiences)…so I punched in his site to see if he was still taking work, received the same “warning” I tried to continue but nothing came up. On the off chance it was an IP issue i googled him up and found this thread what I thought was years old and happened to click on it. To my dismay I found the recent posts and I must say I don’t think I feel confident in any way to send off my current bolt for jeweling. Too bad, he did such great work.

To the gentleman speaking with a lawyer please keep us apprised of the situation if you don’t mind. I completely understand someone going through troubles but some amount of communication along with honesty go so so far….

I’m kind of blown away to read through the thread but damned glad I found it. I would’ve been out of luck. I’m not 4hrs away.
I look forward to a realistic resolution for you and appreciate your posting this.

…damn

Hi, I will keep this forum as well as 2 others I’m on specifically for this issue. Moving forward, I did speak with my lawyer and I mentioned what another gentleman was doing to get his bolts back. My lawyer laughed and said I should go the same route the other gentleman is going as it would yield must faster results. More to follow…

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Hi, I will keep this forum as well as 2 others I’m on specifically for this issue. Moving forward, I did speak with my lawyer and I mentioned what another gentleman was doing to get his bolts back. My lawyer laughed and said I should go the same route the other gentleman is going as it would yield must faster results. More to follow…

I bet you could find a biker gang to help you get quick resolution. And they would surely be cheaper than $500/hr lawyer. What's a bag of weed selling for these days?

 

[CGGunner]

I bet you could find a biker gang to help you get quick resolution. And they would surely be cheaper than $500/hr lawyer. What's a bag of weed selling for these days?

LOL. I go the legal route but hopefully I won’t have the ramp all the way up and take him to court. But I’ll do whatever it takes.

 

[skydiver386]

Unfortunately this is the experience I've had the majority of the time when dealing with a Gunsmith that's a one man show. Low quality, got the order wrong, long wait with no communication, etc. Matter of fact, I've only had two gunsmith projects turn out to be what I wanted with no hassle, the rest were a waste of money or an outright nightmare.

The guys I use now cost a fortune, but when I want something done right I know that's exactly what I'll get.

Custom Built Hunting Rifles – Jarrett Rifles

Pioneers of long-range, high-accuracy hunting rifles. Learn more about our custom built hunting rifles, heritage, and dedication to quality.

jarrettrifles.com

 

[Iclimb]

Hi, I will keep this forum as well as 2 others I’m on specifically for this issue. Moving forward, I did speak with my lawyer and I mentioned what another gentleman was doing to get his bolts back. My lawyer laughed and said I should go the same route the other gentleman is going as it would yield must faster results. More to follow…

4 hours of my time. I’d drive there! Personally I think you’ll spend over 8hrs of time and frustration trying snail mail correspondence. I’d go pick my bolt up!

 

[CGGunner]

4 hours of my time. I’d drive there! Personally I think you’ll spend over 8hrs of time and frustration trying snail mail correspondence. I’d go pick my bolt up!

I did that once already and got apologies, assurances, etc, etc. Might just do it this weekend anyway.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Unfortunately this is the experience I've had the majority of the time when dealing with a Gunsmith that's a one man show. Low quality, got the order wrong, long wait with no communication, etc. Matter of fact, I've only had two gunsmith projects turn out to be what I wanted with no hassle, the rest were a waste of money or an outright nightmare.

The guys I use now cost a fortune, but when I want something done right I know that's exactly what I'll get.

Custom Built Hunting Rifles – Jarrett Rifles

Pioneers of long-range, high-accuracy hunting rifles. Learn more about our custom built hunting rifles, heritage, and dedication to quality.

jarrettrifles.com

The number of times I've had to deal with gunsmiths in my lifetime I can count on one hand ... actually two fingers. Three counting Gary but he's a personal friend first and foremost. The first time was 2021 when the barrel crapped out on my WWII Springfield. Possibly saw too much action in the salty South Pacific. I found another on eBay (not easy during COVID!) and it looked okay. Searching for the closest gunsmith I found two in the US four hours away. One never returned my call so I took it down to the other guy who was sort of operating out of a shooters supply shop. The Canadian border was closed but I could still return because I was vaxed and permanent resident + US citizen. This was May and I was scheduled to fly to Africa for second safari in August. "Yeah, I should be able to have this done in a week.". Weeks went by, then months. No response to phone calls or emails. Finally I phoned the store: "Oh, he's been ghosting us." Loaded up the dogs and drove down. "Sorry, man. Don't know what to tell you." Well then, I guess you can explain it to the sheriff when I get there. Forty minutes later while I'm on the road the gunsmith phones. Long list of excuses including his dog bit him (a novel twist on ,the old disappearing homework gig). "Okay, just leave it alone. I'll take it as is." Show up at the guy's house and it's essentially a junkyard with a lifetime of garbage stacked in the yard. Yep, a big mean dog comes running out. I'm not getting out of my vehicle! Called him on my cell and after a few minutes he comes out in a bathrobe and flip-flops. Sure enough his left hand is wrapped up in bloodstained bandage. What kind of idiot would keep a dog so stupid it bit the hand that fed it? And he's carrying my gun ... in four pieces: action, both barrels, and stock. What the hell ... "I told you to leave it alone!" "Well, I felt bad and just wanted to do something for you." "You did, and now my butthole hurts! Go put it together." Can't do that because he broke his barrel vice twisting the military barrel off. Dumb shit didn't know military barrels have to be "relieved" from the receiver by trimming metal at the collar. The old barrel was totally trashed. I head for the border arriving at six a.m. ... the very first morning the Canadian border opened to Americans. Cars were lined up five miles from town and the temp rose to +90°. No air conditioning in my Jimmy and two dogs with no food or water. Fortunately the Texan behind me had a couple of coolers with ice melting and that kept the dogs hydrated. A lady who was walking her dog saw me walking mine for a pee. She gave me some dogfood and wouldn't take a cent. Drove to Gary's but he'd sold his machinery. I wound up driving half way to the arctic circle for a retired mine machinist who was also a gunsmith. A fine gentleman who put the barrel on in about a half hour. Then a two day drive to get home arriving just two days before I had to fly out. I quickly bedded the action again and got myself tested at the hospital for COVID. An email confirmed negative but only had my first name on it. Can't fly with that. "No, you're supposed to have the commercial outfit do that test." I frantically call them. "Sure. Maybe we will have the results in time. Bring $600." Whaaat! I'm not paying that. "Well, then you won't fly." Wanna bet! I phoned my daughter and told her to look after the dogs. Then I left the testing station at the hospital, drove seven hours straight to the VA hospital in Minneapolis, got the test just before midnight, and results came back while I waited. Gassed up the Jimmy and drove back home arriving about two hours before I had to check the guns at the airport. By then I'd slept about four hours in five days! By the time PH and I rolled into the lodge two days later I barely knew what planet I was on. Yeah, my butt hurt bad for a lot of reasons (mostly from sitting on it) but I think it's still the best safari of all ... thanks to my PH.

My second encounter with a gunsmith went much smoother. Two years after the nightmare with Springfield I dropped my 30-06 Czech Mauser off with Dennis Olsen to be rebarreled as 404J. He had it done in a couple of days and even dropped it in the stock which wasn't on the order. I happened to have the iron sights with me and he stuck those on before I left. I gave him my drill and taps and he charged me $60. I had put the same sights on my Springfield and was more than happy to let him do it this time. Cutting, crowning, threading, reaming, and mounting the barrel was $600. Have no idea if that's a good price because that's the only gun I've built. But he did it quick and correct. The gun went to Africa a few weeks later ... without me having to lose a week's worth sleep. Thanks, Dennis.