Charles Daly Wants to Hear From You!

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Charles Daly

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Jun 5, 2003
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Location
Harrisburg, PA
Hello THR!

My name is Michael Kassnar. I am president of K.B.I., Inc., manufacturer, importer and distributor of Charles Daly brand firearms and ammunition.

Over the years, in addition to the Charles Daly brand (acquired by KBI in 1997), we have imported and distributed firearms from many manufacturers and sold under several different brand names, including FEG, FIAS, Sabatti, Churchill, Baikal, Liberty, Armscor, Zabala, Uberti, Armi San Marco, PSP, Pietta, etc.

In the past, I have not personally participated very much in internet forums. However, that is about to change.

Today I did a search for "Charles Daly" on THR, and frankly, I am somewhat dismayed over many of the negative comments made concerning our customer service. While many of you are happy with your KBI/Charles Daly firearm, apparently many of you are not.

For several years, actually since September of 2001, we have had a "Lifetime Repair Policy" on Charles Daly firearms. I believe that we are the only firearms company in the US that pays freight in both directions on repairs. That is, all you have to do is call us, email us or fax us, and we will contact you and then issue a FedEx call tag to pick up your firearm on our dime.

While it is true that you cannot make everyone happy all the time, I had instructed my service department many years ago to bend over backwards to make our consumers happy. It appears that we are doing something wrong in that department, judging by the number of negative comments that I read here.

Rather than respond to each thread one by one, I would like those of you that have had a negative experience with Daly to post in this thread. Over the next few weeks I will attempt to address each issue that is raised here.

I am willing to correspond with each and every one of you that has received sub-par service from my company. That is inexcusable. Several months ago I had to lay off our Service Department Manager who had been working with me for 21 years. Our new manager, Brad, has strict instructions to handle all service calls in a prompt, courteous and professional manner.

We pride ourselves on the quality/value of the guns we sell. Occassionally a lemon gets out there, but that happens with all companies. What should not happen is your displeasure with our service department. It is my intention to make sure that we have consumers that are pleased with our products and with our after-sales service.

This may be an unorthodox way of approaching this, but I want to get to the bottom of your complaints and make sure that in the future, you will only have good things to say about our firearms and our Customer Service.

Please do not hold back. I have a pretty thick skin after more than 30 years in this business. With your feedback, I promise you that we will have a Customer Service Department that we can be proud of again.

Sincerely,

K.B.I., Inc.

Michael Kassnar
President
 
I actually have only had one experience with CD firearms, a HP, and it is great! I am very sorry to see this one go out of production.
I will admit that rumors of poor CS on Charles Daly's end almost prevented me from buying it. I'm glad I did.

What would I like to see? Hmmmmmmmmmmm.......

How about importing the Tavor rifle?
 
Mike, it's nice to see you here!

IIRC, at least some of Daly's lines are more based on "price point" than "polish point." Fine, works for me. However, you're gonna run into people who get highly irritated that the boomstick that they just bought for $400 isn't up to the same standards as a $2,400 custom jobby... Yeah, we all know those folks are out there, and you're just not gonna be able to make 'em happy... And that's sad, because some of 'em can be VERY vocal - the Interweird allows ANYONE with ANY kinda grievance to air it - loudly. We just all need to look at 'em with a critical eye...

Now... That ECS 1911 version - Short stack, short barrel? What's the street price on that puppy? I'm thinking I want one...
 
falnovice, glad to hear from you.

If only the Tavor was importable! Unfortuately, since the "Assault Weapons Study" that Clinton commisioned in 1993, the Tavor can never meet BATF's "Sporting" Criteria. It would be illegal to import it into the US.
 
Also, I posted this question here a few months ago, and got no responses. Maybe you can shed a little light?

Among the guns that I got from my dad is a side-by-side 20 gauge. It is marked Eagle Arms by Zabala Eibar Spain. I know mom gave it to him in the early '70s, new I think, but I can't find a serial number on it. So I'm thinking that it is a little older than that, pre-firearms act.

I did a Google search for Zabala, the site is in Spanish (go figure) so I can't read it. Anybody out there know anything about these shotguns?

Thanks.
Oakville Shooter
Click to expand...
 
I don't have any CD products, but I am glad to see a factory rep eager to engage the community, and I commend you for it.

And for the record, I believe Smith & Wesson pays shipping both ways, and Springfield Armory does it on occasion (had them do it before, others haven't). Still, though, that's a very admirable policy, and again, I commend you for it.
 
Zabala has made shotguns over the years under many different brand names. In the '70's he sold to Richland, Kassnar Imports, Armsport and several others. I am personally not familiar with the Eagle Arms brand from that time.

This is a link to Zabala's site in English: http://www.zabalahermanos.com/catalogo-en.htm.

The serial number should be under the top lever or on the water table.

Back in those days a Zabala side by side sold for about $100 to $150 retail! Today the same gun would retail for around $1,000.
 
Technosavant, thanks for your post. If there are other gun companies that do pay freight in both directions, I stand corrected. I was not aware that S&W or Springfield did that.

Do they publish that policy or do you have to ask/push for it?
 
Do you have a 28 gauge double? I'm interested in one and the Turkish one imported by Mossberg seems to be the only one in my price range but they're a bit heavy.
 
I have always wondered why importers/manufacturers/etc don't bother to have a presence on the larger forums. Even if the company has someone spend two hours a week visiting one site and baby sitting their interests it would help with PR.

It is unfortunate that you lost the rights to your Mauser rifles. Any chance of your company getting another bolt action in the fold?
 
How about a .308 Win Hunting rifle that comes with Peep sights, and can mount a scope. I'd buy it the day it came out. Maybe on an Lee Enfield action?
 
Thank you for posting! That speaks volumes in of itself-far too few companies proactively interact with customers on the Internet, which is a true shame.

Does Charles Daly do any manufacturing stateside, or just purely importation? I can think of a whole list of foreign-made firearms I'd love to see someone bring in and sell (Tavor, FAMAS, Neostead, PE 90, SA80, etc), except that they fail to meet the sporting criteria, and would thus need US compliance parts to be eligible for sale to the public.
 
Mr. Kassnar - First, let me also welcome you to THR! It's very nice to be able to speak directly to a representative of a firearms company.

I own a Charles Daly Field EFS. It was my first ever 1911-platform pistol, and it's beautiful. There were some "break-in" troubles at the start, but at my current round count of a little under 2k rounds, function is superb.

As a shooter on a budget, I appreciate very much companies with policies and products such as yours, that make quality pistols available at great prices, and with great service. I've spoken with Ivan over at the M1911.org forums in the past when I was experiencing my initial issues with the pistol, and not only was he prompt with a reply, but very patient and willing to help trouble-shoot as well.

Despite what others may say, sir - I count Rock Island and Charles Daly products as five-star. Thanks for joining, and giving us the chance to both sing praise and discuss problems (if any).
 
Michael,
Glad to see you're interest!
I have a Charles Daly field grade 1911 45ACP ECS purchased new. This is one of the finest grouping firearms I own. It will group seven 185 gr Reminigton Golden Sabres in less than an inch at 20 yards. I am handicapped and for me that is damn good!!
I would like to use this as a carry piece as it is small enough and light enough.
There is one problem, though. It drops the groups two feet at that 20 yard distance. The rear sight isn't adjustable, of course, but, stupid me I figured that if I just filed it down a bit it would be just fine and I wouldn't have to send it in. Well, after filing half of the sight down it still shoots a foot low. If I could get it to shoot point of aim I would have one of the best 1911s I've ever owned.
I suppose I ruined the warranty or can I still send it back and have your smiths see if they can get it to shoot point of aim?
If I did ruin the warranty, what will it cost to get your smiths to fix it up for me? The gunsmiths in this area are few and far between.
Thanks!! and Best Wishes for a Prosperous New Year!!
ManySkunks
PM me as I sometimes don't get back to the computer. [email protected]
 
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I have never owned a Charles Daly marked firearm but have sold and personally owned many KBI, Inc. imported firearms. I had a FFL and sold part-time for many years and though I was not a volume seller by any means I personally liked many of the KBI offerings and sold many. I still own several KBI imported Russian Makarovs and FEG pistols and have had no problems with any of them. When I search for firearms and magazines on the auction sites I always do a search for KBI. By the way, I sure wish that I had held onto a Sabatti heavy barrel .22 semi-auto rifle! I do not recall if it was imported by KBI or EAA.
 
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Mr. Kassnar, I would like to say thank you also for taking the time to listen to your customers. I feel that it says a lot for a man if he is willing to face his customers and let them voice their likes as well as dislikes. I don't have any CD firearms and am not sure if I ever will; not because of any preexisting bias, but rather a somewhat limited recreational budget. I have seen photos of some of your firearms and they appear very nicely made and of high quality, so perhaps in the future... Again, thank you for standing behind your products.
 
Mr. Kassnar,
I have never had any direct dealings with Charles Daly myself, although we routinely have their guns in our store.

The CD 1911s fill a good price niche, and I think, represent a high bang/buck ratio. Although I was a little critical of the Charles Daly HPs when they first became available, I have been much more impressed with the later ones that I have seen, and I'm saddened by the fact that they're not widely available. I can't find them through any of the distributors that we regularly go through (Acusport, Sports South, Camfour, MT Sports, RSR, Hicks Inc., Davidson's), which for a small shop like us, makes it very difficult to stock.

We do sell a pretty good number of CD shotguns, especially the 20-guage youth pump models. The price is right, the size is right, the weight is right, and they are durable.

I really must say, having the guts and integrity to do what you're doing speaks volumes. You're a good guy in my book.

Wes (Hi Power fanatic)

EDIT: Okay, correction: I have owned a KBI-imported FEG Hi Power, which was a companion on MANY nights, and currently own a KBI-imported Yugo SKS that is too pretty to believe.
 
mikec, thanks for your post. We will make it a point to visit THR on a regular basis and interact with the public. Don't know why I haven't done this until now...

Yes, it was a shame that Zastava took the rifles away from us and gave them to Remington. We had worked very hard to bring that rifle back to the US and then the big boy promised them the world and got the line. Now you can have the exact same rifle for $200 more that what it used to cost under the Daly name. That is if you can find them. We never believed that Remington really wanted the line; they just wanted to get rid of a competitor.

I doubt very much if you will see a new B/A rifle from us any time soon. We intend to focus our resources on a new division of the company that will have its formal launch at the SHOT Show next month, Charles Daly Defense. See: http://www.charlesdaly.com/pdf/2008_cdd_msrp_pl_121007_rev4.pdf.

Just what the world needs, another AR-15/M-4!
 
I'd like to see you guys put out a semi auto shotgun set up for 3-gun. 18.5" barrel, extended 7 or 8 round magazine, ghost ring sights of some sort.

Something to compete with the FN SLP and Mossberg 930 SPX or other tac...er, similarly outfitted "non-sporting" shotguns (no I'm NOT going to use the "T" word :p ).

Would be nice to see someone other than Mossberg build a quality 3-gun shotgun at a reasonable price (unlike the FN, Benelli and Fabarm offerings).
 
kingpin008, thank you for your comments. They are music to my ears. Too often, all we hear are the negatives. Rarely does someone take the trouble to let you know when they are happy with something you have done. Perhaps this new "engagement" on our part will enable us to hear from our satisfied customers as well.
 
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