I feel ill...gunsmith bill almost $900

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TarpleyG

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I think I am having sticker shock. In September, I sent my newly acquired Kimber Custom Classic (Clackamas marked mind you) to George at EGW in PA with instructions to do all sorts of neat things including, but not limited to removing the flaking NP3 finish and refinishing with a new process he calls E-Treat/E-Coat and welding the sight dovetails and putting them back to Kimber specs (don't ask).

Anyway, they called today and the bill rang up to almost $900. HOLY CRAP BATMAN! I was expecting $700 but there were a couple of things like shipping to Robar to remove the NP3 and an out-of-alignment problem with a pin hole that I was not expecting.

So now I feel sick to my stomach. I am sure the gun will be beautiful and exactly like I want it but the excitement has sort of worn off 5 months later. What to do...I don't really have the money but I can swing it. Guess that blows any gun budget I had for the year.

Greg
 
Wow! That is one expensive gun! May I suggest chewing a couple of extra strength Tums?:D
I hope it turns out to be exactly what you want.
 
:what: :banghead: Ouch...man that hurts...well i hope its worth every penny...keep us posted with pics and report when you get back i would like to see what 900 will get you from a gunsmith...you shoulda just had a custom made 1911 it sounds for what you put into that one..
 
Ouch! Never spent that much on a gun but i have had similar experiences with cars. Doesn't feel good. But, hopefully it will be exactly what you want. When you are still enjoying the gun 10 years from now the $900 won't seem like a big deal.
 
Ouch....I'd have a difficult time spending $900 on a 1911, yet alone for modifications to one......I'd have two for that cost....I hope it does everything you expect it to do....and then some.
 
Next time get a quote. In writting if you have to. Not rippin' on ya. I feel for ya. I've been "sticker shocked" as well! It sucks. Would like to see it when you get it back.

Good shootin to ya...
 
Dunno, you expected $700 and it was $900. For custom work being only a couple hundred off doesn't surprise me too much.

You will enjoy it once you get past that.
 
I blew over $1100 customizing my Remington 300 win mag, close to another $1000 on accessories like a Jewell trigger, sound suppressor. Looking back, I spent too much. But on the up side, the gun feels better in my hands than my other stock Remington, and it is STILL my favorite rifle. The pain will fade with time.
 
Man you must really, really like that particular pistol. $900 is a substantial proportion of the new price.

I'd just tell the Gunsmith to keep it and with the $900 you would have spent go out and buy a new gun!
 
:banghead: That sucks, man.

You'll get over it, and hopefully that will end up being your favorite pistol.

Now, nobody say the "G" word and Tarpley will come out of this just fine. :evil:
 
Quality work costs money. Your paying to have it done right by a professional gunsmith. I checked on getting a Colt Officers tuned up as a reliable carry gun, and fixing a feeding problem. The gun only likes FMJ ball ammo. I wasn't quoted a price under $600 by 4 different highly rated and recommended gunsmiths. Waiting time was estimated at 6 months to just over 1 year.
Needless to say that gun is sitting in the safe and I'm ordering a brand new MEUSOC 1911 this spring. I can get the MEUSOC built from scratch and into my hands sooner than I can get my Officers fixed.
 
Question... :uhoh:

If the original finish was bad, or a hole was out of alignment, why didn't Kimber get called on to take care of it? As I see it, a major part of this bill was rung up fixing other people's mistakes.

It is not George's fault that he had to correct someone else's boo-boos before he could begin doing his own work. :(
 
"Only" $200 different from the expected price doesn't seem that bad for high end work (and lots of it, some of it pretty serious if they had to fix a pin hole in the frame). I imagine some stuff had been done to the gun by the time that was discovered and the factory would likely have crawfished on the warranty anyway. It seems like a certain number of people are willing to spend most of a grand on a base 1911 and still spend $1000 or more to get it "right" (whatever that is) or get it associated with the "right" pistolsmith (whoever that is). What amazes me is that various manufacturers can't seem to get a 1911 "right" out of the box these days, to hear all the slabsides fanciers talk.

lpl/nc (too bad there's no more Norks coming in)
 
Was about say---if your were in for $1700 already($1000/gun+$700/work)-----$200 ain't nothin---you just won't be getting that 10/22 from Walmart this time around.
 
Sounds like a deal to me. That is only a little over 1/3 what it cost me to get my Delta back from Arizona after a 15 month wait.

As someone mentioned earlier, custom costs. Boy, does it cost.

bob
 
Tarpley,

Thats quite a bill. Would you care to share the list of things done? Does this include the parts that were used or is this strictly just for the service costs?

I do look forward to pics, should be quite interesting :)
 
What are all sorts of neat things??? all those neat things add up quick.

Serious repair work with welding and such is a costly venture...

I have been hearing that the Ecoat is an expensive option too as well..

I am certain your kimber will be awesome when it gets back home!

$200 over at a shop like EGW just means it was given a little extra TLC by a master and you'll have a pistol to be proud of!


You must post the obligatory pics when it gets back,or turn in your man card!
 
When George is done with it the gun WILL be worth the money it cost to have him work it over.

I am astounded that so many people on this board have no idea what custom work costs, and even more surprised that they don't have even a slight idea WHY it costs what it does.

Yeah, you could get two used 1911's for the price of the custom work alone on this gun, but you would have EXACTLY what you paid for and so will Tarpley. I know what route I would take, been there and done that.
 
I feel your pain. I'm currently in the midst of a similar situration with a car,but I expect Hsmith is right on target with his comment above.
 
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