My experience is not just Miroku. I ordered/ purchased an 1874 Sharps Long Range Express model in 45/70 in early 2020 from a premier builder (I will not name) that hails from Big Timber, Montana. This was a $5,500 rifle (all in cost to me) and a long wait.
I had previously owned two of their rifles that were absolutely flawless, beautiful pieces of work so laying down $5,500 for a new rifle was not a worry for me.
My rifle was delivered in July of 2021; what an absolute surprise and grand disappointment. Long/ short, this rifle based on my previous experience and at this price point was a joke - it was obviously thrown together and shoved out the door (I still have the detailed photos of it) - my personal suspicion is that a suffering business due to COVID was shipping anything to maintain cash flow and would deal with the consequences later. It was bad, I mean really bad - how in the heck did this rifle make it out the door?????
The really disappointing part of this journey was speaking to the owner - told me several times that “we don’t ship rifles like that” - condescending and belittling as all get out. I was instructed to return the rifle and they would take a look at it. I then received an e-mail stating that my rifle was received - I did not hear anything else until a phone call four months later asking me where to ship a rifle, when I asked what was done to the rifle, I was told “I don’t know what he did to it” - great, helpful people - what wonderful customer service. Ironically, I was the proverbial “bad guy” for having the gaul to say and ask anything - these people were an absolute joke.
Anyway, I received the rifle and to say the least, I was apprehensive - they had my $5,500 and I had no leverage and I was dealing with a crew that was less than (putting it mildly) customer oriented.
As it turned out, they had built an entirely new rifle and sent it to me. I must say that compared to the first rifle they sent, this rifle was a absolute beauty. It did have a small ding in the butt stock at the toe but I easily buffed it out. The rest of the gun was “fine” but I can point out little detail that is not right but most would never notice it - so I said no more and kept the rifle.
So at least Winchester does not treat me like the plague and talk to me like I am crazy. I will never order a rifle from that Sharps builder ever again - I will not take that chance - in my mind, they ARE and behave like a dying business and I will not risk my money like that ever again. Now I will see what Winchester does to correct their challenges.
I had previously owned two of their rifles that were absolutely flawless, beautiful pieces of work so laying down $5,500 for a new rifle was not a worry for me.
My rifle was delivered in July of 2021; what an absolute surprise and grand disappointment. Long/ short, this rifle based on my previous experience and at this price point was a joke - it was obviously thrown together and shoved out the door (I still have the detailed photos of it) - my personal suspicion is that a suffering business due to COVID was shipping anything to maintain cash flow and would deal with the consequences later. It was bad, I mean really bad - how in the heck did this rifle make it out the door?????
The really disappointing part of this journey was speaking to the owner - told me several times that “we don’t ship rifles like that” - condescending and belittling as all get out. I was instructed to return the rifle and they would take a look at it. I then received an e-mail stating that my rifle was received - I did not hear anything else until a phone call four months later asking me where to ship a rifle, when I asked what was done to the rifle, I was told “I don’t know what he did to it” - great, helpful people - what wonderful customer service. Ironically, I was the proverbial “bad guy” for having the gaul to say and ask anything - these people were an absolute joke.
Anyway, I received the rifle and to say the least, I was apprehensive - they had my $5,500 and I had no leverage and I was dealing with a crew that was less than (putting it mildly) customer oriented.
As it turned out, they had built an entirely new rifle and sent it to me. I must say that compared to the first rifle they sent, this rifle was a absolute beauty. It did have a small ding in the butt stock at the toe but I easily buffed it out. The rest of the gun was “fine” but I can point out little detail that is not right but most would never notice it - so I said no more and kept the rifle.
So at least Winchester does not treat me like the plague and talk to me like I am crazy. I will never order a rifle from that Sharps builder ever again - I will not take that chance - in my mind, they ARE and behave like a dying business and I will not risk my money like that ever again. Now I will see what Winchester does to correct their challenges.
