Why you know who works on your guns

[Squeeze]

Okay, a little back story on this. I really good friend of mine who lives in Petal, Mississippi has a really nice full-size stainless Springfield 1911. A while back I added some upgrades to his receiver at his request (Wilson combat hammer, beaver tail, extended thumb safety, and speed chute - and yes, I've got the proper credentials to be doing said work). Well, he called me a few months back wanting to know how hard it is to get new sights put on his 1911. I advised him to have a certified gun smith do the work, especially since it requires staking of the front sight. I directed him to a website that had some Trijicon night sights for his gun and he was very happy with the purchase. Now, here's where it gets ugly. His cousin said he has a "guy" who is a small arms armorer in the Army that would put the sights on for him at no cost. He quickly jumped on the deal. Had he told me about this "guy" before he gave him the gun, I would've told him to run far and fast in the opposite direction - unless he is able to show proof of training that he knows wtf he's doing. I'm sure Bert will chime in on this, and agree 100%, you have to really check out who you are going to have work on your gun and get multiple references. If you don't, then crap like this happens. This is why if the work on my gun is outside my skill level, it will go to Bert - PERIOD.

Oh, and for the record, I'm going to Mississippi in a week to visit him. I'm dick punching the no-talent hack who did this to his gun.













This is just freaking appauling. Now, I've recommended to him that this so called jack-hole of an "armorer" purchase him a new slide and sights to go with it. He's going to let me know in the next couple days if the moron is going to make good on it. I'll definitely post "updates".

[Wulf202]

I've got $5 that says it has a tailight warantee

I think burt would accept mail in guns?

[Squeeze]

Not sure if those vice marks on the side of the slide are going to "buff out" my friend. I'm hoping Burt will chime in and maybe offer up his .02. If it looks like Burt can fix it, I'll bring the slide back with me when I go out to visit.

[bryjcom]

Oh, and for the record, I'm going to Mississippi in a week to visit him. I'm dick punching the no-talent hack who did this to his gun.

.

Dick punch??? Now that's taking it to a whole new level!! I mean the guy only Eff'd up a dudes gun..... Oh yeah... He eff'd up some dude's gun!!! Dick punch that SOB!

[zteknik]

Holly crap!!!
My homebuilt AK's come out better than that!!!
Dick punch that farigin bastage!!!

[Squeeze]

Dick punch??? Now that's taking it to a whole new level!! I mean the guy only Eff'd up a dudes gun..... Oh yeah... He eff'd up some dude's gun!!! Dick punch that SOB!

The owner of this fine piece of art is a fellow Veteran and I consider him more of a brother. I take a ton of pride in my firearms and the fact that I've got time invested into his gun as well...yeah, the douchenheimer who tortured this poor 1911 slide is getting dick punched.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Whew good thing it's only a 1911 and not a glock. Seriously though, that sucks big time. +1 for Bert as well.

[Skip]

I've got $5 that says it has a tailight warantee

I think burt would accept mail in guns?

Yep--Bert. Could have avoided the whole thing.

I wonder if the owner wouldn't want to do something totally different with the gun now. Maybe refinish or something.

FWIW, I had a major "corporate" gun smith destroy one of my pistols once. They had to buy it back from me--exactly what I paid for it. So the derp is everywhere. You have to go with what you know!

[Dave]

Army armorer's course only takes you a few steps beyond a standard field strip and cleaning. It is no way a gunsmithing course. I took it and didn't learn much past what I had already figured out for my self on the guns my unit had. We didn't have M240-B's, so that was the bulk of my new learning in the course.

+1 to having BP look it over.

[BPTactical]

You bring it back Squeeze.
We will get him squared away.
No saving the front sight so that will have to be replaced.
The reason it is not staked correctly is probably the fact the hack did not have the $400.00+ Meprolite special tool for such.
Neither do I, for the risk of damaging the tritium vial is too great when staking it in place. It is not a delicate task and people would faint if they watched the process.
We will do a dovetail cut and put a Novak in it.
Can't say much on the rear, don't have a good enough viewpoint of it.
As far as the pecker tracks on the brushed finish, to coin a phrase: "That'll buff right out".
The blasted finish is repairable as well.
Personally it would have never left my shop that way.
The entire point of the exercise is the item leaves in better condition than it arrived.

I appreciate the kind thoughts immensely gentlemen.

You know, somebody can have all the education in the world on a certain subject matter.
And it doesn't mean dick.

One has to have a talent and the "knack" or that knowledge is useless. I have had the grace of God to be blessed with a knack and talent to be reasonably proficient of the craft. I just wish I would have gotten serious about it 30 years ago.

I think this illustrates very well the difference between an "Armorer" and a "Gunsmith".
No offense to those that are certified Armorer's here, your role is vital to to the function and safety of those you serve.
But in reality an Armorer is a parts changer.
And be it a 'Smith or Armorer, one is always wise to realize their limitations.