The Gun Room on Carr St.

[Irving]

It'd be your insurance, not his. Other than that, I agree with what everyone else said.

[DOC]

It's what insurance if for right?

[Irving]

Yes, that is exactly what liability insurance is for. I'm not making a recommendation as to whether you should actually make a claim (I wouldn't); just stating that is what the coverage is for.

[BPTactical]

That stock DID NOT break that way from a simple "fall over". The fact that the buttplate was taped on is PROOF that the rifle was dropped vertically on its butt, causing the wrist to shear along the grain.
Had it broken from a simple fall over it would have been a short, cross grain break. It also would have broken in a different location, likely in the area of the lock mortise as that is where the most wood is removed and in all actuality the weakest area of the stock.

Had the rifle been undamaged he would have pressed for the entire $3500.00 in damages, the fact he so quickly settled for substantially less tells the tale as well.
What knucklehead puts a pricey item on a standard floor display to me is curious as well. He took on an implied risk by doing so if in fact the rifle was undamaged, one of those "What did you think would happen" moments.
This thing has red flags all over it.

Agreed on camera footage, I would have demanded it. I would have refused to pay as well. He can file a claim on his insurance, I will pay half the deductible seeing how he took the risk of putting a valuable item on floor display.
Let him call the cops- it's a civil matter. Take me to court and prove your case, I get to demand discovery so any video footage would be called.

Hope he bought you dinner cause you got fucked.

It can be repaired by a 'Smith who is knowledgeable in muzzleloaders and traditional repairs. It should be glued and screwed with brass screws, the heads left proud of the stock and then filed down flush with the stock. All what will show is what will appear to be brass pins. For a traditional reinforcement a wet rawhide wrap would be appropriate albeit a bit out of place on an Ohio/Pennsylvania style rifle.

[DOC]

I got fucked and I don't know what I am going to do yet. But this isn't over. I am just busy with the season at the moment. But I will get back to him soon. I think my first thought was to get the word out about what a POS this guy was for blaming a 3 year old for a gun that may have been broken already. Its a nice shop and it needs nothing but a new owner. I have a feeling he is hurting right now. He can't afford to staff the shop properly and even his gun smith went away. He wasn't very good anyhow.
If he didn't have video of the breaking and wanted to be a dick and blame my kid. I could have been equally a dick and just denied the whole thing too. Right? I hate to screw over gun guys. We are all pretty honorable people so there is no need to be on guard all the time. (unless you are Chris Kyle) But I think that we need to get to the bottom of this shit. He did lock up his high priced stuff. He didn't have hunting guns on the floor or even AR stuff out there. He had a Singer .45 locked up in his panic room. I agree that if this gun wasn't broke and was worth what he wanted he would have locked it up as well.
This is a not a fubar yet. Its over as far as we are both concerned. But I am going to look into it more and if I was tricked in anyway I am going to make it a learning experience for my son and make it fubar. Insurance is nice but lawyers is what people should be forced to buy. I have mine on standby.

[drew890]

My man, unfortunately it is over.
You had a chance to stand your ground at the time of the interaction.
You have virtually no legitimate legal recourse at this point. I suppose you could have your “on standby” lawyer craft a letter to the business demanding that they secure and preserve all video evidence to prevent spoliation. Proceeding down any legal avenue will quickly cost much more than the rifle and eat up a lot of your time.
Take it for what it is and accept the reality that there are a lot more less than honorable people in the firearm industry than you are willing to accept.

[DOC]

Maybe I should fix it? Its starting to grow on me. Can anyone give me a quote?

[T. B. Turner]

You coulod try disputing payment through your credit card company. I also feel that it was partially damaged before the incident. Simply falling over of itself should not have broken the stock unless it was already cracked.

[DOC]

Its not over until its over. The lock doesn't work. He sold me a broken product. And I did put it on a CC so I know that CC will go to bat over selling broken stuff and will fight with the merchant on my behalf. They will credit my account until this is resolved. But like I said. I am busy at the moment and don't like to screw over gun guys. That may change. I don't like the way I feel about my son when I look at the gun. It was an accident and that is that. But if I was tricked that is not the same and will not go unanswered. The cost doesn't matter. Its the principle of the matter. I am currently toying with the idea of running for office just because of the way we are being screwed over by (what was supposed to be our) reps. But I am only one person and am picking my fights.

[drew890]

Maybe I should fix it? Its starting to grow on me. Can anyone give me a quote?

Maybe keep it and as the years pass you can look at it fondly and in good humor.
Might become a good story as time passes. You could always give it to your son as a graduation gift someday and remind him of that time he cost you $1k+