IS it only me?

[Dick The Ranger]

Is it only me or do others have the same luck? New barel has a bump in a rifling groove, Took my 1873 that I had slicked up when new, to my local Gun smith to have the safety parts put back in from when the original action job Guy removed them. While in the shop I asked if he would see why the action seemed choopy. The barrel was loose in the reciever. What? Yesterday I recieved a new Chambers Golden Age Siler. Put a flint in it and could not force the sear to release using all my strength. The L&R Dickert was almost as bad I reciently bought. Michael Lea fixed it for me and of course it cost a little. I ordered the Chambers because all I have read about their exceptional quality in operation. Is it only happening to me? Do I have a cloud over me or are others out there experiencing this. This was just a short list.

 

[Ridge]

I'd have just sent the lock back to Chambers. He'd have made it right.

 

Give Jim Chambers a call He'll make it right one way or another. As they say manure happens. I've had those kind of days. It sure makes you wonder. :hmm: Bill

 

[tnlonghunter]

I had no problem with my Chambers lock. Everytime I talked to them, they were incredibly helpful. Send it back, and they should make it right. At least call them and see what they say.

 

[trent/OH]

:hmm: Did you have the safety engaged on the Chambers lock? :rotf:

 

[Bookie]

Over the past year, I have found on the last 11 Siler locks I've used that the sear spring is too long. 4 other makers near me are experiencing the same issue. The corner of the sear spring catches on the bridle and the spring itself is too long and rides up on the sear collar. Shorten the spring, dock the corner of it, and you'll have a zippy lock as it should be. Cheers, Bookie

 

[CoyoteJoe]

NO, IT'S ALL YOU!! :haha:

 

[Dick The Ranger]

I got the lock and barrel through TOW at different times and the lock is going back to be corrected. Just wondering if others are paying for what is touted as top of the line components and being disappointed right out of the box, and having to deal with calls, trips to the post office, additional waiting, postponing projects, and additional expense. I need to buy components for my rifles. I’m not able to scratch build one. But I am really getting tired of needing to do major repair or modification to top of the line materials. I have tuned about seven locks that are fast and reliable. I just would not expect to need to get into a Chambers Golden Age with all that has been written about their superior geometry, fitting, and modifications that are supposed to make them so fast and reliable. The L&R Dickert lock I mentioned was new. I’m told by several knowledgeable builders / smiths it’s has a tumbler geometry problem that has them either apt to slip the sear or won’t hardly release and have had that problem for a good long time. Here again additional money, time and trip to the post office to make mine usable. The lock on my Christian's Spring kit now sports it’s improved replacement hammer and a new frizzen as the original was way too soft. It hardly worked before the overhaul. Finally it works as one would expect it to. Just seems if there is a lemon in the bin it gets sent my way. I guess its looking like quite possibly I do have a little black cloud over my work bench.

 

[John Taylor]

Lots of people have little clouds that follow them around. Some say " Oh woe is me" and other look at it as an opportunity to learn something new. I have lots of things that don't always go the way I would like them to but look at some as experience for things that don't work. Most companies I deal with want to have a happy customer. If I get something that is not right I send it back and get the right one or one that works. A few weeks back I spent lots of time making a custom barrel for a customer out of a stainless blank ( half round/octagon with an integral rib ). When I took it out of the mill and started to draw file I looked down the bore and found that it was warped so bad that it could not be used. I had several days into it and I was a little upset. The first thing I got from the company that sold me the blank was " you got it to hot when machining it". This did not help my day at all because I had flood coolent on the barrel full time while it was being machined. After explaning this to the company they sent me a new barrel blank. I then ordered a blank from Douglas because I know they do a good job on stress relieve and used it for the job with no problems. I know the first company has a good reputation and I have a new stainless blank from them on the shelf, but I will not use their barrel for a similar job. That's several days of work to find out what don't work. That job is behind me, now to move on to the next challenge. It's all how you look at things.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Some of these suppliers of parts operate a cottage industry, with students, and others building their components for the business, which then sells them to us. What you get often depends on who actually built it. Its the company's fault, because their inspectors should catch these things, before we get them. If they are dropping the ball on their inspections, they need to stand good for the product. However, they must also understand that time and money are being spent by the customer, and if he is building a gun for another party, it can affect his profit margin greatly. BP companies are generally among the best, but sometimes they need to weed out the few drunks and other irresponsible people who can't get a job anywhere else, and therefore try to make a living using what shop skills they have putting together lock kits and other parts. If the companies had to hire these people rather than paying them for piece work, the added labor costs would double the price of the locks they sell. I still don't think that is a valid excuse for shipping flawed goods, but it is an explanation of why it is happening.

 

[Vaino]

Ask the pros what locks they use and I'll bet they prefer Chambers' locks if style permits. Through the years I've purchased flintlock kits and did my own assembly because of problems encountered w/ various brands of assembled flintlocks, but no longer because of Chambers' quality. I'm not saying that an occasional defective lock couldn't be shipped by Chambers, but all of his locks that I've used needed no extra work. I think Jim must utilize jigs and fixtures that insure a quality product along w/ an excellent final inspection. He's also very accommodating inre to any defects or questions. Can't beat that!......Fred

 

[CrackStock]

Bob Roller is actually the first name that I hear from people that I believe know the most. But Chambers comes very shortly thereafter.

I would have no reservations about suggesting either.

CS