OUCH!!!

[russellshaffer]

If that was a piece of pipe it would be quite simple to weld it up and turn it back smooth. But a gun barrel??? Nope.

 

[fourbore]

Danny Caywood of Caywood Gunmakers would not contribute anything toward a new barrel. He said that it was only cosmetic and there is nothing wrong with the gun. He also said no one would notice. He says these are S bands and they are historically correct. I have never seen barrel bands like these on the hundreds of New England fowlers that I researched. Has anyone?

This seems like reasonable effort to iron things out.

I for one, appreciate the negative feed backs a lot more than the positive. It takes some courage to post the ugly truth. Look at the so-called feedback on Gun Broker. Useless!

 

[Reactor]

Oh I tried my best to have Danny and I work this out. I asked him what he could do to make this right and the answer was "nothing". He then tried to abuse me in a couple of additional e-mails. I sent him pictures and called him and he just responded with another nasty e-mail. He would never talk to me on the phone. I also informed him his tool chattered and when I cleaned the barrel I could see three cracks in the barrel. I can catch my fingernail on these. Now they may not go too deep but any crack in metal can be catastrophic.

This barrel was a standard Rice Barrels New England Fowler. Two rings after the octagon.
My reason for posting this is two fold. Possibly someone had a solution that would work for me. Second is to let others know of what happened to me so that it does't happen to them. In other forums others have responded and stated that they had similar experiences as I did, but they did not post about it. If they had, they would have saved me a lot of hassle. This is my first bad experience in the muzzleloading community; everyone else I have done business with has been great.

 

[russellshaffer]

That is just double butt ugly. Extremely poor lathe work.

 

[SDSmlf]

Exactly.

I find it abhorrent and disgusting anyone would disgrace another on a public board without first consulting the builder first.

Sometimes it needs to be said as a heads up for others. I was privately warned by someone not to get a jug choke done by a supplier who seemed to catered to high profile clients, but at times ignored the little guy not spending the big bucks...... no personal firsthand experience with that supplier so I will not name. If this makes no sense, reread and fill in blanks so you can connect the dots. Now imagine you were getting ready to purchase a semi custom muzzleloader from someone who in some of the more discriminating muzzleloader connoisseur’s opinions questioned the builders product, but stayed quiet so not to offend anyone? Any thoughts? I would be grateful for any warnings. Plus if you read the posts from the OP they did consult and contact builder/supplier before posting.

Smokey, I enjoy your posts, but sometimes things have to be said, at least in my opinion.

 

[F.G. Ford]

If you have access to a lathe ( wood lathe or Metal lathe ) a fine cut three corner file ( with one safe side ) and some fine grit metal sand paper, it is an easy job to make these bands fist class. Be sure your file has a handle on it, or it may be surgically implanted into your wrist.
Especially the center flat band can be restructured to a well radius band.
Set it up with a live center on the tail stock.
Use a little oil on the metal sand paper, it will cut smoother and polish. Also you will have more control if you have a hard backer behind the sand paper.
Mr. Caywood may have sounded harsh, but he did tell you the truth.
Fred

 

[Rich]

Maybe he told the truth, but why in the world would you pay someone for work that looked that bad. If I screwed up your barrel or anyone elses like that, I would gladly have purchased a new one for you. It is what good business people do. Not blow you off.

 

[Realwarrior]

I agree with you Rich, a master of his craft would have fixed the problem as it is a represention of him. For the op to correct the problem would work but I'm more concerned about the guy that doesn't have the skills to fix or money for a replacement barrel. It's plan and simple = Bad Business. I appreciate the posting of this information.

 

[Robby]

That Caywood guy sounds like a real jerk. He screwed up your barrel, he should man up and make it right. In all my years, not only I have never seen a fowler with a transition point like that, his machining matches the abomination.
Robby