Supplier Quality Problems

[cannonball1]

Today I spent hours trying to fix a problem with the set trigger going to half-cock when striking the sear. I would take the lock or the trigger off and it would work fine. Put it back on and the set would only go to half cock when the trigger was pulled. This went on for ever then I noticed the fly had a little tiny ledge that would catch where the sear and tumbler met.

Another lock I had a casting void in the hammer. It was an obvious large flaw. Another lock had deep grinding gouges on the face. I just got a trigger that the threaded hole had to be redone. Another had terrible heat treating, should say no treating.

I am not going to give the brand of locks and triggers, I'll take it up with them, but I never used to have these quality problems. Are any of you having problems we didn't use to see?

 

[mooman76]

Some manufacturers tend to have quality problems from time to time. They let it slide, then get lots of complaints and fix the problem(for the most part) and have good quality for awhile, then let it slide again. A modern maker had that problem years back, I don't know haw they are these days. Some times it comes from who's in charge at the time.

 

[ohio ramrod]

The old saying: "they don't make them like they used to!" is as true today as when it was first said.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
I can guess the manufacturer and yes I too have quality problems from that maker, which is why I avoid their products whenever possible.

dave

 

[pooch156]

Today I spent hours trying to fix a problem with the set trigger going to half-cock when striking the sear. I would take the lock or the trigger off and it would work fine. Put it back on and the set would only go to half cock when the trigger was pulled. This went on for ever then I noticed the fly had a little tiny ledge that would catch where the sear and tumbler met.

Another lock I had a casting void in the hammer. It was an obvious large flaw. Another lock had deep grinding gouges on the face. I just got a trigger that the threaded hole had to be redone. Another had terrible heat treating, should say no treating.

I am not going to give the brand of locks and triggers, I'll take it up with them, but I never used to have these quality problems. Are any of you having problems we didn't use to see?

I have an idea of who the manufacturer is. I had the same issue(s) as you on both a Bedford and a Manton lock. The manufacturer said; "Send it back". That response seems to be standard operating proceedure for them. From now on I avoid them like the plague. I have purchased a large siler, small siler and a late ketland from Chambers. All worked flawlessly.

 

[Eric Krewson]

The thing about the place in question is they send out anything, apparently with no inspection or function check before they do.

If it is the same place, I sent a lock back with a very obvious casting flaw in the lock plate that couldn't be filed out, they sent me a lock that had the cock so far out on the tumbler shaft that the cock only grazed the side of the cock stop. I sent this lock back, they installed the cock at the right depth but ground a burr on the tumbler shaft and forced the tumbler shaft back through the lock plate burr and all, the tumbler wouldn't even rotate.

I gave up and fixed everything I could find wrong on the lock myself. After I went through it polishing and adjusting it was actually a really good lock and threw a shower of sparks.

I don't understand their lack of QC, everyone can guess who they are, every time someone get a flawed lock and mentions it on line they get a black eye that hurts their bottom line.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Evidence of a company that is dying. They get trapped in that they can't find the right people to do the proper detailed work for the offered money, but they can't afford to offer enough money to get the right people. Meanwhile customer base shrinks due to poor quality..., it's a downward spiral that is just a matter of time.

LD

 

[Col. Batguano]

Let's just hope that it's not Boeing that you're all talking about!

 

[cannonball1]

Trouble is I have a whole bunch of locks over the years that may need replacement part. What if they are not in business? I have told them they need to get their quality control in line. I was nice about it, but I really don't think they appreciated it. Deep sanding groves in a lock plate. That tells me they are in it for the buck and the finer sander takes longer. Poor casting not picked up. How long would it take for a final inspection of their parts.

 

[pooch156]

I

Trouble is I have a whole bunch of locks over the years that may need replacement part. What if they are not in business? I have told them they need to get their quality control in line. I was nice about it, but I really don't think they appreciated it. Deep sanding groves in a lock plate. That tells me they are in it for the buck and the finer sander takes longer. Poor casting not picked up. How long would it take for a final inspection of their parts.

I told the owner the same thing. It seems that physically he was there but mentally he had left the room.

 

[pooch156]

Evidence of a company that is dying. They get trapped in that they can't find the right people to do the proper detailed work for the offered money, but they can't afford to offer enough money to get the right people. Meanwhile customer base shrinks due to poor quality..., it's a downward spiral that is just a matter of time.

LD

Even with all the complaints and bad press concerning their lack of good craftsmanship and quality control they still refuse to acknowledge and make changes. If it's the company I think it is, I spoke to the owner and all I got was lip service. And . . . they actually fly their banner on this site.

 

[Davey Boy]

List all the ones that don't have such qa failures and don't care

so some of us new people have at least a clue

or give us a state to never ever buy from like California, Washington, Oregon

Sign me clueless

 

[Eric Krewson]

Sent you a PM

 

[Davey Boy]

Got it, thank you

 

[dave_person]

Hi Davey,
This may help you. The finest lock commercially made today is the Germanic lock by Chris Laubach. It is completely CNC machined but the springs are forged. It is the only lock that I consider ready and finished right out of the box. However, it costs $395. The next step are Jim Kibler's mostly CNC machined locks. He still uses cast frizzens, flint cocks, and plates but everything else is CNC machined. Everything fits precisely, works smoothly and really does not need any tuning. I believe they cost $265. IMO the only thing these locks need is to polish off the textured cast finish on the outside. The next tier are locks by Chambers, Hollenbaugh, and Caywood. They use mostly cast parts but fit and finish the parts nicely so they work smoothly. They usually need some tuning and benefit from polishing inside and out. They usually cost about $200-$225. The final tier are locks by M&G, Davis, and L&R with L&R dead last. These locks show poorer quality control, often parts don't fit well, no tuning, poor springs, and crude finishing. At least M&G and Davis grind the inside of their plates flat and most of the working surfaces of the parts. Not so L&R. These locks range between $170-$190 but require so much work to bring up to a standard just comparable with a Chambers lock right out of the box that Laubach's lock is a bargain comparatively. Most any of these locks, but not all, can be turned into first class flintlocks if you are willing to work at it and know what you ae doing. It is just the amount of time and work you are willing to do that matters.

dave