View Full Version : Roughest looking MAK.....is this normal.
aaronrkelly
08-10-2005, 23:29
Wow did I just get the roughest looking Markov I have ever seen. Got it today from SOG and I even paid for the handcheck and got this. Is this normal.....looks rough as hell. Im sure that where rust has eaten away at the barrel before it was re-arsenaled. I havent shot it yet because Im trying to decide if Im unhappy enough with it to return it. Wasted alot of time de-cosmoing it. Maybe they will give me ALOT of my money back if I complain. What do you think?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/Handguns/inmate009.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/Handguns/inmate007.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/Handguns/inmate006.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/Handguns/inmate005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/Handguns/inmate004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/Handguns/inmate003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/aaronrkelly/Handguns/inmate002.jpg
Glockdude1
08-10-2005, 23:38
That is just a bit on the "rough side". That was "hand picked"??? I see they "hand picked" one of the pistols they could not sell.......
;N
;P SEND IT BACK! THAT IS NOT IN SAID CONDITION
aaronrkelly
08-10-2005, 23:53
Originally posted by Glockdude1
That is just a bit on the "rough side". That was "hand picked"??? I see they "hand picked" one of the pistols they could not sell.......
;N
Apparently - Im going to give them a call tomorrow. Wonder if it will get worse or not - if not I will keep it if they agree to give me quite a bit of my money back.....if it will get worse I will send it back.
Yeah i would be very pissed. That is a horrible looking. Let's see 130 for my seemingly barely used bulgie with flap holster and all the extras. I wouldn't pay more than about 50 bucks for one in that condition.
Teakwood
08-11-2005, 04:56
As to "hand pick", it only means that they pull the next 5 out of the crate and some air head picks what he considers to be the best of the 5.
That Mak has some serious "porosity" problems.
It is not uncommon to get a lemon from SOG. I would ask for an exchange or refund.
hate to see what the other 4 look like teakwood
i was considering buying one from sog, not now
Originally posted by Teakwood
As to "hand pick", it only means that they pull the next 5 out of the crate and some air head picks what he considers to be the best of the 5.
That Mak has some serious "porosity" problems.
It is not uncommon to get a lemon from SOG. I would ask for an exchange or refund.
man thier employees should set the entire crate off to the side if they look like that or sell them at a MUCH lower cost and call the "rough" examples.
M2 Carbine
08-11-2005, 12:08
That's terrible.
The worst I got from SOG showed a lot of use and finish wear and I consider it the bottom of the line. At the same time and for the same price I got a unused looking one.
I've never seen a Mak with rust pits like that. I'd say $50 to use as a beater gun would be a lot.
Call them and tell them it looks like a rusty boat anchor.
aaronrkelly
08-11-2005, 13:35
Originally posted by M2 Carbine
That's terrible.
The worst I got from SOG showed a lot of use and finish wear and I consider it the bottom of the line. At the same time and for the same price I got a unused looking one.
I've never seen a Mak with rust pits like that. I'd say $50 to use as a beater gun would be a lot.
Call them and tell them it looks like a rusty boat anchor.
Ive been dealing with them all day long - its like beating my head against a wall. This morning I sent them an email with pictures. They say they didnt get it. I described it to them and they said "if you paid for handpick then you got the best there was, they are all going to look like that". I advised I hoped not or they had no business selling such sorry guns. I re-emailed them the pictures and I am awaiting a call back after they actually view the pictures.
Hopefully seeing the POS they sent me will straighten them out but its looks like they are on the short road to my DO NOT BUY FROM list.......if this is the kind of gun they sell I am not impressed. Im hoping they mail me a damn good one for my trouble - as in a real "handcheck" gun..
;Q I would like to hear them say that while looking at those pics. You have a right to be upset. That gun looks like it was used as a 'puck' in a game of street hockey. Where did they "handpick" it from? The trash?
I bought one from SOG that was BRAND NEW.
Sorry to hear about your luck. I wouldn't be happy either.
aaronrkelly
08-11-2005, 20:41
Well after fighting with them all day they still say that all there current Maks look like that.
***PAY ATTENTION IF YOUR ORDERNG FROM SOG***
They advised all there current Maks will look like the above, that was the best they had when they sent it to me. They said this several times even after seeing the pictures.
What did spending hours on hold, talking to everyone under the sun get me.....a headache and more irritated then ever before. Well they *finally* agreed to go look thru the Maks and find the best one.....but then they said there wasnt any better available. But wait, there is one they had pulled off to the side for some other reason and they agreed to let me have it - its was in great condition and they would send it to me. It was the only one available and if I want it I had better say so. Alright, I call my local FFL and he says OK - have them send it. I then call them back and wait on hold over 20 minutes two different times before getting someone to help me.
I needed this gun for Saturday - no problem we will send it out today. I wasnt going to have to pay any extra, everything was going to be taken care of. Now what is going to be in the box to make up for the fact I have to pay FFL transfer fees on this second gun. Extra magazine, extra grips.....a check for $20. Maybe credit for future order - come one its only $20 but on a $130 gun its the priciniple of the whole thing. Sorry, were not going to do anything like that for you - FFL fees are your resonsibility. Ahh yeah and sending me a decent gun was YOUR responsibility.....and you didnt hold up your end. Sorry, we are not going to do anything for you. What a position to have when your website clearly states "satisfaction guaranteed". This is rediculous. That cant even toss a few spare magazines in for screwing with me on the phone for over 2 hours, costing me $20 more and countless other hassles. Nope, not going to do it.
I call Mr FFL again and talk with him, he agrees not to charge me the fees - cool, he made me happy and I will do business with him again - no problem there.
I call SOG and leave them a message - wait forever and they finally call back.....I tell them send the gun.......ohh wait, uhhhh, we probably cant get you your gun by Saturday now because we waited to long to call you back and it cant go out today and your area doesnt receive shipments on Saturday....to say I was extremely unhappy at this point is an understatement. I called them right back, they jacked around before calling me and now my gun will not be delivered till Monday (I called UPS and checked, no Saturday delivery).
I WILL NEVER do business with them again - I was so exasperated by this time I just couldnt even talk to them. I told them to call me back in the morning and I would let them know what I wanted to do then.
I then drove directly to the nearest gun store - payed $195 cash for a Bersa Thunder .380 and walked out with gun in hand. When they call tomorrow I will tell them to expect there gun back as soon as I can get it in a shipping box. They can also expect not to see any of MY mine ever again - I dont care if they sell Lugers for $50....they wont get any more money from me. I will continue to tell everyone I chat and/or talk with about this horrible customer service and the ludicrous way SOG treated me. Rediculous.....
Teakwood
08-11-2005, 20:46
Sounds about right for SOG. Arrogance is their by word.
It seems like a big deal was made about the "hand pick" which in all honesty is probably ignored most of the time anyway, maybe not by policy but by a lazy employee.
The issue should not be about the best available. It should have been about stated condition. I would have asked them if they felt the gun was in "GOOD to VERY-GOOD" condition. No? Then send me a check for $90.
It does seem like you are one of those unpleasable customers. Put yourself in the place of the person you are talking to. The guy on the phone just got a totally F'ed up gun and wants a better one. You go out in the warehouse you look through several crates and what do you know...they are all messed up. The customer doesn't care he just wants a decent one and he is pissed. What was he supposed to do? You wanted something they didn't have. How did you manage to spend hours arguing about it? I know you said they gave you the run around but after that? Regardless I am very disappointed in SOG.
denfoote
08-12-2005, 01:05
That one looks like it was not stored in the manner that the Makarov manual says to store it, long term!! I hope someone in Bulgaria got court marshaled for that!! :(
If all of them look like that, then that tells my they are getting to the bottom of the barrel!!!
It's certainly not a show piece, but as a shooter, after being reblued, it should be OK!!
Maybe I missed it. How are the internals??? ;)
BTW, the importer, CAI, is Century Arms International.
If SOG does not give you any satifaction, you may try contacting them directly!!!
http://www.centuryarms.com/Century/home.htm
aaronrkelly
08-12-2005, 08:14
Originally posted by IMAS
It seems like a big deal was made about the "hand pick" which in all honesty is probably ignored most of the time anyway, maybe not by policy but by a lazy employee.
The issue should not be about the best available. It should have been about stated condition. I would have asked them if they felt the gun was in "GOOD to VERY-GOOD" condition. No? Then send me a check for $90.
It does seem like you are one of those unpleasable customers. Put yourself in the place of the person you are talking to. The guy on the phone just got a totally F'ed up gun and wants a better one. You go out in the warehouse you look through several crates and what do you know...they are all messed up. The customer doesn't care he just wants a decent one and he is pissed. What was he supposed to do? You wanted something they didn't have. How did you manage to spend hours arguing about it? I know you said they gave you the run around but after that? Regardless I am very disappointed in SOG.
I was very pleaseable. I would have accepted any of the following:
Kept the gun I had at a big discount
Send me the better gun but on or before Saturday
Let me return the gun and pick something else out (quite a few guns I want there)
.....but I see no reason for it to *COST* me $20 in fees to receive one of these crappy Makarovs, which is exactly what happened. They would not do anything about it. Thats NOT customer service.
My FFL decided not to charge me after calling him twice but he shouldnt have to do that.....they should stand by their product.
Problem was their complete lack of customer support. They had huge wait times - waited for over 25 mins twice. They failed to return phone calls in a timely fashion. They refused to compensate me for my FFL fees (I mentioned a couple free magazines, nope...they wouldnt do anything).
I also didnt argue for hours, I was adding up the half dozen times I was on hold....out of 2 hours I probably only talked to someone for about 15 minutes. That is crazy.
Am I impossible to please - I damn sure am going to be difficult to please after being on hold for ever, nobody returns my calls, they promise something they cant do because they waitied to long, they lose my emails etc.....
It wasnt that they couldnt please me it was the fact the whole damn process was the most agrivating experience I have been involved in for a long time. I never raised my voice, I told them exactly in plain english what I expected of them......
For the record - I run my own business.....my customers do NOT get treated like the above. Your computer breaks, I fix it......I dont play phone tag with you for 2 hours, charge you $20 handling fee, promise to fix it then never show up etc.... Just doesnt happen that way because I understand customer service, very few large companies do.
EDIT - they just called me and let me know they CAN get the gun to me on Saturday. Cool, how are you going to ship it. They say UPS. I say I already called UPS and they dont do Saturday shipping in my zip code. They say "our computer let us set it up"....well I called and spoke to UPS and they said no matter how you send it it will not be here until Monday. All I kept hearing was "our computer let us do it". The computer will let you do all kinds of things that arent going to happen.....
M2 Carbine
08-12-2005, 09:33
Some people are satisfied with SOG so I don't usually bad mouth them but due to some dissatisfying experiences with them they are the last place I will order from.
What they did is inexcusable.
Bottom line is they are sending out terrible guns and they know it. They then try to jerk the customer around to get him to back off.
Any reputable company would advertise those guns as sub standard and sell them as such.
And if this just happened to come to their attention (I don't believe it)they should make it right with the customers that have already bought the gun.
On the other hand I've bought a few Maks from AIM and they have been totally honest, to the point of telling me their then current stock of Maks was not up to the condition I wanted and advising me to wait for the next order.
pesticidal
08-12-2005, 09:47
I think I'd send them a link to this thread....
denfoote
08-12-2005, 14:50
I say I already called UPS and they dont do Saturday shipping in my zip code. They say "our computer let us set it up"....well I called and spoke to UPS and they said no matter how you send it it will not be here until Monday.
From the UPS web site!!!!
By their policy, firearms must be sent by next day air!!
This is what they have to say about next day air.
UPS is anti gun, so they are gunna give you static.
UPS Next Day Air
Put it in their hands by tomorrow morning
Guaranteed Overnight Delivery by 10:30 a.m.
UPS Next Day Air® features fast, reliable delivery to all 50 states and Puerto Rico, making it the right choice for all your overnight shipments.
Guaranteed on-time delivery by 10:30 a.m., 12:00 noon, or the end of next business day depending on location
Saturday Delivery by 12:00 noon or 1:30 p.m.
Some shipments to Alaska and Hawaii require additional time in transit
Some shipments to and from certain locations may require additional time in transit
Service Availability
Available in all 50 states and Puerto Rico
Available for weekday and Saturday deliveries
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/select/sending/services/next_day.html
SOG may be telling you the truth!!
aaronrkelly
08-12-2005, 19:00
Originally posted by denfoote
From the UPS web site!!!!
By their policy, firearms must be sent by next day air!!
This is what they have to say about next day air.
UPS is anti gun, so they are gunna give you static.
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/select/sending/services/next_day.html
SOG may be telling you the truth!!
OK then that would be the first time during this whole experience. Thats one issue of many.......
ruger270man
08-13-2005, 00:40
after seeing this thread, I am not going to order from SOG again.. and I just sent in for my C&R as well, my money will go elsewhere, to AIM or JG.
Wow, what a mess. Besides the bad customer "service," that Mak really is in pitiful condition, epecially since so many of them were in exellent condition, as other posters have said.
In this case, "handpicked" means somebody at SOG picked it up by hand. :steamed:
That Mak is nasty! The very most I would have paid "in person" would have been $50 if the internals looked okay.
It sounds like SOG attempted to bamboozle you and frustrate you to the point that you would just shut up and go away. Just for the principle of it, I would go right to the top of the SOG "food chain" and provide him with pictures and copies of this thread. I'd advise him that if this situation is not remedied to your satisfaction, you will spread the word on the internet far and wide that SOG's business practices are shameful and LET THE BUYER BEWARE.
I know that based on your experience, I, personally, will not do business with SOG for any reason... I don't need the hassle and I refuse to become one of their victims.
Teakwood
08-13-2005, 08:43
SOG does not really give a hoot about the guy who wants to buy just one. They are out to sell to a dealer that is going to order $1000-worth or more a month.
denfoote
08-13-2005, 12:43
Originally posted by Teakwood
SOG does not really give a hoot about the guy who wants to buy just one. They are out to sell to a dealer that is going to order $1000-worth or more a month.
DING!!!!! DING!!!! DING!!! DING!!!!! DING!!! ;Q
SouthpawShootr
08-13-2005, 14:19
I think you should post this on every firearms related board you can find. Then start sending emails explaining that they screwed you and links to FFLs (lots of shops have e-mails posted on their websites). Ask the FFLs if they want to have a similar experience. They could have done something to compensate you for what they did.
My business will definitely be taken elsewhere.:(
Glockdude1
08-13-2005, 21:27
8-Ball,
That is a "interesting" avatar you have there. It is almost as nice as that poor Makarov........
;N
M2 Carbine
08-13-2005, 22:02
Originally posted by Teakwood
SOG does not really give a hoot about the guy who wants to buy just one. They are out to sell to a dealer that is going to order $1000-worth or more a month.
Don't you know a dealer would be a little irritated when he opened a box of Maks that looked like that.;f
aaronrkelly
08-14-2005, 00:16
Originally posted by M2 Carbine
Don't you know a dealer would be a little irritated when he opened a box of Maks that looked like that.;f
Nah man, those are the best Maks they got, they rock (end sarcasm).......everyone here and anyone reading this has my blessing to pass these pictures and information on to anyone and post on any site they deem fit. If someone is going to give SOG their money they need to know what they are going to get.
Every company has a bad transaction here or there but after this one I think I am going to stop recommending SOG to people in the near future. Apparently they are pawning off crap as a much higher grade and charging way too much. Besides if thats all they have there is no point in ordering from them. I guess the next one is coming home from the gun show.
M2 Carbine
08-14-2005, 10:41
Originally posted by aaronrkelly
If someone is going to give SOG their money they need to know what they are going to get.
One thing that irritated me was when we ordered a couple Hungarian P-64 9x18 from them. (I already had 2 P-64's bought elsewhere)
All the dealers/suppliers were giving 2 mags with the gun.
When we received the guns from SOG there was only one mag per gun.
SOG was holding back the second mag and selling them.
I thought that was pretty low.:(
And it was the last time I ordered from them.
denfoote
08-14-2005, 15:16
Originally posted by M2 Carbine
One thing that irritated me was when we ordered a couple Hungarian P-64 9x18 from them. (I already had 2 P-64's bought elswhere)
All the dealers/supliers were giving 2 mags with the gun.
When we received the guns from SOG there was only one mag per gun.
SOG was holding back the second mag and selling them.
I thought that was pretty low.:(
And it was the last time I ordered from them.
The practice of stripping off mags is a fairly old trick now.
I believe it came about in the dark times when dealers discovered they could make more money selling "high cap" mags seperate from the guns they came with!!The new gun comes in with, say, 15 round mags, and by the time it hits the case, two 10 rounders magically appear in the box with the gun!! Two "brand new in wrapper" High Caps would then appear for sale at a greatly inflated price!!!
Case and point.
There was a NIB SW40F that had lain undisturbed for years in my former dealer's case. I became interested in it. I knew there were supposed to be two 15 round mags shipped with the gun because I looked at the bound book and saw it had been received before the dark times went into effect (it helps to have a friend who works there). What did I find?? Not 15 round mags!! I asked where the original mags ended up and got a shrug. Needless to say, the gun did not go home with me that day!!
Even with the end of the ban, it seems old habits die hard!!
aaronrkelly
08-15-2005, 05:53
If anyone does come up with a line on a nice Makarov keep me in mind - although I may go the face to face (or maybe thats face to gun) route after this last experience.
I was just about to order 5 shooter grade SKSs - unfortunately I will have to send my C&R off to another place and wait as SOG was the only place I am on file with.....should have spent more envelope and stamp money that day but I was being lazy. Oh well, live and learn.
shadow_dog
08-15-2005, 18:24
I gave up on SOG a while back. I had a very rude and bad experience with an operator there. Funny thing, they are 20 minutes from my work, AIM is less than 10 minutes. AIM has always treated me great, I have bought several things from them. AIM is the only way to go IMO when it comes to surplus/LE trade in items.
ill never buy from them.my goodness ive bought brand new in the green box maks for 139.i wouldnt take that mak for free.
KiloPhoton
08-17-2005, 19:25
Wow, that is about the worst looking Mak I've seen in a while. I can't believe SOG actually had the nerve to sell it at all, much less offering a "hand picked" option. I bought a Bulgarian Mak from Dan's Ammo for $165 and it came in unissued condition and cleaned (worth the little extra in my opinion). Thanks for letting use know about SOG, I was thinking about a purchase but I'll be looking at AIM instead.
Hmm. I ordered TWO maks from them this week (hadn't seen this post) and one is a Handpick and the other not. I chose a handpick because they expressed that a handpick will ensure i get matching numbers. I will duly advise what it is I receive. I should pick these up by Wed this coming week. My fingers are crossed that i don't get one looking like it was run roughshod by a rusty icepick like yours, and I am sorry to hear of your troubles. This is going to be interesting for me as I have so chosen one handpick and one not, so We'll See how it turns out!
denfoote
08-19-2005, 22:58
Yes please!!
Take some pics.
I'm interested as Aaron should be because if you get a good one, he got rooked!!!
aaronrkelly
08-20-2005, 00:26
Originally posted by denfoote
Yes please!!
Take some pics.
I'm interested as Aaron should be because if you get a good one, he got rooked!!!
Nah, no matter what I got rooked. The customer service after the sell was what did it for me. As I have stated before, anyone can make a mistake its what you do to correct it that makes the difference. They plain sucked at the customer service part.
I wish him good luck and hope his guns come out looking great.
North Bender
08-20-2005, 02:38
I'm new to this forum. I read all the posts here and I've gotta say, those photos are of the most incredibly ugly Mak I've ever seen (was the original owner shot 10 times and bled out on his pistol?).
One more comment, there is a great group of common-sense non-profane responders here.
Originally posted by North Bender
...(was the original owner shot 10 times and bled out on his pistol?)...
No, I believe it was probably 8 +1. :)
M2 Carbine
08-20-2005, 08:45
Originally posted by rrrgcy
Hmm. I ordered TWO maks from them this week (hadn't seen this post) and one is a Handpick and the other not. I chose a handpick because they expressed that a handpick will ensure i get matching numbers. I will duly advise what it is I receive. I should pick these up by Wed this coming week. My fingers are crossed that i don't get one looking like it was run roughshod by a rusty icepick like yours, and I am sorry to hear of your troubles. This is going to be interesting for me as I have so chosen one handpick and one not, so We'll See how it turns out!
Personally I think that "hand picked" stuff is just a way for the less than upright sellers to make a few extra bucks.
The two Maks I got from SOG, Jan 03, were advertised as "used". One was actually new/unused but with a couple small scratches. The second had more wear than I had seen on a Mak. Not rusty or beat up, just showing a lot of finish and internal wear. But still a good shooter.
So I figured it averaged out as a reasonable deal.
But a couple other things, including customer service turned me against SOG.
rrrgcy, I hope you get a couple nice guns.
aaronrkelly
08-20-2005, 19:27
Over 740 views.....wow. Its like a train wreck, you just cant help but click and look huh?
Originally posted by shadow_dog
I gave up on SOG a while back. I had a very rude and bad experience with an operator there. Funny thing, they are 20 minutes from my work, AIM is less than 10 minutes. AIM has always treated me great, I have bought several things from them. AIM is the only way to go IMO when it comes to surplus/LE trade in items.
Well I know who's getting my cash for an SKS now. I belive it starts with an "A" and not an "S".
;f
aaronrkelly
09-07-2005, 01:23
Originally posted by rrrgcy
Hmm. I ordered TWO maks from them this week (hadn't seen this post) and one is a Handpick and the other not. I chose a handpick because they expressed that a handpick will ensure i get matching numbers. I will duly advise what it is I receive. I should pick these up by Wed this coming week. My fingers are crossed that i don't get one looking like it was run roughshod by a rusty icepick like yours, and I am sorry to hear of your troubles. This is going to be interesting for me as I have so chosen one handpick and one not, so We'll See how it turns out!
Surely youve gotten your guns by now, what did they look like? Hope you had better luck than me........
jonathon
09-07-2005, 01:53
So, I wonder who at SOG got the bright idea to drag that one behind their truck...
Originally posted by IMAS
It does seem like you are one of those unpleasable customers. Put yourself in the place of the person you are talking to. The guy on the phone just got a totally F'ed up gun and wants a better one. You go out in the warehouse you look through several crates and what do you know...they are all messed up. The customer doesn't care he just wants a decent one and he is pissed. What was he supposed to do? You wanted something they didn't have. How did you manage to spend hours arguing about it? I know you said they gave you the run around but after that? Regardless I am very disappointed in SOG.
Poor employee. They sold the worst Mak that I've ever seen as "hand picked" and now the customer wants what he paid for. The nerve of some people. What's the poor sap suppose to do? Well, if he values his word and wants to treat other human beings right, how about getting a job working for a business that does people right?
Bad deal all the way around. I guess SOG has gone to hell in a handbasket, they use to be "OK", not great but ok.
By the way, and not to detract from the subject too much, how do you like your new Bersa Thunder??
I recently purchased one and took it to the range, it is a sweet shooter, deadly accurate, and no malfunctions. It field strips like a Mak.
Making some custom curly maple grips for mine, I like wood grips on most of my carry weapons.
Good luck with SOG, UPS.
cal3g
aaronrkelly
09-23-2005, 14:23
Originally posted by cal3g
Bad deal all the way around. I guess SOG has gone to hell in a handbasket, they use to be "OK", not great but ok.
By the way, and not to detract from the subject too much, how do you like your new Bersa Thunder??
I recently purchased one and took it to the range, it is a sweet shooter, deadly accurate, and no malfunctions. It field strips like a Mak.
Making some custom curly maple grips for mine, I like wood grips on most of my carry weapons.
Good luck with SOG, UPS.
cal3g
I like by Bersa alot and agree with you that it could use some nice wood grips. Nobody makes them, if you get some made post a picture - I bet you could sell a few, I damn sure would buy a set.
Shoeless
09-23-2005, 14:50
I've considered doing business with them, but after hearing your story, I surely won't now. Thanks for the heads up and sorry you're having such a hard time!!
Shoeless
Originally posted by aaronrkelly
I like by Bersa alot and agree with you that it could use some nice wood grips. Nobody makes them, if you get some made post a picture - I bet you could sell a few, I damn sure would buy a set.
Well, I am just about done with this set of grips and will post a picture when I figure out how.
The grips are made of Tiger Maple, or curly Maple depends where you live and what you call it. The big manufactures will not use it because it is too difficult to carve, but the results are astonishing. The old antique guns of higher quality (in America) had Curly Maple grips, but that was done at the time when everything was handmade by craftsmen. I also inlaid my initials with abalone just for a personal touch.
The reason I got into this is because I don't like the low quality of the factory grips, and the finger groove wrap arounds get stuck especially whey you carry. I would never take on the challenge, but because I make F-Style Master Model Mandolins (Bluegrass Mandolins) it was not difficult to carve the Maple since a good part of the Mandolin backboard, neck, and sides are curly Maple and I know the in's and out's of this particular type of wood.
Anyway, sorry for talking your ear off...but will send pics as soon as I figure it out.
Regards
cal3g
Ok, here are a couple of pictures of the grips I am working on.
The dark wood is Black Walnut with scrimshaw in the middle...it is a carving of a mythical wood beast, had to wear jewlers magnifying glasses while carving it.
The others are various stages of the process...The almost finished grips are suspended on dowels until they dry, this is after the 3rd coat of poly.
I will post a pic of the grips actually on the gun when they are completed.
Ok, I think they are re-sized to a more proportinal picture now. Sorry to have posted this once too many times.
Regards
cal3g
http://tinypic.com/dyay9y.jpg
http://tinypic.com/dyay3k.jpg
http://tinypic.com/dyaxyw.jpg
http://tinypic.com/dyawjc.jpg
http://tinypic.com/dyawdz.jpg
http://tinypic.com/dyawc4.jpg
aaronrkelly
09-24-2005, 11:06
I like them alot....I like dark wood and simple but they definitely show your skills.
When can I order???
The only experience I've had with SOG was a purchase of a "hand pick" M1 Garand bayonet several years ago. When I got it, the metal looked near mint, but the grips were mismatched.....one black grip and one red one that was chipped.
I don't know what they'd have done about it, but I didn't complain. I should have, and that's my fault for not complaining. I've always felt that the hand pick fee was a total waste....the bayonet wasn't hand pick at all in my opinion.
I've heard other complaints about SOG before. You are not an exception to the rule.
I hope you resolve this issue to your satisfaction.
hog
muscogee
10-18-2005, 22:17
Thanks for the post. This is unfortunate. I bought a handpicked CZ 52 from them a few years ago and it looked like a new one. The firing pin was broken, but I called them and had new one in a few days. I don’t know if I was lucky or they have gone downhill.
denfoote
10-19-2005, 05:31
So Aaron,
I have been out of this loop for awhile.
You went and got a Bersa,
What did you do with the Maks??
aaronrkelly
10-19-2005, 11:47
Well - I setup a return and was getting ready to send it back when my grandpa fell in love with the gun.......he wanted it and didnt care about the condition so hes the new owner. I reallllly wanted to send it back but then he realllly wanted it.
Originally posted by aaronrkelly
...grandpa fell in love with the gun.......he wanted it and didnt care about the condition so hes the new owner...
I was going to ask if "grandpa" needed new glasses, but that comment sounded mean when I read it back to myself. So, I'll just say One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Sounds like it worked out for everyone
I love it when that happens!
aaronrkelly
10-19-2005, 17:10
Originally posted by Catbird
I was going to ask if "grandpa" needed new glasses, but that comment sounded mean when I read it back to myself. So, I'll just say One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Hes one of those guys that will buy damn near any gun from a person but will NEVER step foot in a gun store.....he doesnt want "the man" knowing about his guns.
Originally posted by aaronrkelly
...he doesnt want "the man" knowing about his guns.
That brought a smile to my face. :)
denfoote
10-19-2005, 19:33
Your Grandpa is indeed a wise man!! ;)
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