doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Not so happy with Mike Orlen

I don't understand why this keeps coming up. Mike has always completed barrel work for me so fast sometimes, that I'm not even ready for it.

I did present him with a terrible job a few years ago where the bottom rib on my Beretta model 410EL sprung loose at the fore end lug and bent up into a series of waves, and he had to straighten it, re-attach it along with the lug itself and the re-blue the result. Mike probably shouldn't have taken the job on. He took a while on that one, but when I recieved it back with a very modest bill for the work done,and an apology for the time it took to 'get to it' the barrels were good as new.

That is just my honest experience with Mr. Moe, and I'll continue to use his services...Geo

Maybe you can put in a good word for me, Geo?

I'd like to believe I'll live long enough to enjoy his excellent work on my old Fox barrels.

I have always had good to very good results from Mike but the only work I have sent him was choke and chamber adjustments. He is good at that and gets it back quickly. I have never asked him about rust bluing but understand that is not his forte.

I try to be less judgmental as I grow older. I will only report the facts. I sent a set of Parker barrels to Mike Orlen a few years ago for rustblue and forcing cone and choke work. About a $400 job altogether. He was very accomodating on the phone, indicated turnaround was not a problem, but after 6 weeks began to avoided my phone messages for the next 6 months. It took 9 months to get the barrels back, and I, too, was plagued with thoughts of whether the barrels had been lost or irreparably damaged. Mike was less than straightforward with me when we did finally talk, saying the barrels were "almost done" when there was another 3 months to go. Against this backdrop, the work, when received, was of excellent quality. I guess I'd rather have good work with a little brain damage than bad work. That's all.

I have never dealt with Mr. Orlen, but have two friends that have used his services -- both several years ago. They report the choke jobs were done quickly and well. The one reblue job took many months, and required numerous phone calls.

He appears to be very quick and capable on chokes; but reblue tasks should be sent elsewhere.

It will be interesting to hear your stories about awaiting of RBL guns from Galazan as well.

Geno, the RBL thing has been discussed on various shotgun BB's. Even some fans of the guns state they did not receive them per CSM's delivery schedule, and were not notified of delays. Some cancelled their orders. However, everyone that paid for an RBL did receive a gun--and there were none that came as late as 3 years.

This is unacceptable and criminal - he should be held accountable. Because some have been fortunate, consider yourself lucky. This is no different than stealing from half your customers and justifying the act by satisfying the other half. He should make full restitution and/or go to jail. This crap has to stop !

The question is if this is how "Andy's Custom Shop" problems started out. Not saying its anywhere near this big a problem now (he is returning the guns/barrels)but it would concern me to send a gun/barrels there.

I've had Mike do a fair amount of work for me over the years.
Always fast and well done but I think that barrel bore work and stock bending are his specialties and he makes no secret of that.
I had him install a recoil pad on a gun once and re-blue the barrels and I don't recall it taking a long time. I sent a gun to Rich Cole once for re-blueing and I thought I'd never get them back. Rust blueing is often done in an outdoor tank because it's quite toxic and it doesn't work in the wintertime so a lot of gunsmiths in the colder states have to wait for warm weather. Even then, it's a nasty job and best done after accumulating a few sets to do all at once. I would expect a long wait for a rust blueing job from anyone. I did send a gun to Mike to have the stock bent and when he didn't return it very soon, I called him and asked what was up. He told me that he didn't believe that particular stock could be bent without breaking and he returned the gun at no cost to me. Not even shipping.
I have always considered him to be very fair and wouldn't hesitate to use him again. I've used him about half a dozen times I would guess.