Kutter,
I sent them a Marlin 95 (circa 1899). I had polished it and take out the pits and dings and restocked it and replaced parts, and it was rebarreled. So, I sent it off to be case colored - as I have with a number of other old rifle actions, mostly Winchester 85s.

I got it back looking really good, if a bit gaudy, and put on the barrel. When I had it on just right. I pulled it from the vice and it swung down and the top tang hit the floor. Something that should not have happened. However the top tang went flying off with a lovely tinkling sound. That is also something that should never had happened, hitting the floor nor not. It had broken cleanly through the tang - crystallized. Later, the lever would also break.

I called CG and asked for an explanation - they, of course, claimed they were blameless. Couldn't even acknowledge that they might have screwed up. I was too pissed off to get mad. I knew I was screwed and basically gave up w/o a fight. Their whiny excuses tried to point the blame at others, and that simply wasn't justified. However, rather than fight, I chose to fold my cards on this one. Still makes me sick.

Since then, I have learned that no one has ever seen anything like that in any other Marlin of similar vintage - suggesting that is highly unlikely that Marlin screwed it up originally (CG's favorite explanation). Nor had anyone messed with the action insofar as refinishing it or recoloring it (another claim they made).

To be honest, I don't really know what happened, nor does anybody else, but I believe they forgot it in the furnace and roasted it. I have no other explanation. Had he been even sort of forthcoming with some kind of compromise, (say 1/2 my money back or something like that), I might not be quite so POed at them, but they did nothing. I lost not only the money I had invested in their service but also the value of the rifle and all the the time and money I had poured into it. Thus, I would like to never use them again. Everyone makes mistakes, except, apparently them.

If you don't already know, vintage 95s are scarcer than hen's teeth and damn pricey when you find one.

Screw Classic Guns!

_________
BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan)
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[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]