I have had Aaron Zimmerman do one set for me a couple years ago and the work was good. But that is all I have had to go on. It is a little bit of a part time endeavor for him and leadtimes were out there.
I only contracted to Bachelders one time for a set of barrels, about 3 years ago and the experience was less than favorable. Repeated promeses of “2 weeks” turned into a year and the results were sub par. And the lack of professional courtesy shown me in the process was inexcusable. And I was seeing a lot of issues with dark spots on other barrel sets finished by them.
Now, i do have to say that the few examples I have seen come out of there recently look very good. However my personal experience and a LOT of stuff i have seen really soured me on that particular shop.
Since the retiring of Dale Edmunds, I have found myself not really being able to have a reliable source for damascus finishing.
