I gave this to my stocker back then. The gin arrived yesterday.
here is the backstory in a nutshell.
My stocker told me he was going to work for someone In the fall of 2019 I was told that this would have no bearing on the completion of my gun. That his new employer said he could finish any commissions he had on the books when they hired him.
The stocker transitioned to working for someone else instead of himself in the early 2020 .
After he went to where he went, I would check in once every 6 months. Just a quick phone call.
at every call I was told he would be getting to it soon.
in 2022 I told him I wanted my gun that year. He told me that his company was going to finally allocate him time to finish it.
I was promised the gun before opening day of 2022 bird season; Oct 1. that came and went, no gun. his shop manager emailed me and told me they were going to get it done and I would have it before end of season (Feb 28, 2023) never happened. April 2023 I contacted stocker and asked status. he assured me he was going o get on it. in May I told him I wanted hard date of 1 July 2023 or send my parts back to me. he insisted he was the guy to do it, please let him finish what he started , blah blah blah. he assured me 1 July I would have it. Against my better judgement I agreed to his new date.
15 July, no gun.
I have dealt with enough shit in my life that this doesn't spin me up. I may be pissed and frustrated but I have guns to shoot and all that. Not the point.
The stocker made promise after promise and never came through. His employer lied to him to get him to work for them. and he lied to me numerous times with self imposed deadlines he didnt meet. I understand setbacks, delays and all that. but dont blow smoke up my ass.
I went from having two previous custom Foxes done by this person; which were done in a reasonable time and of excellent quality to this shit show. beautiful but 6 years??
and on top of that, and this is the real kicker; I get an invoice form his employer for the gun that is more than twice what he agreed to do the gun for. I made the agreement with him, not them.
needless to say, I wouldn't pay what they wanted. I stuck to the original quote. When I voiced my displeasure to the stocker, he said that it wasnt an invoice, only a starting point for a dialogue. WTH?
needless to say, I didnt give in. now i have the gun.
Technical details:
Fox 16 Ga. 28" barrels.
Turkish walnut. extractors
weight 6 lbs 1 oz.
