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Steelheadfred 
Group: MEMBER
Location: Flushing Dog Nirvana
Posts: 4714
Joined: Sep. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,7:39 |
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In 2003 I moved "up north" I was 25 years old and engaged to be married that summer. I immediately befriended Bryan Bilinski of Field Sport LTD in my home town, this relationship developed into a win win situation, I got to hang out and learn from Field Sport and my hotel earned a nice group of customers from the shop, including during the Shooting Schools where I would meet instructors such as Michael MacIntosh, Chris Batha, Dr. Hilt, Doug Tate, and others. Also I immediately became good friends with the Gun Smith, Del Whitman, of now DC Whitman Gunsmithing.
That 2003 season I went around the woods with a 20 gauge Beretta with 26 inch barrels that barely scratched six pounds on the scale. I did this cause, well that's what the books said would make a nice grouse gun. Needless to say I shot a few Doodles and even a few grouse but nothing that led me to believe these grouse were anything but un-killable for the most part.
The following summer after spending many evenings at the local gun club; I came to learn that I shot my 12 Gauge Auto far better. One day at FieldSport I mentioned to Bryan that I was going to save my money up and get a Rizzini some day. Well long story short, Sig was no longer going to import B. Rizzini's and I had a bonus that just showed up, and had no business doing what I did (we were saving for a house that summer, a real honest down payment at a time of ZERO down and 5n1 interest only arms). So I forked over $1850.00 for a Sig B. Rizzini 12 gauge with 28inch tubes, that was the third single most expensive thing I had ever purchased, behind the diamond ring and my truck. Del bent and padder her up for me, work I never paid for from what Bryan called "a great deal."
For the last 8 seasons that gun, now to be known as "Thunder Rolls" amongst my merry band of hunting partners and idiots. Thunder Rolls has logged a lot of miles, she has shot a lot of clays, killed a lot of birds in many different states. Oh along the way I've I paused to flirt with other guns, none of which have worked as well. I've had some great shooting streaks, killed Ruffs, WC, Pheasants, Huns, Sharps, and Quail with her, some ducks, some wild Squab. I carried it to kill four birds and win Bella two RGS gun dog of the year trophy's.
Well in 2010 I found a crack, Fieldsport sent it off to David Vandenbrant as Del Whitman was on vacation, Vandenbrant did a great job of glueing it back together, but he did not do good enough job for the abuse I give it (this is nothing personal). It lasted 1.5 seasons and the glue was gone.
I took it to Del today, to see his new baby and figure out this crack, have it sonic cleaned and reblued. The crack,well it was bigger, right in the wrist, and when Del took it off the action, put some pressure on it, it flaked right off, the whole left side broke off. He claims he can fix it, but no promises. I'm sad.
I have some options: One of which is a generous offer from Del to make me a stock and fore arm at a greatly reduced rate, he claims he can match the stocks weight and demensions perfectly. I would have the barrells reblued and walk away with a fine gun, hand crafted by a very good friend. Cost would push buying one of the same guns used, this is on the extreme buddy deal.
I can call Rizzini and order a new stock and forearm, have Del cobble them into the same demensions but no promises on weight. Most likely $500-600 bucks.
I'm sad tonight, what would you do? Money is a factor, not because I don't have it, but becaues having a stock made might cost as much as a new gun.
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"I haven't seen ONE lab yet ever put down a decent, consistent ground pattern in the hunting field. The yoyo, helter-skelter MO doesnt cut it! Natty Bumpo"
2009 Robert J. Lytle RGS Regional Trial Results.
1st/Bella/ Lab/Fritz Heller
2nd/Kate/Lab/Dan Hartley
3rd/Rocky/ECS/Natty Bumpo
4th/Sisco/Lab/Mike Cuneo
Posted 3/25/2013 on Michigan Sportsman
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Hillhaven09
Group: 2013 CONTRIBUTING MEMBER
Location: Michigan
Posts: 986
Joined: Nov. 2011
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,7:44 |
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With the history that you have with it, I would have it restocked. That is a hell of a price and you will still have your favorite gun
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" I am into fine pointing dogs, fine double barrels, and PBR " Chubby Bunny 9/25/2010
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Cooter Brown
Group: 2013 CONTRIBUTING MEMBER
Location: Georgia
Posts: 5164
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,7:50 |
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Personally, I get a little sentimental about guns and the memories they contain.
I'd bite the bullet and have the stock made. While that was being done a good strip and clean of the action and a mechanical inspection.
However, I'd leave the barrels as is. The wear and signs of use are what make the memories.
Thunder would roll again and still have the memories, it'd have the same dimensions and handling qualities, and it would have the additional appeal of having a stock made by a friend.
I think you'd appreciate Thunder Version 2.0 even more.
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"The worst poverty anyone can have is a poverty of mental interests." Ernest Hemingway
Blow up your TV
Throw away your paper
Go to the country
Kill you a grouse
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Jay Barrows
Group: 2013 CONTRIBUTING MEMBER
Location: North Central PA
Posts: 287
Joined: Nov. 2010
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,7:51 |
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Fritz,
Forget the cost of a new gun vs repair. A few years from now the dollar difference will seem insignificant. Do whatever it takes to keep your SIG shootable.
Jay
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| Post Number: 5
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Tim Frazier
Group: MEMBER
Location: North East Ohio
Posts: 3515
Joined: Mar. 2002
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,7:52 |
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Well, from the sounds of it you need to fix it, replacing it just doesn't seem like an option for a gun that has meant so much to you. I would probably take the practical approach and order new wood then have it customized to replicate the old one. 5-600 seems like a small price to save a trusted tool.
Weight should be easy to manipulate. You probably can even request they send a lighter set, they know the difference.
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"All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking" Nietzsche
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RUFUS80
Group: MEMBER
Location: The Hoosier State
Posts: 513
Joined: Jan. 2007
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,8:02 |
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If it were mine I would fix it. From your story it sounds like the gun and you have made some memories. Just fix it, you'll be glad you did.
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"The gun is the essential link between the man and the kind of sport he pursues. It is not enough that it should be well adapted to one of the other. For the best success, it must be fully adapted to both" - Gough Thomas
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| Post Number: 7
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Steelheadfred
Group: MEMBER
Location: Flushing Dog Nirvana
Posts: 4714
Joined: Sep. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,8:02 |
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Un loaded the guns 6lbs 13oz, the comb is a bit trimmer than usual.
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"I haven't seen ONE lab yet ever put down a decent, consistent ground pattern in the hunting field. The yoyo, helter-skelter MO doesnt cut it! Natty Bumpo"
2009 Robert J. Lytle RGS Regional Trial Results.
1st/Bella/ Lab/Fritz Heller
2nd/Kate/Lab/Dan Hartley
3rd/Rocky/ECS/Natty Bumpo
4th/Sisco/Lab/Mike Cuneo
Posted 3/25/2013 on Michigan Sportsman
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brymoore
Group: MEMBER
Location: Valhalla
Posts: 5405
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,8:05 |
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Think of this problem as an opportunity to buy a BUL.
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When you have shot one bird flying you have shot all birds flying. They are all different and they fly in different ways but the sensation is the same and the last one is as good as the first. Ernest Hemingway
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| Post Number: 9
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Hammer
Group: 2013 CONTRIBUTING MEMBER
Location: Michigan
Posts: 497
Joined: Feb. 2012
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,8:07 |
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No brainer. Give it to Del. It's a win win.
You might wanna rethink the stout loads you are running through it too.
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Hammer
Group: 2013 CONTRIBUTING MEMBER
Location: Michigan
Posts: 497
Joined: Feb. 2012
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,8:13 |
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What caused the crack?
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bosco mctavitch
Group: 2013 CONTRIBUTING MEMBER
Location: Exit 11, VT
Posts: 8205
Joined: Apr. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,8:22 |
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Fritz, the break on your gun sounds very similar to what happened to my 20ga Beretta a few years ago. I posted the results here:
LINKY
I'm willing to bet a real pro could fix it very well and you'd never know it was there.
Failing that, a new stock made by a friend, that fits you to a T...well, that's priceless. A shotgun stock is like a good rifle scope, that's why a lot of people advise you to spend more on glass than on the rifle. Same here--a good shotgun is worthless if it doesn't fit you so to me, assuming you start with something that will last, the relative cost of the gun vs the stock is irrelevant.
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Please consider our early successional habitats before not printing this email.
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Duece22
Group: MEMBER
Location: In the woods
Posts: 71
Joined: Sep. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2012,8:28 |
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Call Rizzini and get a stock. Have Del fit it. You are a good enough shooter that a few ounces won't matter. The gun has already built the nostalgia. It came with a Rizzini stock. Put another one on it and let the memories grow.
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JR
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