Gene`s Gunsmithing, Lockport, Manitoba

cz52

cz52

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
272   0   0
Location
In the Dark Crown Vic parked outside
I've called Gene's Gunsmithing in Lockport MB today, to inquire about checking a handgun(Tokarev), after I was put on hold a couple times(because the person answering the phone was talking to the gunsmith himself instead of passing him the phone)the reply was: "I don't even know where you got one of those guns here in Canada, I don't even think they are legal, and Gene has never worked on one before, so he won't do it". So I proceded in asking if I could get the name of another gunsmith that deals with handguns, the answer was: "no, I don't know anyone around here who would know anything about those guns". I did say that I can get whatever parts needed. It's as if the guy was programmed to say NO. So much for helpful or curteous:mad:
Well, I do appreciate the fact they didn't hang up on me so that was a bonus:rolleyes: Rude and Lazy just about sums it up.:mad:
 
Last edited:
If you've even been to Gene's you would know why he isn't interested. I'm not defending the "I don't care atitude" but I understand it coming from him. The guy runs a gunsmith out of the garage in his back yard. Never advertises because he always has more work then he needs. I'm sure his business has been running fomr 30+ years.

Being the only smith in town does have some advantages. On the otherhand if someone wanted to open a place they could easilly grab the pistol crowd and and anyone who didn't want to drive down a back road in Lockport.

that my 2 cents.

-p
 
If it's a repair, you'd probably be better off getting a new one for $150...but I haven't heard of "pimped Tokarevs"....enlighten us.
 
Call Jacob Henteloff @ 453.3072, he has recently relocated to Headlingly and will certainly be able to help you out.
 
The reaction you got from them is strange. I have delt with him before and most of my friends deal with him exclusively as well, and have yet to have a problem. :confused: :confused: :confused: GUess it could have been one of "those" days.:rolleyes:
 
I've never met Gene but I know several people who do know him. I was told he had some serious health issues recently and has just returned to his business, so I'm sure he has a backlog of work. Yes he is a bit in the boonies but here we all drive in the boonies.
 
rxpat762 said:
Call Jacob Henteloff @ 453.3072, he has recently relocated to Headlingly and will certainly be able to help you out.
Click to expand...

Locally this would be your best option.

As some have said, Gene's Gunsmithing is not a pistol shop. and he has a hard time keeping up with the rifles & shot guns.
 
Can anyone recommend another good shop maybe in winnipeg or within 15-20 minutes of wpg:confused: . Idon't mind the dive as long as the gunsmith does a decent job.
 
RR said:
So what,s your point? He isn't a pistolsmith,doesn't want to be one and has no interest in them Big deal.
Rich
Click to expand...
Did you actually read my entire post?
First of all...when is the last time you took your car to the mechanic and he said..."I don't wanna do it"
Let's say no big deal, he's not familiar with these so he'd rather not do it, OK no problem, but then he would do the curteous thing and refer me to another gunsmith, because when you are in bussines for over 20 years, you would know a gunsmith or two, who are knowledgeble of handguns. Same thing at the mechanic, if you have transmission problems, the radiator guy will likely send you to a transmission shop; get my drift? Just a recomendation would have been enough... On top of that, I am told that my gun is illegal:rolleyes:
 
pontcanna said:
If it's a repair, you'd probably be better off getting a new one for $150...but I haven't heard of "pimped Tokarevs"....enlighten us.
Click to expand...
So here's the story...it is a Romanian Tokarev(1953), marked EXERCITIU; it appears these were modified to make them unable to fire, as they were used for display and practice purposes, in training officers. Even if I install a firing pin myself I am not sure if it's safe to fire...so the cautious thing is to see a gunsmith first. This handgun is not a $150 Norinco, but it's quite a rare piece, not too common in Canada, nor here on CGN. If someone has another one, please let me know;)
 
cz52 said:
Let's say no big deal, he's not familiar with these so he'd rather not do it, OK no problem, but then he would do the curteous thing and refer me to another gunsmith, because when you are in bussines for over 20 years, you would know a gunsmith or two, who are knowledgeble of handguns.
Click to expand...

After graduating from a two year course in gunsmithing I have been working as a gunsmith since 1967.

In almost 40 years of gunsmithing I have never seen a Tokarev. I have worked on numerous other pistols. Not all gunsmiths are licensed for restricted, not all are licensed for prohibs, not all are licensed for full autos... no one is familiar with every oddity made. I don't know of a gunsmith I could say for sure is familiar with your Tokarev. I know of one collector who is.

If what you state in your first post is true, you should have directed your comments to him rather on the internet. It is quite unfair to post one side of a negative story. You make conclusions with no knowledge of what actually was going on in the shop on the other end of the phone.
 
guntech has a point. I had a gunsmithing licence for over 20 years, non-restricted, restricted, and prohibited endorsements, and IIRC the only Tokarev in the shop was a Polish "Sportowy" .22, and that is one that I sold.
I had far more folks walk through the door whose business I didn't want, and to whom I would not have sold a gun.
Exactly what do you expect a gunsmith to tell you about your Tokarev? Do you expect him to check the metallurgy, gauge tolerances, try to find out exactly what the Romanians did to it, apart from the obvious? Order a 7.62x25 heaqdspace gauge set? There are going to be very few shops with a set of these. I cannot see that there is any way that the smith could tell you in good conscience that the pistol is safe to fire. A new firing pin could be easily installed, and the pistol test fired, but there is no way that a smith could definitively say that it is OK. "Didn't blow up when I fired it" is about the limit.
Perhaps the shop could have been more helpful, or even polite; but your post on the 'net is out of line.
 
guntech said:
After graduating from a two year course in gunsmithing I have been working as a gunsmith since 1967.

In almost 40 years of gunsmithing I have never seen a Tokarev. I have worked on numerous other pistols. Not all gunsmiths are licensed for restricted, not all are licensed for prohibs, not all are licensed for full autos... no one is familiar with every oddity made. I don't know of a gunsmith I could say for sure is familiar with your Tokarev. I know of one collector who is.

If what you state in your first post is true, you should have directed your comments to him rather on the internet. It is quite unfair to post one side of a negative story. You make conclusions with no knowledge of what actually was going on in the shop on the other end of the phone.
Click to expand...

I never said Gene's Gunsmith is does not know what they are doing; but I DID say that they don't care much about being curteous or trying to be helpful; or at least they didn't two days ago.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom