More USPS fiascos

[marlinman93]

Got word from Al Springer my Ballard #3F Fine Gallery was done and headed back to me Monday.
The Ballard left Al's and showed arriving in Billings, Mt., then nothing more all week. Yesterday the tracking number simply came up as "not valid" and I feared the Ballard was stolen. Called Al and he said it still worked for him, but for some reason his PO gal gave him a 2nd different number and said because of the high insurance value the first wouldn't work. I tried the 2nd number and it too said not valid?
So I didn't sleep well last night knowing the 3F I've owned for several decades might be stolen now. Then checked the original tracking number again this morning and suddenly it worked and showed "out for delivery" today! What the heck?
I wont feel comfortable until our postman actually hands it to me, but seems it might be here today after being sort of lost all week! I just don't know why USPS is so screwed up in recent years? It seems it's just gone from great to poor, to horrible fast! At this rate it should be defunct within the next year or two.

[Grizz]

I just don't know why USPS is so screwed up in recent years? It seems it's just gone from great to poor, to horrible fast! At this rate it should be defunct within the next year or two.

.............................................D E I

[Bill in Oregon]

Vall, I hope your rifle arrives safe and sound today. I bought a rifle from a fellow in Pueblo, CO, and he shipped it Feb. 20. It arrived in Denver the 21st, left there the 22nd and fell off the radar under “arriving late at the next destination.” Showed up at my FFL on the 28th.

[jeepnik]

Define recent years. The USPS has been going downhill since the 90's. Attempts to automate, centralize and eliminate personnel have all taken their toll. Add to this the lowering of hiring standards and, let's face it, a greater criminality in the workforce have also played a major role.

[marlinman93]

Define recent years. The USPS has been going downhill since the 90's. Attempts to automate, centralize and eliminate personnel have all taken their toll. Add to this the lowering of hiring standards and, let's face it, a greater criminality in the workforce have also played a major role.

Well I had no problems with USPS for many decades, and they were my #1 choice until about 10 years ago when packages began to be damaged, misdirected, stolen, or just did trips around the US before finally getting to me. My last antique powder measure did what USPS called "looping" making 5 trips back and forth from Ohio to Portland until it finally got delivered.

But there's good news this time!
It's here! Al does the finest work and hos packing is equally fine work! This whole box was maybe 30" long with two barrels, the receiver, breech blocks and misc. parts. Maybe 2.25" thick and 5" wide, and packed inside like it was jewelry being sent.



My helper checked the packing and approved.


Dark spots are just oil that stuck to packing and will wipe right off.



C. Sharps even stamped the barrel for cartridge. .22 Match chamber.


Screwed the barrel in a little just to see it. Love the big fat barrel!


I'll get started finishing the forearm, and drill and tap the barrel for the forearm screw once it's fitted. Then a few days of finishing the forearm before it goes together.

[black river smith]

That man uses the RIGHT container material for a shipping package. I will remember that the next time I go to ship something, important.

Weight is less important than - safety or lost through container breakage -, these days.

Glad you received you item this time around. I have seen and read your earlier postings through the years, about late or lost item.

PS. I would have purchased that Marlin 1881, you finally sold, if you would have listed it here. But, I totally understand your hesitations about shipping, nowadays. I even hesitate buying off of Ebay for the exact same reasons you stated above and that is a real shame. UPS delivery is iffy.

[bgmkithaca]

I made a wooden container for shipping a double barrel shotgun thinking that it would be bullet proof-WRONG! It got demolished in Omaha and they never settled up on it. Said it was not their fault. Must have ran over it with something heavy.

[marlinman93]

I made a wooden container for shipping a double barrel shotgun thinking that it would be bullet proof-WRONG! It got demolished in Omaha and they never settled up on it. Said it was not their fault. Must have ran over it with something heavy.

Many years ago a similar thing caused me to never used FedEx ever again!
I did a trade with a guy in Virginia of two rifles I owned for one factory engraved Ballard he owned. Both of my guns were very nice; a pistol gripped 1881 Marin in .38-55, and a like new Rolling Block Sporter in .40-65 Win. I built custom crates similar to what Al did on this Ballard, and added support blocks inside to keep the guns from shifting. I also put each rifle in a padded gun sock prior to sealing the cases.
When he got the two rifles he called to tell me both guns were hanging out the ends of the boxes, and one box had a big boot print on it! He said the 1881 was saved by the sock and no issues. The Rolling Block had a cracked stock, but he said he'd fix it and not hassle with FedEx insurance claims. So I swore off FedEx after their rough handling and abuse.
Funny ending to this story. I had built that Rolling Block, and immediately regretted trading it off. The buyer trade it again to someone I knew, and he then sold it to someone else I knew! I saw it again at one of our long range shoots and told him if he ever sold it I wanted a chance to buy it first! About 4 years later he brought it to another match and I bought it back!

[Pat C]

I couldn't tell you how many times I've bought guns and when they came were loose inside cardboard box no padding or any effort to protect.

I however have shipped many as far as Alaska no issues .
Wrapped in VCI paper , padding , double boxed . Meaning box inside a box . With stripes cut for edge strength.

[marlinman93]

Had quite the battle with the 3F today! Seems C. Sharps didn't quite finish fitting the barrel as the sliding 2 piece extractors usually fall into their hole and this one had to be tapped into the hole in my new barrel! I had to remove the barrel back off the action and use a drill bit spun with my fingers to clean out burrs, then dress the hole with a jeweler's file and it finally slide in with just light resistance. Then I had to file the bevel at 6 0'clock below the barrel breech to clearance the breech block as it rises.
After that I assembled the barrel and action again, and when I tried to close the lever it locked up! I removed the extractor and tried again, but same issue. I figured the tang was not screwed back in the right number of turns, so backed it off one turn, but same thing again. Tried two turns, and all sorts of variations and still the lever wouldn't close and action locked up. I slid the buttstock on and it wouldn't seat against the receiver, so I turned it in until it did and it almost wanted to close. Used a screwdriver through the tang hole to give the block an assist and it closed!
Took it back apart and cleaned inside the receiver, and put a little lithium grease on the back of the tang, and it closed, but only if I snapped the lever shut. I snapped it shut a dozen times and suddenly it began working when operated slowly? Still not sure what was going on as I've never run into this on any Ballard before?
Got the forearm shaped down, but couldn't take it down like a factory forearm because of the larger barrel. So I left more wood on the forearm to make it stronger as it would have been paper thin at the sides if I worked it down to the receiver width. It is receiver width where it meets, but I made it sort of rounded down to size so it's stronger.
Need to begin applying some N35 reddish tint, and then my Wipe On Poly wet sanded until it matches the buttstock. Probably take me a week of applying finish and wet sanding to get the rest done!







Got my NOS original Ballard Vernier tang sight with Merit aperture, and wind gauge spirit level front globe on it. Been saving these for the right project for awhile!

[Bill in Oregon]

Oh what a dandy you will have when complete, Vall!
Is No. 35 red akin to alkanet root???

[marlinman93]

Oh what a dandy you will have when complete, Vall!
Is No. 35 red akin to alkanet root???

Not No. 35, but N35. I'm unsure what the guys who made it used? It was two fellas in Idaho who made and sold it as Tapadera's Winchester Red N35. I think one or both of them passed away, and it became extinct. For years I couldn't find any and then last year at the Colorado Gun Collectors Show a guy had found a dozen NOS bottles somewhere. He sold out within 30 minutes, and I was lucky to find a bottle. I would like to know what the base formula is as I'd like to dilute it sometimes as it's really concentrated and easy to go too red!

I plan to do more work on this forearm first. It needs some more bulk taken off, and I think I'll shorten it maybe 1"-1.5" also as it's not quite balanced with the 27" barrel and appears a bit long and bulky to my eye.

[Pat C]

I remember seeing it but never tried it. Really didn't see a need as John Kay's recipe was from old time Winchester factory worker that worked in custom shop.

John retired but sold the recipe and is currently available.

Phil Pilkington red brown classic was my other go to and it is also gone.

[marlinman93]

Brownells sells something called French Red that's supposed to be close also.
This morning I found an old post from right here on this forum where someone mentioned N-35 and said it was alcohol based, so should be easy to thin for my project.

I decided to take a lot of extra wood off the forearm today. Cut it 1.5" shorter, then planed it down to close to the receiver, and finished getting it down with 80 grit. I'll do final sanding after I D&T the barrel for the forearm screw. Looks much better without all the extra wood on it.

[Pat C]

That would be Herters from Arts Gun Shop . I used it back in 90's it's an oil based stain with pore fillers added. It did fine but as stated I tried most and always came back to John Kay's Winchester Red oil .

[marlinman93]

That would be Herters from Arts Gun Shop . I used it back in 90's it's an oil based stain with pore fillers added. It did fine but as stated I tried most and always came back to John Kay's Winchester Red oil .

Yes. I was a bit surprised to see them using the Herters name. I knew Cabelas uses it, so I guess it's free for anyone to use now.