Hi to all, well the title pretty much sets the pace on what I'm about to relay to you about reproducing quality parts! I've made quite a few items over the years, and also had quite a few made by reverse engineering and having a print to send out to a job shop! Fortunatly, the quality has been good, and even great some times! About 10 or so years ago, I reverse engineered and drew up a print for fxo Bakelite bottoms and sent it away to one of the leading plastic molding companies in the country who shall remain nameless! I had a hell of a time with them as the ruined order after order (1000 pieces at a shot!) we had to revise the mold several times, and still had issues.. I ended up with about 500 parts to sell and they were good and well received... Im my way of looking at their production, I didn't make a repro part, I made a replacement part! With all the Luger quality i could squeeze into it... Well, that brings me almost up to current. about two years ago, I asked them to further revise the mold and run some samples for a tentitive quantity order. it took two months for them to prepare the mold and run samples, excellent results, twice the price, and a small quantity, Lugerdoc has them instock just waiting for the retaining rivets that are currently being blued. If you're ever going to stick a few away, better get ahold of Tom and stick some away because, I don't think they will run anymore for me in the future, and I'm 70 so do the math... not too much of a chance for future runs... But, always inqusitive, I inquired about making Mauser black Bakelite grip sets and the reply was, in order to have them start a new project, you have to be able to generate $250K annually with the company for a floor minimum? Then they will look at your project, but it is still not a sure thing... Dosen't matter, I'm about $249K short at the moment! Probably should have skipped that last beer? Anyway, I'm down, but not out. I need to find a struggling Bakelite shop and retry... who knows... best to all, til....lat'r....GT
