Archived Posts » 59,859,448
Just had my Trijicon night sights installed on my Colt aaaaaand...
11/1/2011 8:52:34 PM
...the front sight is definitely dead. I just ordered these brand new through a dealer. It can't be an issue with the sights. I even looked at them in low light in the packaging and they were definitely active. I'm looking to get some perspective on how to handle this.
The rear sights were installed and are glowing. They seem to show a little wear which leads me to believe there was a substantial amount of contact during the installation process. He destroyed the factory rear sight in the process - said it was in way too tight and had to cut it. The factory front sight, having been staked on, is pretty much useless now as well. I didn't really entertain the thought of holding onto the factory sights (with some weird intention of reinstalling them someday) so that's not really a big deal. The front sight being dead, after all that work and waiting almost two weeks from the time I dropped it off, is a big deal.
So, tomorrow I will be contacting both Trijicon and the gunsmith to see how this is going to be resolved and what is recommended. I really don't think that the third party dealer has any liability for what I believe is a gunsmith mistake. Trijicon doesn't have to warranty their product against improper installation which if I send them my slide (as I very well may have to) they are most certainly free to claim as the reason for the front sight not functioning. I understand they have a right to honor their warranty as they see fit and for all I know the gunsmith doesn't even warranty his work. I certainly didn't ask him if he did. This is the first time I've used him on a referral from another local dealer. I'm really not looking forward to this. Something tells me I'm going to be paying for a new front sight and installation.
The combination of third party dealer and local gunsmith just screams get fucked over to me. I'm leaning towards the notion of the gunsmith having to pay for a new Trijicon front sight and install it for me free of charge since the sight was most likely damaged during his installation. I'm just not very optimistic that the real outcome will resemble that notion.
Thoughts?
update 11/4: I got my RAN from Trijicon but there is a 5-6 week turnaround time for repairs & such. I'll be shipping it out tomorrow.
The rear sights were installed and are glowing. They seem to show a little wear which leads me to believe there was a substantial amount of contact during the installation process. He destroyed the factory rear sight in the process - said it was in way too tight and had to cut it. The factory front sight, having been staked on, is pretty much useless now as well. I didn't really entertain the thought of holding onto the factory sights (with some weird intention of reinstalling them someday) so that's not really a big deal. The front sight being dead, after all that work and waiting almost two weeks from the time I dropped it off, is a big deal.
So, tomorrow I will be contacting both Trijicon and the gunsmith to see how this is going to be resolved and what is recommended. I really don't think that the third party dealer has any liability for what I believe is a gunsmith mistake. Trijicon doesn't have to warranty their product against improper installation which if I send them my slide (as I very well may have to) they are most certainly free to claim as the reason for the front sight not functioning. I understand they have a right to honor their warranty as they see fit and for all I know the gunsmith doesn't even warranty his work. I certainly didn't ask him if he did. This is the first time I've used him on a referral from another local dealer. I'm really not looking forward to this. Something tells me I'm going to be paying for a new front sight and installation.
The combination of third party dealer and local gunsmith just screams get fucked over to me. I'm leaning towards the notion of the gunsmith having to pay for a new Trijicon front sight and install it for me free of charge since the sight was most likely damaged during his installation. I'm just not very optimistic that the real outcome will resemble that notion.
Thoughts?
update 11/4: I got my RAN from Trijicon but there is a 5-6 week turnaround time for repairs & such. I'll be shipping it out tomorrow.
11/1/2011 9:21:23 PM
Sounds to me like your smith fucked up. The old sites should have come out easily tapping from left to right. Then fit the new sites in tapping from right to left. If done properly with a delrin or brass punch, both the old sites and the new sites should have come through the fitting process unscathed.
Minor fitting would be required on the new sites to fit the dovetail. Easily achievable with a good set of jewelers files.
Minor fitting would be required on the new sites to fit the dovetail. Easily achievable with a good set of jewelers files.
11/1/2011 9:50:39 PM
The above poster got it right. That sux man, beware of hack gunsmiths.
11/1/2011 10:07:09 PM
I'm thinking that to be diplomatic about the situation I will go through the Trijicon warranty process first. If I let them determine it was smith error then that will lend credibility to my position. It's just going to be a long, shitty process. Even if Trijicon verifies that it was smith error that is no guarantee that the smith will take responsibility and replace the sight. 
11/1/2011 10:30:44 PM
Originally Posted By FP2000H:
I'm thinking that to be diplomatic about the situation I will go through the Trijicon warranty process first. If I let them determine it was smith error then that will lend credibility to my position. It's just going to be a long, shitty process. Even if Trijicon verifies that it was smith error that is no guarantee that the smith will take responsibility and replace the sight.
I'm thinking that to be diplomatic about the situation I will go through the Trijicon warranty process first. If I let them determine it was smith error then that will lend credibility to my position. It's just going to be a long, shitty process. Even if Trijicon verifies that it was smith error that is no guarantee that the smith will take responsibility and replace the sight.
Just so you know, Trijicon does expressly exclude installation damage from their otherwise bulletproof warranty.
They recommend against any kind of impact, instead wanting to use an appropriate sight pusher tool. Not sure how that works with a stake-on FS though.
11/1/2011 10:52:23 PM
Originally Posted By skywarp989:
Just so you know, Trijicon does expressly exclude installation damage from their otherwise bulletproof warranty.
They recommend against any kind of impact, instead wanting to use an appropriate sight pusher tool. Not sure how that works with a stake-on FS though.
Originally Posted By FP2000H:
I'm thinking that to be diplomatic about the situation I will go through the Trijicon warranty process first. If I let them determine it was smith error then that will lend credibility to my position. It's just going to be a long, shitty process. Even if Trijicon verifies that it was smith error that is no guarantee that the smith will take responsibility and replace the sight.
I'm thinking that to be diplomatic about the situation I will go through the Trijicon warranty process first. If I let them determine it was smith error then that will lend credibility to my position. It's just going to be a long, shitty process. Even if Trijicon verifies that it was smith error that is no guarantee that the smith will take responsibility and replace the sight.
Just so you know, Trijicon does expressly exclude installation damage from their otherwise bulletproof warranty.
They recommend against any kind of impact, instead wanting to use an appropriate sight pusher tool. Not sure how that works with a stake-on FS though.
I'm aware of the warranty exclusion. At least if I can get it officially from Trijicon that the condition of the sight was the result of the gunsmith's actions, it gives me ground to stand on when I ask for the smith to compensate me for a new sight.
edited to add: on second thought, since the front sight is already installed, it may be more cost-effective to look at having just the lamp replaced.
11/2/2011 2:58:45 PM
Well, I put in for a return authorization number from Trijicon to send them the slide.
I spoke to the gunsmith today who admitted no fault and said he was "interested in what they had to say" they being Trijicon of course. I told him I hoped that the warranty covered everything but did point out that the warranty excludes damage caused during installation. He made he comment that we should have checked the night sights prior to installing them. I reiterated that I had ordered them brand new and that they were working when I got them in. I said if the verdict was improper installation then I would have them replace the lamp and invoice me and then we would take it from there.
He said if he broke the sight during installation, it "would be a first." bases on the removal of the factory sights, I'd say he's just been lucky so far.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
I spoke to the gunsmith today who admitted no fault and said he was "interested in what they had to say" they being Trijicon of course. I told him I hoped that the warranty covered everything but did point out that the warranty excludes damage caused during installation. He made he comment that we should have checked the night sights prior to installing them. I reiterated that I had ordered them brand new and that they were working when I got them in. I said if the verdict was improper installation then I would have them replace the lamp and invoice me and then we would take it from there.
He said if he broke the sight during installation, it "would be a first." bases on the removal of the factory sights, I'd say he's just been lucky so far.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
11/16/2011 11:50:05 PM
UPDATE:
Well, I got lucky. Trijicon replaced the lamp in the front sight and had it back to me today. I was impressed to say the least at the turnaround after I'd been quoted 5-6 weeks. They also did it free of charge. That is what I call customer service.
Something tells me when I ask the smith to compensate me for the cost of shipping, he's going to try and weasel out of it. I plan on disputing the charge for the original gunsmithing work with Visa based on quality of service which they do.
Happy to have the Colt back in working order. The night sights look good with respect to profile and are 100% functional now. I can't wait to shoot it - maybe this weekend. We'll see how things work out with the smith. I'll update as it goes. Obligatory pics of night sights:
Well, I got lucky. Trijicon replaced the lamp in the front sight and had it back to me today. I was impressed to say the least at the turnaround after I'd been quoted 5-6 weeks. They also did it free of charge. That is what I call customer service.
Something tells me when I ask the smith to compensate me for the cost of shipping, he's going to try and weasel out of it. I plan on disputing the charge for the original gunsmithing work with Visa based on quality of service which they do.
Happy to have the Colt back in working order. The night sights look good with respect to profile and are 100% functional now. I can't wait to shoot it - maybe this weekend. We'll see how things work out with the smith. I'll update as it goes. Obligatory pics of night sights:
