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Posted: 4/23/2014 11:55:30 AM EDT
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I sent in a lower for engraving to Ident Marking back in the beginning of March. I was told they had a 4 week turnaround but I still haven't heard anything from them. I just called to see what was up. No one answered, but their voicemail message said something to the effect..."It's April 4th, we're at a show, leave a number and we'll call you back." The April 4th part has me a bit concerned seeing as how it's now the 23rd. I've read nothing but good reviews on these guys.
Anyone have any insight or know anything about these guys? |
| Be patient, they're backed up due to everyone making SBR's. I called last and they told me expect 6-8 weeks....but if I had to guess it'll be probably longer...you'll get a tracking number when it's done. The wait will be worth it...use the time to plan another build! |
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Ident's turnaround is insane right now.
I highly suggest people look into Gray Laser Engraving in Texas. I used Ident in the past, but didn't want to deal with the wait this go around. I sent two lowers to Gray Laser Engraving about 3 weeks ago. They received my lowers on a Wednesday, and already had them engraved, and on their way back to me the very next day. They can engrave inside the trigger guard as well, and the work is every bit as impeccable as Ident's. Not to mention they are a pleasure to deal with over the phone if you have any questions. |
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Ident received my lowers on March 11. I called Monday and asked for a status update. They said they expected to get to mine by the end of this week or early next week. So after that and shipping time, expect close to a 2 month turnaround.
If you are in a hurry, you may want to go somewhere else. |
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I agree with AR-Ryan.
I sent two tubes (form 1 supressors) to be engraved by Bill Gray Monday, arrived Wednesday. I had to call him today to change something. He said they'd be headed back my way Friday at the latest... I was happy with the work he did for me on a SBR lower last year. |
use Gray or Orion. Gray is the fastest in my opinion. I have used all three. Used Ident last time and they had my lowers over 2 months. I even spoke to them the day before they shipped and was quoted 2-3 weeks. Called a couple of times and was given every reason under the bus why they were not done. Was lied to a total of 4 times on the time frame. If I had to use Ident again I will just use a dremel  I should of just used Gray again, that is who I used the time before last and I had a week turnaround from mailing to getting them back and that was the week before one of the shot shows. I only tried Ident because everybody praises them so much, not again for me
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| One other option I've used (had six engraved by six different places) is user CS223 here. He has a shop in FL, and usually engraves on Sundays. So, if you ship it to arrive by Fri, it's on it's way back Mon morning. Very satisfied with the one he did for me. I had one done by Ident, but haven't used Gray or Orion so far...will try them if/when I file more F1s. |
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Got a call back, said they should get to it early next week sometime. Thanks for all the replies, might have to look elsewhere next time That's the same thing they said to me about my lowers that were also sent in early March. So ours should be right next to each others. Lower buddies!
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Bill at Gray Laser Engraving is top notch. I sent 3 lowers on a Friday. They received it Monday morning and I got an invoice the same afternoon. I was totally shocked at the turnaround time. Bill said that I got lucky because they were experiencing a storm and could not do engravings that took a lot of time so all my lowers went in front of the line.
The work he did exactly how I wanted it. On my forged lower, he engraved it under the trigger guard. On my billet lowers, he engraved it on the trigger guard itself. You cannot beat the turnaround and the customer service. Cannot wait to send my suppressors to Gray when they get out of jail. 
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I keep posting this when topics like this come up. Most likely there's a local shop that can do excellent work, Ident is not the only engraver in that knows what their doing.
Had this done locally after asking my HTF for a local engraver. Dropped it off at lunch, picked it up next day at lunch. I couldn't be happier! 
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Another member here, SeanTX, who works with me, got his lower back and the engraving was crooked. You're stuck with it at that point. That was after a 5-6 week wait. No more Ident Marking for me. If you live near them they do walk-ins on Thursdays IIRC. |
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how do i contact Gray ? thanks [email protected] 210-877-2400 Got a call from him today. My tubes that got there yesterday were mailed back today. 1 day turnaround. |
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I tried emailing Gray a couple times a month or so ago and they still haven't replied to me. I ended up just walking in and out at Ident with my engraving done. I get the idea Gray is more of a phone shop. I've called them three different times on three different afternoons. I always reached someone, and they were always happy to answer any and all questions I had. I rarely go out of my way to recommended companies, but Gray Engraving is as good of a company as I've ever dealt with in this entire industry. |
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It's much smaller than I thought it would be...I would take pictures, but my potato can not get close enough to get a good clear picture. That was my first thought. Quality job, but much smaller than I expected. Mainly because the first one I got done was by a dealer that added my info when they added their roll mark to the lower and it's HUGE. Last name is only 6 letters, and they didn't even get HHHHHH Living Trust on one line, but put TRUST on a separate line. It was done before the anodizing, so it looks better than any of the rest...other than the huge font. I can post a pic tomorrow for your entertainment. I snapped a couple of mine...and I'll assume yours looks similar. 
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I got my lowers back today from Ident. From mailbox to mailbox was 1 month, 24 days. It's much smaller than I thought it would be...I would take pictures, but my potato can not get close enough to get a good clear picture. They must have still been tooled up from doing mine under the trigger
Pretty small font when they do it under there |
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ETA: Big W, is your mag button on backwards?  Never really thought about it. I used the guides from Brownells when I built the lowers, and it didn't specify. Neither did the guide I looked at here. Guess I assumed (incorrectly) the grooves were there to catch the spring, instead of to provide a gripping surface. It installs either way with no problem, and they've all functioned just fine. Guess I know what I'm doing for the next hour...reversing a dozen mag release buttons.
And just for comparison to the Ident engraving...here's the first one I ever got back, where the manufacturer did it at no charge before they anodized the lower. 
They also marked one PISTOL for me (yes, I'm well aware it's not required, just thought it may save some headache with LEO one day): 
(And notice I'm consistent with the mag releases  )
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I get the idea Gray is more of a phone shop. I've called them three different times on three different afternoons. I always reached someone, and they were always happy to answer any and all questions I had. I rarely go out of my way to recommended companies, but Gray Engraving is as good of a company as I've ever dealt with in this entire industry. Quoted:
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I tried emailing Gray a couple times a month or so ago and they still haven't replied to me. I ended up just walking in and out at Ident with my engraving done. I get the idea Gray is more of a phone shop. I've called them three different times on three different afternoons. I always reached someone, and they were always happy to answer any and all questions I had. I rarely go out of my way to recommended companies, but Gray Engraving is as good of a company as I've ever dealt with in this entire industry. He is really great at the phone call aspect, and not so much at the email, partly because he receives so many bullshit emails asking quotes and such( he'd rather work than spend the day answering the same question that is already addressed on his website). His turn around is phenomenal, especially if you're physically there.
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