vancelw wrote:
Unfortunately it can be installed....but if it's too low it's obviously not correct. There is ZERO elevation left.
I think that was his problem. I showed him exactly where it needed to be mounted and assumed he would also research to verify the location. Instead, I think he tried to make the base fit over the relief that is on the side of the Browning 1895s. He got it almost 1/2" too low.
Oh, so he was mounting the base upside down? On the sight I have, there dis a slight angle on the top of the backside of the base to fit over the top bevel on the receiver. He must have flipped the base to mount this lip over the edge of the scalloped part of the receiver?
vancelw wrote:After looking it over, a Providence sight might cover the erroneous holes, but I'd rather have the Williams FP installed correctly.
I'm leaning more towards having Turnbull weld them up, refinish the receiver, and D&T the proper holes.
I prefer the Pattern 21 sight because it is the nostalgically correct sight for this rifle. On the other hand, there is a reason that Lyman makes receiver sights for these rifles today, but has not made Model 21s or 38s for many decades.
I would lean toward a lyman receiver sight over the Williams, and would especially lean toward a vintage receiver sight from one of several manufacturers. They made them better years ago. Of course, that means mucking about on ebay or gunbroker looking for them.
There are a couple guys who are going to help me out with some projects that do really nice-looking work and are a bit less expensive than Turnbull, with quicker turn-around times. They do really beautiful bluing and case hardening. I can pull up some contact info if you like. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with Turnbull.
vancelw wrote:This so-called "gunsmith" can't understand why I don't want some kind of "southern engineering" to make the sight work. If the holes are in the correct place, a Williams or Lyman receiver sight will work properly, as well as a Burris Fastfire mount. (heaven forbid
)
I think the only reason my head hasn't exploded is that I am still in shock. This should have been Gunsmithing 101. It's like having an RN or paramedic that not only doesn't know how to take a a blood pressure, but doesn't really know why a BP is important
You would not believe the horrible work we see from gunsmiths. Continually people talk to me about finish jobs and ask if I can repair the work that their gunsmith just did, while I am refinishing.
I do some gunsmithing, other jobs I don't do. If I don't have the knowledge or skill, I am not going to learn it on your firearm. If I don't have the right equipment, I'm not going to come at your firearm with vice grips, sledgehammer, and hand grinder.
I often have to pay out of pocket for repairs to customer's firearms though I try to avoid it. In most cases, it is only a few dollars, and because I pull out a spring or a pin or something and it is all rusty and ugly, or a screw head was all buggered in the past, and I can't bear to put it back in that way, so I order a replacement. I don't like to charge customers for that kind of thing because too many people quote a job and then find ways to add cost to it. I don't want customers to think that is what I do. If I do find something bigger and more expensive to repair, I will have to go back to the customer and discuss the issue and costs.
Occasionally, I lose a small spring or pin or screw, and of course replace it. Once a customer sent an M1A to us and ordered a Smith Enterprises gas plug from a Smith dealer and had it shipped to us for installation. The dealer shipped a beat-up surplus gas plug and would not make it right, so we ordered one directly from Smith and ate the cost. I have not had any really big mistakes except one - we had a new dog that e were still training. The dog ended up being in a place she shouldn't with a customer's rifle within reach. She chewed the rifle. We bought our customer a new rifle and re-did the work that we had done on the new rifle.
Here are some solutions that seem reasonable to me:
The gunsmith could pay a competent smith to fill the holes professionally and reblue the receiver. I don't mean cold blue in one spot - the receiver should get a full reblue to be right.
The gunsmith could pay for the receiver to be professionally filled, and a non-factory finish done, like case hardening, for example. If case hardening costs more than a good, professional blueing job, then it would not be unreasonable for you to pay the difference, nor would it be unreasonable for the gunsmith to choose to pay the difference as a, "Sorry, I messed up your rifle and caused you aggravation and lost time.
The gunsmith could pay your costs for the project so far. In other words, if you purchase another rifle, have it rebored, and have the holes drilled, he can pay those costs and keep the rifle he messed up, or you can sell it yourself and he can pay the difference between what you recover and the replacement costs.
I may need some suggestions of quality gunsmiths who could do the work a little more reasonably priced.
Good thing I already had moulds or I'd be broke 
He REALLY SCREWED UP on that tap job. A blind man can see its way out of place. I have always like the Williams foolproof on my 95'sand 86's. The climbin Lyman just looks too big and bulky. But to be honest, I've never shot with one on a gun.