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DWF Meetup 2011
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Hosspower
Western PA

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April 30, 2011 - 7:50 am
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Support your local IHMSA range.

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Jody
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April 30, 2011 - 10:03 pm
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Guys next time we've got to do better at planning!

My cousin and I drove up to Pittsburgh yesterday and took at detour to Eric's shop in Richmond, OH where I got to meet Eric, SHOOT, and SHOOT's brother.  We arrived at Eric's shop shortly after 4:00PM and got the VIP tour.  Needless to say I was impressed, I saw machinery I didn't even know what it was.  I'm certainly looking forward to SHOOT's writeup.

We stood around and talked when someone looked at their watch and 3 hours had passed!  Seriously it seemed like we had only been there 30 minutes.  At this point we had to leave and head on to Pittsburgh to our hotel which was an hours further down the road.

This morning we got up and hit the gun show in Monroeville... I was unimpressed with the show.  I spoke to SHOOT  shortly after I left the show on the phone I told him I didn't see a single DW item when he informs me he had just picked up 3 rear sights!  mad  Just a word to the wise SHOOT and his brother are the masters a finding deals!

After the show we headed downtown to the NRA Show.  Huge is an understatement.  My cousin and I were there several hours and only saw a small portion of the show.  We did check out he DW booth where I got to inspect the new 715.  I actually liked it better than I though but still not $1200 worth.

After the show we headed on to Morgantown, WV to drop off my Ruger 44 Carbine for her to take out a few deer.  She's a liberal so I'm doing my part to enlighten her!

We'll be getting up early in the morning to head back to Virginia since there's a gun show at home.  Maybe since SHOOT isn't going to be at this one I might find something!

To sum up the weekend: the NRA show was something cool to see but I wouldn't drive back up here to go again however I would certainly come back up just to go to Eric's shop to visit with these guys again.  It was certainly the highlight of this trip!

 

 

 

 
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SHOOTIST357
Colorado Springs, CO

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May 1, 2011 - 8:01 am
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Wow--it's been a busy few days...hard to even figure out what to type laugh...

Let's start with EWK--all I can say is WOW !!!  Eric is just an amazing guy--he is truly an intellectual when it comes to designing gun parts, or building parts of any kind to keep the tooling up and running.

His shop has been a dream of mine for many years--Eric follows the true machinist philosophy of having the right tool for the job.  If he doesn't have it, he builds it.  His shop is well equipped for turning out shrouds--more on the process later...

I'm a closet machinist from many years ago, and I had a great time chatting with Eric about his shop.  He walked me through the process from ordering steel to the final bluing phase...  All I can tell you guys is "be patient"  it is a time consuming process and Eric is a one man shop.  He's always sold out for a reason--great product, awesome prices...

The machines are set up to turn out the "normal production model" -- anytime we request a change or modification, Eric needs to change setups, retool, etc just to make an initial trial model.  Many times this results in several revisions, adjustments, etc before the final product is perfected.  By the way--this is a "hands on operation" -- Nothing is fully automated, so every piece Eric turns out has been touched by his hands.  And NOTHING is released until is has been fully perfected.

I didn't try to figure out how many steps/operations a shroud goes through from start to finish (I'm sure Eric doesn't know either laugh)...let's just say it's more than any of us realize.

Bottom line is Eric makes a great product no matter what it is... sights, wrenches, barrels, etc.  I have bought all of them over time, and have never had any issues.  I see great things in Eric's future, and Hopefully the DWF brothers will contribute to that future.

Eric--thanks for all you do !!!!  Now get back to work whipping

SHOOT

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Charger Fan
Northern Utah

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May 1, 2011 - 11:00 am
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Thanks for the insight into Eric's operation. I just received a package from Eric a few days ago, with some of the pieces still wearing fresh machine oil.laugh

You're absolutely right, the parts he makes are absolutely top notch! As I fondle each new EWK item I receive, I can't help but say to myself "this is really good quality stuff". I've got nothing but positive things to say about Eric's products & am SO glad he chose to join our group, and commit to manufacturing some desperately needed items!occasion 

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mox-ct
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May 1, 2011 - 4:54 pm
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Yes, I second those comments.  I'm not a perfectionists, but being a nuclear inspector I see lots of stuff, especially machined parts.  The parts I received from Eric are top of the pile in quality.  In fact, the fit of the sight in the 6" shroud surprised me when I tried to change it to the fiber optic sight.  The set screw actually fit the original DW tool and came out flawlessly and the sight was tight in the slot but not so tight that there were galling marks.  Now that's a good fit.  Oh yah, there was fresh oil in the slot too so it wouldn't rust up over time!!!  Nice detail.  I was also surprised but not really by the very good fit of the threaded portions of the barrel also.  You know, I kinda expected it with all the good comments I've been hearing about EWK, but I am also still happy to see it for myself.  On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, I would rate it a 10 for quality, and that includes service and shipping.  BTW, Eric saved me $3 on the shipping too! big-grin

Happyness is a Hot DW and a pile of used brass!!! Rich

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Charger Fan
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May 1, 2011 - 9:32 pm
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Shipping can vary from day to day & month to month…just look at the friggin' variation in gas prices lately. It's no wonder that shipping prices can vary now & then. Shipping costs are a crap-shoot these days…and as such, Eric shouldn't be held to any solid standard.

That's my unbiased & "fair market" opinion this month.  If you'd like more solidarity to that estimate, vote your conscience in 2012…wink Yep, folks…we are truly looking at a major fork in the road, very soon. Vote your conscience!!

 

Now  back to your regularly programmed dwf-sign broadcast. big-grin

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EWK_Stuff
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May 1, 2011 - 11:34 pm
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Wow, thanks for the kind words guys! embarassed laugh

Sorry today wasn't good for me, as you can see, just getting around to some DWF time!

Jody is right, we have to do some better planning the next time! It was an awesome time at the meet up, and my only regret is that more of us couldn't be here! It was really cool to meet Shoot and Jody in real life! Talk about great guys! But didn't we already know that??!!  laugh

 

Eric

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DakotaJack
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May 4, 2011 - 7:03 am
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Were there any comments out of the CZ booth about the revolver?  Any cool-pics?

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SHOOTIST357
Colorado Springs, CO

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May 4, 2011 - 7:17 am
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Were there any comments out of the CZ booth about the revolver?  

I didn't get too many comments out of them--seemed like were more into the CZ side of the house.  I did pick up the new 715...not much to say, it is a slightly different design of what we already have.  I think the machining could have been a little better, but we'll see how final production looks.

I did inquire into the PM9, and from what I could tell, it may be making a comeback in 2011--I just wonder what the price will be.

SHOOT

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DakotaJack
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May 4, 2011 - 8:30 am
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I mentioned it to them at the Vegas show about the finish on the 715.  That gun they have on display is just a mock-up (the cylinder stop is tig welded on) and they stated that the surface finished will be better in production.  At the price they are asking it better be perfect but I doubt even then it will sell the gun.  In my last communication with the factory I suggested to cut the production on the .357 in half and finish the remaining half in .22 or .22 mag. but I didn't receive any response. 

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photohause
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May 4, 2011 - 6:01 pm
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Nice to hear you fellows had a meet and greet.  Great to hear Eric has a wonder shop going there - I'm very impressed.

Regards-Photo

 If you're going to drink, don't drive. Don't even putt. 

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Jody
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May 4, 2011 - 10:15 pm
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Personally I don't think everything is adding up on the comeback of the new revolver.  The finish work could have been better on the example I looked at.

Harly, obviously they aren't going to listen to your suggestion because it makes to much sense!  I have tried to remain positive about the comeback but unfortunately they aren't giving us much to be excited about.

 

 
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