Fusion Firearms barrel saga!

The story so far:

In Feb. I bought this barrel from Fusion for a project:



I didn’t start on the project until around April. I quickly discovered that they had made the hole for the link pin .010 too small in diameter. No way a standard pin would fit. I called and talked to their gunsmithing dept. and then the sales dept. They sent me a return label. I returned the barrel and about a week later received the replacement. This one came with a link pin installed. Once again I had to put it aside until a couple of days ago. I started to work on my project and discovered that this one has a major problem too.

Either the pin was oversized or the hole undersized. Whoever installed it forced it in because it will not come out. It was obviously pounded in and is jammed tight. Even soaking it in Kroil and moderate tapping with a pin punch does not move it even a hair. It makes me suspicious that it might be the original barrel and they just hammered the pin in and think I’m an amateur that wouldn’t notice.

I tried calling the number on their website, 941-485-2679 but got a recording that the number was disconnected.

I then emailed the guy in the gunsmithing dept. that I had dealt with before. So far no answer. I went back to the website and filled out their contact form. I got the automatic email acknowledging the form. Waiting for an actual reply.

Terry

No response today. Maybe tomorrow.

Terry

Never heard anything good about them but lots of negativity and horror stories on different Facebook groups

Never heard anything good about them but lots of negativity and horror stories on different Facebook groups

I'm also a member of the 1911 forum. I've posted this in the Fusion Firearms sub forum there. Hoping someone from Fusion sees it as well as reactions from other members.

Terry

Never heard anything good about them but lots of negativity and horror stories on different Facebook groups

I'm also a member of the 1911 forum. I've posted this in the Fusion Firearms sub forum there. Hoping someone from Fusion sees it as well as reactions from other members.

Terry

Hopefully they get back to you & fix the problem in a timely manner

Never heard anything good about them but lots of negativity and horror stories on different Facebook groups

I'm also a member of the 1911 forum. I've posted this in the Fusion Firearms sub forum there. Hoping someone from Fusion sees it as well as reactions from other members.

Terry

Hopefully they get back to you & fix the problem in a timely manner

Today is day 3. Timely manner passed 2 days ago.

Terry

I got a response today. This is the response:

Hello Sir,

They are press punched in all you need to do if you want to remove it is punch it out from right to left so if you have it up on your gunsmithing block make sure the engraving is facing up and punch down it should come out. If you need the hole reamed out on both sides just let me know you can send it back and we can ream both holes.

Thanks again let me know if you need anything else
Tyler Serva
Fusion Firearms



This is my reply:

I’m afraid not. I already tried it from both sides, the right side first, and it will not move at all.

Lest you think that I’m just a dumb amateur, I worked for a master gunsmith in Virginia for a year in the late 80s when I got out of the Navy while waiting for my wife’s enlistment to end. I then attended Trinidad Gunsmithing school. I know how to install and remove a link pin in a 1911 barrel. A link pin should not be this tight. I should not have to be gunsmithing this barrel just to install a link pin. The description of this barrel is:

“Designed for easy drop-in installation for hassle-free use”

So far the 2 you have sent me have been anything but. The 2 barrels you’ve sent me so far have not been what I paid for. I’m willing to give y’all one more chance. Send me a return label like last time and I will send it back. Please inspect the next replacement and make sure it is completely in spec and that a standard link pin will fit in and out as it should. I’m not asking for a pin as I have my own.

Thank you for responding to me and handling my problems personally!

Terry

Now we wait. I do believe that they will do the right thing.

Hummmmmmm

I got a response today. This is the response:

Hello Sir,

They are press punched in all you need to do if you want to remove it is punch it out from right to left so if you have it up on your gunsmithing block make sure the engraving is facing up and punch down it should come out. If you need the hole reamed out on both sides just let me know you can send it back and we can ream both holes.

Thanks again let me know if you need anything else
Tyler Serva
Fusion Firearms



This is my reply:

I’m afraid not. I already tried it from both sides, the right side first, and it will not move at all.

Lest you think that I’m just a dumb amateur, I worked for a master gunsmith in Virginia for a year in the late 80s when I got out of the Navy while waiting for my wife’s enlistment to end. I then attended Trinidad Gunsmithing school. I know how to install and remove a link pin in a 1911 barrel. A link pin should not be this tight. I should not have to be gunsmithing this barrel just to install a link pin. The description of this barrel is:

“Designed for easy drop-in installation for hassle-free use”

So far the 2 you have sent me have been anything but. The 2 barrels you’ve sent me so far have not been what I paid for. I’m willing to give y’all one more chance. Send me a return label like last time and I will send it back. Please inspect the next replacement and make sure it is completely in spec and that a standard link pin will fit in and out as it should. I’m not asking for a pin as I have my own.

Thank you for responding to me and handling my problems personally!

Terry

Now we wait. I do believe that they will do the right thing.

I don’t like his tone- sounds condescending and smarmy. I hope they make it right. Perhaps faced with someone who actually knows, they will be more careful.

I got a response today. This is the response:

Hello Sir,

They are press punched in all you need to do if you want to remove it is punch it out from right to left so if you have it up on your gunsmithing block make sure the engraving is facing up and punch down it should come out. If you need the hole reamed out on both sides just let me know you can send it back and we can ream both holes.

Thanks again let me know if you need anything else
Tyler Serva
Fusion Firearms



This is my reply:

I’m afraid not. I already tried it from both sides, the right side first, and it will not move at all.

Lest you think that I’m just a dumb amateur, I worked for a master gunsmith in Virginia for a year in the late 80s when I got out of the Navy while waiting for my wife’s enlistment to end. I then attended Trinidad Gunsmithing school. I know how to install and remove a link pin in a 1911 barrel. A link pin should not be this tight. I should not have to be gunsmithing this barrel just to install a link pin. The description of this barrel is:

“Designed for easy drop-in installation for hassle-free use”

So far the 2 you have sent me have been anything but. The 2 barrels you’ve sent me so far have not been what I paid for. I’m willing to give y’all one more chance. Send me a return label like last time and I will send it back. Please inspect the next replacement and make sure it is completely in spec and that a standard link pin will fit in and out as it should. I’m not asking for a pin as I have my own.

Thank you for responding to me and handling my problems personally!

Terry

Now we wait. I do believe that they will do the right thing.

I don’t like his tone- sounds condescending and smarmy. I hope they make it right. Perhaps faced with someone who actually knows, they will be more careful.

Funny you should say that. Someone on the 1911 forum thought I was the condescending one. This was my reply:
I felt that telling me to do the obvious, which I had already told him I had done, was pretty condescending.

Another guy thought I was being "cranky." when I explained that I was not a dumb amateur. My reply:

I wasn't being cranky. I was giving him information that he did not have so as not to waste his time or mine telling me basics like how to remove a link pin.

Terry