Bill Calfee Experience

W

walnutgrover

Guest
I was fortunate enough to purchase a Calfee Turbo from a gentleman that had waited for 4 years to receive it, but once he did, he was unable to shoot it due to health reasons. As in a lot of the Calfee guns, they have the initials of the owner on the receiver. What I was after was a way to remove these without jeopardizing the integrity and appearance of the gun. I searched and talked with a lot of helpful individuals, but still didn’t have what I wanted. On this forum, I met a friend of Mr. Calfee’s who helped me make the contact, get the work quoted and set it up to be done. I packed the gun and sent to Mr. Calfee and the work was completed, packed up and shipped back to me the same day that he had received it! Once it had been shipped, Mr. Calfee called me and very humbily discussed my gun in detail and also patiently answered all of my questions which were quite a few. As a bonus, not only was the requested work performed, but also an extra feature added at no additional cost. The cost of my work was only minimal, but I feel that I was treated no differently, than if I had just purchased a custom spec gun. Mr. Calfee asked me to let him know when I received the gun and I called and left a message. About ½ hour later he called and talked to me for about 1 hour. He gave me many more suggestions on how to make the gun shoot and again answered my many questions. He didn’t talk about himself, but mainly about his clients and friends that he had made over the years. I asked him about the recent post from Warren McFarland’s son and he told several stories about a man that he admired very much.

I read the forum maybe 1-2 times a day and see Mr. Calfee’s name mentioned a lot. That would not happen or continue, if there was not something to his final end product. The forum has many individual’s opinions and that’s what makes it so good….but, kind of like the media, you have to read through and dissect it and see what works for you and let the rest go. No longer do I have to decide what I personally think about what is written, as I now know firsthand…. Mr. Calfee is not only a fine gunsmith, he’s a good man and so is the forum member that made this happen.

There sure are a lot of helpful individuals on this forum and at the local ranges and that’s what helps a beginner like me get started. There are two local gentlemen, Lawrence T. and Hal T. that I have helped me a lot and are very much appreciated as well.

Mark W
 
Walnutgrover

walnutgrover said:
I was fortunate enough to purchase a Calfee Turbo from a gentleman that had waited for 4 years to receive it, but once he did, he was unable to shoot it due to health reasons. As in a lot of the Calfee guns, they have the initials of the owner on the receiver. What I was after was a way to remove these without jeopardizing the integrity and appearance of the gun. I searched and talked with a lot of helpful individuals, but still didn’t have what I wanted. On this forum, I met a friend of Mr. Calfee’s who helped me make the contact, get the work quoted and set it up to be done. I packed the gun and sent to Mr. Calfee and the work was completed, packed up and shipped back to me the same day that he had received it! Once it had been shipped, Mr. Calfee called me and very humbily discussed my gun in detail and also patiently answered all of my questions which were quite a few. As a bonus, not only was the requested work performed, but also an extra feature added at no additional cost. The cost of my work was only minimal, but I feel that I was treated no differently, than if I had just purchased a custom spec gun. Mr. Calfee asked me to let him know when I received the gun and I called and left a message. About ½ hour later he called and talked to me for about 1 hour. He gave me many more suggestions on how to make the gun shoot and again answered my many questions. He didn’t talk about himself, but mainly about his clients and friends that he had made over the years. I asked him about the recent post from Warren McFarland’s son and he told several stories about a man that he admired very much.

I read the forum maybe 1-2 times a day and see Mr. Calfee’s name mentioned a lot. That would not happen or continue, if there was not something to his final end product. The forum has many individual’s opinions and that’s what makes it so good….but, kind of like the media, you have to read through and dissect it and see what works for you and let the rest go. No longer do I have to decide what I personally think about what is written, as I now know firsthand…. Mr. Calfee is not only a fine gunsmith, he’s a good man and so is the forum member that made this happen.

There sure are a lot of helpful individuals on this forum and at the local ranges and that’s what helps a beginner like me get started. There are two local gentlemen, Lawrence T. and Hal T. that I have helped me a lot and are very much appreciated as well.

Mark W
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Great post. Thanks to sharing!!!!
 
I am not surprised by this post, or its' content and demeanor. I met Bill Calfee many years ago, thru my blessing of being able to go rimfire benchrest shooting, with Dad. Altho my Dad was quite a few years older than Bill.....they got along as if they'd gone to school together. Bill ALWAYS made time for my Dad, even when it wasn't convenient...because that's what true friends do, and that's just the way Mr Calfee is, in his interaction with most everyone.

I have always found Bill to be pleasant, humble and helpful......in every instance when we were together at a match, or on the phone. Years after my Dad passed away, Bill was still helping our family.

On another 'shooting forum' one particular member has tried to make me feel "like a sheep" (in his words), because of my respect for Bill, as a gunsmith, custom maker and person. He has repeatedly called me a "Calfee cheerleader' in discussions in a public forum.....and I guess that makes this guy feel 'BIG' or popular among his few friends. *(You know who you are , sb). Well, I'll tell you what......you can call me a Calfee cheerleader, all you want. Like I've said before, you only WISH you could own a rifle made by this gentleman, Bill. What you consider 'jeers', I will take as a compliment, because I am proud to be his friend. And nothing will change that....NOT because I'm a 'sheep' or a groupie.....but because I know what the man Bill Calfee is truly like. - Lee :cool:
 
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Lee:

Thank you for your post. You have put into words what I have felt since I met Bill in 1992.. Those who don't know Bill, or haven't met him, have no idea what kind of a man Bill is.. A lot of Bill critics on this forum, could only be lucky enough to meet Bill and spend an hour or two talking to him and they would change their mind about Bill. I have been lucky enough, in my shooting career, to have known two very fine gentlemen. One was your father and the other was Bill Calfee. I feel like it has been a privlidge and an honor to have known them both and been able to call them my friends..

Dave Smith
 
I've never met Bill, but his genorisity & help to me Down Under is also mirrored in the above posts & comments. He has gone out of his way to assist me & Team Australia with advice, assistance & the very soon to be built "Crocodile Dundee Sporter" His knowledge, articles & posts have helped many down here try & replicate or aim for the results that we saw his rifles achieve at the World Rimfire Benchrest Championships in Italy last year. I have nothing but good words for the man.

Bill Collaros
Team Australia &
President WRABF
www.wrabf.com
 
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I had the pleasure

of talking to Bill last week and I agree with every word that has been stated above. After our conversation I felt as though I had known him for some time. It's not that other people aren't the same way. We are indeed fortunato to have many many friendly, serious, dedicated people in this sport who are people people. It's a pleasure to be among them.
 
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