Beautiful! I've always been curious what goes into a THUG; did he send a build sheet? I love the general aesthetic of his work...

 

DB Cooper is an addict, cool

 

I'll dig it out and try to post it.

 

Here's an article from 2007 by Darryl Bolke on the THUG:
http://marsguns.com/custom1911/THUG1911/THUG1911-SureFireCombatTactics2007.pdf

 

Link doesn't work, however if you go to the home page menu there is an article about another "thug". Nice to see Ichiru still taking pictures

 

Amp,
The finish looks 'textured'.
Is this by design or just debris on the surface?

 

Not sure if it was by design but the finish is a very coarse parkerized finish.

 

These are a little rough for me. Only 2 finishes offered neither are acceptable. They need to step up their game if they want to compete. The DOD-P-16232F Type M if I hade to choose one of the 2 the other is Cerakote for 295.00!!!!

 

truth
the use of a lint free cloth would have helped here

 

How's she shoot? Did you happen to find that build sheet?
I've been in contact with the Mars shop recently and they say the books are going to be closed for another few months if I understood correctly. Got a Colt Rail Gun standing by...

 

It runs like a sewing machine.

 

That gun looks like you have been combing your cat with it.

 

Contact Info? Feel free to PM me if required.

 

Steve is very much so still in business. He’s effectively a one man shop with a very heavy workload. I’m fortunate enough to talk with him almost daily. He’s doing well, just working on catching up and not taking in new work to speak of. He did move shops and some of his help has been “in flux” for the past couple years. Stay persistent and once you’re in, the wait is most definitely worth it. Steve is a fantastic smith. I’ve owned more than one of his guns, here’s a current one and I’ve got more in his shop.

 

As for the pistol that this thread started with, my guess is that’s a case of oil and lint. Steve’s finish work is impeccable.

 

Sales@marsguns.com

 

Sales@marsguns.com

Thanks but I've tried that email with zero luck. If he's not taking new work then I have my answer I guess.

 

Green Face, I just sent you a PM.

 

Many in demand smiths are not taking new work...it’s not just MARS.

 

Can those of us who are waiting get some more pics to hold us over?

 

Yes-email sales@marsguns with your name and we'll send you photos and an update on your project

 

FYI:

I don’t know if people are lying in this thread to cover for him or if they just don’t know the truth. But I posted this in another thread;


I would avoid MARS Armament for the time being. His landlord evicted him from his shop. All his employees have quit.

That’s not a good sign.

My personal 1911 project wasn’t that labor intensive and it’s 4.5 years late on my original quote. It was promised again in March 2020 to be done in “Three Weeks”...but never arrived.

I’ve called Steve a hundred times, emailed fifty times, even texted 20 or so times. No reply at all. I know he answers when certain people call him.

I’d say avoid him like the plague for new work and if you have a gun with him start finding out it’s status ASAP. It might be long gone.

 

FYI:

I don’t know if people are lying in this thread to cover for him or if they just don’t know the truth. But I posted this in another thread;


I would avoid MARS Armament for the time being. His landlord evicted him from his shop. All his employees have quit.

That’s not a good sign.

My personal 1911 project wasn’t that labor intensive and it’s 4.5 years late on my original quote. It was promised again in March 2020 to be be done in “Three Weeks”...but never arrived.

I’ve called Steve a hundred times, emailed fifty times, even texted 20 or so times. No reply at all. I know he answers when certain people call him.

I’d say avoid him like the plague for new work and if you have a gun with him start finding out it’s status ASAP. It might be long gone.

Yep.

 

As I posted earlier, I tried to call Steve back in September and heard nothing. Called, sent a couple emails and even an IG message. I chalked it up to not wanting any more business but maybe he isn't even in business anymore!?

 

Sorry we did not connect with you.
We stopped taking major projects a while back in order to focus on guns already in house and underway.
We are definitely still in business, actually busier than ever.

There are lots of good smiths out there, try Pistolwrench/Chuck Rogers, his work is always amazing. If he's not available then Chris at Combat Precision, Jason at Heirloom Precision, Pete Single, Chuck Warner can probably help you, there are many others.

 

***even more important: if this shop is in possession of a gun YOU OWN which you've sent in for work, and you genuinely suspect them of going out of business.... call the local police and file a report of theft. It's your best and possibly only chance at getting your gun back....

 

Not gonna get any satisfaction out of Chuck Warner either.

 

I'm currently finishing up a build that has been here for 5 years.
It is for a previous customer that considered the wait 'worth it'.
I have no thoughts on the 'intents' of this thread, beyond:
Be up front. If it might take 5 years, communicate that initially.
Respond to queries, even if your response is NOT what the client wants to hear.
Offer to return the host gun at ANY time.

 

Hello Sir, I certainly appreciate your reply. Unfortunately my project is going on 5 years past my quote. Communication has been averaging 4-5 months between replies, no one ever returns a call, and my request for a picture of my project have been ignored. I've asked to simply cancel and be returned my parts but was told that wasn't possible........Again my quote was for completion in the May-June 2017 timeframe. I would have no problems considering a quoted five year wait "Worth It" but that wasn't my estimated time frame. My concerns went up time x1000 when MARS Armament's old landlord tells me point blank they were evicted, as in forced to vacate their shop. Not simply moved. Not to forget their website going offline, for months. While my initial posting of my situation got me a prompt email reply and promises all that has amounted to nothing.

 

The black hole of broken promises.

 

One must wonder what the thought process is here.

 

Sir, this maybe an odd question in this circumstance but are you referring to me or Steve Morrison/Mars Armament?

 

Wow. Good info. I had never heard anything negative on mars until this

 

Both.

I can't imagine how I would react if in your shoes.
I also can't imagine ignoring a customer.

 

Definitely a difficult situation, Ive been in the customer shoes a time or two unfortunately with knifemakers and smiths, communication is key unfortunately not everyone understands that.......