Gunsmith John Carduner (Please - Actual Customer Feedback Only)

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  • Terphunter

    Active Member
    Jul 25, 2012
    166
    John just put Meprolights on my new Beretta...did a great job! Definitely will use his services again...he really knows pistols and does quality work!
     

    GarrettC

    Member
    Dec 6, 2011
    1
    I just received back my Gold Cup from John. He performed a slide to frame tightening, trigger work and a few other enhancements. WOW, what great work! I don't know if I'll ever be able to shoot as well as this gun. When ever I need a gunsmith I'll definitely give John a call.
     

    DBayer

    Member
    May 2, 2012
    2
    John Carduner

    John is an absolute gunsmith specialist. He has done work for me in the past and recently did extensive work on my Colt Gold Cup. The gun needed major repairs such as slide tightening, trigger work, thumb and grip safety and some internal parts and machining work. John did a great job. I would highly recommend him to anyone
     

    MDB270

    Member
    May 12, 2012
    4
    As a repeat customer to John, this experience was just as great as the first. John tightened the slide on my springfield and did some tweaking to my grip safety. John explained why he recommended doing these things, what he would do and exactly how he does it. My gun came back after these modifications sonic cleaned and greased with test fired targets from john that blew my mind....John is the only gunsmith that will ever work on my 1911
     

    Chris05STi

    Active Member
    Jul 15, 2012
    138
    Bought a Springfield XDS (sub-compact .45 ACP) a couple of months ago and really enjoyed shooting it. My only issue was the trigger was a bit tough on pull and I wanted to get it cleaned up like I did on my Glock 17. I went ahead and ordered the entire spring kit from Powder River Precision with the extended mag release they offer. I looked up the videos and how-to (only one!) and attempted to install the their extended mag release. Wow, I really learned how difficult it was (to me) to work on this gun vs my Glock! I managed after a few days of attempting to figure things out to get the extended mag release installed. Only I also managed to bend the paper clip looking spring for the slide release. Now the slide release won't hold open with a magazine in it. I tried to redo the geometry and though I had it right. Went to the range and now the gun holds the slide locked back after a few rounds when there are still rounds left in the magazine. I called Springfield and got the replacement part to fix this issue. I also went ahead and ordered from Powder River Precision their extended grip safety and their grip "tape". I put the grip tape myself, then started going to different shops to see if they could install the rest of my Powder River Precision parts. One after the other they turned me down and wouldn't work on the gun. Suggestions were send it back to Springfield or have Powder River Precision do the work. PRP was my only bet but the shipping alone would be expensive. I called John Carduner and he said he would gladly meet me at FreeState Gun Range and check my firearm out. Well, work is done! He was able to install all my parts, and install the replacement part from Springfield. He met up with me at FreeState (they did the transfers for us) and showed me the work, a target with his hits at 8.5 yards, etc. He really knows his stuff, replies back to your emails, even calls you up with a follow up on his progress. I will definitely use him again when I get a 1911! 100% happy with his work, communication, and professionalism! Thanks again John, I now love my XDS and trust it again after all your hard work!
     

    Faderhaus

    Active Member
    Mar 11, 2013
    117
    This is my first post here on these forums and I hope to make many more. I met John Carduner at Freestate Gun Range about 2 months ago. At that time, I was looking at several model 1911's. A friend introduced me to John and I was instantly impressed with his knowledge of the 1911. After some conversations about features of the 1911, I selected a Springfield Trophy Match Stainless .45. Very nice choice. Subsequently, after shooting the pistol, I got in touch with John and discussed some modifications. John tightened the Slide to the slide rail, reduced the grip safety pressure by 50%, polished out some light surface scratches and sanded down the machined knurling on the front strap that was bothering my fingers when shooting. His work is precise and the details exacting, resulting in my complete satisfaction. I will definitely go back and ask for a trigger job on this beauty.

    Additionally, John also performed a hydrosonic cleaning, removed surface oxidation, and polished the slide rails on my recently purchased 1976 Beretta Model 70S .380ACP. The gun looks brand new! I am so very pleased and impressed with the quality of work performed by John that I will continue to take my handguns to him for his knowledge and custom work. Thank you, John!
     
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    Dave1911

    Member
    Mar 18, 2013
    1
    Davidsonville, MD
    I found John Carduner on this site from other users, I have to concur with all of the other postings and say John is great to work with and has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to pistols. I asked John to install night sights on my Kimber 1911, did a great job. He also brought along some of his custom 1911's and a 9mm that he built. After looking at his custom guns I am now trying to figure out how I can own one of my own.
     

    jsawyer

    Member
    Mar 14, 2013
    2
    I just got my Colt rail gun back from John and shot it today and what a difference his trigger job made. He advised me to go with a heavier recoil spring and i could defiantly tell the difference between the work he did to my rail gun vs a stock kimber eclipse II. the trigger is crisp and clean, and the recoil spring really helped take the punch away from the round. Everything just felt right. I would absolutely use John for all my gun smithing needs
     

    Faderhaus

    Active Member
    Mar 11, 2013
    117
    Just got my 1911 Springfield Trophy Match back from John and am really pleased. I originally asked him to tighten the gun up and file down the front strap that had machine knurling that cut into my fingers when firing.

    I was so satisfied (see post March 18, 2013), that I went back to him and had a trigger job and new flat faced trigger installed. I got to fire it last night and am totally pleased with the great work he did.

    Thanks, John!:thumbsup:
     

    Roadking07

    Member
    Dec 21, 2011
    2
    I found John through this forum. I'm glad I did. I had a 27 year old stock Colt (Gov't) 45 that I wanted to have something done to. I met with John and told him what I maybe wanted. He took the time to suggested a few items and why. I agreed with all of his suggestions. A few items were frame tightening, trigger job, mag well, new hammer, new grip safety, polishing internal parts, etc.

    After all this was done I can't be any happier! John showed me the target after he test fired the pistol. Three rounds and one 3/8" ragged hole remained. He did a very professional job. John knows what he is talking about. I'm already looking at new sights and what ever John recommends is good with me. I do trust his knowledge.

    If you want or need work done on your firearms John is the person to provide the service!!
     

    SargeTMC

    Army Retired (EOD)
    May 30, 2013
    41
    Joppa, MD
    I own a Kimber Eclipse Pro II, and wanted to get some custom work done on it. I asked the guys at FreeState if they knew anybody local that could do the work. They suggested that I contact John Carduner. John met me at FreeState and looked over the Kimber and did a test fire. We then sat down and he went through the pistol with me and explained the inner workings of a 1911. We discussed what my options were. I had John do the following work:

    • Installed a 0.170 Wh Outline Trijicon Front night-sight
    • Polished Frame/Barrel Feed Ramps
    • Hone bore & chamber
    • Installed a new flat-faced trigger
    • Trigger job (3 1/2#) Very Very Smooth/ Big Difference
    • Installed a True Radius Sear & matching Hammer
    • Flat-face Recoil Spring Ends
    • Smoothed the Ambi-Safety
    • Removed scratches from polished flats (idiot scratch on slide)
    • Grips (Ebony), fitted & installed

    John was very good at communicating through e-mail and phone calls about what was happening with the work. (Made me feel like a friend not just a client)

    Now for the good stuff. The pistol is an absolute dream to shoot. The new trigger is so smooth with absolutely no creep, and breaks very clean. The front sight is very visible in all lighting conditions. The feed ramps look like mirrors. The ebony grips really complete the look of the gun. I put about 100 rounds through it tonight when I picked it up and all I can say is wow. The work John did has taken a pretty accurate pistol and made it a very very accurate pistol.

    For anybody looking for honest and top notch work on their 1911, I can't recommend John Carduner enough. I will be giving him all my future projects to work on:
    • Trigger job on my XDS .45 (whenever the MSP says I can take it home)
    • Full Custom 1911 build
     

    bergmef

    Member
    Apr 25, 2007
    15
    New STI Trojan

    Received my new STI Trojan in 9mm from state police purgatory last week. Promptly emailed John asking to have work done since I took it apart and it did not want to go back together. Turns out the full length guide rod was made a bit too long and he could easily take it down to spec. Since he was going to have it, I added more work that he suggested.

    3.5# trigger job, no creep
    Flat faced trigger
    Slide stop anti scratch groove
    Touch up an idiot scratch
    Titanium firing pin
    Sight the pistol in

    I had the pistol back in a few days and finally got the chance to shoot it today. I can't say enough good things. The trigger is better than anything else I own or have shot. The gun is sighted in and was awesome to shoot.

    I would definitely recommend John and can't wait to take the next one to him.
     

    Faderhaus

    Active Member
    Mar 11, 2013
    117
    Well, its a few months since I praised John for his great work on my Trophy Match 45 and my Beretta 70S. Since that time, I sent the Beretta to my Brother (he loves it!), and purchased a S&W Version Walther PPK/S stainless model .380. I had problems with the factory trigger pull for both double (13 lbs.) and single action (6-1/2 lbs.). And while I acknowledge the fact that the .380 in this model is considered a concealed carry weapon, I wanted a lighter trigger pull for it.

    John performed his magic without the use of any replacement parts/springs, etc., and in doing so, lowered the trigger pull for the single action by a little over 2 lbs., down to about 4 lbs. It has made a huge difference in shooting and is much more comfortable for me. In addition, John polished every moving part that has to slide or rub against another part to make the action smoother. He did this for a minimal charge and the work was super!.:thumbsup:

    I cannot say enough about the thoroughness and quality of John's work. Thank you yet again, John!:D
     

    w2kbr

    MSI EM, NRA LM, SAF, AAFG
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 13, 2009
    1,128
    Severn 21144
    Let me start this Customer Testamonial by saying earlier comments by MDS folks got me interested in the subject of this prose. I had been looking for a Gunmith to do some work on a 1911 that was on its way to me back in July. I contacted Mr Carduner by eMail, but he is readily available by phone. The eMail method was my choice. In any case, I explained to him basically what I was looking for, and after a series of eMail exchanges, my 1911 finally arrived. Mr. Carduner suggested a Aug 6th meeting to discuss the details of the work. His approach was friendly and laid back, yet very professional and from his conversation, it was easy to determine he was extremely knowledgeable of the art and science of Gunsmithing, especially 1911. (I've been around Firearms, and Firearms people for over 50 years)

    I hasten to add there was no self bloveating about his outstanding workmanship, or how absolutely superb his work was, and/or how folks were beating down his door. We discussed the work at a leisurely pace, and after an hour, he had made a list of notes, and then made an estimate, which was well within my own thoughts on the matter. He took possession of the piece thru FREESTATE, and said he would be in touch after he made thorough exam of the piece THAT EVENING.(Aug 6). He called the next day, discussed a few items, and then gave me an estimate of work completion.(Aug23). He called me a few times to discuss progress. All was going well. Then on AUG 12, he called to inform he was about to do test firing, and if all went well, he suggested an Aug 14 meeting at FREESTATE. He confirmed the test firing, and confirmed the Aug 14 meet to finalize our business. We met, did our business, and I left with his final words about his Guarantee of work. I suggested I would like to run about 500 rounds thru the piece before any judgements made, he agreed.

    This was no small list of work, I should add, including drill and tap for install of scope; trigger work; barrel and slide fitting, taking up grip safety slack, thumb safety work..along with little odds and ends that he felt would make the piece much better.
    So, if you are looking for a Gunsmith, with a very high level of knowledge and experience, coupled with a very low key friendly approach, you can do no better then JOHN CARDUNER, who works out of FREESTATE Range. He and they are listed in IP section of the Forum.
    Finally kudos to FREESTATE, always a busy place, but they handled the paperwork on the piece in a quick and friendly manner.
    A real 5Star rating all around.

    R
     
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    maximgun88

    Member
    Aug 26, 2013
    2
    John Carduner gunsmithing

    I recently acquired an used AutoOrdnance 1911 A1 with some serious feeding and actin issues. This gun had been neglected and generally mistreated, failing to return to battery, jamming, everything that could go wrong was wrong.

    On he first trip to the range I only managed to get maybe 30 rounds through it, before tossing it back in my bag and shooting another pistol....always good to bring at least 2 guns to range.

    I had John's card from the range, so I shot off an email. He responded promptly And we began talking over the phone. I met him at the range to transfer the pistol and he was friendly, and knowledgeable, explaining some of the issues as we examined the gun. He provided a detailed invoice that we agreed upon, and was in touch with me throughout the progress of the work.

    The pistol shoots great, and I even had him replace the GI sights. I will most likely have him work on all my pistols in the future if need be. If you need a gunsmith for a job, big or small, give John a call, and he will take great care of you and your pistol.
     
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    Shamr0ck

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 6, 2011
    2,505
    Frederick
    John is a gentleman and an artist.

    He has done work for me on 3 pistols and in each case, his prices were fair, his work impeccable and he completed the work sooner than he committed. His communication during the process was frequent and thorough and his knowledge about the firearms is clearly evident.

    I dropped off a pistol on Thurs, 26 Sep and expected roughly the same turn around as before. I was very happy when he called me just 2 days later to see when we could meet -- he was done the work already.

    As I have other pistols which need work, I'll certainly be contacting John.
     

    Lemon328i

    Member
    Mar 21, 2010
    35
    Found John through this forum and asked him to swap the factory rear sight on my HK45c for a 10-8. Great communication, fast service and fair pricing! I only have about 100 rounds through it, but the new sight picture lets me shoot more accurately by keeping my focus on the front sight.

    He was also kind enough to bring some examples of his excellent 1911 work, from a compensated race gun to carry options. Each one had the precise slide to frame fit, quality parts, great finishes and careful hand fitting you'd expect of a true gunsmith.

    Not only that, but he is also affable and a great person to chat with. He is clearly a careful gunsmith who know what to do and what NOT to do. You can't go wrong consulting with John for your gun smithing needs.

    -Lemon

    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
     

    Mr.W

    Member
    Aug 27, 2013
    1
    The gunsmith is the shooter’s doctor. Not the “I’ve got a cold type” but the “I can’t walk because of knee pain” type. The issue is keeping you from doing what you want to and just an aspirin won’t fix it. You really need expert help but like many professionals, they are generally hard to find, you get mostly a standardized solution, and the fix takes a long time.

    In my years of competitive shooting I have encountered many gunsmiths along the way, but John Carduner is the first one to actually spend the time to understand my goals in shooting, analyze my habits and shooting style, discuss my problem issues and then recommend a course of action to help me achieve my shooting objectives. John corrected the problem and went beyond that by taking steps to prevent future problems with my gun and suggesting modifications to help me be a better shooter. I hesitate to offer recommendations because everyone’s experiences can be different, but I gladly recommend John Carduner, he’s the “real deal.”
     

    SDL

    Member
    Jun 23, 2008
    7
    Balmer
    Although I don't post much, I really need to write about my experience with John Carduner.

    Around 7 years ago, I bought a new Colt 1911 Government Model. At the time, I was a police officer but was unable to carry it because my department prohibited carrying SA only weapons. After retiring, I re-evaluated what I was carrying and decided I wanted to carry my Colt. Several years ago, I had sent it back to Colt to have some work done. They installed Novak LoPro night sights, an Ed Brown Ambi Safety (I'm left handed) and rounded the edges of the slide.

    Fast forward to 2013, I had mastered the manual of arms and shot the Colt enough to feel comfortable to carry it. Yet, there was still something in my head that kept me from carrying it. I think it came down to the fact that I had been told and trained (I was a firearms instructor for over a decade) that the SA 1911 was not a safe weapon to carry, especially the 70 series.

    While reading this forum, I came across John Carduner's name as a trusted and professional 1911 gunsmith. I decided that I was not going to carry my Colt until I had it thoroughly inspected and tested by a qualified gunsmith. I called John and we talked about my situation and hesitation to carry my Colt. John instantly gained my confidence as a knowledgeable gunsmith and we soon met at the gun range.

    After talking for quite awhile, John and I agreed to a plan of action to give my pistol a good once over and make changes to ensure its' safety, reliability, and accuracy.

    After a few days, John contacted me and recommended other upgrades to my pistol to ensure its' proper function. I agreed and he did his magic.

    Less than a week later, my pistol was done and we again met at the range and I fired my "improved" Colt. The pistol shot like a dream and was more accurate then before. Below is a list of the work John did, although I'm sure I will forget something:

    - New light weight Wilson hammer.
    - New Wilson beaver tail safety (he also lessened the travel engagement of the safety because for some reason my left hand didn't always disengage it).
    - New Wilson Bulletproof Ambi Safety (the Ed Brown had too much travel between the 2 levers).
    - New titanium firing pin and upgraded spring.
    - New extractor and ejector.
    - New flat faced longer trigger (at my request, John also increased the trigger pull from 3.5lbs. to between 4 and 4 1/2lbs.).
    - Centered and adjusted front and rear sights.
    - Installed new heavier recoil spring.
    - Installed new hammer spring.

    There could be a few more things, but I cannot express how much nicer my Colt shoots. The new Ambi is much more positive and has almost no creep between the 2 levers. The trigger is an absolute dream. I really like the fact that it sits further forward then the stock trigger, since my fingers are kind of long. The trigger has absolutely NO perceptible over travel. I don't know how John did it, but I swear, after the hammer drops, the trigger doesn't travel any further, at all! It is just great.

    Overall, I think John did an absolute top notch job on my Colt and his work has made this pistol into a great carry weapon. Any lack of confidence I had carrying this weapon has completely disappeared based on two things. First, my increased training and understanding of the pistol, but just as importantly, the excellent work John did on this weapon.

    I cannot emphasize enough how much I appreciate John's work and would not hesitate for one second in recommending him as an extremely knowledgeable and outstanding gunsmith!
     

    maximgun88

    Member
    Aug 26, 2013
    2
    I acquired a circa 1944 P35 HiPower that was in bad shape. Not only functioning but safety issues. John basically ended up rebuilding a great portion of the pistol, so it can now be added to my collection of shooters. Second time he has done wonders for one of my firearms.
     

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