ALLUTAH Posted January 6, 2022 Report Share Posted January 6, 2022 Five years ago I was looking to get a 1928 west hurley repaired, the word was go to Paul Krogh. Contacted Mr. Krogh and was told the wait was 5 years and he would put me in his que. I figured I could wait seeing as I had another working Thompson. On December 12th Mr. Krogh notified me by e-mail that he was semi-retiring and would not be able to work on my gun. After the shock and disappointment has started to fade I am now looking for a gunsmith who handles Thompsons ( I now realize I should have been reaching out 5 years ago). So if any of you knowledgeable fellows have any suggestions please let me know, Thanks Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt Chopper Posted January 6, 2022 Report Share Posted January 6, 2022 Might try John Andrewski I'll PM you his phone number Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted January 6, 2022 Report Share Posted January 6, 2022 Jeff,You have my sympathy .It certainly doesn't speak well for PK .Jim C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Uzi Posted January 6, 2022 Report Share Posted January 6, 2022 What is it you need done? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebeeby Posted January 6, 2022 Report Share Posted January 6, 2022 I had excellent and fast results with Gary.Call him: Gary P. SzechyOwnerGary's Bunker, LLCClass 2 ManufacturingSOT/FFL(440) 305-3764www.garysbunker.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryo Posted January 7, 2022 Report Share Posted January 7, 2022 Wow.. that's too bad. I wouldn't have mind sending mine to PK but he told me I couldn't even get on the list. What work do you need to do on your WH? I ended up working on mine and fixed my issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilroy Posted January 7, 2022 Report Share Posted January 7, 2022 What about Dan block? Deerslayer on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NFA amnesty Posted January 7, 2022 Report Share Posted January 7, 2022 (edited) Might try John Andrewski I'll PM you his phone numberSecond Andrewski http://johnandrewski.com Edited January 7, 2022 by NFA amnesty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mills Posted January 7, 2022 Report Share Posted January 7, 2022 2nd vote for Dan aka Deerslayer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiz Posted January 8, 2022 Report Share Posted January 8, 2022 PK did one for me about a year ago and I could not have been more pleased. I had no issues with the gun, it ran fine, but WOW PK's work was something to behold. I will never regret having had him do his magic on my Tommy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan K Posted January 8, 2022 Report Share Posted January 8, 2022 Dan Block did good work for me to fix a damaged rear sight and rebarrel on a WW2 M1A1. Turn around time was very reasonable, work was done well, asked questions about the job, no compliants! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbmott Posted January 9, 2022 Report Share Posted January 9, 2022 I can attest to Dan Block doing awesome work and I’ve referred several friends to him. He made the Thompson run well. I can also attest to Andrewski being a fantastic gunsmith and down to earth too. If you’re looking for Blish slots to be fixed then Andrewski is your guy since PK isn’t taking new additions to his list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halftrack Posted January 9, 2022 Report Share Posted January 9, 2022 What about Philadelphia Ordnance? They make receivers, they cant repair as well? I thought Rob mentioned he can do repairs as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sig Posted January 9, 2022 Report Share Posted January 9, 2022 Not attesting to the capabilities of any Thompson gunsmith suggested. The WH Thompsons are unique in that many, not all, have issues that were there from the factory, see post #15 of this thread posted by PK, text copied here.There are other threads on this topic, including other posts from PK. One post I remember was specific to inspecting the blish lock channels, sorry I looked but did not find it YET! Will look more. EDITFOUND it thanks to David Albert, see link toward the bottom. If I owned a WH and wanted repair, I would be asking specific questions of the potential Thompson gunsmith, to understand their capabilities to inspect and potentially correct any issues with the blish lock channels. http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10998&st=0 POST from PK, #15 in the link aboveI am sorry to be getting into this so late, but appreciate the opportunity to contribute.My experience leads me to believe that 95% of all WH 28’s have malformed and or misplaced locking slots in the receiver. This malady will result in increased bolt velocities because the Bliss lock can’t do it’s job, and that translates into additional stress at the back of the receiver when the bolt is arrested by striking the pilot flange. This force can be sufficient to crack the receiver with just normal use.This fault requires serious reconstruction and it alone mandates a full restoration of the gun in my opinion. It is clearly understood by most Thompson fans that the WH guns were not made well in general and are plagued by a plethora of poorly performed operations on the manufacturing floor. When we refurbish a WH Thompson, all important features and dimensions are brought up to the GI standard, insuring not only proper function, but also longevity. Needless to say, such comprehensive treatment will require refinishing. When so treated, the WH gun will look and work as well as any.This month the queue for major corrections surpassed two years for the first time; this will vary of course, demand has decreased with the recent economic circumstances. Interested parties are placed in line and contacted when it’s their turn for service. After I receive a gun it will usually require about 3 months total to work it through the system with the others in that group. I work groups of guns to combine operations and reduce costs for everyone.Because each gun is a unique combination of faults, it is impossible to predict a cost. All work is done on a time and materials basis, I will not quote a figure for either time or cost because I’d be guessing. If I guess low, I loose. If I guess high, you loose. Not fair to anyone. A typical fully refurbished gun can take 20-40 hours and parts. I usually advise folks considering the purchase of a stock WH 28 to consider $2800 for correction during negotiation.Considering the time and effort required, the value for dollar spent is considerable, and the resulting gun will be a joy to own and shoot for a lifetime. I can’t afford a GI gun let alone a Colt, but my WH is doing just fine, thank you. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity I have had to work with so many of you, it is always a pleasure. My true reward is the satisfaction derived from a good Thompson. FOUND the reference thread on Blish Lock Inspection.http://www.machinegunboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12622 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted January 9, 2022 Report Share Posted January 9, 2022 Sig,Well said.Thankful that you put to print what I was thinking.A doctor that is an expert at curing athletes foot may not be the best for brain surgery.Likewise a gunsmith that excels at blueing may not be up to remaching Blish locks.I feel sorry for WH owners that are in need of this service, but they had better ask a lot of questions before leaving their WH with a 'gunsmith'.Jim C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALLUTAH Posted January 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2022 I want to thank everyone for your help and suggestions, I will be contacting the people you recommended this week. And Sig, you hit the nail on the head. That is exactly the situation with my gun. I will post when I feel I have found a qualified gunsmith familliar with Thompsons and also post the eventual outcome. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted January 10, 2022 Report Share Posted January 10, 2022 +1 for an excellent post and summation by SIG.j I hate to hear PK. is now semi-retired. I do hope he is still doing some re-manufacturing for the AOC West Hurley Thompson guns. Perhaps, he will chime in and let us know his future plans. His work is simply the best! I do agree that the improperly machined Blish lock slots is likely the most serious problem and the most labor intensive to correct.But there are other problems with the WH guns too, i.e. pilot hole out of round or improper size. I have heard great things about John Andrewski and his gunsmith skills. However, I have never seen a picture of the Andrewski corrected Blish lock slots on a West Hurley 1928 Thompson gun. And I have asked for pictures several times on this forum. Would someone please post a picture of his work. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyDixon Posted January 10, 2022 Report Share Posted January 10, 2022 it is my understanding that the recievers for the WH - numrich guns were made by a subcontractor for numrich, i wonder if numrich got any of the original tooling or inspection gages when they bought out the thompson package ? anybody got any idea ? anybody know of anybody who worked at numrich at this time ? just wonderring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DARIVS Posted January 11, 2022 Report Share Posted January 11, 2022 12th Vote for Dan Block. He manufactured a bolt holdback for my Kahr 1927-A1 Thompson like a pro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NFA amnesty Posted January 11, 2022 Report Share Posted January 11, 2022 (edited) +1 for an excellent post and summation by SIG.j I hate to hear PK. is now semi-retired. I do hope he is still doing some re-manufacturing for the AOC West Hurley Thompson guns. Perhaps, he will chime in and let us know his future plans. His work is simply the best! I do agree that the improperly machined Blish lock slots is likely the most serious problem and the most labor intensive to correct.But there are other problems with the WH guns too, i.e. pilot hole out of round or improper size. I have heard great things about John Andrewski and his gunsmith skills. However, I have never seen a picture of the Andrewski corrected Blish lock slots on a West Hurley 1928 Thompson gun. And I have asked for pictures several times on this forum. Would someone please post a picture of his work. Thanks!I retract my recommendation to use Andrewski. I have additional weapons that need repaired by him and his wait list will be absolutely horrible if more folks use him. Edited January 11, 2022 by NFA amnesty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PK. Posted January 11, 2022 Report Share Posted January 11, 2022 After a lot of careful consideration during a troubling last couple of years I decided that a review of was in order, and determined that the current queue was too large. I therefor chose to advise the latest entries that it was unlikely that I would be able to service them, believing this was the honest and decent thing to do. I did not say that I was semi-retired, but in truth, with age and time, I have slowed down a bit. If you did not receive the notification mentioned above then you are still in queue.I’m sorry for any confusion I may have caused, and for any unfulfilled expectations. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate129 Posted January 12, 2022 Report Share Posted January 12, 2022 I also received this bad news for my WH M1. I am not complaining and appreciate everything PK has done for our community. I think it's agreed by all that he is the best Thompson smith in the world. As PK's career slows I hope his vast amount of knowledge and experience is transferred to another gunsmith that will keep the business going. For my next steps thankfully the M1 is working ok so no big hurry, and less issues without the blish lock slots. I have heard the main issue with Hurley M1 series is the magazine area of the receiver being out of GI spec. I will probably reach out to Andrewski, he did wonders on a Winchester BAR for me a few years back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerD Posted January 22, 2022 Report Share Posted January 22, 2022 Just curious if there is a serial # range for the WH's with the bad Blish lock grooves? Additionally it would be nice to know if PK had any young blood in the shop to learn from the master. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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