Conundrum? Dichotomy? Double-edged sword? Anvil Arms is a head-scratcher for me. I not only took part in the NES Group Buy on Anvil Arms lower receivers, I also had my upper built by Jon and found him to be very knowledgeable, patient with my queries and responsive to them as well, (initially). The wait on the lower was both horrendous and understandable. We ordered ours with custom serial numbers and many custom built, (lower parts kits installed, stocks, etc.). Then, Jon offered us custom uppers to match and many bit, (including me). I think Jon severely underestimated what was involved with the BATFE variance. I also think he underestimated the time involved with custom building many of the 200-receivers and serial numbered uppers we ordered. Frustration grew out of both the wait time, (which I expected) and the communication from Jon, (or lack thereof).
Still, in late June, I sent Jon a check - along with my Troy Medieval Muzzle Brake and ordered an upper. The check cleared in July - my upper arrived in December. I wish it were that easy, but it arrived following a barrage of E-mails, (I found out even my wife E-mailed him after I literally threw my lower in the bottom of my safe out of sheer giving up) and a tremendous loss of patience. I did get a notification that my upper had shipped in October, but it was a mistake. I spent 2-weeks waiting for BBT and it never arrived. I was literally about to unleash the hounds - a multi forum, e-mail filled frustration festival - I had enough....
Finally, I received a call from Jon in November that he was building my upper. He asked what I had ordered, (
![[thinking]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/010.gif "Thinking [thinking]")
) and I went over it again: 14.5" 1:7, standard FSB, Troy brake installed, no BCG, no rear sight. It was then he asked me if I wanted a YHM flip-up front sight instead of a standard F marked FSB. I have never been a fan of folding front sights on fighting rifles, but I felt that either Jon was trying to be nice, or was out of FSB's - either way, I acquiesced and my upper shipped the week of Thanksgiving. Sadly, I didn't receive it until the first week of December, but when I saw that the package had arrived, I blew out of work, went home and was elated to see it leaning up against my back door. I could not get this rifle together fast enough!
The double-edge sword came into play once I got this rifle together. It is truly a work of art - built superbly. Everything just fits and the finish is perfect. The quality of this rifle eclipses anything off the shelf - you can tell that Jon knows what he's doing and is passionate about doing things right with the building of his rifles - though I will say by seeing some other Anvil builds, that not everyone he has employed shares his dedication. I have to say, that I remain not a fan of flip-up front sights - especially YHM, (they wobble). Had I wanted this set-up, I would have went with a Troy, which is what I have on the back-end anyway. Still, the rifle is sweet. I dropped in my BCM BCG, bolted on my Troy BUIS, took it to LSA and sighted it in with the Trijicon Tripower on deck. The first trigger pull was bliss - the rifle runs like a top. It feels finely tuned - everything just works - the trigger pull is sweet, the upper is sweet - fit and finish are superb all the way around, (no trigger slap, no rattles, no loose fitting upper/lower - nada). I took it to Athol that weekend and those who shot it will likely agree - it's a stellar rifle. I'm not sure what the range of the steel plates is there, but I was hitting them 30-for-30 the gun is a laser beam.
What I'm left with is not only a great rifle, but a great tribute to my membership here at Northeast Shooters - despite my less than positive experience with Anvil Arms. I also like seeing the little guy compete against the juggernaut that is the firearms industry. I think Jon Kruger could indeed compete with the likes of Bushmaster, DPMS, RRA, etc and could indeed see his products ranked in the class of Noveske, LMT, Sabre etc. I do not however think it will happen without a major overhaul of his business model. He has a lot of talent, but needs to bolster that talent with a realistic business plan which places customer service and consistency in the same margin as his excellent build....I hope it happens, but am not sure it will.
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