ARS NOTES
TESTIMONIALS
(updated 11-03-2009)
| 06/18/09 | I was finally able to get to the range today and try out both of the AKs you built. I put several hundred rounds through each and I wanted to let you know how pleased I am with both weapons. Both guns ran flawlessly and accuracy was better than expected. I stuck an Aimpoint Micro T-1 red dot on a K-Var side mount and hung it on the Khyber Pass AK. I'm a total hack and was able to put three-shot groups into a saucer sized area at 100 yards. With a bit of instruction I expect the groups to shrink just a bit.
In an era when most products are overhyped and fail to deliver, your products do not disappoint.
Thanks, Matt H., IL |
| 11/17/08 | I received the 4 AKs from my FFL. They are absolutely gorgeous. The fit and finish is exactly what I expected, given the high standards of quality work that I remembered about you from my days on The FAL Files forum. My son and I took one to the range and it functioned flawlessly. Thanks for a job well done.
Best Regards, - Mark M. |
| 11/04/08 | I received my Professional Model AK today. This is really a superior build, especially for a $600 rifle! So I wanted to say thanks, and I'm glad I was able to get an AK this nice before the supply dries up. As I sit here watching the early election returns, I feel like I got this just in time.
Best Regards, Steve R., OR |
| 04/10/08 | Received my rifle! It looks fantastic! Haven't gotten a chance to shoot it yet, but I wanted to let you know I'm very pleased with it. Thank you for your help and service, and for an outstanding product. I'll be taking it to a rifle course in a week or so, and I'll let you know how it performs. Again, thank you very much.
Regards, SSG Stephen C. |
| 05/02/07 | Just picked up the STG. I couldn't wait to open the damn package. Anyway, I finally got it open, and I couldn't be happier. Thanks a lot for another beautiful rifle. The wood looks awesome..... thanks for the extra coats. I don't even want to shoot the rifles that you've built for me, but I know that's not going to happen.
-James B. |
| 04/23/07 | Just wanted to let you know that I received your BHP Gunsmithing video, and it's superb. Thank you for offering such a highly informative, no-B.S. product. I look forward to doing business with you again soon.
Kindest regards, Jon C., AL |
| 04/14/07 | Got the M16 back today. The finish is perfect inside and out. Engraving is truly flawless. Perfect.
Regards, -Jim M. |
| 03/11/07 | I received my SL8 barrel that was shortened to 16" with a G3 Flash suppressor put on. You told me it would take 6 to 8 weeks. I received it after 1 week or so. Thank you very much. It shoots great, looks great. You did an excellent job on it. I'll be sending you my Remington 700 here very soon.
Thanks again, Mark. - Scott T. |
| 01/27/07 | Just wanted to let you know that I was already very pleased with the work you performed on my old S&W 29 revolver. However, I was simply amazed by the refinish you did to the Thompson rifle. It actually looks better than new! I will keep you at the top of my list for service and refinishing in the future and I will refer my friends.
Thanks again, Frank K, CA |
| 01/23/07 | I got the scope and mount today- looks fantastic - very well done; if fact much better than I would have hoped. The finish with the white lettering matches my G series FAL very closely and overall i could not be happier- well done. If you are interested I hope to be doing a Holland FAL repro fairly soon (critical Holland part dependent) - if you are interested I will contact you for the build.
Thanx again, Larry V. |
| 01/20/07 | I sent my duty pistol, a G21, to you for the December 1, 2006 run of Glock grip modifications. I also had you do the beavertail, forward cocking serrations and refinish in black metalcol. I was pleasantly surprised to find it back in my hands before the new year. That is amazing! I am 110% satisfied with the fantastic work. It is a much more user-friendly pistol, now. It is tough for LEO's to go without their service pistol for any length of time and luckily I was able to get issued a "company gun" while mine was with you, but let me assure anyone who reads this, it was well worth it! Your work is top notch, sir. You'll be getting more pistols from me in the future.
Thank you, -W.R.F. |
| 11/24/06 | Thanks! I got the rifle today and it looks absolutely exquisite -nice job.
-Ben S |
| 11/21/06 | My AK arrived today, and I just wanted to say thanks for a short turnaround time and a quality job.
All the best, -Robert O. |
| 11/17/06 | I just received my barrel/receiver assembly. The work you did on the muzzle and the applied flash suppressor far exceeded my expectations. Not only did you perform an excellent job, but your customer service is superb as well. These two qualities are not very common these days. I will be sure to recommend ARS to all my friends.
Thank you again. - Jeff M, WA |
| 11/16/06 | I was finally able to pick up my FAL yesterday, and I just wanted to tell you that it is absolutely beautiful. It was more than I expected, and I couldn't be happier with your work. I was able to show it to a couple of friends at the station, and they were in awe. I'm having a little bit of a problem with the break lever, or the lever that allows the rifle to be broken open, on the left side of the gun, right below the rear sights. I'm not able to budge it. I'll have to read the FAL manual.
Thanks again Mark, and I look forward to sending my next kit to you soon, James B. |
| 10/05/06 | I received my rifle last week and I can't say enough about the quality of your workmanship - WOW. If you ever need a reference and I doubt that based on your quality but if you ever do, please don't hesitate. YOU ARE THE GUNPLUMBER!
Thanks, - Jeff V. |
| 10/04/06 | Got the M60 receiver. Looks flawless, as always.
Thanks Mark. - Jim M. |
| 09-06-06 | I just received my FAL you did it is outstanding, nicer than I could have dreamed. I just wanted to say Thanks, I will be happy to recommend you to anyone.
Thanks Again and Take Care, John M. |
| 08/19/06 | Just wanted to say thanks, the work you did to my PTR91 is terrific. Got to bust some rounds and check my zero after our club match today, I really like the changes. I am going to get a couple more of these moving your way before the end of the year for the G3K conversion and the paddle mag.
Thanks, Mark C., AL |
| 08/15/06 | Got it. Wow! It looks great. You sure do live up to your reputation.
Worth every bit of the wait.
Thanks, Tom J. |
| 07/21/06 | I received the HK94 today. Just wanted to let you know how pleased I am. Thanks for the great work.
Irving F., NV |
| 06/21/06 | I rewatched your tape on the Browning Hi Power and really appreciate not only the very fine manner in which the topics were presented, but your not doing everything under the sun on the basic "Street Hi Power." I have Novaks on a few of my Hi Powers, but have come to prefer the standard Mk III fixed sights, a bobbed hammer, and a single-side extended thumb safety and of course, no magazine disconnect.
Thanks again and the very best to you and yours, Steve C. |
| 06/12/06 | I received my G21 lower today. The grip reduction is fantastic; your craftsmanship is second to none. I will certainly send my G30 for the next batch. Thanks again for the great work,
- Ben C. |
| 06/03/06 | I just want to say how happy I am with your services. The finishes you have put on my guns have made them much more enjoyable to own, shoot and maintain. The aesthetics are great (no news there.) When I'm set up on the firing line there is no mistaking my guns from anyone else's. Shooting and carrying out here in the middle of all this desert dust has put other finishes to shame, even Teflon; but the Metalcol you use is as slick today as it was the day you put it on. I've had you do almost all the handguns and one of the beltfeds. Even when one gun, the revolver, did have some issues firing single action (a problem from the factory trigger) the condition of the gun you sent me away with was better than what anyone else was capable of providing. More of my collection will certainly be arriving for your services.
Keep up the good work, - Pete, AZ |
| 06/02/06 | Man, this thing looks freaking awesome!
- Patrick B |
| 05/10/06 | I received my HK-94 today, I must say you did a great job! You were right, it looks like new. I am impressed and so were the guys at the gun shop. I have an HK-91 that I am going to send to you sometime in the next month or two for a refinish job. I was a little scared of sending one of my HKs to someone I have never dealt with, but my fears are at rest with you. Again, thanks for the superb work you do!!
MIKE H. |
| 04/27/06 | I received my 226 back today. I put my very nice coco bolo wood grips on it, and it is just a work of art. I can't wait to shoot it next weekend. It looks even better than I had expected. It look and feels better than new. I guess I won't be buying a Sig 226 Navy after all. I'd rather pick up another bargain priced well-used Sig and send it to you! Thank you so much, it was worth the wait.
Best, Joshua L. |
| 09/01/05 | Mark and Arizona Response Systems have been around for quite awhile. I have personally had him do 4 Sigs and 2 Berettas for me. They have been some of the most beautiful pistols I've ever owned. In fact, several of the 225's he did for me have been sold to SigForum members.
The only complaint I have concerning Mark is that I did'nt have more pistols and more money to send his way. In fact, if anyone chooses to search the Archives, you will clearly see that I have used every opportunity at my disposal to make sure that we all knew who Mark and ARS was, not because he delivered what he agreed to, but because he consistantly delivered more than I actually paid for! Mark is not my buddy, he is not a friend, he lives and works a long way from here..I'm simply telling you all from my own experience that GunPlumber has always been an honorable man, delivered more than was required, and oh yes....the very first job he did for me resulted in him "giving" me a free refinish because I hadn't made my work order clear. He ate the charges, very graciously, and that began a relationship that will continue with the shipment of my next pistol to him. Thank you, Zebulon, Sig Forum |
| 03/22/06 | I love the Glock grip reduction. I just took it to the range. My comfort and accuracy is drastically improved. I'm really impressed. I will recommend your services to anyone I can. Thank you.
-Stu S. |
| 03/13//06 | I just wanted to say thanks for being there. The grip frames you sent me were both excellent in all respects as far as I was concerned.
Best regards, J.L.G. |
| 03/11/06 | I was only able to run about 50 rounds through my new FAL while on a quick trip with friends down to Tombstone. All I can say is OUT FREAKING STANDING! The fit and finish are top notch and the gun runs like a dream. I couldn't be happier with it. Peter F. |
| 03/07/06 | Received the Glock 20 frame today via FedEx and let me say that I am well pleased with your excellent work and extremely speedy service. Thanks. Will pass the word on your fine work and speedy service.
Mike S. |
| 12/24/05 | About 6 months to a year ago you modified a 870 that I sent you with a action job, sight installation, refinishing, etc. Just yesterday I finally got a chance to take it up to some land I own 45 minutes away and run some shells through it. I just wanted to let you know I am VERY pleased with the work you did on it. From the factory the action was creepy and rough. I ran 50 rounds of buck through it as fast as I could load and shoot and it never burped. As a testament to how much I like it after it gets cleaned I intend to make it my "behind the back seat" shotgun for my pickup.
Thanks again, - Billy S. |
| 12/14/05 | I want to take the opportunity to tell you how pleased with your service I am. I traded this 21 for a song and half a dance. It was not in pristine shape when I sent it to you. Your grip reduction may not be beautiful to some, but this is a daily use tool for me. The feel of this grip is awesome. The 21 has a big frame but your enhancement makes a huge difference in the overall feel of the weapon. I will brag and boast about your service every chance I get. I am a law enforcement instructor and will have alot of opportunities. You are definately recommended. Thank you so much for your stand up service.
- Mike O., Dallas, Texas |
| 08/27/05 | I'm sending a Sig 225 to you....This will probably be the last one....You've already done 6 pistols for me, but this one is special. It is a gift to my beloved wife....I'm not asking you for anything beyond your always excellent work. However, this is a love offering to my faithful companion to whom I owe more than I can ever repay. I want to thank you Mark...for all the fine work you've done for me in the past....I'm well aware that I'm a small dollar guy...Doesn't matter. From a guy who trusted you to deliver....I am well pleased. Thank you Sir.... BTW, You did the finest work I know on a pistol for me some time ago....an Inox Beretta 92FS that you polished and jeweled for me, barrel and all. If God gives me time enough, I'd like to ask you to do one more for me.....You're the best Mark.....Thank you....225 is on it's way
- J.P.R. |
| 05/05/05 | Just a quick note.......I just wanted to thank you for the excellent job threading the barrel on my PTR 91. I am very pleased with the over all quality of your work. Now I just have to run to the range and test drive it.
Thank you again, - Brian D. |
| 03/21/05 | You threaded a couple of my AKs recently. Just want to say thanks for a wonderful job. They're both very nice and I'm absolutely satisfied.
Kindest regards, Mike K. |
| 02/17/05 | I received my HK91 from you and it looks AWESOME!
Thanks a lot. - Andy S. |
| 02/16/05 | What great jobs you did on my SR9 flash hider & L1A1 trigger!!!!
Thanks for the great service. - Joe P. |
| 02/08/05 | This a.m. I received the finish job you did on my H&K .45 slide and bbl. It is the most professional finish I have ever seen. The guys at my gun club will be envious; I will give them your web site. Thanks you for the great job you did for me. Thanks again for the outstanding work.
- Brian K. |
| 01/08/05 | I have received the Cobray collapsible throwing star and wanted to write to you. To be honest, when I sent this item to you I had reservations...not about ARS, but as to whether or not this item warranted the expense of refinishing. I knew the item was increasingly rare as I have owned them over the years, I knew it should be cleaned up and put away. What I got back from
ARS was simply remarkable.
Why? Because, in all my thinking and justification of the project I never expected that my expectations as to what the finished results would look like would be exceeded so remarkably. ARS sent back to a perfectly refinished example. The depth and evenness of the coloration, the perfectly applied white highlights, the well balanced and properly ground edges...all come together. Simply stunning! I'm 50, I've been at this firearms gun game for a long time. I've written for almost every mag and thought I had seen it all. Rarely, very rarely do I see something that knocks me out, surprises me and makes me realize that there is still good things happening out there in the industry. ARS appears to be capable of the highest level of refinishing that I have yet to experience. All evident on this lowly item....and that is what is most remarkable and most appreciated of all! Your bust, that is clear, still you took the time to do this job and do it properly. Fine job Mark. I'll be back at you with something more worthy of your craftsmanship...something really "rare" that requires your artistry!
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| 12/24/04 | Just a note to thank you for working on my rifle. It works great and Brian is real happy with the hand guard swap you did with him. . . .
Thanks and best regards, Deputy Randy B., Maricopa County Sheriff Office |
| 12/18/04 | I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for the very good and friendly service I experienced from you when I came in with my FAL. I enjoyed my visit and would have liked to have stay longer to chat, but I could see that you were busy. Thanks again and I hope to do more business with you in the future.
All the best, Eddy M. |
| 12/16/04 | I sent my FAL to Mark Graham to have the barrel shortened to 16" and for refinishing in satin black METACOL. It was sent middle to end of Oct.
Well I received it back last evening. Needless to say I was surprised at the short turnaround. I was excited as a kid on chirstmas morning when I was opening the package. All I can say is "WOW". The thing is beautiful. A work of art. I am very pleased with ARS and will use them again. Great communication, great customer service and a great product. First rate all around. Groovyrascal, FalFiles.com |
| 12/16/04 | I received my FAL yesterday evening. I would just like to say that it looks great and it is all that I had hoped. Thank you for a job well done! I will not hesitate to use your services in the future.
Thanks again. Sgt Frank C. ,Washington County Sheriff's Office |
| 12/16/04 | I received my HK93 and the new A3 stock yesterday. Everything looks fantastic! Your reputation for quality is well deserved.
Sincerely, George A. |
| 04/12/04 | Picked up the Israeli clone FAL that you built for me and shot it the other day. Perfecto ! Zeroed and gas set out of the box. Functions perfectly and looks beautiful. Obvious attention to detail. You kept me well informed and did what you said that you were going to do in the time that you said it would take you. Cant really ask for anything more then that.
Thank you, George F. |
| 3/26/04 | Thank you for the truly fine job you did on my rifle. You exceeded my expectations and I am very Pleased.
- Jack C. |
| 3/19/04 | Just wanted to write and tell you I received my Izzy that you parkerized. It looks great and I am very pleased. I will be sending an STG for you to refinish in Met III Satin Black in a couple of weeks.
Thanks again, - Robert H |
| 01/26/04 | I have several Gunplumber builds and wouldn't go anywhere else. Two more on the way. Absolute perfection. SAS & L1A1s built by Gunplumber: The best & the best built by the best.
Paige M., TX |
| 01-26-04 | I recently sent my FAL kit to A.R.S for a complete build and park. I received the rifle a few days ago, and was amazed by the quality work Mark does. This rifle is absolutely awesome and I highly recommend his work. He is also a stand up guy and straight shooter no B.S. all you get is quality work. This was my first dealing with Mark and will not be the last.
Quality all the way!!! - FF |
| 01/25/04 | I am writing just to say GREAT JOB. I recently received back the Beretta 92 that I sent you to have finished in OD Green and Black. This pistol looks AWESOME. The white fill on the lettering is definately the icing on the cake. Thanks for a really great job. I will be E-Mailing soon for an estimate on some other firearms I would like to have re-finished. Take care and stay safe. Nicholas H. |
| 01/24/04 | Thanks for the awesome FAL build!!! Your work is top notch, I will recommend you anytime for builds and finishing. Superb gunsmithing and a class act.
Thanks Again, Spike N., AZ |
| 01/20/04 | I got the BHP that you did the ATP and refinishing on. To say I am very
impressed is probably a very poor statement. Until someone has a firearm done by
you they cannot know how nice it will look. Also the pictures do not do the two tone
MetaCol III finish justice.
Thanks, Billy S. |
| 01/07/04 | Good news...my L2 HB FAL arrived this evening and I have to tell you that it is stunning!! I have to say Mark that out of all of the work that you have done for me over the years that this is your best to date. I hate to even put it down to type this e-mail! Also I want to thank you for how fairly you treated me on the price of the job. I simply could not ask for any higher quality or superior service. . . Have a great evening and thank you again for the excellent job that you did for me.
Mark K. |
| 01/05/04 | Another kudo for Mark Graham at ARS-I have a Belgium. Army lower with Israeli. FALO upper, that was malfunctioning on every 2-3 rounds. he rebuilt the weapon form the ground up, FANTASTICALLY. Boy, oh boy!!!!!! thank you for turning me on to him ~2 yrs ago.
John H., AZ |
| 11/15/03 | I purchased one of your complete STG58 Falls on an IMBEL GL type 3 about a month ago, and I just thought I'd let you know that I am COMPLETELY satisfied! It functions perfectly on good SA surplus, shoots accurately and looks great. I got a lot of attention on my first trip to the range with her. Turns out one of the guys there was South African, and seeing it brought back fond memories for him. I let him shoot it for a while, and afterwards all he could do was smile ear-to-ear and say "Now THAT is a rifle!
Thanks for a great rifle. Sam T. |
| 09/24/03 | I just got back from firing my FAL you built not only does it look great but it shoots incredible! I will be sending other guns in the future, I love the Finish!
Thanks Again . Matt H. |
| 09/24/03 | I received my Hk91k today and Boy am I impressed, I want to thank you so much for such great service and I would like to compliment you and your staff on the terrific workmanship. I will surely send more work your way. My only problem is deciding what gun to send to you next!
Thanks again, Bill S. |
| 07/11/03 | I received the rifle on Wednesday and just returned from the range with it............everything is just great! Looks nice, shoots nice, etc, etc. Thanks again!
Kevin M. |
| 05/12/03 | I bought your video and workbook through FAC as I as buying some other things there. I sat down and watched the whole thing in two sittings! And my wife and oldest boys (13 and 9) came in too. Everyone was fascinated and we all learned a ton. I just wanted to tell you that I think it is excellent for us newbies and give very detailed information on all the things that we seem to run into. It is obvious that you have done many of these, and the short cuts you show help tremendously. I am just starting a redo on a STG kit I bought from DSA and I know feel I have the resources to get the job done. Between you and the FALFILES.com, I have received an entire education in a couple of short weeks. Now, putting it into practice..... (Dang! Sounds like graduation day all over again!)
Keep up the great work! Scott L. |
| 03/26/03 | Received the rifle barrel I sent you for the METACOL IV finish. Very good job! Also, the return was sooner than expected and I'm grateful for that. I will tell my shooting friends about your company and that they should keep you in mind if they need any metal re-finishing on their firearms. I may have you re-finish my Remington 1100 shotgun some time in the future. It's the only shotgun I have and I use it about twice a month for Three Gun matches. Finding an opportunity to part with it for four weeks or so may be difficult. When that time comes I'll contact you.
A Satisfied Customer, Robert C. |
| 03/21/03 | I finally got a chance to test my Glock after you modified it for me. It worked very well, and the beavertail cured the problem I was having with slide bite. I also like the texturing that you applied to the frame. Very grippy. . . .In short, I am glad that I had you modify my Glock, and I will attempt to persuade anyone who asks me about my funny looking Glock, to have ARS do the work if they are interested in modifying their pistol.
Stay safe. Robert M |
| 02/16/03 | Just wanted to let you know that the MP5/10 arrived safely in Anchorage on Friday; also received your call Sunday regarding the Gemtech Raptor can..... Outstanding work! - the gun looks factory fresh and the repair welding appears to be (to my uneducated eye) a superlative job. To avoid a recurrence, I'll hold off on running it until I either get the factory manual or the definitive word from HK on the locking piece issue. I was pretty much certain that I'd be pleased with your work from the experiences and recommendations of others, but what I got for my money exceeded my high expectations; I'd be more than happy to provide a reference / testimonial in the unlikely event you'd ever need it. Again, Mark, a great pleasure doing business with you - your prompt answers to my questions and the quick turn around on the repair and refinish are very much appreciated.
best regards, Mike S., AK |
| 01/16/03 | Just to let you know, I've broken in this barrel and put about 200 rounds through the weapon. Flawless operation, groups have remained tight. I'm extremely pleased, you've done outstanding work. Thanks. I'm looking for another receiver, FMP Interport or a quality piece that YOU will build on .
Take Care. Gary B. |
| 01/06/03 | My ARS Hi Power is the pride of my collection. It is simply the best shooter I could hope for. I've put better than 1500 rounds through it since Dec 01 and have absolutely zero complaints. Everything is still tight, smooth and crisp. Simply put, the pistol will shoot better than my skills will allow it to. All magazines function perfectly and the Metacol III finish seems impervious to wear, solvents, etc. After being leery about spending $500+ on custom work for a $425 pistol, I can't imagine having it any other way. From a shooter's perspective, it's the best $500 I ever spent. Please feel free to use me as a reference for future customers.
Thanks, Jason N, Capt. USAF |
| 10/31/02 | Thirty minutes ago my rifle was delivered by FedEx. It was everything I expected and more. Your workmanship and service are outstanding. I will be sending more rifles to you for rebuilding and refinishing.
Jim G. |
| 09/18/02 | I received my FAL yesterday and it is beautiful - a work of art. I'm sure it is better now than when it was new. Thanks for doing such a great job. The other officers I work with will be drooling all over it. I can't wait to shoot it.
Thanks again. Vic H, SC. |
| 03/18/98 | I just received my .45 caliber pistol back from you and would be remiss if I didn't write to tell you how very surprised and elated I was when I saw the beautiful results the METACOL IV (manganese phosphate) coating had on the pistol. It looked like it must have when it was first issued in Argentina. As you know it is a Colt-clone Balister-Molina but I would venture to say it is at least as good as a new Colt Government. I also wanted to express my sincere thanks for the expert job you did taking the old sights off and replacing them with the target sights. Your finishes are second to none and I would recommend you to everyone know that is in need of your services.
Thanks Again! A very Happy Customer, Thomas F., NJ. |
| 00/00/00 | Thank you, my rifle is beyond words!!! You are a master of your craft.
Sincerely, Fred H. |
| 00/00/00 | Hey thanks for the HK93 A3 stock. The condition was excellent. I'll definitely do business with you again and recommend you to others.
- Chris T. |
| 00/00/00 | I've been meaning to write and thank you for doing such a nice job on my FAL build (IMBEL kit, carbine, green METACOL finish). It looks great and shoots great. I ran several hundred rounds through it last Sunday without incident. It even outshot my K-31 at 50 yards. In this day and age where most people seem to do half assed jobs and have little pride in what they do, its nice to deal with someone who has some integrity. I'm very pleased with the rifle.
Thanks and have a nice Christmas. - Peter F. |
| 00/00/00 | Thanks for the great job on my HK USP slide it came out great! and you got it to me 6 week's early. Best of luck to you and your new shop.
Thanks again. - Dennis N. |
| 00/00/00 | You guys did build my STG-58 for me not too long ago. Thank you!! It is incredible! easily out shoots my M1A match conditioned rifle. The finish and overall quality are far above any standard I have ever seen on any factory or custom gun. The turn around was quick and the cost was fair, compared to what I got, I would have paid double after seeing it. The METACOL III is impressive, and I especially like the red/white lettering. Thanks again for building my new favorite rifle.
-John O.
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