Randy, you summed it up pretty well. I occasionally get accused of being a gunsmith... I’M NOT!. I’m a mildly competent parts changer. If minor repair work needs doing on my guns, I can usually muddle through. A gunsmith can modify or even fabricate parts as needed and really understands the workings of the guns he works on as well as having the skill and talent, as well as the equipment, to do that work.
A few years ago I went into the newly opened shop of local “gunsmith.” When casual inquiry disclosed he owned neither a lathe or mill, I knew he would be doing very or little work for me!
OTOH, I’ve had two custom revolvers built in recent years, one of which took 4-5 months, the other eight months to the day, both as promised. These were nationally known ‘smiths with thriving practices... talent is in demand and I was willing to wait my turn!
To the OP, just for the record, what kind of work did you (finally) have done? If the holdup was waiting for a part, or some special tooling, delay would be understandable. Of course illness of the ‘smith or his family or other complications may have entered in...?
Froggie