I want to share something-even at the risk that things go the wrong direction or the focus of my comments my lead to 'spin off' conversation, etc.-because Pepperchops asked the question, I feel compelled to not remain quiet on this one, so here goes...
Firstly: I have never met Martin in person and I don't know him personally, etc. I'm not any sort of rep or anything weird, etc that way-just a simple customer for the past couple years when I bought my first RAW from him (50 ft-lb .25 cal HM1000x). After being thrilled with my first purchase, I sought out a second gun from Martin and discussed many options with him via email. In the end, I decided the best, most economical option was to send him my gun back and have him re-machine it to convert it to a 60 ft-lb .25 cal with a LW polygon barrel setup. While it was there, I asked him to set it up to have a .30 cal barrel and probe that I could swap over at will-but to leave it optimized for .25 cal (if he had to choose settings). He did so, and the results have been phenomenal ever since I've received it back from him. I've shot many, many 5 shot groups in the .200-.300 range at 50 yards in both calibers. I've shot a best of .180" 5 shot group at 50 yards with the .30 cal barrel, only to follow it up with a .230" 5 shot group (same day too!) at 75 yards-stunning performances, especially since it was simply pulling JSB pellets out of the tin-unweighed, unwashed, unsorted, etc.
I finally contacted Martin about setting up a BR stock for me to be able to shoot dedicated benchrest with my HM1000x setup in a true BR stock. I finally placed an order through one of the dealers and 'did my time' waiting many, many months for the new stock to arrive (stock ordered in March, received on 10/31). I knew it would be worth the wait for the stock since Martin and crew have done such fabulous work for me and others previously. I had Martin custom make my BR stock 1" shorter in LOP (like I had him make my LRT stock), using a custom color (blue/grey laminate) with an adjustable comb.
The day it arrived, was an emotionally mixed day: I unpackaged the stock and it was beyond what I had expected in terms of how absolutely stunning the color came out, the finish of the stock, and the quality of the workmanship-absolutely stunning! Everything was going phenomenal until the moment I went to install my action into it-then my heart sunk: the stock was made for a 'non-X' action, rather than the 'X' action (there's a 1" difference in action lengths between the two). I was shocked and immediately contacted the dealer, dismayed.
It turns out there was (obviously) a mis-communication in the line of communications from me back to Martin on exactly what I had wanted-and the gun was made for a traditional HM/TM/BM action.
However, as soon as this made it back to Martin things took a turn for the better. Within a short while (I forget if it was the next day, or when exactly-but it wasn't long after), while a work, my phone rang: it was Martin on the other end, personally apologizing for the mix up in the order! Martin then went on to promise me they would make it 'right' for me and offered to have me send back the stock and they would expedite a new stock, as I had originally specified, for my HM1000X action. I spent a few minutes and talked to Martin about several options and told him I was really appreciative, but wanted to sleep on it to see what I really wanted to do. I told him I would email him back in a day or so with my decision.
Well, I went home and looked at the stock again-the quality of the workmanship was just outstanding, and the color seemed to glow from the blue in the laminate. To be honest: I simply didn't want to part with the stock. Now I was certain that Martin and his craftsman could make me a new stock-but the way the laminate colors came through in this one-I just didn't want to lose this particular beauty.
I emailed Martin back and began a several day dialog to ask what options I had to put an action into the stock I had in my possession. I ended up telling him I wanted something that is no longer available (a silver action, with Ti shroud). What took place next tells me all I need to know about Martin: he said he didn't have any more in his inventory, but he offered to get me setup with a BM500 action in silver (like I wanted) and in .177 cal polygon-it was going to take a bit of work, but he was going to do what it took to set me up with a setup that I really wanted to help make things right for me! Talk about customer service and support!
So, I share this all to make this point known publicly: all of this happened 'post AF purchase of RAW' and Martin is still at the heart of the operation, there to make sure the customers are fully satisfied with their decision to buy a RAW. I have zero doubt that Martin will do whatever it takes to personally see to it that any customer satisfaction issues are dealt with in a way that continues on RAW's excellent reputation for quality moving into the future. My story is just one of (I'm sure) many others that Martin's customers have.
Martin-post 'AF sale'-has gone the extra mile to ensure his customers are happy. For me, what started off as a major 'hiccup' has turned into a situation with a very happy outcome.
Ok, with all that said, I also want to say that 'elh0102' is correct: Martin has a new business at airguns-usa.com (I pm'd the OP about it privately, not wanting to flood Martin with communications if he didn't want them...) and Martin has been in communications with me through those contact information. I don't know what his new policy is regarding customer interactions; I don't know what restrictions he has on him with the buyout, etc. so I can't guarantee he will be accessible. What I do know is that his products have been absolutely solid for me and totally-maintenance free for my past years of ownership.
I would not hesistate one minute to buy or recommend another RAW product-even after the AF buyout. At the heart of the RAW lineup stands a man who's willing to do whatever is needed to ensure his brand carries on with the fine reputation he's instilled into it, and a man who's willing to pour out his every last effort to take care of his customers. To me, that is absolutely priceless and I'm more than willing to pay the money for those products-and patiently wait for the craftsmen to work their magic...
Sean