AO Sword Firearms

David Chong is the owner and is incredibly rude. I will never due business with this place. They are deceptive a liars

These guys are so nice, it’s become my favorite gun shop. Seriously, it’s nice to just drop in and say hello and see what new things are happening. The expansion is great, and they’ll be expanding again in the next year or two. Looking forward to that!
As a girl, I’m giving them extra points for treating me like I know what’s what. It’s appreciated.

So i went into this place and the staff were super friendly and welcoming unlike most other gun shops in SD I had been browsing. The staff and I talked and these guys really set it up. 10 days later this shop made one of the most incredible AR-​15s I have ever seen and they worked with me when I wanted to change a few things before the bulid was completed. This guys very super professional and knew what they were doing. When I walked into this place they way they acted earned my business. And they made my dream gun. Thanks guys your guys are a top notch shop! I will be back aand I speak highly of this shop to alot. of ppl.

Great experience at a local gun dealer/​gunsmith. I brought my pistol in to have night sights I purchased put on in place of the stock sights. I was greeted by Dave and he was very friendly. It was 3pm when I dropped it off, I was called to pick it up at 5pm. Very hard to find such a turn around and customer service for such amazing prices. I highly reccomend this place and I’ve already sent some friends their way. I’ll definitely be back.

These guys are great anything you need anything you want they take care of you with a smile on their face

These guys are incredible! I have truly found my gun store!
I just built my first AR15 and I went to 4 other gun stores to get advice on my upper. What got from the others was a boiler plate, «buy this upper and replace parts as you go.»
When I went to AO Sword, and spoke to David, he truly took the time to show me my options. As most of you know, your first build can be intimidating, and while I am a rookie builder, I am not an idiot. He took the time to explain things to me to where I felt comfortable enough to ask him the most basic questions that I had been reticent to ask the other gun store guys because I didn’t want to be scoffed at by an old timer.
Their pricing was a little higher, but I’ve discovered that in most cases, it’s because the product is superior.
I’ve just finished my first build and am heading out to the range this weekend.
My family and I will be buying our «Custom Tools with Triggers» at AI Sword from now on!

It’s not shocking when you show up to a place, right at closing, and watch someone lock the door in your face. Bummer right. That’s what I expected showing up at AO Sword 5 minutes after they were closed, but was surprised. Before I had even parked, David was unlocking the door and stepped out asking if I needed some last minute supplies, as if I had thought to call ahead (I didn’t). Like a VIP, I was able to get the parts I needed to complete my wife’s 223 wylde. They did an awsome job cerakoting her parts pink but I lost a few springs and detents like always. All I can say is you won’t find a more helpful, friendly group of guys anywhere, especially at a gun store.

These guys are great. They have corrected problems on hand guns, now are helping build a sweet AR-​15. It has a small town atmosphere that is fun to visit that resonates safety and well as up to date products.

Small shop but decent selection. Everybody is friendly and says hello when you come in. Took my pistol in for a trigger job and it took a while, and had some issues (parts and due to the gun) but David is a good guy and stands by his work. Everything was explained very well with what was going on and what we were waiting on. Definitely will be back for future needs.

I was extremely let down with my experience with these guys. I went in expecting to find a bunch of aholes, who have anger issues that reflect in their customer service. Instead I was treated like a valued customer. No arrogant, know it all attitudes to be found. What a gyp. Seriously, why couldn’t I get a little bit of the «old» plastic gun discrimination like the other El Cajon gun store?
Honestly these guys were great. I went into AO after a buddy recommended them for Cerakote work. The craftsmanship they displayed with his shotgun was outstanding, so I figured I would give them a try. I took in my stripped Glock frame and in less then two weeks walked away a satisfied customer. They were definitely able to fulfill my less than standard Cerakote order.
From what I could see from the case, their prices on firearms are actually pretty competitive compared to other San Diego shops. They also were eager to answer my questions with regards to a hard to find pistol. More importantly they made sure that I left their shop with all the information I needed. The best thing about the shop is the lack of ego, which I think plagues a lot of shops, well, that and a clientele of a bunch of «door kickers». In summary, this shop is definitely one of the better ones in San Diego.

David and the whole staff at AO Sword helped me fulfill one of my dream AR builds. The result was beautiful and incredible. I can’t wait to take it to the range. The turnaround time was very quick and the customer service was incredible. I can’t wait to come back here again!

I made a private sale of a handgun and needed a dealer to take care of the paperwork. I decided to try AO Sword because of a friend’s recommendation, and bad experiences in the past at other dealers. The buyer and I went into the store at 10 AM and were out the door by 10:30. These guys don’t waste any time. Besides that, they were all the nicest, friendliest and most knowledgeable guys you would ever meet. I would recommend AO Sword Firearms to anyone wanting to buy, sell or trade a firearm, or just wanting suggestions on what gun to buy!

Do business at your own risk with these guys, I learned an expensive lesson that these guys will disappoint. First off, I brought in a Remington 870 to get a bead sight added and also to get the shotgun cerakoted. My first meeting with them went well, they seemed very friendly and helpful. That’s pretty much the good news. After about 7 weeks (4 weeks past when I was originally told I could expect the shotgun back) and multiple emails about when I could pick it up, I understand they are a busy shop and things come up, but a little feedback on status from the beginning would be helpful. I was finally told it was ready. I came in, first thing I noticed was the magazine spring was sticking out past the end of the mag extension. Dave the owner asked if I had brought in the gun like that. Seriously?!? I would expect anybody would question the owner about a obvious defect like that when it was brought in for gunsmithing work. He admitted that his guy probably lost the end cap some time during the process, and said he would make it right, and if needed I could have the mag extension cerakoted for free once it was functional again. The front bead was installed nicely, cerakote seemed to be well applied. at this point if the magazine extension was taken care of I would have rated my eperience as a «5». I went home expecting to be contacted to let me know how he wanted to get the mag extension fixed. About a month goes by, nothing from A.O. Swords. I finally decide I was tired of having a single shot shotgun to rely on as my home defense firearm, and went ahead and order a new magazine extension, eating the $ 49 buck in the process to replace something A.O. Swords should have taken care of. Took it out shooting, WTF, the cerakoting is wearing off along the magazine tube and along the action bars. A rattle can paint job probably would have been as good and a hell of a lot cheaper. Tried contacting A.O. Swords again a couple of times via their email, first to let them know I went ahead and replaced the mag extension and to ask about the premature wearing of the cerakote. Still nothing. At this point I’m ready to write the whole $ 300+ fee spent on the shotgun as a lesson learned that these guys aren’t as good as previous reviews led me to believe. Next step is a call to the BBB to file an official complaint. Good luck to anybody doing business with these guys, hopefully you’ll have a better experience than I did.
Dave, I really wanted to support a local gun shop, but at this point I pretty much lost confidence in ever getting contacted and this situation at least discussed. You got my email (
). so I’m at a loss at why you never followed through on the whole mag extension thing you originally promised me you’d take care of. But maybe I’ll at least see a reply to my review, would like to read your side of the story.

David and his crew are great. My very first but will not be my last. Gave me a very good quote to cerakote my FN 5.7 slide. Thanks guys.

I called one time and not again for 4 weeks.
You showed how unfriendly you are in your response to my review.
Reality checking a customer sounds like A1 customer service skills to me.
I feel like you have anger issues and tried to bait me into an angry response with your response to my review.
I have learned my lesson and will only take my guns to Clothey and sons for now on.
They have done me right in the past with my Ruger P90DC.
I would not let you work on a Super soaker after that experience and response.

Update=alpha omega is more a lamda lamda lamda… A bitter owner that blames the customer… there are a ton of AR guys in this county and this guy does not deserve your business.
Original post: you will probably not find a nicer guy selling AR’s in El Cajon or anywhere. the guys are nice, knowledgeable and low pressure. they are a bit overpriced and in my case I payed extra for a complete FDE upper and got a black and tan mess. They say «oh, some guys like that» I said well, not me… For another 40 we can FDE paint your ejection port cover… Me no thanks, won’t be back.

These guys are great.
First of all, very welcoming and friendly… unlike some other shops that apparently have been riding the wave of shortage/​buying panic business and can get away with poor service. You get greeted right as you come in, everyone is nice, there’s no snobby «we don’t really need your business» attitude like at some shops.
All the staff is knowledgeable about everything they sell, and the boss David is like an AR-​15 savant, as well as a very smart gunsmith in general.
Highly recommended. I didn’t know they were here and just happened to see the sign driving by. Glad I stopped in.
Just seeing some of the cool stuff on the wall here inspired me to finally put together the AR parts I’d had sitting in a box for years. Obviously AR-​15 custom builds are a big part of what they do, but that’s not their only area of expertise.
Check it out… I’d say it’s the service and friendly attitude here that makes the difference. Coming from a retail management background myself, I’m impressed.

This place caught me offguard at first I didn’t even know the existence of it until last week. Completely friendly environment and knowledgeable staff. I was considering going to other gunsmiths and gun shops for advice on building my first AR 15, after going to several shops I found this one to be the friendliest one. I walked in looking to buy a %80 lower, ended up just upgrading my AK 47 and I do not regret it. I highly recommend this place to AK owners and for first time AR builds.

I came in yesterday for the first time with my parents. This is the 6^th gun shop I’ve been to in the last two months and I’d have to the it’s the friendliest! I was helped by David, Bryce, and Brian (I think those are their names). They all greeted us with a handshake and introduced themselves to us.
We happened to drive by and decided to stop in. I have been wanting to buy an AR-​15 and saw how easily I could customize my own there. I ended up deciding to buy one! David talked over each piece and gave me so many options.
I cannot wait to go back to the friendly staff and pick my gun up! I will definitely be buying more guns from them.

Had such an amazing time in your shop today! My first time in and I guarantee not the last! From making me feel comfortable asking questions about subjects I’m not yet familiar with, to walking me through what I might need based on what I described to David!
Thanks again to both David and Drew for talking the time and helping me with my purchase!