Originally Posted by
zukahn1
I see what look like the tail end of two small cracks just above the crown, I suspect if you remove the crown race there much bigger at the bottom so yes it's unsafe. It also looks like someone ground down a bit of the steerer tube and paint to closely inspect the damage cracks.
This makes sense! I will look at it much more closely when I get home but I think I can see what you mean in the original photo. I did not see the actual frame builder when I picked up the bike, but his employee, who probably did not know exactly what his boss saw or did. I'm thinking his boss placed the fork on his jig and seeing the cracks decided to investigate, hence the ground-off area. Taking off a .5mm chunk of metal and still seeing cracks he may have then deemed it unsafe to use. I guess I'll call him tomorrow and get it from the horse's mouth.
thanks, I'll report what I find upon closer examination. But I'm pretty much set on replacing the fork and playing it safe.