Hello folks. I thought I'd share an e-mail response I got from a seller on gunbroker after I asked him what the serial number was on a pistol because his pictures were rather uninformative. I told I was looking for a pistol made earlier than the example I already had. I could only shake my head as I read it. Here goes:

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Hi, just as info and please check with s&w or s&w collectors These sn numbers mean nothing on these old guns. Most gun makers at that time just put a munber on a gun. Colt used the same sn on three different models . you can check. On your smith, the first number could be the month or the day, the second could be the month or year. and thats the problem with early models, call S&w, there are no records. You can also have a pre 1898 with a logo on the right with a sn # starting with a 1, still fist model. I hope this will help you when looking at any pre 1898.
<unquote>

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Ryan

I don't know if I should laugh or cry with that response ....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

AMEN!!!!

RUN----do not walk from that pitiful display of ignorance----or the equally pitiful display of dishonesty!!

Ralph Tremaine

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Come and take it!!

On the other hand, you could thank him nicely for the information, save his email, and see if you could sell him something in the future...

I wouldn't bother with replying. Just move on. Besides, he might not receive it. I have a feeling that he's not long for the gene pool.

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The best I can with what I got

Thank you! I always enjoy a good laugh in the morning.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I can’t help but wonder if this is simply a scammer? I would not be surprised if he doesn’t even have the gun and any photos he is providing are copied from some internet source.

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Possum—The other white meat!

Send him our Forum link, maybe he will join and learn something!!!

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Well said. Good point in few words.

I have noticed that a measurable percentage of GB listings do not show serial numbers. This is sometimes a case of omission by ignorance, and sometimes a case of omission by design. Unless the offering is a "gotta have", I do not even ask any longer and just move on to the next one.
My next beef is poor pictures, but that can be another thread....

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NRA Endowment Member

An prime example of someone with an advanced case of the "Screaming Stoopids" ...
My advice ... Ignore the ignorant !
This malady seems to be spreading ... watch out .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

That's like the time I looked at a Smith & Wesson at a gun show. I asked the dealer, all the while knowing the answer to my question, "What's the star mean after the serial number?". He responded "That means it belonged to a sheriff." I put the gun down and walked away.

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Don Mundell

I wouldn't answer it, just delete it.

Why have I been spending all this money to get a Letter?
I deciphered all my serial numbers and compared to my Letters.
None agreed. What the heck do I do now?

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

THAT is one of the best 'gun counter clerk' answers I've heard. Gotta add it to my list for my new book: "Answers from the Experts at the local gun shop".
A follow on to my other book: "Answers from the Experts at the local car dealership".

J.

I believe that gentleman would have to study for a Urine Test!

Don, you remind me of a great quote in Good Morning Vietnam.

"I always thought you were a little crazy, but your'e not crazy, your mean"

Attached Images

Untitled.jpg (18.1 KB, 260 views)

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Gary
SWCA 2515

What this guy lacks in Knowledge and intelligence, he makes up for with pure stupidity.

AT lease his IQ test came back negative!

I think you all are missing the boat.

The world is made up of people like this. You meet them at every gun show.

It's up to you how you react to them. When I was young and full of book notes? I would feel sorry for them and tell them: "You know, that's worth a lot more than that".... but I got tired of them looking at me like I didn't know anything. They would even get mad at me! Or give me dirty looks!

So, I tried a different approach to them and have made many, many deals since then. You have to first except that they will never change. Then look at "ALL" that they have for sale!

I was once asked by a gentleman at a show who said to me while I was looking through his parts box, "You like collecting slugs?" I said: " The more I can get my hands on the better". "Got any Smith & Wesson Slugs"?

He said, " Well, I got me this "BANG" gun that was used by a clown in a Circus? I said: " Well, I'd sure like to see that".... He bent down, looking under his table, and rummaged through a box of loose parts/guns and pulled out a dirty 3rd Model 38 D.A S&W with an 8" barrel, busted H&R grips, and said. "It ain't real, it's a "BANG" gun. "It was used in a Circus "....

This is what separates the men from the boys..."Maintaining the Poker face"....It was tough. I had to stand there and listen to his lengthy story about clowns and circus props with a confused look on my face, biting my lower lip, and trying to keep my heart rate down. Even looking away a few times to appear mildly interested.

I'm not gonna say what I paid for the "Circus Prop" slug gun but it was a very good day.

Murph

Don't waste your time replying. You will drain your brain cells to the level of the seller.

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aka "Mooncat"

Perhaps he had SNs confused with Numerology...

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Alden
Guns N' Rosés

I am really chuckling at this. So true. When your book comes out I will be first in line for a signed copy. You guys kill me. Haha
Tony

Or a link directly to this thread.....

Remember, they not only vote, they breed.

If you think about last Tuesday Monday was yesterday, and Thursday was two days away. Then you get the idea we need a Delorean with a Flux Capacitor, or a Time Tunnel, but if I said that I would surely be showing my age which is not 53 nor is it 55 . Ok if you made it to the end of this must really apologize. My post makes as much sense as the OP's email.

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Randy

I'm always leery of GB ads where one sentence is item description and the rest is a wall of text with store policies.

Either the seller has no clue what they are selling, like in this thread, or they don't care.

Also the $15,000 gun with 2 pictures.

Unfortunately, about 98% of ads are like this.

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aka "Mooncat"

I would just say "I know, but I'd like to know the serial number anyway"


Some of the best deals I have ever had were from people who did not know what they had.


M

Mike
It looks like Roy and I will be able to speed up letters now!

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Don Mundell

Wow! This revelation is going to ruin Jim, Rick and Roy's days. All that work on books full of inaccurate information.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Ask him for a picture of the gun with a card that has today’s date on it. I am sure he cannot do that because he probably does not have the gun in question.