Just returned from filling out some paperwork at my FFL. There was a supposed NIB 4" 617 waiting for me there, but it was missing the spent casing and there was some powder residue from firing to the right of the barrel, on the frame, when viewed from a shooting stance (cylinder opens to the left, this was to the right), And the recoil plate or shield was kind of matte, not at all shiny or polished.

I never bought a NIB S&W revolver before, so I don't know if this is all normal (my mode 60 and 64 aren't like that). Everything else looked ok, plastic case, manual, that brown (wax?) paper, at least one little key for the lock, and the exterior finish looked fine, no visible scratches. It was a 617-6 and I didn't note the serial number. Hammer was black, IIRC. I can't find the sticky with the dash numbers, but I believe 617-6 is the latest, right?

What are your thoughts on the blast residue? Is that from test firing? They don't bother to wipe it off prior to shipping?

And the lack of spent case. Do some come with and others without? I'm going to have to pay for the FFL to fire this if this a indeed NIB.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

I've been living under a rock. What's the spent case for?

The gun sounds new to me as what you have described is pretty much standard. No, they dont clean after test firing. As far as the spent case (gun identification purposes), who cares?

If I have to pay extra for someone to shoot it in order to satisfy an asinine government requirement before I can own it, then I care. If I rebarrel the gun, say, drop a Lone Wolf barrel in my Glock in order to shoot lead bullets or install a Tacsol barrel in my Buckmark, then how does that affect the spent casing requirement? It's just plain stupid and causes manufacturers and distributors to not ship certain items to Maryland. The way I see it, it's trickery disguised as a benefit to society that's used to gnaw away at law-abiding citizens' rights and privileges.

But enough about that; I'm glad it sounds as if the 617 really is NIB.

Thanks for the feedback.

The factory does test-fire all guns before shipping and doesn't clean them. The recoil shield is not polished; it usually looks about the same as the rest of the inside frame where the cylinder fits.

Does MD require rimfires to have fired casings?

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Unfortunately, yes...



"Maryland Public Safety Section 5-131
Article - Public Safety

§ 5-131.

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) "Manufacturer" means a person who possesses a federal license to engage in the business of manufacturing firearms or ammunition for sale or distribution.

(3) "Projectile" means the part of handgun ammunition that is expelled through the barrel of the handgun by an explosion.

(4) "Shell casing" means the part of handgun ammunition that contains the primer and propellent powder to discharge the projectile.

(b) A manufacturer that ships or transports a handgun for sale, rental, or transfer in the State shall include in the box with the handgun in a separate, sealed container:

(1) a shell casing of a projectile discharged from the handgun; and

(2) additional information that the Secretary requires to identify the type of handgun and shell casing.

(c) (1) On receipt of a handgun from a manufacturer, the dealer shall confirm to the Department of State Police that the manufacturer has complied with subsection (b) of this section.

(2) On the sale, rental, or transfer of the handgun, the dealer shall forward the sealed container to the Department of State Police Crime Laboratory.

(d) On receipt of a shell casing and information as required in subsection (b) of this section, the Department of State Police Crime Laboratory shall enter the information in each relevant database."

What a waste of time and money. Perhaps you should contact your state representatives to find out how many serious crimes have been solved by this casing "database".

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

A new Smith,especially one sent to MD or NY, should have the casing.
I have purchased other, smaller, brands of guns that came into my state (NY) without it (Les Baer).My dealer took care of the fired case requirement without extra charge-just part of the deal.
If the gun was transfered in for you from another state,he is not the selling dealer,then I would expect a charge for the extra effort.

....I don't think many criminals shuck their revolver empties at the crime scene.

I recently purchased a 686 PowerPort from a young man in Maryland who purchased it new in 2001. He made very sure that I knew that the fired case was still in its sealed envelope, as it is illegal to sell a handgun (or maybe any gun) in Maryland without one.

I think they also have a waiting period in Maryland. I do know they charge insane amounts for FFL transfers there. The FFL holder who was shipping the gun to my FFL holder told me the going rate for a simple ATF 4473 and background check in Maryland is $63. Here in Pennsylvania, most FFLs charge $25 for both the ATF and PA State Police paperwork. Many don't charge anything if you purchased the gun from them.

Ed

One can still find FFLs who do transfers for $25-$35, but you'll have to drive out of town. There's a minimum 7 day wait for handguns and auto-loading long guns (not sure if they differentiate types), and you have to pay the State Police $10, per transaction, for them to conduct the background test. If you're a designated collector, applied for through the State Police, you can purchase more than one firearm per month. From personal experience, background checks can take from 5-30 days, but the FFL can transfer on the 8th day even if he doesn't hear from the police; most wait for the approval.