Does S&W sell "refurbished" guns?

les45 · #1 11-29-2012, 04:25 PM

I had been in the market for a nice 4" Model 64 recently to round out part of my S&W collection, and I finally found one at a local gun shop. When I asked the dealer if it was an LE trade, he was emphatic that it wasn't. He said that it was a "refurbished" gun from S&W. It was a good deal and was in great shape so I took it home. When I started disassemby to clean it up, I found crud in all the usual places for an older gun and it was obvious that the side plate hadn't been off in years. Serial number dates to 1989. Internals and bore were like new so I'm assuming that it was a typical LE that was simply passed on to the public. Anyone ever heard of the factory selling refurbished guns that were not LE trades?

MichiganScott · #2 11-29-2012, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by les45

It was a good deal and was in great shape so I took it home. When I started disassemby to clean it up, I found crud in all the usual places for an older gun and it was obvious that the side plate hadn't been off in years. Serial number dates to 1989. Internals and bore were like new so I'm assuming that it was a typical LE that was simply passed on to the public.

Sure sounds to me like a typical LE turn-in that was carried a lot and shot a little. When the local PD went to semi-autos, the gun guys fell all over themselves buying up their co-workers revolvers that had literally never been fired.

Smee78 · #3 11-29-2012, 07:07 PM

Sounds like your dealer is full of ........sounds to me like a typical LE turn-in to me also. Some of the best deals I ever got were from LE turn-ins.

murphydog · #4 11-29-2012, 08:14 PM

There are plenty of LE turn-ins that emerge from the factory in generic blue or cardboard boxes, usually with a barcode/description sticker. I'd guess they get a basic inspection before being sold but that is it.