Hey All,
I recently bought a 66-4 that is listed at 99% condition.
The dealer has an outstanding reputation for accuracy in their assessment of condition, so I believe them.

The photos of the revolver (GB auction) seem to show that this firearm is NIB condition. I mean, you cannot see ANY marks or fouling, not a speck in the cylinders or cylinder face......

I will get the revolver early next week, and post pics and range report, etc.....But, for those who understand the science of rating firearms based on their condition........what exactly does 99% condition mean???

Thanks!

I am not a professional grader but to me 99% means "fired but absolutely no marks, dings, non-factory changes, or scratches." 98% modern revolver, to me, would be at most an extremely faint turn line on the cylinder, the kind you might get from shooting a box of 50 through it. 100% being mint or NIB, never fired out of the factory.

Is there a source that breaks down firearm condition into specific traits and characteristics?

There's a section (with pictures) in the front of the "Blue Book of Gun Values" that gives some examples. That's the only thing I've ever seen that goes into detail.

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Lorin

If I look at a preowned gun and can find NO flaw at all, I consider it 99%.

Just don't forget one thing! One man's 99% might just be another man's 95%. I've seen that on more than one occasion where grading is in the eye of the "beholder". Very important when one or two percentage points might mean a whole lot of bucks.......Dan.

I hear you, but 99% to me, is one of those grades that seems like a commitment, if you will.

If you are saying 98%, or less, I can see discrepancies between "beholders", but that 99% seems pretty specific to me. ( i just went online to blue book of gun values website, and attempted to answer my own question...)

Anyway, I already bought the item, but was just attempting to elicit some responses about what 99% meant to people......in order to make me feel better about over paying for this mint 66-4 snub!!

The gun community used to use the NRA ratign system; New, Excellent, very Good, Fair, Poor. It worked well enough. Percentages are hard to prove. 99% to me means it hasn't been fired, but it's left the factory, like a new car that rolls off the lot and instantly loses value just for leaving the barn.

99% is perfect. 100% is no more perfect. Someone said 'non-factory dings' -- good point. They don't bother me personally; tool marks, fine little scratches from moving the gun through the production cycle, etc.

What concerns me are the under 95% values without further comment. I always want to know what the missing percentage is -- don't just say it, say why. It's a CYA move. "I told you it was 83%..." You'll notice after the fact that the defects were never clearly photographed or disclosed. When the pics make it look excellent but the seller says 90% or less, he wants you to believe he's just modest in his assessment, but there's something there, like the topstrap was drilled for a scope, or there's rust under the grips ("I never took them off").