Not trying to start the next new "Conspiracy Theory" here but I have a hunch that possibly some rather unscrupulous gun dealers are selling internet guns that are considered "blemished guns" at the gun factories or possibly in some circumstances "used guns" and sold as "full price normal unblemished new guns." Ive seen the blemished guns sold as is as blemished guns by gun dealers so those are not the guns Im talking about. The reason why I say this is Ive bought several full price guns over the past few years and a lot of them that fell through the cracks and I didnt catch have gone back to the factory warranty work for cosmetic issues. It seems to be only cosmetic issues. The ONLY gun that I have seen come to me thats been virtually problem free is the Dan Wesson pistols I have received. From what I understand all new Dan Wesson pistols are marked "blemished" on the frame with some kind of marking at the factory if QA says so. To my knowledge no other gun company that I know of does this? There may be other companies that do that I have no idea but do you see where Im coming from here? So in other words there is virtually no way that I can confirm that these guns are "unblemished" normal production full price guns? Let me guess its actually just all "mass production" issues and its because of no more "hand fitting." Right? lol Thoughts and feelings???

For me, it's a non issue.

If I bought a firearm that's being sold as new and not a blem, I'm looking at it real closely before I do the transfer.

If I find any issues, I'm on the phone. I'll send them pictures of the issue, depending on what I bought, it's either going back on their dime for a replacement or a refund or they're going give me a discount.

Let the buyer beware.

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Thread Killer.

Oh yeah I feel you on that Ive had to do that a few times myself..

If it's new and has a huge scratch on it and the market will bear a full price transaction then it's not a scam.

Econ 101.

The factories can send out a new gun, but the packaging is not shipper-proof and neither are the guns in the hands of the store workers. Agree that buyers tend to overlook minor cosmetic flaws if they have a bad case of new gun fever...

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

A blemish is usually in the eye of the buyer. Few guns are sold as safe queen collectibles expected to be perfect in appearance. The manufacturing and assembly process can cause a blemish that has nothing to do with the functioning. Examine before you buy and don’t expect perfection.

So you're in the market for a particular gun of a type rarely stocked at any LGS's, and online availability is spotty. You finally find a reputable online vendor that has one in stock, so you order it.

When it finally arrives, you notice a minor cosmetic blemish on an otherwise perfectly functional gun. Do you shrug and keep it? Or send it back (knowing that if/when you track down another one it too may also be cosmetically imperfect - or worse, have an actual issue that may need to be addressed under warranty)?

If your'e the dealer, what do you do with a gun returned for a cosmetic blemish (which the manufacturer considers "within tolerance")?

Its mostly about these "blemished" discount guns being sold for full price "unblemished" guns by some unscrupulous online gun dealers and the buyer being unaware of it. I also got some "new guns" that looked for sure "used." I wanted to see if any one else has encountered this?

I have bought several factory "blem" guns off the net for a reduced price and not one of them had a scratch or flaw that I could find so I wouldn't doubt it if a dealer got one with no noticeable flaws and listed it as new at the regular price.

The only declared "blem" guns I've seen were Dan Wessons that are marked as such, and sold with a lesser warranty. One LGS carries them. I have seen "blem" marked mags from various manufacturers, but again, sold as such.

I've bought more than one pistol that went back to the factory for various fit & finish issues. Were they "blems"? Can't say. I wanted them enough to call CS and ask if they would do whatever was needed before I put down cash, or decided to ask for a better deal.

Not all "Blems" are cosmetic. A friend of mine bought a blem upper. The Blem was that the ejection port was out of spec, it was machined slightly too small and the ejection door wouldn't stay closed

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Thread Killer.

Smith & Wesson sells factory second/blemished guns. They stamp a U near the serial number. Beretta marks theirs with a Y near the serial number. I'm sure other manufactures do something similar but I have no idea how they mark them.

Some of these guns can be a good buy and some maybe not. Some are guns that have been samples that went to gun shows, conventions, shooting events or have been salesmen samples. Some have been shot and others may have never seen a round after leaving the factory. Some may have been returned for repair by a dealer for cosmetic issues and returned to new condition.

This week where I work; we had a Browning Citori, with a maple stock, come in for a customer. When unpacked there was a dent in the cheek of the butt stock. Obviously it was there when packed into the box. It went back to Browning. Who knows what they will do with it. They could restock it or sell it as a second or new, who knows. I'm not a Browning guy but if I could get it at a discount I would buy it. For sure it will take a discount to move it if it is sold with the dent.

Speaking of blemishes, virtually all Smith & Wesson revolvers will show signs of being test fired and will have traces of a turn line on the cylinder. I've had more than one customer refuse to buy one or complain that we had sold them a used revolver...um no we didn't. Plus I've seen more S&W with wrong model numbers stamped new from the factory than I can count on my fingers. Some really wrong.

Then there are blemishes that happen on the rack. Many dealers will give you a a few bucks off for a gun that shows a little shop wear but don't expect a big discount.

I would also like to say something about our industry on a whole. I have found very few dishonest real dealers. Overall the people in this business are stand up and a great bunch of people. You do have to remember they are in business to ear a living. The margins on new guns are pretty darn slim so don't expect big discounts. A dealer has to pay the bills on that 10 or 15% they might make on a new firearm. Ammo margins are also pretty slim.

Okay that was my rant and ramble for the day.

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Bill Bates

Well Ive asked a few distributors "not gonna name names" maybe i should? I dont know?? about this very same issue of possible blemish guns being bought and than sold to unwary buyers for full price. They all dance around on the question and never answer me back... Kinda adds to the suspicions I have if you ask me... Especially since they answer me promptly back when I ask them about buying a gun from them. Questionable to say the least...

My 686 plus had a blemish when new. A scratch from a screwdriver on the side plate. It was priced at new but I pointed it out and got 150 off the asking price at my local shop. It was fairly deep but only cosmetic. It polished out. By far has been one of the best guns I own. It is my favorite.

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No gold. Only lead. Bobby

A long time ago I was in California on a business trip and stopped at the old Weatherby store on Firestone Boulevard. There was a rack of Mark Vs marked down and a sign said “seconds,” or something like that. I didn’t need another Mark V, but...

To make the possibly long story short, I looked those rifles over carefully and never did find a serious scratch or dent. I asked what made them seconds and was told, “It could be a lot of things.” (Real helpful, but yes, I realize they were trying to sell them.) Sold with normal warranty. I wouldn’t have hesitated to buy one. Discount was 10-or 15-percent, IIRC.

There are crooks everywhere, but I agree with Bill. My experience is the sporting firearms industry is not exactly overrun with them. Bubbas selling stuff at gunshows and on the www... that’s another story.