What does "mint" actually mean?

lihpster · Mar 14, 2022

One of the members here recently purchased a gun from an auction. A nickel 29-2 that was advertised as "unfired!!". When he got it there were burn rings present. When he talked to them about it, they said that they only meant it was "mint". Well, I always thought that mint was as it came from the factory. Untouched. Mint. Once you fire it, it's no longer mint. Thus all mint guns are unfired but not all unfired guns are mint. By the way, this was not the factory test firing. This gun was shot. Maybe just a cylinder full, but it was shot. What do you guys think mint means?

SS336 · Mar 14, 2022

I tend to agree with you. Mint means perfect in every way to me.
I do not see how a gun that has been fired is mint.
But as with most things, everyone sees condition differently and to them mint just might mean really nice condition.
If I was in the market and liked it I wouldn’t care what they called it as long as the price was right.

lihpster · Mar 14, 2022

SS336 said:
I tend to agree with you. Mint means perfect in every way to me.
I do not see how a gun that has been fired is mint.
But as with most things, everyone sees condition differently and to them mint just might mean really nice condition.
If I was in the market and liked it I wouldn’t care what they called it as long as the price was right.

True. But the thing is, this is kind of a grail gun for him and he wanted an unfired, mint example. I've never bought a gun from an auction. I guess the lesson here is ask specific questions before you buy. Like if they're using the same English we are.

DWalt · Mar 14, 2022

Probably no such thing as an unfired gun. I believe most, if not all, guns are test-fired at least a few rounds at the factory prior to shipment.

lihpster · Mar 14, 2022

DWalt said:
Probably no such thing as an unfired gun. I believe most, if not all, guns are test-fired at least a few rounds at the factory prior to shipment.

Let's say unfired since the factory. Still not true. They admitted as much. It's when they were asked about it they said it meant it was mint. Fired after the factory is not mint. Even an unfired gun is not mint if it has finish blemishes or an action job or even different grips. Mint is as it came from the factory. And as to price, he based his price on a mint gun. Not mint, them he'd want it for less.

Lowa · Mar 14, 2022

Mint is straight from the factory condition. A gun handled outside the case is not mint

Sevens · Mar 14, 2022

Well, “mint” isn’t a well-defined collector term. And for what it’s worth, as much as I love S&W, I’ve seen more box fresh, dead-NEW guns shipped from S&W with visible flaws than I can or wish to remember. Flaws from tiny to noteworthy, all items that we would argue are less than MINT, but were never put on the gun from a buyer or dealer or wholesaler… flaw that happened at Springfield, Mass.

Many (some might argue MOST) 6-shot revolvers that S&W shipped over the last buncha decades was fired twice before it was even boxed and I have had a few examples where the evidence of that was seen, and in some cases seen easily.

At the same time, S&W may fire more than two shots, especially in older examples.

I believe that if the BUYER thinks an awful lot is at stake with a purchase he is making without the revolver in hand, it’s up to the BUYER to be extremely clear what we he thinks he is getting, he needs to ask very specific questions and ask for very specific pictures.

Buying guns over the internet, without the gun in hand requires a certain kind of communication and risk, and it isn’t for everyone. If the buyer you’re talking about is not happy, he should return his purchase. And THAT option and all terms should have been well known before he bought it, and if not, that is on him.

Breakaway500 · Mar 14, 2022

"Mint" as in an uncirculated coin, and straight from the mint.

Came from the coin world from what I've been led to believe.

When someone tells me whatever they are selling is 'MINT", and it's not a coin...I immediately think carpetbagger..especially if it's a car.

I never ever never use the term unless I'd like some mint jelly with my lamb chops...

Eric300 · Mar 14, 2022

I guess I'll be the odd man out here. 'Mint' means it is in perfect 10/10 condition in function and appearance. So, you could have a firearm that has been fired but is in otherwise 'mint condition'. Conversely, you could have a firearm that is unfired (except from the factory test), but have a scratch, or blemish of some sort, thus it would not be considered to be in 'mint condition'. That's just the way I see it....

murphydog · Mar 14, 2022

Having had quite a bit of experience in the coin collecting world, coins are struck or minted but the best a gun can be is "factory new". You can say cast, forged, or molded but not minted.

That said, there is a difference between "unfired" (which the gun in question was not) and the highly subjective grading of "mint". To me that would mean a gun looks exactly as it was packed, shipped by the factory and received by the dealer.

With burn rings on the cylinder it is almost certain it also has visible handling marks as well, so "nearly new" would be as good as it could get.

ladder13 · Mar 14, 2022

Minty is even worse

tlawler · Mar 14, 2022

Breakaway500 said:
When someone tells me whatever they are selling is 'MINT", and it's not a coin...I immediately think carpetbagger..especially if it's a car.

What’s your definition of carpetbagger?

GypsmJim · Mar 14, 2022

I don't know if there is a proper definition, so all I can offer is a collector's opinion.

Mint to me means it has 100% bluing, no scratches or scuffs and looks just like it came from the factory. It may have been fired but not much and the turn line is hardly visible.

NIB, unfired means just that. It's not only mint, but it has never been fired except by the factory.

I'll add another classification if I may....NIB, Never Fired, Untouched. In other words, it was never cocked, the trigger was never pulled, and its in ALL of its original packaging.

DWalt · Mar 14, 2022

When you get into coin grading, the slightest ding or scratch moves it out of the uppermost Mint category. The highest grade coin is MS (Mint State)-70 which means essentially perfection at the microscopic level. No normal production line coin will ever reach that level, only those specially-made coins oriented toward collectors.

Correctly, "Mint" as a gun grading level is inappropriate, as is is principally a coin standard. Guns are not made in Mints. However, if someone does use "Mint" as a gun condition, it should be applied only to those guns which have not been handled or fired outside the factory, and do not exhibit any traces of corrosion or other finish blemishes.

oysterer · Mar 14, 2022

I agree, mint does not seem a gun term. Sound immediately fishy to me. Mint, extra mint and it goes downhill from there.

sipowicz · Mar 14, 2022

I bought a gun advertised as mint. It had heavy blueing wear but to be fair it it did smell really nice!

oysterer · Mar 14, 2022

another local NJ favorite...what condition... your kidding me un.......
believable.....mint

Jack Flash · Mar 14, 2022

I agree that "mint" is borrowed from the world of coin collecting and is undefined when applied to guns. You might as well say the condition is "amazing" or "awesome" or some other overused superlative.

It's like hearing a classic car is "cherry". Sounds wonderful, but where is the term defined?

s&wchad · Mar 14, 2022

ladder13 said:
Minty is even worse

Minty fresh is a term used by breath mint manufacturers.

As previously stated, “mint” is a term properly used for coins.
Guns aren’t minted, they’re manufactured. Guns should be described by their physical condition.

“Unfired” tells you nothing. I’ve seen guns that were unfired (outside of the factory) and were trashed by poor storage or excessive handling. Just because they show firing doesn’t mean that they’re not in superb condition.

Don’t get hung up on verbiage or descriptions. Examine guns closely and let your eyes decide. If an online seller doesn’t provide enough photos to make your own decision, ask for more. If he doesn’t provide them to your satisfaction, pass.

RobzGuns · Mar 14, 2022

Gun Auction sites should be limited to rating a firearm for sale to a 'Drop Down' list of categories, with the top condition being 'New In Box' (NIB) (Fresh from the factory/unsold/unhandled, with only factory test fire rounds through it).

Anything other than that, like 'Like New In Box' (LNIB) or other categories should require more in depth description of HOW they feel it's 'Like New'.

What does "mint" actually mean?

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