I bought a Remington 1911 R1 45 ACP for $565 new in the box in 2010, the 'centennial model'. Today on GB, a well-worn, lightly abused gun only, no box or docs was clearance priced at only $900. I am very happy how my 1911 has appreciated in value.
Frustrated with sellers on GB
- Thread starter Greg11H20
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I broke it down a bit to help you with your inquiry, if the seller does not reply. Hopefully this will help you get a fast response. Good luck!
Sir,
Would you send me some CLEAR pictures with the action open of…
a) the cylinder face
b) the underside of the top strap / forcing cone area
c) the recoil shield
d) each of the six (6) chambers
e) the ejector
f) Does the revolver lock up the same on every one of the six (6) chambers, or is one chamber looser than the other (side to side play)? If so,WHICH is the problematic chamber?
g) Is the revolver in time on every one of the six (6) chambers? If not, WHICH chamber has the problem?
h) Is there any end-shake (-1-fore and -2-aft play in the cylinder?)
i) Would you mind taking a shim gage and (1) measure the BC Gap and (2) let me know what the measurement is?
j) Is the ejector rod straight? If not, how bent is it? Please, approximate.
k) Does it depress and rebound without binding? If not, is dirt, or…? Please, describe.
Thank you!
Sir,
Would you send me some CLEAR pictures with the action open of…
a) the cylinder face
b) the underside of the top strap / forcing cone area
c) the recoil shield
d) each of the six (6) chambers
e) the ejector
f) Does the revolver lock up the same on every one of the six (6) chambers, or is one chamber looser than the other (side to side play)? If so,WHICH is the problematic chamber?
g) Is the revolver in time on every one of the six (6) chambers? If not, WHICH chamber has the problem?
h) Is there any end-shake (-1-fore and -2-aft play in the cylinder?)
i) Would you mind taking a shim gage and (1) measure the BC Gap and (2) let me know what the measurement is?
j) Is the ejector rod straight? If not, how bent is it? Please, approximate.
k) Does it depress and rebound without binding? If not, is dirt, or…? Please, describe.
Thank you!
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Interesting. I guess my opinion is worth what you pay for it, but I can’t imagine a seller responding to all those requests. 
A lot of that stuff is subjective in nature, as to what is acceptable, unless actual measurements are made, and even then owing to different levels of skill in measuring and tools/fixtures available, the answers may not be worth much.
I have a few hard and fast rules I think of when considering an online purchase. I’d like to talk to the seller. I’m interested in any potential references. I’m only interested in buying items where it is clearly stated that I have an inspection/return provision. I want to be able to use a credit card. If I can’t get these things, my hesitation meter starts climbing accordingly.
Bottom line is, a revolver that’s perfectly acceptable to me may not be what’s expected to a different buyer. I want to see the gun for myself. If I want it badly enough, I’ll be willing to gamble the expense of returning it if my judgment in ordering it has failed, but I insist on the right of inspection and return. I’m not interested in exploding anyone’s head.
A lot of that stuff is subjective in nature, as to what is acceptable, unless actual measurements are made, and even then owing to different levels of skill in measuring and tools/fixtures available, the answers may not be worth much.
I have a few hard and fast rules I think of when considering an online purchase. I’d like to talk to the seller. I’m interested in any potential references. I’m only interested in buying items where it is clearly stated that I have an inspection/return provision. I want to be able to use a credit card. If I can’t get these things, my hesitation meter starts climbing accordingly.
Bottom line is, a revolver that’s perfectly acceptable to me may not be what’s expected to a different buyer. I want to see the gun for myself. If I want it badly enough, I’ll be willing to gamble the expense of returning it if my judgment in ordering it has failed, but I insist on the right of inspection and return. I’m not interested in exploding anyone’s head.
I wait days sometimes for a reply. Usually I've lost interest by then, especially if it's the day the auction ends.
swagmeister
Member
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If you are really lucky, you might get one picture of the gun and a reply such as "in really good shape and hard to find", but I doubt that.
I hope You're not wearing the same pair of skivies while waiting.
No offense, but you are not likely to get an equally detailed reply. The times when I sold a gun and got buyers asking me a million questions like that they were either A: tire kickers, or B: the nervous type who would return the gun because they were too unsure about the sale.
The only inspection that counts is the one YOU perform, which means the seller should at the very least allow a quick inspection while it's still at the FFL, or else a 3-day inspection period if it's a C&R transaction.
The only inspection that counts is the one YOU perform, which means the seller should at the very least allow a quick inspection while it's still at the FFL, or else a 3-day inspection period if it's a C&R transaction.
I got caught up in this once as a seller on this very forum. Guy asks for my phone# so we can talk. Fine. No problem. He’s not the buyer. Can his friend the actual buyer call me. Fine. No problem. Friend asks for more pics after a 20 min phone conversation. Fine. No problem. Upon viewing pics he passed on gun due to “the looks” of the pin in barrel. This was a model 36 2” that appeared unfired and had box and all the goodies including original purchase receipt. Beautiful gun but not a super expensive gun. Eventual buyer from this forum was ecstatic when he received it. These other two were tire kickers trying to play high end collectors.
The auction outfits are in for their percentage. They don’t care except that they get some bad PR. On some of the big ones you are getting 4 layers
to seller who actually has custody of gun. Seller- to shop- shop to small
auction Co. - Big Auction Company.
Good luck on getting intelligent info out of seller.
to seller who actually has custody of gun. Seller- to shop- shop to small
auction Co. - Big Auction Company.
Good luck on getting intelligent info out of seller.
smoothshooter
Member
I very seldom see any prospective revolver buyer do anything more than a cursory inspection of a gun.
jkingrph
Member
Personally as a buyer, never a seller, I browse a lot, when and only when I get interested in a paticular thing. I think I have purchased three guns using gunbroker, first was a Marlin 39aMountie. Plenty of pictures, dealer was great, when I said I had a C&R license he said send a personal check and he sent the gun out the day he got the check and signec copy of C&R. Then there was an old S&W hand ejector in 32-20 which I wanted as a companion to a Marlin 1894CL rifle. I really wanted one with adjustable rear sight, but never could find one so settled for a fixed sight model, and lastly this year was a little 22/32 kit gun, All were C&R purchases, and I was surprised when the last one was delivered via USPS, which I thought was available only to FFL holders. Seller said it was legal, no problem for me, complying with postal regs was their problem. Anyway, plenty of pictures of all on gunbroker no bothering sellers, except to ask it items were C&R elibible and did they do C&R sales.
I had a listing on GI. Posted over a dozen pics. One guy kept asking for more, and I sent them. Lots of questions that I answered.
He took days to respond then comes back with I only have XX amount of dollars right now.Way under what I was asking.
A few days later he comes up with another $100 and asks for my FFL info.I never answered and just blocked him.
I’d rather send my guns to a smelter rather than deal with folks like that.
Oh yeah, sold the gun for asking last week.
You've bought 26 guns on GB and fixed one with end shake. You don't sound like a newbie to me.
I find it quite the opposite. I have probably purchased 60 revolvers from Gunbroker and I am a N frame freak. They post tons of pics and are way more knowledgeable than me. Never had a issue. Look at the sellers history. Any history over 1000 your gold. and even the little guy I have had nothing but good luck with.
cd228
Member
I hate to say it, but most folks i know, wouldn't know how to check alot of the things the OP asked. They are great questions.
I think you are spot on. IMHO even if the seller hasn’t misrepresented the gun (if there are several potential buyers that don’t have the long list of “tests”) the seller isn’t going to go to a lot of trouble responding to a long list if he doesn’t have to.
shil
Member
You pay your money and you take your chance, I guess. I'm certainly happy for those who have made successful purchases with Gunbroker, but I remain a skeptic with trust issues. I cannot bring myself to buy and pay for in advance a firearm sight unseen except for pictures.
RM Vivas
US Veteran
If the seller did a good job with the images in the first place, no one would need to ask for more.
The images should cover pretty much every angle of the gun.
There is a Wyoming gunshop, Lock Stock & Barrel, who seems to know what they are about and always do an excellent job with their images. As a rule of thumb, every stamping on the gun should be ullustrated, as well as every screwhead and pin face. This sounds like alot but you can do a satisfactory job of covering a gun with a dozen images and a really good jobe with about 2 dozen. Above that number, you're getting into crime scene-type forensic photography, which I whole heartedly agree with, but can be much if a fellow is putting a score of guns up.
Also, the ad copy really should include a serial number.
Best,
RM Vivas
Well RM I have to disagree with you a bit. One good sharp pic of both sides of a S&W revolver is enough for me to decide to buy or pass if the gun is a model I want and the price is fair. I do need to know enough about the serial number to know if it is C&R eligible because I have no desire to have to hassle with going through a gun shop to get a gun anymore.
