Do you care about cosmetic imperfection on your firearm?

kstud · Jul 21, 2016

So I went to my local FFL to pick up my online order of a M&P9 FS with green crimson trace yesterday. Noticed some cosmetic imperfection on the rear sights and a small imperfection on the polymer rail.

My FFL said check it and refuse if it's not to my satisfaction. Noticed the imperfections noted above but decided to accept it because I wanted some range time.

Ran about 100 rounds of federal HST and FMJ through it, not a single hiccup. Manufacture date was 06/2016 and trigger felt really good, nice crisp break and reset. Shoots like a dream and the crimson trace laserguard was amazing. Bullseye at 25 yards (max at the range), hip fire, point and shoot, rapid target acquisition...even has an on/off switch for when I want to use solely iron sights. Tested the green crimson trace in complete darkness and it's bright enough to identify a target if a flashlight wasn't available. Amazing.

With that said, after returning home, I had reservation about not refusing the firearm and having a different one sent to me without those cosmetic imperfections.

Although I've now put some more blemishes on the pistol from the range, it still somewhat bothers me that the pistol wasn't perfect on pick-up. Don't judge me, I know it's crazy but I'd like to personally be the one that blemishes my firearm.

So...do you care or not care about a new firearm with cosmetic imperfection?

robertrwalsh · Jul 21, 2016

If I am buying a NEW weapon I expect it to be pretty much perfect, including in appearance.

Smoke · Jul 21, 2016

kstud said:
So...do you care or not care about a new firearm with cosmetic imperfection?

Couldn't care less. My work gun gets beat to hell getting in and out of my car and going through gates and such

Ranger17 · Jul 21, 2016

much like when picking up a new car, i would like it to be nice and clean/free of defects. That said, i also understand wear and tear (and perhaps some abuse) will happen over time.
So if it's something I truly want, do not want to wait for whenever a replacement could be available, and any defect is not of any real importance then i'd likely accept it.

vortex360 · Jul 21, 2016

The 1911 pistol looks even better with a few holster marks and or wear on it. Guns are tools and tools look good even with a few little imperfections. Love your weapon even with a few minor imperfections on it as it is solid and dependable.

lowriderfxr · Jul 21, 2016

I think on this type of weapon it really doesn't matter. Like you said you've put a couple more and you will continue to put more. If it were a pre war magnum or collectible that was misrepresented , that would be another matter. Working guns will always get dinged up if you use them.

Arik · Jul 21, 2016

Couldn't care less. In fact I prefer imperfections if the price reflect that which is why 99% of my guns are used and out of those 99% are police guns.

Now, if I'm buying a new gun and it has a gauge or a large dent or something to that end I will refuse it. However, if it's some minor cosmetic stuff I don't care. My ONLY concern is that it works

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Jdavis · Jul 21, 2016

IfnI had bought it a good price, I wouldn't worry about small imperfections. If it functions well and you are pleased with it, keep and enjoy it. With a little effort you might correct the imperfections or, in time, look past them.

wsr · Jul 21, 2016

Doesn't bother me

dusty3030 · Jul 21, 2016

Can you post a picture of the areas of concern.

A $2,000 nice wood stocked rifle with a big scratch on the stock - No good not acceptable. The value of that gun includes the appearance.

A $500 plastic duty type gun with a nick on the accessory rail - wouldn't bother me a bit because it's a tool and the nick detracts zero from the value.

Still, hard to comment on your particular situation without a picture.

Shield9mm · Jul 21, 2016

yes I do care specially if I'm buying a new one.

BigBill · Jul 21, 2016

A brand new gun is a brand new gun. For the money I'm paying it better be perfect. Like 110% perfect. Now if I'm paying top dollar for used guns(n frames) they better be 98/99% as listed. I accept a slight turn ring. I'm not a collector, it's just what it is when I pay a lot of money for it. I expect it to be equal to what I'm paying.

Now not getting what you wanted or ordered is another thing with ffl dealers. I ordered a new rifle to scope, no sights. It came in with sights. I regret taking it to this day.

Comrad · Jul 21, 2016

The first thing I did with my new to me, perfect 6906, was to unzip the gun rug and drop the shiny new gun on the cement floor.

If you examine anything close enough you are sure to find a blemish. If it shoots well I would be happy. You could end up with a cosmetic beauty that shoots like ****.

Shoot it till it gets hot and enjoy it.

Jim L · Jul 21, 2016

I expect my brand new firearm to look brand new.. What if I never fired the gun but later decided to sell it? It is hard to sell an unfired gun that looks used.

Arik · Jul 21, 2016

Jim L said:
I expect my brand new firearm to look brand new.. What if I never fired the gun but later decided to sell it? It is hard to sell an unfired gun that looks used.

Whay is this unfired thing you speak off? [emoji1]

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44wheelman · Jul 21, 2016

if you sent it back... you could have ended up with a gun with an uglier flaw, or a more serious problem. or.....

I bought a new Ruger from a distributor, and when it showed up...had to be sent right back to Ruger. Happened with two different revolvers..

at least you had an opportunity to check it out, it wasn't a major deal breaker, I wouldn't worry about the what ifs... now if this were a $1500 Performance Center gun...my expectations would be a little higher.

loknload · Jul 21, 2016

Brand new means brand new!
On a brand new gun if anyone is going to scratch or mar it, it's going to be me!

On a used gun that's a different story, if something is to bad I'm not going to buy it!

gwpercle · Jul 21, 2016

Is anything in life truly perfect...totally absent of all and any flaws ?

Guns are tools , I don't demand perfection in the cosmetics, if it shoots accurately I'm happy. Of course I'm a shooter and not afflicted with those disorders like anal-retentiveness or OCD (thankfully).

Gary

Bkreutz · Jul 21, 2016

Cosmetics have no interest to me, which is probably why I don't bother with paining roll marks, coating slides, or other such stuff. But it does sound like you initially thought that way when you first inspected it and decided to accept it, now you're wishing you hadn't. I hate second guessing any decision I make. Just live with your decision. It may help to drop your pistol in the dirt and walk on it for a while.

. In my case, when I get a new gun, the first place it goes is to the milling machine for modifications (functional, not cosmetic).

mustangman · Jul 21, 2016

If I'm buying new at new price, then yes, I want it to look that way.
If I scratch it, or put wear on it, I've paid for that privilege.
I don't have a problem with a cosmetically imperfect gun, I just don't want to pay full price for it.
My last purchase was a police trade in G22 with slide wear, and I couldn't be happier because its perfect for what its used for (HD, range) and what I paid.

Do you care about cosmetic imperfection on your firearm?

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