Are demo guns desirable

[mikey460sw]

Looks like it's a earlier model it's doesn't have the s&w stamp on the slide like mine. But that's ok it looks good no marks on the finish.

 

[Taj]

I have bought a 1911 that is supposed to be a fully loaded demo Performance Center 1911. Are demo guns more desirable and would they be considered pre-models also would demos be worth more?

Boomstick,

Demo guns are not necessarily pre-production guns. They may be just salesman's samples of current product. I worked for S&W for a number of years and had as many as 60-100 sample guns at any one time. I was on the LE side of the house and did demos almost every day, so many of the samples got shot a lot. On the other hand, I had samples that rarely came out of the box except on display tables at trade shows. I also had a good supply of armorer's school guns that had been taken apart and put together so many times, they'd almost fall apart if you looked at them wrong. Pin holes get a little loose when sometimes less than competent future armorers are given big hammers and a half dozen punches to play with. Demo/sample guns need to be taken on an individual basis and can often be a smokin deal. I bought many of my samples and still have a safe full of blue boxes with some very nice handguns in them.

Taj

 

[supervisor]

It is usually a gun that has been fired by members of the press at the Shot Show or some other event where the company is promoting the gun. I am not aware of any increase in value any more than purchasing a used sweeper used for demonstration purposes.

 

[Bill Bates]

I may be way off base but a "demo" model is another way of saying it's a used gun with no previous transfer history....I may be wrong...regardless, that is a beautiful 1911

^^^
Here is the correct answer.

Where I work we received a shipment of Demo/Sample guns from Smith & Wesson in December. The nice part is they are pretty much like new and sell at a nice discount. The down side is we're told they do not have a S&W warranty. They are easy to identify because they have U stamped near the serial number. Are they desirable; not really beyond they sell for a good discount.

I bought a U stamped M&P15 VTAC LE for myself for Christmas. It was just to good a deal to pass up. We also had some like new U stamped M&P15 Sport II that sold for $410. Let just say they didn't last long.

 

[9146gt]

Call Smith with the serial number and ask what the Product Code is. If it is the same as on the box it will be under warranty, if not it is a used gun with no warranty.
Smith used to start the product code of used guns with a 6.

Tom

 

[44wheelman]

Unless it has unique pre-production features, or super low serial number, a letter saying it was shipped to Colt, FBI, etc, anything to distinguish it from a regular production sample...then no I cannot fathom why anyone would pay more. Not like someone has shown me their collection of demo guns.

 

[madoka]

I ended up in a bidding war over a 952. At the time, I did not realize the reason why other buyers were bidding it up was because it was a salesman's sample of a 952 with a ambi safety that no one knew existed.

 

[Barrie]

I agree, some times there are Only one or two made of a certain model for whatever reason. These can be sometimes found in Salesmans samples. Just as they can be found as Older Rare models that are worth a lot more just for what they are as well. Very limited Editions many times bring a much higher dollar as well.

 

[haertig]

If a demo gun comes without a warranty, then I wouldn't want it. There's got to be a reason they specifically don't warrant them (I don't know personally if they do or don't, but a previous poster said they aren't warranted). You might get lucky, you might not.

Plus, if it's a demo that has been shot by many different people, you don't have the owner's "pride of ownership" working in your favor to assure the gun has been well taken care of.

For the same reason, I wouldn't buy a used rental car. You can bet your bottom dollar that individual renters may not have taken good care of the car while it was in their hands (although the rental agency probably did good maintenance when it wasn't rented out).

Any lack of warranty would be a big red flag for me. Think carefully about why a company would not want to stand behind a certain gun. Do you really want to be the person who buys that gun?

 

[TTSH]

The nice part is they are pretty much like new and sell at a nice discount. The down side is we're told they do not have a S&W warranty. They are easy to identify because they have U stamped near the serial number.

If a demo gun comes without a warranty, then I wouldn't want it.

I am getting so confused. I always thought that a "U" stamped on a Smith & Wesson pistol meant that the gun was a "used", factory-refurbished gun re-sold by S&W. The "U" was stamped on the gun by S&W so it wouldn't be confused with brand new... accidentally or maybe not so accidentally in some cases. I suppose a true demo gun could fall into that category and get a "U' stamped on it... but I'm thinking that an unused one-of-a-kind or limited production or PC shop special salesman's sample would be very unlikely to be stamped as a used gun.

My thinking is that any gun returned to S&W by anyone or for any reason that was an acceptable candidate for factory refurbishment and factory re-sale could end up with a "U" stamped on it. Am I wrong about that?

But no warranty at all on "U" stamped guns? That doesn't make sense to me.

 

[824tsv]

A PC gun, with a Houlton, Maine slide and frame address? In a standard production blue box? Can the O.P. advise if there is a production date stamp on the box end label?

 

[Bill Bates]

I think many manufacturers consider the guns sent out and transferred to sales reps as used when they get them back. They then discount them when they move them out into the retail market. Some do refurb work on those that may need it and some don't. Trust me they can be kind of shop worn going to shows, shown to wholesalers and retailers. Some of those guns can go to matches or be sent to reviewers and writer so they have been fired. Each manufactures have policies on how they deal with those firearms. Some allow the sales reps to sell them on their own, some take them back for a refresh and some take them back an just sell them as is at a nice discount. Some manufactures will give a warranty or a modified warranty and others treat them as an "as is sale". Like many retailers treat shelf guns by giving a discount for shop wear even if it is minor most manufacturer treat their sample demo guns as shop worn.

Ifa firearm is returned for warranty work by a final purchaser the firearm will be fixed and returned. If beyond repair the owner will get a replacement. I don't know how manufacturers deal with firearms that they determined were beyond repair. I would be surprised they would be marked and sold as used because the liability would be huge.

If a firearm goes out to a wholesaler or retailer and it has a blemish or is damaged in shipping. Those guns go back and are often replaced wu=ith a different firearm. Those I suspect are referred if possible and do get marked as used and sold by the manufacturer as used like Beretta with their "Y" guns and Smith & Wesson with their "U" guns

When it comes to DEMO guns, sample guns, guns returned by dealers due to shipping damages or blemishes, refurbished guns, etc, buyer beware. You will want to know the rules of game before you plunk down your dollars.

 

[Sevens]

I ended up in a bidding war over a 952. At the time, I did not realize the reason why other buyers were bidding it up was because it was a salesman's sample of a 952 with a ambi safety that no one knew existed.

That's an interesting picture. Is the right stock "grooved" or otherwise relieved at the top/rear? Because it looks for all the world as if the safety is just fine as long as it is in the "fire" position but it seems as if placing it on "safe" will simply send the ambi lever dead-stop in to the wooden stock.

 

[18DAI]

TTSH I have always assumed as you did. In fact, my one of one PC 45CQB has a U stamp on the trigger guard.

It was made at the PC and delivered to a writer at American Handgunner who evaluated it and wrote an article. It was then sent back to the factory where it was refurbished/refinished and then sent to Lew Horton. It was sold by them and in private hands from late 2001 till 2007 when it was put up for auction as part of an estate sale.

I've owned it since. Desirable? You bet. Used? Oh yes! So sometimes I guess you can get a pretty nice demo gun. With low miles too. Regards 18DAI

 

[vigil617]

There is a "U" stamped Shorty 45 with a PCZ prefix for sale right now on that large auction site, and if money were no object, I would love to own it. Will be interesting to see where the sale lands compared to NIB Shorty 45's, an example of which (in a Mark 2 version) is also for sale.

 

[Harkrader]

I have two handguns that were "demo" guns.
One is a S&W 1911Sc that was the test gun featured in Gun Tests Magazine. I bought it because the price was right. An excellent gun in excellent decision.
The other is a S&W 386PD used by S&W as a sales demo at a Ducks Unlimited event. An excellent gun in excellent condition, at the right price.

I had some mods done to the 386PD to make it more to my liking, but the 1911 is as-received, meaning bone stock.