Buying a gun in the Display Case ?

[highaltitude]

Looking at buying a M&P 9c.. already have the Shield 9mm and yes I have the M&P "Affliction" now thanks to my Shield and this board.

Anyway, my question is would any of you hesitate on buying a gun from the display case ? Many of the LGS here are out of the 9c and only have one left in the display case. Just curious.

 

[NucPhysics]

Out of the 6 handguns I have purchased lately, 5 of them were from the display case. The place I purchase from allows people to test the trigger to see how it feels but not fieldstrip the gun. For the most part, the guns really can't get damaged. For many gun stores, it is not unusual to only stock one gun to reduce the cost of overhead.

Really though, who cares if a few people have dry-fired it. New owners will dry-fire their gun dozens of times before they even take it to the range for the first time. A good quality gun will be absolutely fine. Bottom line, I haven't let it bother me, but you will have to decide for yourself.

 

[mbliss57]

I don't personally. Unless it looks like it/s been abused, scratched etc. If I am buying a Blued SW gun that I plan to put away for a few decades as an investment then that would be different. ON the other hand M&P's are not IMO collectors guns they are working guns. The full warranty is in place too. I have bought several guns that were in display cases as it was my small LGS's only example.
A good example would be a Kimber Solo. These are almost impossible to find. So if one turned up in a LGS case and you were hot to have one what would you do? Just an example. Often a hard to find gun in a display case hasn't been there long anyway. I found 3 SiG P938's in my LGS yesterday. By Monday I doubt they will still be there. So do you pass because they are in display. More to the SW sector I found a NIB 5906 TSW with integral rail this week. One of a kindish (rare for this decade) I woud buy it even though it's a display. On the other hand if I found a PC 327 or a PC 325 Thunder ranch I would want it untouched by others and have it ordered.

 

[DocSunShine]

Like NucPhysics said, of course if I were to buy a display gun, I'd try and get a discount (doesn't hurt to ask).

 

[Maddmax]

Depends. As long as the LGS backs up the full warranty I wouldn't be too worried. Look it over and see if they (at least) wiped it off after it was handled to keep finger print and hand oils off the weapon. Check for any discolor in the metal. Work the slide, check the mag release and how it functions dropping the mag and how it holds and snaps back in. In general, check the stuff that most people do to a weapon when "checking it out" shopping around. A good GS would take extra care of their display models so I wouldn't be too overly concerned about it. But do look it over.

 

[Camster]

It wouldn't bother me,except if it picked up handling wear,and most in my area do.If not from being removed to show to customers,but in the daily "out of the case"/in the case" thing where they are remove nightly to be put in the safe.

 

[RetMcy4]

I wouldn't really be that concerned unless its beat up looking.

 

[Krogen]

I just bought a Ruger SR1911 from the display. First one I'd seen, so I was prepared to buy the display model. Turned out they had four more in the back and let me try the triggers to pick the best one. The display model was the best. So I bought it.

A couple of points: 1) Don't categorically reject the display model and 2) those boxed guns in the back may well have been handled and dry-fired.

 

[JaPes]

If the display firearm does not have any flaws, I have no problem purchasing it.

 

[cbr6864]

Ever watch idiots handle them who have no idea what they are doing? I never buy from display case ever.

 

[dfhawkins]

If you're buying guns that will be Safe Queens, collected for investment and only handled with kid gloves... perhaps the guns in the case are not for you. However, and this is just my take, guns are for shooting. They receive use, cleaning, maintenace and, as a result, handling wear. And, some of the finest S&Ws are the older revolvers. By and large, most of them show up in the display case and are near impossible to resist buying.

Then again... it's understandable to want to be the first one to put the "ding in the fender".

 

[Desertpilot]

I purchased my M&P40c about 4 weeks ago from the display case because my local GS has all their pistols in the display case. They had a couple of M&P40c's and a couple 9c's. The one I purchased looked in great shape and when I got home I discovered that the the factory test fire date was 06/20/2012 (nice!). Glad I bought it too because they've been sold out all of them ever since I purchased mine.

Marcus

 

[MichiganScott]

I don't have any problem buying the display if it's a handgun, but I insist on a NIB rifle. I've seen way to many handling marks on wood stocks.

 

[jdh]

So you fondle and drool on the display gun and expect them to order you a new one then?

Most of the shops around here are small shops that do not have the storage space to have one on display and 20 more virgin examples locked away waiting for you. You take what you see or you don't.

 

[Fat B]

As the display guns probably haven't been shot, I have no problem buying a display case model. What am I going to do with it was soon as possible? Hand it off to all of my friends so they can check out my new gun and I can show it off. Others handling my gun before I do doesn't bother me in the least.

With that being said, always look over a gun for nicks and scratches even if it's from the box and no one has touched it since it left the factory. If the gun in the display has no nicks, dents, or scratches, why care? Everyone before you was just helping you break in the trigger.

 

[C4IGrant]

As a gun dealer, I find this question amusing. What do you think someone could actually do to a gun (that the dealer would ALLOW to happen)??? The worst possible thing that they could do is drop the gun. If this happens, the customer should just plan on buying the gun. If they don't, they are banned from store forever and the dealer will either keep the gun for personal use or sell it at cost.




C4

 

[MichiganScott]

As a gun dealer, I find this question amusing. What do you think someone could actually do to a gun (that the dealer would ALLOW to happen)??? The worst possible thing that they could do is drop the gun. If this happens, the customer should just plan on buying the gun. If they don't, they are banned from store forever and the dealer will either keep the gun for personal use or sell it at cost.




C4

I've seen customers, and unfortunately dealers, dry fire .22 rimfires. I've seen both customers and dealers try to field strip pistols without the knowledge of how to do it properly. I've had new rifles with obvious handling dings handed to me and had the dealer bump the stock on the counter adding to the collection. And yes, I've seen them dropped. Most recently, I saw a buggered up take-down mechanism on a new Ruger 10-22 that was obviously over adjusted.

This may not happen at your store, but it is much too common in those stores with brain dead sales help. To expect a customer to pay new price for a gun that would rate a used price per Blue Book because of such cosmetic damage is the same thing a asking a car customer to pay full price for a vehicle that has been dinged up in the parking lot.

In my business it's common for customers to ask for, and get, mark downs on shop worn merchandise. Too many gun shop owners simply shake their head and refuse to consider it because "it's a new gun".

 

[C4IGrant]

I've seen customers, and unfortunately dealers, dry fire .22 rimfires. I've seen both customers and dealers try to field strip pistols without the knowledge of how to do it properly. I've had new rifles with obvious handling dings handed to me and had the dealer bump the stock on the counter adding to the collection. And yes, I've seen them dropped. Most recently, I saw a buggered up take-down mechanism on a new Ruger 10-22 that was obviously over adjusted.

This may not happen at your store, but it is much too common in those stores with brain dead sales help. To expect a customer to pay new price for a gun that would rate a used price per Blue Book because of such cosmetic damage is the same thing a asking a car customer to pay full price for a vehicle that has been dinged up in the parking lot.

In my business it's common for customers to ask for, and get, mark downs on shop worn merchandise. Too many gun shop owners simply shake their head and refuse to consider it because "it's a new gun".

Sorry, I have not see anything like this happen. I am sure it does though.



C4

 

[photoman]

I buy mostly used guns so, yes, I would have no problem buying a "display" gun. If you're not confident in your ability to inspect the gun before purchase, find a friend that is.

 

[GKC]

If there are models available that are not on display, then I prefer them...but if the display model is the only one available, then I don't USUALLY have a problem with buying it, subject to inspection. There are a couple of exceptions to that, however:'

1) if the gun is new and backed by full factory warranty and good CS (like S&W or Ruger) and there is no cosmetic damage, then fine; if not, though, I will probably not buy it.

2) even some models (like the Ruger P345) can have no apparent visible damage, but can have a broken firing pin from dry firing. I'd prefer not to buy that model (or rim fire models) from the display case (but as has been pointed out, some goober in the back may have been playing with them.)

Generally, except for cosmetic issues, I wouldn't worry about buying a display gun if it is backed by a warranty (again, like S&W or Ruger.) The first time you fire the gun, it will have more wear on it than it got in the display case.