Former Virgin Firearms

[jimmyj]

Hi:
Does anyone but Jimmy purchased Firearms that are no longer "Virgin" ?
A "Non-Virgin" Firearm is one that has been touched, handled, cylinder has a "Turn Ring", has a bore that appears that might have been shot in the past, a small spot of finish that does not exactly match the rest of the weapon, a small mark on the grip, with negative box or papers, and comes with an unknown background ??

 

[arjay]

Sounds like most of mine.I like the guns that were made when I was a kid.

 

[Clean Break]

I like the ones that hit what they're aimed at. If they won't perform as designed they get sold to those who merely collect. CB

 

[Old Corp]

Yep, one of my more recent S&W's is an old M15 4" that looks as if it spent about a million hours riding in a Border Patrol holster, in all weather, on the side of someone who didn't care alot about it.
Has 'character'.

 

[Moonman]

Character, it has Character, now that's a word to remember if you're LOOKING FOR or selling a SHOOTER.

 

[old bear]

Jimmy, as I have little interest in the current offerings from any handgun company all of my revolvers have had experiences before I ended up with them, but none of them were easy.

 

[Rule3]

Character, it has Character, now that's a word to remember if you're LOOKING FOR or selling a SHOOTER.

That's right up there with guns that "Have no soul"

 

[smitholdtimer]

Hey jimmyj, I'm with you, don't think ( No, I KNOW There Isn't) a new one in my litter. Just too much more quality for the money built into the vintage products. The firearms built while we were boys seem to scream pride in workmanship. We can see by the quality of the products today that there cannot be any more of the good stuff built that is affordable for the working people.

 

[Moonman]

I'm on my way to pick up one with SOME BETTER CHARACTER and a GOOD DASH NUMBER for a potential build gun.

 

[A10]

Some of mine a in really good shape, but all have been shot. Like lotsa folks here, I buy all mine from the used bin. Matter of fact, my most recent purchases have had (gasp!) HOLSTER WEAR!!!! Except for the (double gasp) gen2 glock 17, which is darn near new.

 

[mg357]

The first two handguns i purchased were definitly NOT virgin guns but they were in good condition.

 

[blackdeuce]

I have a few Smiths that were sold to me as NIB, but I can't be sure if they really are. All of my Smiths are from the 80's, or earlier, except for a 1990 vintage 586 and a 2001 vintage 25-11 Heritage.

 

[jaykellogg]

In 1968 I bought a new Winchester Canadian Centennial. I found out afterward that there are all kinds of grades of NIB guns. The gun I purchased had been taken out of the box and levered. I bought a box of 20 30-30 cartridges, but never fired the rifle. If you had one that had never been levered it was worth more, and more yet if it was in its sealed box. I have to admit if I bought one today in a sealed box I would find it impossible to not open it up and examen it.

I looked at a 1911 the other day and the shop owner asked me to not pull the slide back or dry fire it.

When I bought my M&P22 I got one that had not been in the display case. I have heard comments from others that people who examine guns will sometimes make the guns no longer look "virgin".

 

[Tunachaser]

all of my cigars come in a sealed box, and if they are pre ban and in a sealed box they can be worth a fortune, but if you open the box and they have not been properly stored then they are worthless. So they have to be inspected and at least tried. i have been told by a few collectors that shooting the gun does not devalue it, because they were made to be shot, you just have to take care of them. I would hate to buy a NIB gun and find out it did not work..........

 

[arjay]

Went through a months long search for a pristine,unturned,untouched colt saa 45 a few years ago.Within 2 weeks I was shooting it

 

[Rule3]

Went through a months long search for a pristine,unturned,untouched colt saa 45 a few years ago.Within 2 weeks I was shooting it

But? was it Minty fresh???

 

[arjay]

It smelled delicious lol

 

[Pop's2]

My neighbor sold this Hawes 357 (made by Sauer in Germany) for around

$200

mechanically in very good condition and bore was bright and shiny

excellent shooter no longer a Virgin

 

[bgrafsr]

I'm on my way to pick up one with SOME BETTER CHARACTER and a GOOD DASH NUMBER for a potential build gun.

So are you going to keep us in suspense or tell us what you got?
Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[jaykellogg]

My neighbor sold this Hawes 357 for around $200

My neighbor asked me to sell some guns for him and one was a Ruger Blackhawk .357. It had spots of deep pitting on the sides of the barrel at the muzzle end, two areas on the cylinder and up around the rear sight as I recall. It looked like it had been fired very little. The pitting was from storing the gun in leather. It would be hard to buff this deep enough to smooth out the pits. The gun was in excellant mechanical condition obviously having been carried or shot very little. I sold it to a pawn shop for $225 and he probably got $275 for it.

Years ago I bought a 1917 Luger that had severe pitting on the sideplate and some other areas. It may have been blood on the gun or possibly a battlefield pick up. It did have matching numbers and there was finish where it wasn't pitted. I field stripped it and (as you know) the toggle rotates. There were hardly any marks where the toggle had operated. The gun had an excellant bore. I paid $75 against a $150 asking price. I suppose this gun would fit into someone's collection, but it would make a stand up shooter. They were starting to get scarce even then.

 

[Moonman]

bgrafsr,

It's a S&W 64-3 for a base gun.

It just maybe making a trip to A.P.W. Cogan

for a PPC REVOLVER package and a Hard Chrome finish.

I'm thinking a chrome matte frame, barrel, high polished cylinder/matte flutes, high polished trigger.

I'm looking at Nill PPC, open back grips from Germany to finish it off, my hands are smaller.

Just because I can I guess, as I just shoot for FUN, Retirements Great.

You, Larry, Tony and Birthday Boy Cebull will have to wait

until THE OHIO BUNCH meet next April to see it I figure, and I can't make the OCT meeting.

I'll be looking to see your 14s then and Larry's 32 conversion, Tony's Dirty Harry Rig, and as always Cebull's cases

and Keith Brown's SPECTACULAR GRIPS as always.

This SHOOTER will start as a NON-VIRGIN but will end up as one with REALLY GREAT CHARACTER I hope.

 

[fiasconva]

CB, if I only kept the guns that hit what they aim at I wouldn't have any left. I think the modern term for this is called "user error".

 

[GF]

" ... those who merely collect."

GF

 

[Moonman]

Jimmyj,

I sent it back to the top for you.

 

[Rule3]

I heard the best one yet yesterday at the LGS,

Model 10-8 heavy barrel with absolutely no, zero, bluing on the back strap. Scratches and bluing loss on the sides of the gun.

"Oh that's just HONEST wear".

Thank goodness it was not the dis honest kind

 

[CajunBass]

I think all the guns I own have been fired at some point. I've got a couple I haven't fired, but that doesn't mean they never have been.

One, a 39-2, I'm sure someone shot it.

This one, a Model 66 (no dash) I can find no evidence that it ever has been fired, but I don't know that.

All the rest of them, I KNOW have been fired.

 

[Clean Break]

CB, if I only kept the guns that hit what they aim at I wouldn't have any left. I think the modern term for this is called "user error".

So, maybe it doesn't matter what someone collects if they can't (or won't) hit with it?

Yes, I wrote what I wrote to see if I'd get a rise out of some of the folks here.

Another version [and I don't know who to credit it to] is "The only interesting rifle is an accurate rifle."

We all collect for different reasons.

1. USE to shoot: hunting, target/plinking shooting, self defense
2. family heirloom, sentimental attachment
3. historical interest
4. packrat [hoarder of shiny objects, sometimes multiple copies of the same model]
5. investment [often to hold, then turn over to fund a collecting hobby]

I just happen to believe that the gun that is shot, and shot well & often at live, wild targets, is the highest form of use a gun can be put to.

Some boats sit in the driveway, languishing away. I use mine, year-round.

Some people collect books. Some read them. Some write them. And some live the stories that are written about. And some manage to do it all.

Live fully. C.B.

 

[M29since14]

Hi:
Does anyone but Jimmy purchased Firearms that are no longer "Virgin"?

Hi. Does anyone but Jimmy and Doug MacArthur make a habit of referring to himself in the third-person?

Just kidding, Jimmy.

Yes, I have bought way more used guns than new ones, but no matter which, they all get fired sooner or later - some of them get fired lots. A gun that doesn't bark is like a dog that doesn't love to ride in the car. Something is missing!

I heard the best one yet yesterday at the LGS... Oh that's just HONEST wear".

Thank goodness it was not the dis honest kind.

Amen to that.

 

[jimmyj]

In 1968 I bought a new Winchester Canadian Centennial. I found out afterward that there are all kinds of grades of NIB guns. The gun I purchased had been taken out of the box and levered. I bought a box of 20 30-30 cartridges, but never fired the rifle. If you had one that had never been levered it was worth more, and more yet if it was in its sealed box. I have to admit if I bought one today in a sealed box I would find it impossible to not open it up and examen it.

I looked at a 1911 the other day and the shop owner asked me to not pull the slide back or dry fire it.

When I bought my M&P22 I got one that had not been in the display case. I have heard comments from others that people who examine guns will sometimes make the guns no longer look "virgin".

I would wonder:" Is there really a rifle in that box" ?? or on a sealed case of ammo- "Is there really ammo in that case or rocks"?

 

[crsides]

Another version [and I don't know who to credit it to] is "The only interesting rifle is an accurate rifle."

Jack O'connor