Photographing IL guns... the "myspace" angle

[clevolver]

I've noticed that, very often, when someone is selling a S&W revolver with the IL, they will photograph it in such a way as to try to hide the IL behind the cylinder release thumbpiece.

Here's an example:



I see it so frequently, I've come to think of it as "the myspace angle" of revolver photography. MySpace Angles | Know Your Meme

I post this not to bash the IL. I just find it annoying that people selling a gun go to such lengths to make it difficult to tell whether what they're selling has it or not. Obviously, if it's going to turn off some buyers, hiding it isn't going to help -- it's only going to waste both the seller and the otherwise-interested buyer's time. So why do people do this? If it has the IL, don't be ashamed of it, and don't try to hide it behind the thumbpiece.

/end rant.

 

[regalsc]

The IL is visible in that pic but just barely. When looking at gun pics & guns for sale I also look for it & sometimes just the little arrow gives it away.

 

[clevolver]

The IL is visible in that pic but just barely. When looking at gun pics & guns for sale I also look for it & sometimes just the little arrow gives it away.

That's what I mean... they try to hide it, but can never quite hide it completely. There's always a tiny little crescent of the IL visible, so you know it's there if you are looking for it, but if you're not it can be overlooked. Why not just show it from a straight-on angle?

 

[bobbyd]

For me, attempting to conceal the presence of the IL in such a transparent manner calls the motivation of the seller into question and I would not pursue the item any further. I much prefer to deal with sellers whose integrity is obvious and up front.

 

[arjay]

I think sellers do it because the company does it too.It just looks ugly.

 

[Hapworth]

It amuses me. It usually negatively influences my assumptions about the seller. I take it as evidence that dislike for the lock goes well beyond the forum here.

And arjay makes a terrific point: S&W does it in much of their marketing, too -- evidence they're keenly aware of its shortcoming, aesthetically and otherwise.

 

[nawilson]

Is that cylinder release the stock one? I thought all the new IL Smiths came with the angled one.

 

[Rick_A]

Is that cylinder release the stock one? I thought all the new IL Smiths came with the angled one.

The "Classics" series have the old style.

Shiney guns, if not photographed at an angle refect the camera man.

A matte blue gun or parkerized gun would not, and there's not many of those. I don't believe it's an act of malice or purposeful deceit. Most people can tell the year of manufacture by any number of ways.

 

[ginzo]

For me, as a buyer, it's my responsibility to do my homework. Pictures are but just the 1st tool in the decision making process. IL is not a deal breaker for me. JMHO

 

[girvin02]

Similarly, I've noticed that most gun shops display the guns with the lock facing down.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Good post. Agree 100%

 

[PatriotX]

They are just trying to emphasize the beautiful wood.....yeah - that's the ticket !

 

[gdnagle]

That's why "when in doubt ask questions". I wouldn't go by a picture 100% and most know what a firearm looks like and which have them. Have the seller send you more pictures to show what you want to see. It's like selling a wrecked car only show the good side and if the guy shows up to buy he may not want to travel to see and come home empty handed.

I guess I would be one of those with nothing to hide as with anything I sell, which is very little I post lots of pictures at different angles. As for the OP a good seller would say it was there.

P.S. camera angle and lighting can make a ugly gun look beautiful.

 

[Rick_A]

Most prospective buyers couldn't care less about the lock, as long as the gun looks new most don't know or care if it is new or old, lock or pre lock, as long as the used gun is priced well below the new one.

In short, nobody outside of the more serious buyers and collectors (like this community) really cares.

 

[Laketime]

This is because even the IL guys would prefer it not to be.

 

[UltimaRatio]

I 100% agree with the original poster. I hate it when sellers do this. It's so transparent and makes me question their motives.

 

[spearcrow]

Oh ya, see this a lot. It's especially aggravating at the local gun stores...have to crawl around in a squat position to see the lock side of the gun through the bottom of the glass shelves...

 

[PALADIN85020]

I've looked at quite a number of guns on the internet, and what I see most often is that the gun is laid down on its left side so that the side that may or may not have the IL is completely invisible. Also, usually any descriptive text for the gun in question will not mention the presence of the IL. Sometimes the fact that the gun does NOT have the IL is mentioned, though, and then the left side is displayed fully.

All of this says a lot about how the gun purveyors perceive how the public perceives the ILs.

John

 

[Iggy]

You ever see the "left" side of a revolver on the S&W site?

 

[CH4]

You ever see the "left" side of a revolver on the S&W site?

I agree with the OP, et al that many appear to adjust the camera angle to mask the IL. I have also noticed (perhaps I am cynical), but many, including S&W only photograph the right side to seemingly avoid showing the IL. If they're embarrassed by it they should have never of bought it, or in S&W's case they should remove it.