Selling dirty guns....

[SLT223]

I drove all over CT yesterday to hit numerous shops for a few items on my check list. I saw several consignment guns that were tagged top of the market plus about 25%. Some looked like they hadn't been cleaned in 30 years. If you're going to ask unrealistically high prices, shouldn't you at least make the firearm look as presentable as possible? It really isn't hard at all to do. Just one of those things that makes me scratch my head.

 

[2hawk]

This is a pet peeve of mine, too. Turns out 1) most people don't know or don't care about taking care of their firearms, and 2) dealers don't want to put in the time, even though it could help sell the arm. Go Figure!

 

[USAF385]

I never sell or trade a gun without cleaning it. I'd personally be embarrassed handing over a filthy gun....

 

[ColbyBruce]

LE trade-in firearms

The 6" barrel, blue steel S&W 19-5 in the middle of this photo was full of what appeared to be potting soil.

This Ruger P95dc was coated on the inside with white latex paint.

This little beauty of a Mossberg 500 took two industrial size cans of GunScrubber to clean it up...literally half of what I paid for the gun.

Some shops don't bother to clean up bulk trade items because it is not cost effective.

 

[Bajadoc]

I like when a gun appears dirty and uncared for. It helps me decide not to buy it.

 

[shouldazagged]

The only gun stores I've patronized for many years present their stock very well cleaned.

That's one of many reasons they were the only ones I used for the last several years I was able to buy firearms.

 

[Rastoff]

I thought this thread was gonna be about this gun:

This is a family site so, if you want to see the rest of the engraving, you'll have to look up Perazzi Engraving 912 on your own.

 

[MattO]

I have never understood this practice for gun sales. Used guns get traded in, they aren't fired by the gun shop and they aren't cleaned. Just tossed in the case with a tag put on a string. Although I assume it's better than a wore out car that is spit shined to look like you are getting more than you really are. But if I am selling something, I'd prefer it to be as good looking as it can be for me to want to buy it.

Matt

 

[Hack]

I disassemble and clean every gun I purchase. New or otherwise. I recently acquired a really nice looking (used) Winchester 70 BOSS in .30-06. Gun looked real clean, until I started in on it. A good week (on/off after work) cleaning, and it was better than it came out of the factory.

 

[Drm50]

Rough Guns

Me & my brother buy up grungy guns of individuals all the time.
Instead of watching TV we spend our time shining them up.
Some times we have to prop them up in back of truck to"dry"
on way to show. It's good way to increase your trade stocks
worth, with little effort.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

A lot of guns are damaged by improper cleaning. Maybe, in some cases, it's better if they're left dirty. I'd rather have a dirty barrel than a damaged crown.

 

[Rastoff]

A lot of guns are damaged by improper cleaning.

I keep hearing this, but I've never seen it. How does one damage a gun by cleaning it?

 

[hangnoose]

A PET PEEVE ALSO

It makes me wonder if they are trying to hide a bad barrel sometimes, or are just that lazy. I saved a fixer upper Winchester pre 1968 bolt 22 lr that Bubba took a black sharpie magic marker to the fore end to make it look like a Remington.
App 45 minutes of cleaning & I made over 100$ on the flip. Much better pay than I ever made as an Rn.
Guns are damaged by NOT CLEANING also, more so IMO. I never fail to mention that had they spent the 30 minutes cleaning what they are selling, my offer would be well worth their time. Not 2 weeks ago a use em & forget em buddy of mine tried to sell me his mdl 10. At a quick glance I said it has rust/pitting & sand in the bbl, he say's "I know, it's a field gun", I counter with, that's fine but the field is supposed to stay outside of the gun & I wouldn't pay you a fraction of the price had you kept it in 80-90%, the time it takes you to drink a beer, after every shooting.

 

[SLT223]

Was that Macgyver's Mossy 500?

This little beauty of a Mossberg 500 took two industrial size cans of GunScrubber to clean it up...literally half of what I paid for the gun.

Some shops don't bother to clean up bulk trade items because it is not cost effective.

Sorry. Couldn't resist

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have seen crowns damaged by cleaning rods shoved down bores with reckless abandon. Chambers scratched from patch holders being jerked through and pushed forward faster than a Singer sewing machine makes stitches. Incorrect size screw drivers used to booger up screw heads.

 

[cussedemgun]

The answer, "steel wool"

I keep hearing this, but I've never seen it. How does one damage a gun by cleaning it?

It never ceases to amaze me how some will work (spending time & money) to scrub off over half the value of some older guns, then liberally apply cold blue figuring they are gonna double their money.

Second surest way, let an IDIOT get their hands on a dremel tool.

 

[ColbyBruce]

Sorry. Couldn't resist

Seriously? Have you never seen a custom made adjustable choke? This was installed by "Bubba", a well known gunsmith. He works on most any type of firearm.

BTW, this cost me $35.00, the choke was worth at least a $1.00!!

 

[Rastoff]

It never ceases to amaze me how some will work (spending time & money) to scrub off over half the value of some older guns, then liberally apply cold blue figuring they are gonna double their money.

Second surest way, let an IDIOT get their hands on a dremel tool.

Yeah, but this is not cleaning is it? It's altering on purpose. That's a completely different concept.

I've also heard of crowns, bores and chambers being scratched by cleaning rods. None of the rods I own will do that, but I guess it happens because so many talk about it.

 

[SLT223]

Seriously? Have you never seen a custom made adjustable choke? This was installed by "Bubba", a well known gunsmith. He works on most any type of firearm.

BTW, this cost me $35.00, the choke was worth at least a $1.00!!

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Oh man, that is great! I couldn't quite make out the purpose of the plumbing hardware on the muzzle. Thanks for the close up.

 

[cussedemgun]

I would'a bought it too

Seriously? Have you never seen a custom made adjustable choke? This was installed by "Bubba", a well known gunsmith. He works on most any type of firearm.

BTW, this cost me $35.00, the choke was worth at least a $1.00!!

It's worth more than $35 in laughs alone