Unfired? How would you really know, since…

[Model29-26.5]

In response to a previous thread, I wanted to get some input on this.
Since every gun has been test fired at the factory, how would you ever actually know if it is been fired or not since it left the factory, if it has been well cleaned??
Even just one or two cylinders before it was put in the safe?
There is no such thing as an unfired gun that has left the factory.
“Appears to have been unfired” Is the most honest thing that seller can say unless they I’ve been the sole owner. Even then, it had definitely been fired.

 

[toad67]

IMO, it's just an over used term that sellers use, to try and make their item sound better.

 

[diyj98]

Don’t you know every gun with the box is “unfired” and every excellent condition gun without the box “appears to have never been fired”. At least in the forums and at gun shows

 

[Model29-26.5]

“ Item #16547886. Collector grade, excellent Condition . Roy Jinks told me One day while we were having lunch “ Oh yes! I remember this serial number only too well! A guy was fired over this for not test firing it before it was shipped. This is a one of a kind, absolutely un fired gun!” … Roy exclaimed, as he bit down on his burrito.
With Presentation case And tools.
Stocks have signs of light use. “

 

[chiefdave]

My gauge is the absence of a turnline and no blue loss on the recoil shield. Even then it would be only possibly unfired.

 

[Leslie Sapp]

I have been known ask, " Well, how do you know it works, then?"

 

[ACORN]

My gauge is the absence of a turnline and no blue loss on the recoil shield. Even then it would be only possibly unfired.

An unfired revolver can still have a turn line.

 

[Dump1567]

I just picked-up a like new supposedly unfired Colt Night Cobra yesterday. There was zero indication it had been fired. So either Colt doesn't test fire their guns, or someone is very good at cleaning them after they've been test fired.

 

[desi2358]

Add in the fact that some companies don't do a very good job of cleaning after test firing. We got more than a few new guns delivered to the store that clearly showed they had been test fired, some more than once. I was told by a factory rep that they sometimes they pick a gun at random, fire it multiple times as a check then ship it out as new......... and no, they don't discount those ones, we asked.

Unless you actually received one of those in a shipment of new guns how would you know whether or not it was factory testing or if it had been fired since it left the factory? And if a gun was cleaned properly after use you really don't know if it had not been fired since leaving the factory or simply had a low round count and was thoroughly cleaned afterward.

 

[Muss Muggins]

An unfired revolver can still have a turn line.

You oughta see how many times the action was cycled during the fitting process. Can't fit a hand to a ratchet without lots of cylinder turning. Absence of a cylinder line to me indicates a refinish . . .

 

[ken158]

How did the suggestion of an “unfired” gun even start? You gonna buy a car with zero miles on it? Wouldn’t you think firing for proof of proper fitting would be a good idea? And the biggest laugh is should a manufacturer give you a discount because it was fired! I would prefer my new gun purchase fired on ever cylinder because then you have a greater chance of getting a better gun.

 

[Xfuzz]

Wonder how much ammo the factory went through
any given year.
Did they fire full loads or just bust a primer ?

 

[22hipower]

I've seen a lot of "unfired" guns over the years, at least advertised that way and promised so by the owners at gun shows. I assume every S&W I see has been fired, don't care how clean it is, it's been fired. If the gun is in great condition and shows no wear, do we really care if its had a few rounds down the tube?

I think I have a few that have truly not been fired since they left the factory but those are all factory engraved guns, and I couldn't guarantee even with those, that they hadn't been fired.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[AveragEd]

I have a 686-4 PowerPort that a Smith & Wesson-trained gunsmith declared as unfired because the interior of the port is unpolished, left in its raw porous surfacing, and is absolutely pristine. He stated that it is impossible to remove 100% of the combustion fouling three fired rounds would generate from such a surface, especially given how difficult it would be to get any kind of a tool into every area of the port. Those ports have a bottom, sides and an upper area that can only be seen with a borescope.

I am not a lover of porting of any kind and bought the gun just to have a nice example of something that I didn't think would be in production for a very long period of time (and I was right). I also agree with Muss Muggins about the turn line - all firearms have to be put through several dry-firing cycles to confirm functionality so a line has to be present on revolvers.

Ed

 

[44wheelman]

I have a nickel 586- unfired since leaving the factory.

Every other hole/chamber was fired, the other 3 have perfect unscared, no carbon ring, pristine finish. You cannot get the nickel on face of cylinder back to factory original condition after firing it.

I have seen many try. I have seen stainless guns with an obvious attempt to remove carbon from the cylinder face...you can get close, but with all the scotch-brite and cleaners, it still doesn't look right, and usually still a faint carbon ring.

Only other guns I claim as "unfired since factory" are ones I bought new and have not fired. Even then, they could have been used guns sold as new....yes, I have seen dealers do it. One with my gun.

 

[PatriotX]

With my stainless guns, an ultrasonic cleaner will remove almost any trace of carbon or fouling. Absolutely spotless.

Nothing can remove the flame-cutting on the top strap, however. I’ve seen factory-fired guns with only three dirty charge holes, still a mark on the top strap.

 

[A10]

ANIB is a far more accurate assessment.

I had an Unfired since Factory 29-2, and I knew this since I opened the shipping box myself.

Sold it some time back. Probably shouldn't have.....

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

What I would add is; how does the average joe know if it has been refinished?

I have had cops wanting to show off the "new" old stock they got at the Gun Show. To me I thought it was obvious that it was refinished. Like the nickle plated Victory Model that was unfired because it was a WWII Presentation.

 

[USBP SW]

In the 70's, a gentleman came to the range that I frequented with his brand new, premium over retail paid model 57. He indicated that he had an unknown problem with it and he had never tried to shoot it. I looked it over and I was surprised to find that it was test fired on every other chamber but the cylinder stop engaged prematurely and locked up before the hammer sear could engage on the other three chambers. I don't know how that could leave the factory in that condition and it took more than a half hour, to carefully modify the ratchet to function properly.

 

[Sevens]

We had a seller here on the forums some time back that was never really any part of this community. He almost never engaged in any conversations — unless he was trying to ask questions to learn more about a gun he was going to sell. I know this very well because I searched all of his posts when I was involved in a transaction with him.

He once came to ask for info on a Performance Center Limited pistol, he told us he would soon list it for sale and then boldly claimed “This one is special, it has never been touched by human hands”

I called him out on that used car salesman nonsense and he took offense to it and “black listed” me for any purchase from him. This is even more humorous because he got mad at me and added me to his list 2-1/2 years before I claimed a gun in his FS ad. (not the same gun)

He later got kicked off this forum and banned. The thread where he said this garbage still exists on the forum.